November 13

The Best Fight is the Good Fight


Fight the good fight of the faith.

1 Timothy 6:12a (NIV)


Guys love a good fight, there’s no getting around it. For many, the bigger the battle, the better. This is especially true when it comes to sports. Let’s face it: we love to compete! We crave going head to head on the gridiron, or successfully defending our goal, or fighting for that rebound under the basket—and winning! And we’ll do it just about anytime ... despite the challenges of health, weather, or what someone might say. That, or we'll watch it on TV!

I saw it again this week when Drew, my oldest son, returned home on college break. The first day back, he wanted to play me tennis—while it was snowing! So we did. He thoroughly enjoyed banging the ball as hard as he could, making Dad run all over the court—and beating me with another winner!

Then there was my son Ryan. With him it was basketball—making the shot, stealing the ball—and beating Dad! Later that day his younger brother Alex emerged from behind the couch, eyeing me like a hungry tiger.

“Aii-ee-ah!!" he cried, posed and ready—a regular black belt. Ten minutes of air fists and close-call kicks, and Dad left in a neat heap on the floor, finally seemed to satisfy him. Until that night.

When I went in to kiss him goodnight he wasn’t under the covers, so I turned to look around his dark room. As I did, my eight-year olds skinny arm shot out from under the bed and his determined hand latched hold of my ankle. His muffled voice declared, “Must have meat!” Whoa. I thought I’d been translated into a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strip!

Overall, it was a typical boy’s dream day—a day of competition, fighting, and winning. It reminded me of what God calls us to—the good fight. The New Living Translation quotes Paul this way: “Fight the good fight for what we believe.” My boys may not realize it yet, and maybe some of us don’t realize it either, but our greatest fight is for the faith; it is for the good cause of Christ. Perhaps it is best seen as we battle injustice, or conquer disease, or defeat poverty and oppression. Perhaps.

The good fight is at the core of our being, and we are most satisfied when we pick up the shield of faith and the sword of truth….

This is God’s fight and we get to play….


Father, arm Your children with truth; give us courage, faith and hope; and while You are arming us … arm us with love ... for the cause of Christ. Amen.

November 12

The Overflow of Thanks


What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God!

Psalm 92:1 (The Message)


We thank you, God, we thank you—your name is our favorite word; your mighty works are all we talk about.

Psalm 75:1 (The Message)


You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.

Psalm 92:4 (NLT)


Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

Colossians 2:7b (NLT)


When something works … it works. When something is obviously right … we all know it. When something is ordained by God … it endures.


This is why Thanksgiving is so special to me; and that’s why it’s my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving is one of the few celebrations we Americans avoid commercializing. It remains true to us and we remain true to it. And while it strikes deep into the heart and soul of my faith, anyone can give thanks, and on this day, most do.

What a wonderful thing! What a beautiful thing—to let our thanksgiving flow!


Father, thank You for this opportunity to appreciate the deep and meaningful blessings You bring our way. Help me give thanks each and every day! Amen.

November 11

For the Guys


If you’ve gotten anything out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.

Philippians 2:1-2 (The Message)


They say your true friends are those you would call for help at two in the morning. Well, a couple of years ago, I found these were the men I met and prayed with every week. Over time, we developed a sense of trust. Friendships became anytime … anywhere.

Do you have an anytime, anywhere friend? Ask yourself, “If I consider all my relationships with other men, who is my best friend?” If your answer is someone you played football with back in high school, or an old fraternity brother you have not heard from in years, or a guy you knew ten years ago, you need something more—you need real friends! Even if you already have good friends, you can deepen those current friendships and grow stronger in Christ by investing time in a weekly breakfast, study group or prayer band or, together, reach out to others in need! Try it. You will be surprised at the sense of unity, the speed at which you connect and the joy in having a deep-spirited friend.


Father, thank You for the people you have placed all around us. Help us break free from the bondage of busyness to discover the blessings of meaningful relationships with those you bring our way. Help us to be and to have true friends, and help us make a difference in the lives of others. Amen.

November 10

The Best Birthday Present


Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ... You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:6, 7, 12 (NIV)


I share my birthday with the U.S. Marine Corps, and I’ve come to the conclusion: there’s something in that. Every year it’s a bare bones affair: a yawn and a nod and onto something better—like Veteran’s Day!

I found myself driving home musing about my weekend and my small birthday celebration at a second-choice restaurant. Once we crowded into the joint, we found ourselves split between separate, faraway tables. That was probably the worst part—even worse than when someone realized we had forgotten the gifts! Fortunately, my sister had remembered one of them … so I held the T-shirt up for all to see.... Actually, it was a good night and more fun than I make out….

On the drive home, beautiful autumn colors highlighted close-in landscapes—in spite of the darkening gray clouds. My thoughts continued to dwell on the less-than-perfect weekend, and slowly I realized what was going on inside me. I understood then that my lousy attitude was, well, lousy, and I began to feel ashamed of my ungrateful heart. As I drove the winding road, I confessed this to God, and when I did, something new came along—a desire to age gracefully both inside and out. It was a sweet revelation. My heart can and will change, can’t it Lord!
We climbed higher into the Cascades, and thick stands of conifers and deciduous trees encompassed us. Just then, mere moments after my confession, a windstorm struck. Its super gust shook both our car and the forest, and I saw color and leaves and motion like I had never seen before. The hard woods simultaneously let loose—entire loads of leaves, twisting, turning, tumbling down showered us in a dancing, yellow downpour. Such a glorious sight! Miraculously, we had become the lead car in some psychedelic New York City tickertape parade! Incredible.

In that moment, driving through those flowing yellow swells, I felt God’s warm pleasure, and it inspired me. That moment is now my most memorable birthday present ever, one I never could have dreamed up myself. It was ... perfect—a gift from above!


Father, thank You for Your patience, Your forgiveness, Your great showers of blessing! And thank You for helping me understand. Amen.

Transitions
Limbs stripped bare now
showering my carriage with huge yellow confetti—
a dancing, twirling, twisting dream.
The Pacific’s rushing, whirling exhalation
finishing the season in one glorious moment:
the transition from tree to sky.

November 09

Sharing Life


He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him.

Mark 3:14 (NIV)


Jesus, the Master, knew better than anyone how to make disciples. And here we see Him at square one with His followers. His primary concern? “That they might be with him.”

Today, the church is missing this ingredient. Many Christ-followers are making a push for the intimacy of small groups and this is important. These closer, friendlier settings can help us connect and grow, but only as we open up and become real with each other and enjoy life together as Christ did with His followers.

For many, church is a once-a-week, one-shot deal. We come in a back door, sing a song, hear a sermon and exit before the final amen. Being a true follower of Christ means so much more than attending a church, reciting a prayer or going through the ritual. It is a total life change. We lose our life to find it, and we find it following Him—alongside other Christ-followers.

True life, as Christ defines it, is shared life. His life shared with us and ours with others. It’s been the same with disciples in every generation, because it’s His design: “Go you therefore and make disciples.” It starts when we come together.


Father, thank You for loving me. Thank You for sharing life with me. Help me share my life … without reservation. Amen.

November 08

Shucking Religion


… I perceive in all things you are very religious….

Acts 17:22 (NKJV)


I have traveled to my share of dry and thirsty places. I remember driving on an elevated highway through Saudi Arabia one clear night. All around, strings of green neon lights on neighborhood mosques strained to rise above the crowded streets. At least a hundred of these lighted minarets pierced the black desert sky. It was obvious: these were religious people.

Often, I found myself in downtown Riyadh when prayer time would start or end. Hundreds of men would crowd through dark wooden doors or, at the end of prayer, come flooding out onto the dusty streets—in a hurry to get back to business or family. Again, it was obvious: these were very religious people.

Here in the States, I sometimes get a similar sense when I drive around town. At times, the numbers and sizes of churches amaze me. Many weekends, I will see people come pouring out of a church building anxious to get home to the game or a nice dinner. We, too, are a religious people … and so were the Athenians.

When Paul looked around Athens, he understood their problem: they had religion, but they didn’t have God. I think that’s true of a lot of folks today. Whether we live in Athens, America or the Middle East, we all face a common issue: will we follow the crowd or will we follow God?

Paul spoke to the pagans at the Areopagus and only a handful believed. Only a few turned to follow the one true God while the rest debated, ridiculed, and continued doing what they had always done. They thought they were doing their own thing, but really, they went the way of the crowd—away from truly knowing God.

What will we do when God’s message comes to us? Debate, ridicule, and go the way of the crowd? Or will we listen, consider God’s call and believe? Will we follow God to a better way—to a relationship … or will we cling to our man-made idols and ideas?

Religion—seeking to appease God—is nothing more than a dance in the desert. What God craves is relationship. In seeking relationship, we enter the oasis of God’s heart.


Father God, open our eyes to your truth. Help us to hear Your call and dismiss the religious sirens of this world. Amen.


To learn how to begin a relationship with God visit— http://www.eastmontchurch.com/Salvation/Default.aspx .