The other day my wife and I were out running some errands on a Saturday afternoon. We were driving around on the four and six lane streets when my wife said, “let’s see if we can find that old road through the country”. It took awhile, but we found it. The city had grown up around the beginning of the road, but it was still there. So we set off down this narrow lane road through the country and it was well worth the drive. We saw old farm houses, horses running in their pasture, and some beautiful Bluebonnets. What we did not see is a lot of cars. It was nice to be off the main streets and on the road less traveled.
That is what the message of the Sermon on the Mount is all about, taking the road less traveled or choosing the “narrow gate”. Jesus calls you and I to a higher level of living. The rest of the world may be rude to the people around them, but not you and me. The rest of the world may be cheating on their spouses, but not you and me. The rest of the world may be self-centered and materialistic, but not you and me. Well, not you and me if we are taking the narrow gate or the road less traveled. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. Our role in this world is to make a difference to those around us. To be “the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World”. And show those around us that living for Jesus is the only way to have true satisfaction and happiness that will last a life time and beyond.
Robert Frost said it this way,
two roads diverged in a wood,
and I --I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
So there you have it Christ Follower, in your daily walk try to use the road less traveled and there you will find the footprints of Jesus which will lead you in the journey of an eternal life-time.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Giving Up Cheese for Lent
A few weeks ago my wife and I noticed evidence of a mouse in our garage. Well we did all the stuff you normally do to get rid of the mouse. We discovered what the mouse of looking for in the way of food (dog food) and we moved it to a better location. We set traps; we cleaned and straightened up the garage. We never caught the mouse, but we have not seen any signs of it for weeks. Then just the other day we were in the laundry room and heard a noise coming from the dryer vent. My wife asked if I thought it was the mouse making the noise. I replied, “I guess the mouse gave up cheese for Lent.” And yes, the pun is intended. As it turned out it was not a mouse or anything else, it was just the wind blowing the cover off the vent.
I am part of a fellowship that does not practice Lent and I have no desire to practice Lent on a personal basis, but I do appreciate the purpose behind this forty-day focus on the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. The question I have for those of you who do not practice Lent is this, what do you do in your life to help you focus on the empty cross and the empty tomb. In what way do you prepare your heart and mind to follow the one who loved you so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life so you might have a relationship with the Father for eternity.
To put it another way, what do you do to keep your focus on serving the risen Savior? Do you spend time in prayer? Do you read your Bible on a daily basis? Do you meditate on His Word? Do you look for opportunities to do good in the Name of Jesus? Do you keep a spiritual journal? What do you do to help you focus on Godly things?
Take a moment and put your thoughts down in writing. Make a daily plan for spiritual growth and focus. Then, (and this is the hard part) put your plan into action. As a matter of fact, put your plan into action for forty days and see what happens.
If you have a moment please share your thoughts in the message box.
Love God. Go Love Others.
I am part of a fellowship that does not practice Lent and I have no desire to practice Lent on a personal basis, but I do appreciate the purpose behind this forty-day focus on the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. The question I have for those of you who do not practice Lent is this, what do you do in your life to help you focus on the empty cross and the empty tomb. In what way do you prepare your heart and mind to follow the one who loved you so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life so you might have a relationship with the Father for eternity.
To put it another way, what do you do to keep your focus on serving the risen Savior? Do you spend time in prayer? Do you read your Bible on a daily basis? Do you meditate on His Word? Do you look for opportunities to do good in the Name of Jesus? Do you keep a spiritual journal? What do you do to help you focus on Godly things?
Take a moment and put your thoughts down in writing. Make a daily plan for spiritual growth and focus. Then, (and this is the hard part) put your plan into action. As a matter of fact, put your plan into action for forty days and see what happens.
If you have a moment please share your thoughts in the message box.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Right Key, Wrong Truck
Right Key, Wrong Truck
The other day as I was leaving the grocery store I was headed to my truck I took out my remote to open the truck door, pushed the button and nothing. No lights blinking, no door latch opening – nothing. Then I looked a few spots down and there were my truck lights on and doors unlocked. I stood there for a moment and looked at these two trucks. They were just alike in all possible ways except the key I had in my hand only opened one of the trucks. I had the right key; I was just looking at the wrong truck. The key only opened the truck it was designed or programmed to open.
Well, when something like that happens at first you feel stupid and then you just laugh at yourself. But here is the deal about those keys. They only open one truck. You could line up a hundred trucks just like mine in color and model and those keys will only open the truck they were programmed to unlock.
That’s the way life is. Life was meant to be lived one way and one way only. Each of us was designed to live life according to God’s plans and purpose. When you try to live by some other plan or for some other purpose then the outcome is different than what was originally meant for you.
We live in a culture that has the highest level of life dissatisfaction in the world and the highest occurrence of depression in the world. It is truly amazing when you consider that we also live in a culture that has the highest level of material possessions. Anything a person could want or desire is available at a price. You can have electronics, clothing, jewelry, cars, an exciting nightlife, places to go and people to see. You can have it all and still be lonely, unsatisfied and have a life without purpose or meaning.
True meaning and purpose only comes when you live life according to the One who gives meaning and purpose to life. Jesus said in John 10:10 that he came so that we might have life and it to the full. “To the full” I like that phrase. It implies that living a life with Jesus will result in a life that is full and complete not lacking in anything.
Is your marriage complete?
Are your family relationships complete and meaningful?
Are you lonely?
Are you complete and satisfied?
Most people spend a lifetime looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places and their life never works out. They are unhappy, broke, lonely, rejected and focused on chasing a dream that never turns into reality.
The key to life is right in front of you or more accurately deep inside you. The spirit of God which lives inside you will lead you to the right place in life to find Jesus Christ. When you find Jesus, he will be the key to a full, complete life you have always searched for and the life for which you were designed to live.
So the next time you take out your keys and push the remote remember the key to life is Jesus Christ and He and He alone will open to you a full complete life. A life lived in glory and honor of the almighty God.
The other day as I was leaving the grocery store I was headed to my truck I took out my remote to open the truck door, pushed the button and nothing. No lights blinking, no door latch opening – nothing. Then I looked a few spots down and there were my truck lights on and doors unlocked. I stood there for a moment and looked at these two trucks. They were just alike in all possible ways except the key I had in my hand only opened one of the trucks. I had the right key; I was just looking at the wrong truck. The key only opened the truck it was designed or programmed to open.
Well, when something like that happens at first you feel stupid and then you just laugh at yourself. But here is the deal about those keys. They only open one truck. You could line up a hundred trucks just like mine in color and model and those keys will only open the truck they were programmed to unlock.
That’s the way life is. Life was meant to be lived one way and one way only. Each of us was designed to live life according to God’s plans and purpose. When you try to live by some other plan or for some other purpose then the outcome is different than what was originally meant for you.
We live in a culture that has the highest level of life dissatisfaction in the world and the highest occurrence of depression in the world. It is truly amazing when you consider that we also live in a culture that has the highest level of material possessions. Anything a person could want or desire is available at a price. You can have electronics, clothing, jewelry, cars, an exciting nightlife, places to go and people to see. You can have it all and still be lonely, unsatisfied and have a life without purpose or meaning.
True meaning and purpose only comes when you live life according to the One who gives meaning and purpose to life. Jesus said in John 10:10 that he came so that we might have life and it to the full. “To the full” I like that phrase. It implies that living a life with Jesus will result in a life that is full and complete not lacking in anything.
Is your marriage complete?
Are your family relationships complete and meaningful?
Are you lonely?
Are you complete and satisfied?
Most people spend a lifetime looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places and their life never works out. They are unhappy, broke, lonely, rejected and focused on chasing a dream that never turns into reality.
The key to life is right in front of you or more accurately deep inside you. The spirit of God which lives inside you will lead you to the right place in life to find Jesus Christ. When you find Jesus, he will be the key to a full, complete life you have always searched for and the life for which you were designed to live.
So the next time you take out your keys and push the remote remember the key to life is Jesus Christ and He and He alone will open to you a full complete life. A life lived in glory and honor of the almighty God.
Monday, March 8, 2010
What If There Were No Time?
What if there were no time?
By: Bryan Sharp
We are just days away from the Spring Forward day when the world turns the clock forward one hour. We are a nation on the clock. Around 60 percent of workers in the United States punch the clock every workday. Over 20 million Americans are “shift worker”. We live by appointments and deadlines. We are the most time conscience country in the world.
Here is a question: What if there was no time? Think about it for a minute – just kidding. Take your time and reflect on the question. What if there was no time? What if there was no minutes or hours, no days of the week, no weekends?
When would you wake up and start your day?
When would you go to bed?
When would you eat?
When would you work?
And how long would you stay at work and would it matter? Would you just stay long enough to do your work then go home or would you just hang around to be with everyone else in the office? Would you be more or less productive?
Would you be at home more? Would you be with your spouse and children more? Would you be with friends and family more? Would you volunteer more?
More importantly, how much “time” would you spend in prayer or Bible study? How often would worship either privately or in an assembly?
If there were no time we would not have a “first day of the week” for our official day of worship. So, let me ask in another way. If it were up to you how often would you want to gather with believers for worship, praise and remembrance? Would we be in a hurry to leave when we did come together or would we stay for a while?
I wonder how many of us would assemble more often and how many would worship with less frequency? The real question this week is this, what draws you to worship? Is it the calendar? The first day of the week comes along so we wake up, dress up, gather around and worship. Is it the people who share your faith? Is it just routine? Is it love for God? Is it fear? Or is it something deeper inside of each of us that call us to gather around the cross and worship at the feet of our Lord and Savior?
My hope for each of us is that we live in the way we were created to live. Each of us was created to live out our faith in such a way that glorifies the creator and shows love and praise to the Father.
You know those sunsets and sunrises that we love to witness? Those are reminders in time that we are meant for something more meaningful and magnificent than the daily grind. I am reminded of Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
So as you begin each day give praise to the creator of time and be sure to spend it wisely as you worship Him daily.
Love God. Go Love Others.
By: Bryan Sharp
We are just days away from the Spring Forward day when the world turns the clock forward one hour. We are a nation on the clock. Around 60 percent of workers in the United States punch the clock every workday. Over 20 million Americans are “shift worker”. We live by appointments and deadlines. We are the most time conscience country in the world.
Here is a question: What if there was no time? Think about it for a minute – just kidding. Take your time and reflect on the question. What if there was no time? What if there was no minutes or hours, no days of the week, no weekends?
When would you wake up and start your day?
When would you go to bed?
When would you eat?
When would you work?
And how long would you stay at work and would it matter? Would you just stay long enough to do your work then go home or would you just hang around to be with everyone else in the office? Would you be more or less productive?
Would you be at home more? Would you be with your spouse and children more? Would you be with friends and family more? Would you volunteer more?
More importantly, how much “time” would you spend in prayer or Bible study? How often would worship either privately or in an assembly?
If there were no time we would not have a “first day of the week” for our official day of worship. So, let me ask in another way. If it were up to you how often would you want to gather with believers for worship, praise and remembrance? Would we be in a hurry to leave when we did come together or would we stay for a while?
I wonder how many of us would assemble more often and how many would worship with less frequency? The real question this week is this, what draws you to worship? Is it the calendar? The first day of the week comes along so we wake up, dress up, gather around and worship. Is it the people who share your faith? Is it just routine? Is it love for God? Is it fear? Or is it something deeper inside of each of us that call us to gather around the cross and worship at the feet of our Lord and Savior?
My hope for each of us is that we live in the way we were created to live. Each of us was created to live out our faith in such a way that glorifies the creator and shows love and praise to the Father.
You know those sunsets and sunrises that we love to witness? Those are reminders in time that we are meant for something more meaningful and magnificent than the daily grind. I am reminded of Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
So as you begin each day give praise to the creator of time and be sure to spend it wisely as you worship Him daily.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Call Time Out
Last week I was sitting in my doctor’s office waiting room. Anytime I’m in a waiting room I remember the Seinfeld line, “they have a waiting room and their going to use it.” So, I go in expecting to wait for a while. At the time there were only a few of us in the room. Then the ‘walking time bomb’ exploded through the door. She was late, she was angry and she wasn’t in the mood for anything less than perfect service. Did I mention that she was late? As a matter of fact, she was almost 20 minutes late to a doctor’s appointment. Now, I know all of us have spent our fair share of time waiting on a doctor, but that’s not the point. The receptionist checked with the doctor and returned to the desk with the good news, “the doctor will work you in”. Well, that did not go over at all. The time bomb went off in grand style – “What do you mean she’ll work me in… forget it! I’m out of here! And I won’t be back! “ And then she was gone. I did a quick body count and discovered everyone was okay – a little shaken, but no injuries.
This experience caused me to reflect on the busy-ness of our lives. Our lives are so full of places to go and things to do and people to see. We have phones in our pockets, which connect us to the world around us instantly. I can receive, text, emails, facebook messages and updates. I can be reminded of meetings and appointments and oh yes, it also makes and receives phone calls. Most of the businessmen and women I know are in meetings most of their workweek. We go from one meeting to the next and in between meetings we check our email, return calls and texts. Many of us take our work home at night so we can catch up with our work or we use our laptop computers for evening skype conferences with co-workers in other locations and time zones. We are busy people.
The High Pointe of this week is a call for each of us to call a time out during our day to reflect on our life and our God. Take the advice from the psalmist “Be still, and know that I am God.” Ps. 46:10 Take some time to consider the grandeur and majesty of our Heavenly Father. Take some time to enjoy the symphony of God’s creation. Take a moment to give thanks for all people in your life who fill your life with joy and love. Consider for a minute all the mercy and grace that is shown to you daily by our God and Father.
When you and I take the time to put our busy life on pause, we give ourselves a chance to remember who we are and whose we are. We are children of the Most High God. We were created in His Image and in His Likeness. We are to live our life with joy and purpose and we are to glorify the Father in all things.
Allow me one Extra High Pointe: Some time in your busy, busy day make it a point to make someone’s day and you will be truly blessed.
Love God. God Love Others.
This experience caused me to reflect on the busy-ness of our lives. Our lives are so full of places to go and things to do and people to see. We have phones in our pockets, which connect us to the world around us instantly. I can receive, text, emails, facebook messages and updates. I can be reminded of meetings and appointments and oh yes, it also makes and receives phone calls. Most of the businessmen and women I know are in meetings most of their workweek. We go from one meeting to the next and in between meetings we check our email, return calls and texts. Many of us take our work home at night so we can catch up with our work or we use our laptop computers for evening skype conferences with co-workers in other locations and time zones. We are busy people.
The High Pointe of this week is a call for each of us to call a time out during our day to reflect on our life and our God. Take the advice from the psalmist “Be still, and know that I am God.” Ps. 46:10 Take some time to consider the grandeur and majesty of our Heavenly Father. Take some time to enjoy the symphony of God’s creation. Take a moment to give thanks for all people in your life who fill your life with joy and love. Consider for a minute all the mercy and grace that is shown to you daily by our God and Father.
When you and I take the time to put our busy life on pause, we give ourselves a chance to remember who we are and whose we are. We are children of the Most High God. We were created in His Image and in His Likeness. We are to live our life with joy and purpose and we are to glorify the Father in all things.
Allow me one Extra High Pointe: Some time in your busy, busy day make it a point to make someone’s day and you will be truly blessed.
Love God. God Love Others.
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