Burdensome?

 “…And His commandments are not burdensome.”  (I Jn. 5:3)

 Really?  Isn’t it hard to keep the commandments of God?

 Think about it for a day or two.  And, I’ll get back to share with you my struggle on this “Identity Truth.”

Put on the New

“…put on the new self, created after the likeness of God…”   (Eph 4:24)

C. S. Lewis had a lot to say about our Identity in Christ—although he used other terms.  In his classic, Mere Christianity, he says:

“Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if had it already.  That is why children’s games are so important. They are always pretending to be grown-ups…

Now the moment you realize, ‘Here I am, dressing up as Christ,’ it is extremely likely that you will see…some way in which…the pretense could be made less of a pretense and more of a reality.”

Our culture says that it is hypocritical to feel one thing and act another.  The Word of God says that we should put on Christ and let Him bring our feelings into line.

Here’s my prayer for the day:

“Today, I am dressed in the righteousness of Christ—I am a new creation—I have been raised with Christ and I am seeking the things which are above. Father, take this little boy’s heart and fill it with the mind of Christ.”

Nothing to Prove?

Emotional pressure should be a great teacher. In the middle of stress I have learned to ask:

“O.K. then, what am I trying to prove?”

Please hear me, I don’t want to overstate my success.  When I say, “I have learned to ask…” I don’t mean that I always ask that question right away; I should, but I don’t.  I don’t mean that I always immediately deflect the pressure and instantly rise above the challenge proclaiming my identity in Christ—I know the theology but I still have deep struggles in the depths of my soul.

When I say, “I have learned…” I mean that ultimately I have to recognize that every pressure should be accepted as a welcomed teacher. A friend of mine called it a “death check.”  When pressure hits me, from without or from within, it gives me a chance to check if I am living the exchanged life:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20a)

I may have sin to confess; I may have issues to confront; But, believing the TRUTH, I have nothing to prove!

GCR Taskforce (GCRT)

It was an honor to be asked to serve on the Great Commission Resurgence Taskforce (GCRT) for the SBC. No decision has been made about the first meeting of the GCRT but we have agreed to seek prayer support from as many people as possible. 

Would you be willing to be my prayer partner as we begin this work? Here’s the list of those who join me in needing your prayer support:   Great Commission Resurgence Taskforce

Still at the SBC

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been here a week.  I really don’t want this blog to become a travel-log…but I want to share what’s on my heart and I’ve been here since last Wednesday so I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

Resolutions:  We presented our resolutions today and they were well-received by the “messengers” (SBC calls them messengers and not delegates).  The Resolutions are online and you can read them in their entirety—and, I’d recommend you do that and not just read the summaries that will be given in some news outlets! Here they are: 

http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/AMResSearchYear.asp?SearchBy=Year&frmData=2009&Search2=Search

GCR: It seemed that the focus of the SBC was the call for a “Great Commission Resurgence.”  You can see (and sign) the guiding document at  http://www.greatcommissionresurgence.com  This document has helped to focus a movement that is issuing a call to Southern Baptists.

The convention is over now and we all head out in the morning (finally)!  While we travel, join us in praying for our Sr. High Choir (Vertical Generation). They are in Baltimore this week supporting Aaron & Malita Pankey and their church-planting efforts.  Why not stop and pray for them right now?