I'm not sure if it's the cloudy morning, the remains of yesterday's tasks that wait for me on my desk, or my first two hour work-out since joining the gym, but I'm struggling to get myself in gear this morning.....
I'm not a big fan of the television show "24", but I have watched it on occasion. I got home about 8:45 last night and just wanted to "veg out" (and I don't mean eating vegetables...yuck!). I saw a preview on TV about last night's episode of "24" and was intrigued enough to watch it.
Since I haven't watched the show much before, I can't tell you exactly what the storyline was, but last night's show was about a government contractor that built some biological weapons and planned to use them against Washington. Jack Bauer ended up getting infected by the chemical when a storage container ruptured. His fate is yet to be determined, but it's not looking good for ol' Jack. (from what I hear, this is the point of the show!)
I am intrigued by the idea of biological warfare. I've heard about biological weapons for most of my life. I've seen depictions in movies and television shows of what a war fought with biological weapons might look like. It's extremely scary for most people to think about the possibility of that ever happening, especially on our home soil.
As I was running on the treadmill early this morning, I was thinking about the show last night and how powerful those biological weapons could be. In an instant, they can literally infect massive numbers of people.
Then an interesting thought came to me..... what if believers around the world thought of themselves as "biological weapons" for the cause of Christ?
After all, we are the children of God - 1 John 3:1-3 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."
In Matthew 5:13-14, we are given a vivid description by Jesus himself about what His believers are supposed to "be".... "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
We are called to be salt.... not to just our neighbors, but to the EARTH! We are called to be light.... not just to our friends and family, but to the WORLD! Would it be a big stretch to think of believers, who are truly being salt and light, as weapons in the hands of God to penetrate the darkness that attempts to hold the world captive?
I don't think it's a stretch at all.... listen to the words of Jesus as He gives us the Great Commission(an authoritative order, charge, or direction) in Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Doesn't it sound as though God's plan for redeeming the world includes you and I as believers? He could have certainly done it without us, and He does it in spite of us, but His battle plan was for us to be "Biological Weapons" - children of God that are infecting the world with the gospel of Jesus. I guess you could say that we are designed to be Weapons Of Mass Discipleship! (I know... it's corny!)
Am I a "Biological Weapon" for the cause of Christ, or have I allowed my life to get so out of focus that I'm more of a hindrance to the cause than I am a warrior?
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
How $225 Changed A Life Forever
Wow! We had a super busy weekend at Skipstone. We had a group of sixty students and leaders from Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City here for a weekend retreat. We facilitated the zipline for them on Friday night, and some team building activities on Saturday. On Sunday, we attended the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro and spent the afternoon leading their student ministry leaders through some team building activities. It was a fun, but exhausting, weekend!
Something very neat happened while we were at FBC Jonesboro. During the morning worship service, they had three young girls who were baptized. The first was a cute little girl who had to walk on her tip toes to keep her head above the water. She read her testimony of praying to receive Christ as her personal Savior after talking about it with her dad at home.
As they introduced the second girl, I could tell that Shondi was thinking about something. The girl was a little older, and her testimony was that she had been coming to church with her grandparents since she was very young. She had heard the gospel many times, but in Sunday School one morning she heard it for the first time with her heart and she prayed to receive Christ.
As the third little girl was presented, I could tell that a "light bulb" came on for Shondi. She recognized the last two little girls as campers from last year at Skipstone. They were sisters, whose grandparents sent them to camp last summer at Skipstone.
As the third little girl began to share her testimony, she confirmed what Shondi was thinking... she recalled praying to receive Christ as her personal Savior while attending camp last summer with her sister!
Now I'm sure this doesn't have the same meaning for you as it did for us, but when you invest your life in something, the "fruit" of that labor brings an overwhelming sense of joy and reassurance that your labor is not in vain. We were so blessed to know that through the ministry of Skipstone, we were able to be a small part of this young girl's life. It's not often that we get to see how the decisions made each Summer at camp end up changing a life or a family.
If I'm honest, I probably wasn't as attentive during the sermon as I should have been. My heart was heavy for the hundreds of other kids out there who are in situations just like that little girl. They live in homes where mom and dad may not be the primary spiritual influence, or maybe they are no spiritual influence at all. Were it not for loving grandparents, who seized the opportunity to invest in the spiritual development of those girls, they may never have come to know Christ.
One thing that most people don't realize about the ministry of Skipstone is that more than a third of our Summer campers come to us on some kind of scholarship. That means that we don't turn children away who can't afford to come to camp. That also means that we are responsible for raising financial support every summer to make that possible. After all, it doesn't cost any us less to house, feed, and provide staff and programs for campers on scholarships.
That being said, we are projecting the need for 250 scholarships this summer. That may not sound like a huge number, but if you do the math it works out to well over $50,000 needed in the next six weeks just to cover the cost of camp for kids like these two little girls.
In the past, we have just absorbed whatever shortfall we have when all of the scholarship funds are in. My heart is heavy that the ministry will not be in a position to do that this year. Unless God's people step up and give generously, we will undoubtedly have to turn some of these kids away this summer.
Now I realize that some of you are thinking "where is your faith? Surely God will provide for those needs!" and your are right. This ministry is built on a foundation of faith. God will meet those needs, and God works through people! We would be foolish and unwise stewards to cripple the ministry of Skipstone by absorbing a $50,000 loss when God has already provided the resources to meet this need. My part is to make the need known. His part is to move the hearts of people to action.
Will $225 for a week of camp really make a difference? It certainly did for those little girls... an eternal difference. Is the need really as great as we say? Here is an email we received this weekend from another loving grandmother.....
Dear Mrs. Moody,
"I am contacting you because I read your story and it truly touched me, just the goodness of God got to me. A couple of years ago I sent my grandson to your camp before it became Skipstone and he counts it as the best thing that ever happened to him in his short life. He is now a ninth grader and lives with us again and boy did he have a tough time before he made it back to us. He's a great kid with so much energy and is open to try new things which I love. Unfortunately, I am disabled and my husband was laid off from the mill so camp is a luxury that we certainly cannot afford but he deserves it, I'd even say he needs it. Do you have any scholarships available? I'll understand if you don't as I know times are very tough but I'm praying you do. I won't mention it to my grandson, so he won't be disappointed if it doesn't work out but I hope it does. Thank you in advance for any consideration given."
Could God be speaking to you about giving a scholarship this summer? Would you be willing to sacrifice $35 worth of "something" (eating out, entertainment, etc) a week for the next six weeks to be a part of making a difference in the life of a child? If you had been sitting where we were sitting Sunday, and had seen the joy on the faces of those little girls, you wouldn't think twice about it!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Something very neat happened while we were at FBC Jonesboro. During the morning worship service, they had three young girls who were baptized. The first was a cute little girl who had to walk on her tip toes to keep her head above the water. She read her testimony of praying to receive Christ as her personal Savior after talking about it with her dad at home.
As they introduced the second girl, I could tell that Shondi was thinking about something. The girl was a little older, and her testimony was that she had been coming to church with her grandparents since she was very young. She had heard the gospel many times, but in Sunday School one morning she heard it for the first time with her heart and she prayed to receive Christ.
As the third little girl was presented, I could tell that a "light bulb" came on for Shondi. She recognized the last two little girls as campers from last year at Skipstone. They were sisters, whose grandparents sent them to camp last summer at Skipstone.
As the third little girl began to share her testimony, she confirmed what Shondi was thinking... she recalled praying to receive Christ as her personal Savior while attending camp last summer with her sister!
Now I'm sure this doesn't have the same meaning for you as it did for us, but when you invest your life in something, the "fruit" of that labor brings an overwhelming sense of joy and reassurance that your labor is not in vain. We were so blessed to know that through the ministry of Skipstone, we were able to be a small part of this young girl's life. It's not often that we get to see how the decisions made each Summer at camp end up changing a life or a family.
If I'm honest, I probably wasn't as attentive during the sermon as I should have been. My heart was heavy for the hundreds of other kids out there who are in situations just like that little girl. They live in homes where mom and dad may not be the primary spiritual influence, or maybe they are no spiritual influence at all. Were it not for loving grandparents, who seized the opportunity to invest in the spiritual development of those girls, they may never have come to know Christ.
One thing that most people don't realize about the ministry of Skipstone is that more than a third of our Summer campers come to us on some kind of scholarship. That means that we don't turn children away who can't afford to come to camp. That also means that we are responsible for raising financial support every summer to make that possible. After all, it doesn't cost any us less to house, feed, and provide staff and programs for campers on scholarships.
That being said, we are projecting the need for 250 scholarships this summer. That may not sound like a huge number, but if you do the math it works out to well over $50,000 needed in the next six weeks just to cover the cost of camp for kids like these two little girls.
In the past, we have just absorbed whatever shortfall we have when all of the scholarship funds are in. My heart is heavy that the ministry will not be in a position to do that this year. Unless God's people step up and give generously, we will undoubtedly have to turn some of these kids away this summer.
Now I realize that some of you are thinking "where is your faith? Surely God will provide for those needs!" and your are right. This ministry is built on a foundation of faith. God will meet those needs, and God works through people! We would be foolish and unwise stewards to cripple the ministry of Skipstone by absorbing a $50,000 loss when God has already provided the resources to meet this need. My part is to make the need known. His part is to move the hearts of people to action.
Will $225 for a week of camp really make a difference? It certainly did for those little girls... an eternal difference. Is the need really as great as we say? Here is an email we received this weekend from another loving grandmother.....
Dear Mrs. Moody,
"I am contacting you because I read your story and it truly touched me, just the goodness of God got to me. A couple of years ago I sent my grandson to your camp before it became Skipstone and he counts it as the best thing that ever happened to him in his short life. He is now a ninth grader and lives with us again and boy did he have a tough time before he made it back to us. He's a great kid with so much energy and is open to try new things which I love. Unfortunately, I am disabled and my husband was laid off from the mill so camp is a luxury that we certainly cannot afford but he deserves it, I'd even say he needs it. Do you have any scholarships available? I'll understand if you don't as I know times are very tough but I'm praying you do. I won't mention it to my grandson, so he won't be disappointed if it doesn't work out but I hope it does. Thank you in advance for any consideration given."
Could God be speaking to you about giving a scholarship this summer? Would you be willing to sacrifice $35 worth of "something" (eating out, entertainment, etc) a week for the next six weeks to be a part of making a difference in the life of a child? If you had been sitting where we were sitting Sunday, and had seen the joy on the faces of those little girls, you wouldn't think twice about it!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Saturday, March 28, 2009
"Reign On My Parade"
The last couple of days have been pretty crazy around here, thus the two day hiatus from blogging.
Shondi and decided to take some time off on Thursday since our weekends have been so busy lately with hosting groups at the camp. I say we took "some time off", because we always end up finding something "work related" to do if we are anywhere near home! We did manage to pull of a lunch date and an hour at the gym together (I know.... seems a little counter-productive doesn't it?). We did enjoy just spending the day together. Our offices are right next to each other, but some days we only cross paths a couple of times in a whole day!
I got a late start Friday because of the rain. When it's raining hard, I try to be a gentleman and shuttle folks from the parking lot to the lobby so they don't have to "swim"! When I finally got to my office, I tried to start blogging, but the "life" switch had already been turned on and my office was a revolving door. After a few failed attempts to focus, I just gave up on blogging and got busy with the day's work.
As I sit here in my office on a quiet Saturday morning, the rain and thunder are singing a song outside my windows. It's funny how much you hear people talking about the rain, or lack of rain, whichever the case my be. The AJC (of which I'm not a big fan) even has a Weather VENT now. It's a place where people can comment on, or complain about, the weather. I happened upon it today and I thought one particular post summed it up pretty well "I love the weather vent. It's the epitome of complaning without any result."
It's amazing what the weather brings out in us and tells us about ourselves. We complain when it's hot and dry in the Summer. We complain when it rains too much, especially if it ruins "our plans" for the day. We complain when it's cold in the Winter (but want it to snow!). We complain about raking the leaves each Fall, and about the pollen that covers our cars in the Spring. We want the weather to "cooperate" with us, so that we can do our thing. If you don't believe it, ask yourself if you've ever said "well if the rain holds off" or "if mother nature will cut us some slack". The reality is that we have all probably complained about the weather at some point in our lives, because it has caused a change in our plans.
As I read that "Weather VENT" this morning, and even thought about how the storms that are forecast for later today are altering my plans, I was drawn to a verse in Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." It's true isn't it? We can plan our day out, schedule out our week, and even strategically map out our future, but it's inevitable that our plans change. One of the phrases used almost daily around Skipstone is "Okay guys, change of plans....".
Life never seems to happen like we plan. Often God allows us to go through storms that alter our course. Sometimes He allows us to find the end of ourselves in the deep waters of circumstances. Occasionally, we may go through dry seasons in our life, when nothing seems to be going right. Often we are distracted by the "pollen"... the residue that rests on us as a result of living in a sinful world.
When we go through those times, our perspective is that God is somehow trying to "rain on our parade"! We wonder why He allows things to happen that mess up our plans. After all, if we are spending time with Him, and attempting to live for Him, doesn't it make sense that He would want to bless our plans?
It all goes back to the thing that God is teaching me about perspective. I can only see what is behind me and where I am right now, and my perspective is limited even in that. But God's perspective is so much different than that. He sees everything in my path, and often He sends a storm, a flood, or a drought to direct my steps to the path that will ultimately be the best for me.
Here is the whisper....It is not God's desire to "rain" on your parade. His desire is to "REIGN" on your parade.
If we will surrender our plans to Him, we'll see the storms for what the really are.... divine interventions sent from the hand and heart of God to direct our steps.
Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Let Him REIGN on your parade today!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Shondi and decided to take some time off on Thursday since our weekends have been so busy lately with hosting groups at the camp. I say we took "some time off", because we always end up finding something "work related" to do if we are anywhere near home! We did manage to pull of a lunch date and an hour at the gym together (I know.... seems a little counter-productive doesn't it?). We did enjoy just spending the day together. Our offices are right next to each other, but some days we only cross paths a couple of times in a whole day!
I got a late start Friday because of the rain. When it's raining hard, I try to be a gentleman and shuttle folks from the parking lot to the lobby so they don't have to "swim"! When I finally got to my office, I tried to start blogging, but the "life" switch had already been turned on and my office was a revolving door. After a few failed attempts to focus, I just gave up on blogging and got busy with the day's work.
As I sit here in my office on a quiet Saturday morning, the rain and thunder are singing a song outside my windows. It's funny how much you hear people talking about the rain, or lack of rain, whichever the case my be. The AJC (of which I'm not a big fan) even has a Weather VENT now. It's a place where people can comment on, or complain about, the weather. I happened upon it today and I thought one particular post summed it up pretty well "I love the weather vent. It's the epitome of complaning without any result."
It's amazing what the weather brings out in us and tells us about ourselves. We complain when it's hot and dry in the Summer. We complain when it rains too much, especially if it ruins "our plans" for the day. We complain when it's cold in the Winter (but want it to snow!). We complain about raking the leaves each Fall, and about the pollen that covers our cars in the Spring. We want the weather to "cooperate" with us, so that we can do our thing. If you don't believe it, ask yourself if you've ever said "well if the rain holds off" or "if mother nature will cut us some slack". The reality is that we have all probably complained about the weather at some point in our lives, because it has caused a change in our plans.
As I read that "Weather VENT" this morning, and even thought about how the storms that are forecast for later today are altering my plans, I was drawn to a verse in Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." It's true isn't it? We can plan our day out, schedule out our week, and even strategically map out our future, but it's inevitable that our plans change. One of the phrases used almost daily around Skipstone is "Okay guys, change of plans....".
Life never seems to happen like we plan. Often God allows us to go through storms that alter our course. Sometimes He allows us to find the end of ourselves in the deep waters of circumstances. Occasionally, we may go through dry seasons in our life, when nothing seems to be going right. Often we are distracted by the "pollen"... the residue that rests on us as a result of living in a sinful world.
When we go through those times, our perspective is that God is somehow trying to "rain on our parade"! We wonder why He allows things to happen that mess up our plans. After all, if we are spending time with Him, and attempting to live for Him, doesn't it make sense that He would want to bless our plans?
It all goes back to the thing that God is teaching me about perspective. I can only see what is behind me and where I am right now, and my perspective is limited even in that. But God's perspective is so much different than that. He sees everything in my path, and often He sends a storm, a flood, or a drought to direct my steps to the path that will ultimately be the best for me.
Here is the whisper....It is not God's desire to "rain" on your parade. His desire is to "REIGN" on your parade.
If we will surrender our plans to Him, we'll see the storms for what the really are.... divine interventions sent from the hand and heart of God to direct our steps.
Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Let Him REIGN on your parade today!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Greater Things Are Yet To Come
I got a great surprise when I opened my email this morning. We've been working on some master site planning for Skipstone for the last several weeks. We are "dreaming out loud" about what we feel God wants the ministry to look like in the next several years. This morning, I got the first preliminary drawing of the main campus. I don't know why it made me so excited..... after all, it's only a piece of paper with some building footprints on it!
I think I'm most excited because now we will have a better tool to use to share with others the vision that God has placed in our hearts for Skipstone. We still have a lot of work to do on the planning, but the anticipation of getting one step closer to moving forward gave me a great jump start to the day!
I wonder how many of us give much thought to the vision that God has for us personally..... do I get as excited about fulfilling God's purpose for my life as I do about ministry and buildings? Do we realize that God has a perfect plan for our lives and that He has equipped us all with abilities and spiritual gifts that are to be used to fulfill that perfect plan?
One of my favorite new worship songs is "You're The God Of This City". It was written by a band from Northern Ireland called Bluetree. The song was born when the group had the opportunity to play in a bar near Bangkok, Thailand as part of a week long ministry effort there. It will be worth your time to read the story of what happened. The thing that I love about the song is that for us personally, in our families, in our occupations, in our relationships, and in our walk with Jesus, GREATER THINGS ARE YET TO COME! What an awesome reminder for all of us.
I came across a video of the song performed by Chris Tomlin. I was moved deeply as I thought about my calling, the vision for the ministry of Skipstone, and how even though the master plan is awesome to me, the MASTER's plans have even greater things ahead for us! I pray that you will realize that's true for every believer today!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
I think I'm most excited because now we will have a better tool to use to share with others the vision that God has placed in our hearts for Skipstone. We still have a lot of work to do on the planning, but the anticipation of getting one step closer to moving forward gave me a great jump start to the day!
I wonder how many of us give much thought to the vision that God has for us personally..... do I get as excited about fulfilling God's purpose for my life as I do about ministry and buildings? Do we realize that God has a perfect plan for our lives and that He has equipped us all with abilities and spiritual gifts that are to be used to fulfill that perfect plan?
One of my favorite new worship songs is "You're The God Of This City". It was written by a band from Northern Ireland called Bluetree. The song was born when the group had the opportunity to play in a bar near Bangkok, Thailand as part of a week long ministry effort there. It will be worth your time to read the story of what happened. The thing that I love about the song is that for us personally, in our families, in our occupations, in our relationships, and in our walk with Jesus, GREATER THINGS ARE YET TO COME! What an awesome reminder for all of us.
I came across a video of the song performed by Chris Tomlin. I was moved deeply as I thought about my calling, the vision for the ministry of Skipstone, and how even though the master plan is awesome to me, the MASTER's plans have even greater things ahead for us! I pray that you will realize that's true for every believer today!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sweatin' With The Oldies
It feels a little weird to be writing my blog at 8am instead on 6am, but it's a necessary part of a new discipline that I'm working through.... it's called exercise! After procrastinating for several weeks, we took the plunge yesterday and joined the gym.
I had my first workout this morning and let's just say that I'm thankful that most people my age aren't at the gym early! While the senior adult couple on the treadmills next to me read the morning paper and hardly broke a sweat, I looked like somebody had thrown me into the club pool! They have a really cool room where you can watch the morning news while you workout. That would be great except I had so much sweat pouring down my face that I couldn't see the TVs. I think I heard them snicker at me a couple of times.
It's been a long time since I put any effort into taking care of my body. It's not so much that I didn't think it was important, just that it wasn't a very big priority in my life in light of everything else I have going on. As I have been praying about priorities, I've become much more aware of the fact that my body needs to be healthy and strong in order to accomplish the vision that God has given us for Skipstone.
I saw a shirt once that said " If our body is the temple, then I'm a mega-church!" That's pretty funny (I almost bought it!), but the truth is that our bodies are the temple of God. He doesn't reside in fancy brick buildings with imported stain glass, He takes up residence in us...."Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
This past weekend, our church had their Middle School D-NOW weekend. The theme was "Locker Room" and they talked about how when big things happen in the locker room, big things happen on the field. The key verse was I Timothy 4:8 "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." A funny thing happened when they ordered the t-shirts for the event.... they came back with the wrong verse! Instead of I Timothy 4:8, they had I Timothy 3:8 "Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain." Needless to say, Eagle's Landing has 250 shirts for sale at a very reasonable price!
As I've thought about this journey of "getting in shape", especially in light of I Timothy 4:8, I'm prayerful about four ideas that will help me physically and spiritually:
1. Attitude - Whether we are getting in shape spiritually or physically, our attitude is critically important. If I see my faith as a list of "do not's" as opposed to a guide for victorious living, I'm not likely to grow very much. If I focus on what I "can't eat" instead of the good stuff I "should eat", the results may be disappointing.
2. Environment - If I want to develop my spiritual life and become a strong Christian, I must choose the right environment. I need to surround myself with people who are striving to do the same, and that love me enough to hold me accountable. The same is true with physical training.... I must drive pass the Krispy Kreme store with the "hot sign" on or I will have a lot more running to do. (incidentally, I found it interesting that an hour in the gym this morning burned about 300 calories... about like cutting one coke out my day....this is not going to be easy!)
3. Intentional - This is one of my words for the year. In every area of my life, I want to be more intentional. Spiritual growth doesn't just happen.... I must be intentional about my time with God. Contrary to what we see on TV, there is no magic way to get in shape... it just requires being intentional about going to the gym or watching what we eat.
4. Commitment - This doesn't require a lot of explanation. Spiritual growth is a direct result of fresh commitments to God in our everyday walk.... surrendering more and more of our life to him. Probably the reason most of us don't get in shape or stay in shape is because we are not committed to it - at least not for the long haul.
I'm looking forward to hearing what God has to say to me in the coming weeks. I know that if I'm not spending time with Him, and tapping into Him as the source of my strength, this gym thing just isn't going to work! I can't do it, but HE can..."...Christ in me, the hope of glory!" Colossians 1:27
Have a BLESSED day and Live For Jesus!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
I had my first workout this morning and let's just say that I'm thankful that most people my age aren't at the gym early! While the senior adult couple on the treadmills next to me read the morning paper and hardly broke a sweat, I looked like somebody had thrown me into the club pool! They have a really cool room where you can watch the morning news while you workout. That would be great except I had so much sweat pouring down my face that I couldn't see the TVs. I think I heard them snicker at me a couple of times.
It's been a long time since I put any effort into taking care of my body. It's not so much that I didn't think it was important, just that it wasn't a very big priority in my life in light of everything else I have going on. As I have been praying about priorities, I've become much more aware of the fact that my body needs to be healthy and strong in order to accomplish the vision that God has given us for Skipstone.
I saw a shirt once that said " If our body is the temple, then I'm a mega-church!" That's pretty funny (I almost bought it!), but the truth is that our bodies are the temple of God. He doesn't reside in fancy brick buildings with imported stain glass, He takes up residence in us...."Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
This past weekend, our church had their Middle School D-NOW weekend. The theme was "Locker Room" and they talked about how when big things happen in the locker room, big things happen on the field. The key verse was I Timothy 4:8 "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." A funny thing happened when they ordered the t-shirts for the event.... they came back with the wrong verse! Instead of I Timothy 4:8, they had I Timothy 3:8 "Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain." Needless to say, Eagle's Landing has 250 shirts for sale at a very reasonable price!
As I've thought about this journey of "getting in shape", especially in light of I Timothy 4:8, I'm prayerful about four ideas that will help me physically and spiritually:
1. Attitude - Whether we are getting in shape spiritually or physically, our attitude is critically important. If I see my faith as a list of "do not's" as opposed to a guide for victorious living, I'm not likely to grow very much. If I focus on what I "can't eat" instead of the good stuff I "should eat", the results may be disappointing.
2. Environment - If I want to develop my spiritual life and become a strong Christian, I must choose the right environment. I need to surround myself with people who are striving to do the same, and that love me enough to hold me accountable. The same is true with physical training.... I must drive pass the Krispy Kreme store with the "hot sign" on or I will have a lot more running to do. (incidentally, I found it interesting that an hour in the gym this morning burned about 300 calories... about like cutting one coke out my day....this is not going to be easy!)
3. Intentional - This is one of my words for the year. In every area of my life, I want to be more intentional. Spiritual growth doesn't just happen.... I must be intentional about my time with God. Contrary to what we see on TV, there is no magic way to get in shape... it just requires being intentional about going to the gym or watching what we eat.
4. Commitment - This doesn't require a lot of explanation. Spiritual growth is a direct result of fresh commitments to God in our everyday walk.... surrendering more and more of our life to him. Probably the reason most of us don't get in shape or stay in shape is because we are not committed to it - at least not for the long haul.
I'm looking forward to hearing what God has to say to me in the coming weeks. I know that if I'm not spending time with Him, and tapping into Him as the source of my strength, this gym thing just isn't going to work! I can't do it, but HE can..."...Christ in me, the hope of glory!" Colossians 1:27
Have a BLESSED day and Live For Jesus!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Monday, March 23, 2009
"Encouragement Encounters"
We had an amazing and extremely busy weekend at Skipstone. Liberty Hill Church of Canton and Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church of Atlanta both had retreats here this weekend, which we facilitated ziplines for at 10:00pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.
We also took six of our staff to Eagles Landing FBC to facilitate recreation and team building for over 200 middle school students as a part of their Disciple Now weekend. It was a very challenging weekend, but it was awesome to know that we were a small part of the great work God did in the hearts of young people. We know of at least 57 students who prayed to receive Christ as their personal savior this weekend.
We spent time on Sunday after church with a young couple who feels that God is calling them into camp ministry. We enjoyed a nice lunch together and just spent some time encouraging one another in the ministry.
That brings me to what's on my heart this morning... the wonderful ministry of encouragement. While not everyone we meet is unkind or rude, meeting an encourager is becoming a rare thing. If you want an interesting lesson on encouragement, take a note pad along with you for a week and jot down the times someone speaks a word of encouragement to you. My guess is that most of us could get by with only an index card on which to chronicle our "encouragement encounters" and would still have room to list on our own attempts to encourage someone else.
It might amaze you the same way it amazed me when I took a quick look to see what God's word has to say about encouragement. Throughout scripture, we find hundreds of references related to the ministry of encouragement. One of the most notable is found in Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
If we could ever grasp that one verse, it would be transformational in our lives, but "building up others" is so contrary to our flesh that we are far more prone to build up ourselves than to consider the needs of others. Even more sad is the reality that we often tear down or criticize others in the process of building up ourselves. We are indeed selfish people!
As I've prayed through this today, I've considered what I need to do in order to become a better encourager. I think the first step is to realize the power of our words. Proverbs 18:21 says "The tongue has the power of life and death". Life & death..... seriously? I don't think most of us consider the reality that every word that proceeds from our mouth either speaks life or speaks death. On the other hand, can't you remember a time when even the smallest, seemingly insignificant words of "death" or discouragement spoken to you injured you in way you didn't think was possible? The old adage the "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" could not be further from the truth!
Once we realize the power of our words, we must adopt an Ephesians 4:29 "filter" through which every word we speak is filtered. In other words, is what I am about to say going to pass the test? Is is wholesome? Is it helpful? Will it build the other person up? Will it meet their needs? Is it beneficial for them? If I'm honest, that kind of "filter" would cripple my ability to communicate.... so much of what I say is just rubbish! I just don't see how I can discipline myself to that point.
Which brings me to my last step.... we must recognize that becoming an encourager doesn't start with our tongues or our mouths, it starts with our hearts. What comes out of or mouths starts in our hearts, so we need to get this right at the source. Matthew 15:18 says "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'." This is great news to me..... because I have already recognized the condition of my heart. I join Jeremiah in calling it what it is "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" Jer. 17:9
I know my heart, but I also know who resides in my heart! The same Jesus who took up residence in my heart when I surrendered my life to Him as a young man is the source of strength that I need in order to surrender my thoughts and words through the filter of His word each day. John 15:5 "..apart from me you can do nothing."
So here's the challenge.... when is the last time you spoke a word of encouragement to someone. How long has it been since you sent an email to encourage a brother or sister in Christ? Are you guilty of bypassing the Ephesians 4:29 filter and speaking unwholesome words that tear down and discourage?
Although I remember a lot of the words of "death" that have been spoken to me over the years, I've overcome a lot of that pain by the words of "life" that people have spoken to me too. I have a file in my desk filled with hundreds of cards and letters of encouragement that students, friends, relatives, and even strangers have sent me through the years. When I get discouraged and think ministry just isn't worth it, I open that file and I'm reminded of the opportunities that God has given me to make a difference, and how those that I took the time to encourage have now become a source of encouragement to me.
Each one of us knows someone who needs a word of encouragement today. Let's choose to be encouragers and be a part of building someone up in Christ today!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
We also took six of our staff to Eagles Landing FBC to facilitate recreation and team building for over 200 middle school students as a part of their Disciple Now weekend. It was a very challenging weekend, but it was awesome to know that we were a small part of the great work God did in the hearts of young people. We know of at least 57 students who prayed to receive Christ as their personal savior this weekend.
We spent time on Sunday after church with a young couple who feels that God is calling them into camp ministry. We enjoyed a nice lunch together and just spent some time encouraging one another in the ministry.
That brings me to what's on my heart this morning... the wonderful ministry of encouragement. While not everyone we meet is unkind or rude, meeting an encourager is becoming a rare thing. If you want an interesting lesson on encouragement, take a note pad along with you for a week and jot down the times someone speaks a word of encouragement to you. My guess is that most of us could get by with only an index card on which to chronicle our "encouragement encounters" and would still have room to list on our own attempts to encourage someone else.
It might amaze you the same way it amazed me when I took a quick look to see what God's word has to say about encouragement. Throughout scripture, we find hundreds of references related to the ministry of encouragement. One of the most notable is found in Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
If we could ever grasp that one verse, it would be transformational in our lives, but "building up others" is so contrary to our flesh that we are far more prone to build up ourselves than to consider the needs of others. Even more sad is the reality that we often tear down or criticize others in the process of building up ourselves. We are indeed selfish people!
As I've prayed through this today, I've considered what I need to do in order to become a better encourager. I think the first step is to realize the power of our words. Proverbs 18:21 says "The tongue has the power of life and death". Life & death..... seriously? I don't think most of us consider the reality that every word that proceeds from our mouth either speaks life or speaks death. On the other hand, can't you remember a time when even the smallest, seemingly insignificant words of "death" or discouragement spoken to you injured you in way you didn't think was possible? The old adage the "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" could not be further from the truth!
Once we realize the power of our words, we must adopt an Ephesians 4:29 "filter" through which every word we speak is filtered. In other words, is what I am about to say going to pass the test? Is is wholesome? Is it helpful? Will it build the other person up? Will it meet their needs? Is it beneficial for them? If I'm honest, that kind of "filter" would cripple my ability to communicate.... so much of what I say is just rubbish! I just don't see how I can discipline myself to that point.
Which brings me to my last step.... we must recognize that becoming an encourager doesn't start with our tongues or our mouths, it starts with our hearts. What comes out of or mouths starts in our hearts, so we need to get this right at the source. Matthew 15:18 says "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'." This is great news to me..... because I have already recognized the condition of my heart. I join Jeremiah in calling it what it is "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" Jer. 17:9
I know my heart, but I also know who resides in my heart! The same Jesus who took up residence in my heart when I surrendered my life to Him as a young man is the source of strength that I need in order to surrender my thoughts and words through the filter of His word each day. John 15:5 "..apart from me you can do nothing."
So here's the challenge.... when is the last time you spoke a word of encouragement to someone. How long has it been since you sent an email to encourage a brother or sister in Christ? Are you guilty of bypassing the Ephesians 4:29 filter and speaking unwholesome words that tear down and discourage?
Although I remember a lot of the words of "death" that have been spoken to me over the years, I've overcome a lot of that pain by the words of "life" that people have spoken to me too. I have a file in my desk filled with hundreds of cards and letters of encouragement that students, friends, relatives, and even strangers have sent me through the years. When I get discouraged and think ministry just isn't worth it, I open that file and I'm reminded of the opportunities that God has given me to make a difference, and how those that I took the time to encourage have now become a source of encouragement to me.
Each one of us knows someone who needs a word of encouragement today. Let's choose to be encouragers and be a part of building someone up in Christ today!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Blog I Didn't "Feel" Like Writing
Anyone who has ever attempted to keep up a "journal" or "blog" of any kind will probably tell you that there are days when your heart is so full that you can't wait to put it on paper (or online in the case of blogging). There are also days when you dread sitting down to blank sheet of paper (or an empty screen) because you just don't "feel" like doing it for whatever reason.
Today, I fall into the category of the latter.... I really just don't "feel" like blogging today. The last couple of days have been particularly stressful. I'm hurting for some friends who are struggling in a big way financially. I have friends in ministry who are in the midst of battles that I'm concerned about. I'm a little overwhelmed with all that is on my plate (OK..... more like a "LOT" overwhelmed!) I'm intimidated by what I believe God has planned for Skipstone, and wonder if I'm up for the task. I'm struggling to keep my priorities in order in regards to my daily walk, my family, the ministry, and the other commitments that I have. To put in plainly.... "I" am the problem!
Whenever I get to days like today, I always think of my "Mama Betty", my grandmother on my father's side of the family. She was one of the godliest people I ever knew. I can not remember one unkind word spoken from her lips. I'm sure that she had days like today, but I don't think a single person ever knew about them.
She was a fountain of encouragement to me every single minute that we spent together. She believed in me when I thought no one else did. She made me feel like I could do anything. She demonstrated the principle of "loving others more than you love yourself" to me and to everyone around her.
She walked with God. She loved her family. She faithfully served God as a pastor's wife for more than four decades. She never let her circumstances interfere with her calling. She kept her priorities in order. She was a Proverbs 31 woman: "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
One of the biggest life lessons I learned from "Mama Betty" is that we can't live this life based on we "feel". I should probably clarify that... we can't live this life victoriously based on how we "feel". How we "feel" is solely based on our flesh...on how WE view and interpret what's going in our life and circumstances. If we attempt to walk through this life trying to live victoriously based on how we "feel", we just end up being a bunch of frustrated believers, of little use to the work of the Kingdom.
So what's the answer? I can't ignore how I "feel" right? After all, everything I mentioned that is on my heart is real. God created us with feelings, and I feel all sorts of different emotions about these things. Am I wrong?
I believe that "feelings" have their place in our lives, even in our spiritual lives. It's often our feelings that move us to action. If I feel threatened, I fight or run (usually run). If I feel a burden for something or someone, I often act to ease it. If I feel like I have been wronged, I'm apt to try to resolve the situation. If I'm happy or excited, I dance (not really, but thinking about it makes me smile).
The point is... our feelings are real and can be useful to our spiritual growth. The key is that we must lay what we "feel" alongside what is "real". What is "real" is always a better guide than what we "feel". When we put them side by side, the "real" brings what we "feel" into check, and truth is born. Truth brings peace and hope, and suddenly our "feelings" are more about the anticipation of what God is doing than about our circumstances.
When I "feel" alone, I need to lay that alongside the "real" promise of God from Deuteronomy 31:8 "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
When I "feel" scared, I need to lay that alongside the "real" promise of God from Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,Father.""
The list goes on and on, but the principle is the same... the truth of God's word is the fulcrum on which we balance what we "feel" and what we know is "real"!
How's your balance today?
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Today, I fall into the category of the latter.... I really just don't "feel" like blogging today. The last couple of days have been particularly stressful. I'm hurting for some friends who are struggling in a big way financially. I have friends in ministry who are in the midst of battles that I'm concerned about. I'm a little overwhelmed with all that is on my plate (OK..... more like a "LOT" overwhelmed!) I'm intimidated by what I believe God has planned for Skipstone, and wonder if I'm up for the task. I'm struggling to keep my priorities in order in regards to my daily walk, my family, the ministry, and the other commitments that I have. To put in plainly.... "I" am the problem!
Whenever I get to days like today, I always think of my "Mama Betty", my grandmother on my father's side of the family. She was one of the godliest people I ever knew. I can not remember one unkind word spoken from her lips. I'm sure that she had days like today, but I don't think a single person ever knew about them.
She was a fountain of encouragement to me every single minute that we spent together. She believed in me when I thought no one else did. She made me feel like I could do anything. She demonstrated the principle of "loving others more than you love yourself" to me and to everyone around her.
She walked with God. She loved her family. She faithfully served God as a pastor's wife for more than four decades. She never let her circumstances interfere with her calling. She kept her priorities in order. She was a Proverbs 31 woman: "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
One of the biggest life lessons I learned from "Mama Betty" is that we can't live this life based on we "feel". I should probably clarify that... we can't live this life victoriously based on how we "feel". How we "feel" is solely based on our flesh...on how WE view and interpret what's going in our life and circumstances. If we attempt to walk through this life trying to live victoriously based on how we "feel", we just end up being a bunch of frustrated believers, of little use to the work of the Kingdom.
So what's the answer? I can't ignore how I "feel" right? After all, everything I mentioned that is on my heart is real. God created us with feelings, and I feel all sorts of different emotions about these things. Am I wrong?
I believe that "feelings" have their place in our lives, even in our spiritual lives. It's often our feelings that move us to action. If I feel threatened, I fight or run (usually run). If I feel a burden for something or someone, I often act to ease it. If I feel like I have been wronged, I'm apt to try to resolve the situation. If I'm happy or excited, I dance (not really, but thinking about it makes me smile).
The point is... our feelings are real and can be useful to our spiritual growth. The key is that we must lay what we "feel" alongside what is "real". What is "real" is always a better guide than what we "feel". When we put them side by side, the "real" brings what we "feel" into check, and truth is born. Truth brings peace and hope, and suddenly our "feelings" are more about the anticipation of what God is doing than about our circumstances.
When I "feel" alone, I need to lay that alongside the "real" promise of God from Deuteronomy 31:8 "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
When I "feel" scared, I need to lay that alongside the "real" promise of God from Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,Father.""
The list goes on and on, but the principle is the same... the truth of God's word is the fulcrum on which we balance what we "feel" and what we know is "real"!
How's your balance today?
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
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