LIFEpoint

Bouncing Back

2011-12-21T11:49:00.000-06:00

A Culture of Growth

2011-10-10T09:34:00.000-05:00

Haven't You Any Fish?

2011-05-09T11:33:00.001-05:00

John 21:1-9 records an encounter of the disciples with Jesus shortly after His resurrection. Several of the disciples had decided to go fishing one evening but, after a long night of work they caught nothing. As they approached the shoreline, Jesus was there waiting. He called out and asked them, “Haven’t you any fish?” He then instructed them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. They did and caught a great many fish that morning.

Jesus said that He came to offer each of us “life to the full.” Yet we often fail to experience the peace, fulfillment and abundance He offers. Like the disciples, we strive and toil all night long. We work hard to advance in our career, raise a loving family and stay faithful to God. But in the end we seem to be left with little to show for it. But the disciples did realize abundance after all. One simple instruction from Jesus made all the difference.

The ability to hear from God is an essential factor in experiencing the life Jesus came to offer us. Most of us rarely recognize God speaking to us. We are, therefore, left to blindly work and toil for very little. The reason most of us fail to hear from God is because we do not recognize when and how He is trying to speak to us.

In verse four we discover that the disciples did not realize it was Jesus telling them to throw their nets on the other side. Imagine how frustrated the disciples must have felt—many of whom were professional fisherman—after a long night of fruitless fishing to hear some strange guy telling them to simply cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Yet they followed this silly instruction and were greatly rewarded.

Over the years I have found that God often uses people we are most frustrated with to speak to us. Think about someone you are currently frustrated with, annoyed by or frankly angry at. Consider this for a moment: what if God is trying to speak something totally life changing to you through that person? It may not necessarily be advice that person has, but simply God attempting to teach something to you through your experience with that person. Are you prepared to hear God through them?

The obvious question here is why would God choose to speak to us that way? Well, looking again at the disciples experience we should consider how incredibly humbling it must have been as professional fisherman to take advice from a stranger on the shore. But after all they had been through, pride was no longer an issue for them. They were prepared to hear God in any way He saw fit.

If hearing God is essential to experiencing the full life Christ offers us, swallowing our pride is absolutely necessary to hear His voice. Consider once again that person in your life you are frustrated with. Ask God to open your heart to what He wants to speak to you or teach you through that person. Remember, one simple instruction from Jesus can totally change your life.

Who is It You Are Looking For?

2011-04-28T16:39:00.001-05:00

In John 20:10-18 we learn how Mary Magdalene meets Jesus on the morning of His resurrection. She and some of the other disciples went to the tomb and found that it was empty. The others eventually went home and left Mary there by herself. While outside the tomb she suddenly encountered Jesus, but she didn’t know it was Him. She thought it was a gardener. Jesus knew that she was unaware who He was, but didn’t directly reveal Himself. Never passing on a moment to teach He asked her, “Who is it you are looking for?”

I think Jesus asks each one of us the same question at some point in our walk with Him. Who is it we are really seeking? Mary wasn’t able to recognize Jesus standing before her because she was looking for a dead teacher instead of a risen Savior. She had predetermined what Jesus was and what to expect from Him. Her false expectation caused her to miss His presence.

We all tend to project upon Jesus what we want Him to be for us. For some He is primarily an intergalactic Santa Claus that comes to bring us never-ending gifts and blessings. For others he is the master masseur here to grant us a life of unending comfort and peace. Still others see Him as a cosmic cheerleader here to encourage us and bolster our self-esteem. While Jesus certainly can be those things to us, He is so much more.

When we predetermine what we want Jesus to be for us, we fail to recognize Him most of the time. When the blessings don’t seem to be there, when our world seems frustrating and difficult or we are discouraged by life Jesus becomes nonexistent all of a sudden. Yet He is still standing right in front of us and has never left. We are the ones who have lost sight of Him.

Jesus came to transform and empower us to become what we were originally created to be—like our Father. This is a much greater role than simply cheering us up when we’re down or making us comfortable. When life doesn’t go as we planned, we must learn to recognize Jesus at work around us instead of lashing out in frustration or giving up. He is standing right there finishing the good work He started in you. When we allow Jesus to be who He is, we never lose sight of Him no matter the situation. Even better, we can begin working in concert with Him instead of against Him.

Who is it you are looking for today? Have the circumstances of your life caused you to lose sight of Him? Ask God to open your eyes to the risen Savior today. He’s standing right before you!

Churches That Heal

2011-04-01T16:58:00.001-05:00

Last month I preached at our church's Sunday morning service about the need for churches to be a place where people can find healing and wholeness. I believe they can and should be that for every person who desires to be made whole through Christ. It begins, however, with those who are already in church. Most of the members of any church are serving and sinking at the same time. This is because they have replaced being made whole with activity and service.

Codi & Rachel Duet

2011-04-01T16:16:00.000-05:00

Imprisoned by the Immediate

2010-11-11T13:50:00.002-06:00

Stuck in a Rut

2010-09-14T13:40:00.003-05:00

Last month I preached at our church here in Highlands. I spoke about how we get stuck spiritually and can go months, even years without growing in our faith and walk with Christ. I believe God desires that we continually move forward in our faith and fruit throughout our life. I focused on three main ruts that trap us and how to get moving forward again.

Border Mission Trip

2010-07-09T11:48:00.007-05:00

On Sunday, June 27, our church headed to the border with Mexico for a week of missions. We set out to do a week of Vacation Bible School at the Church of Acts in Elsa, TX. We met in an old high school gymnasium that the city allows the church to use. The first day we only had about 20 kids come. But by day two we had over 50. 16 kids made decisions for Christ. Two more made decisions at the teen rally we held Monday night. Praise the Lord! It got a bit hot at times, but everyone remained dedicated to our mission.

We also brought a trailer load of clothes to give out to those in need. The need is tremendous on the border, especially in the colonia's. They are very grateful for the help. The kids really needed the clothes for school coming up soon. Thanks to all who donated.
Finally, we quickly constructed a covering for the church building's front doors. Rain frequently leaked into the church through the front doors, so the covering was much needed. Construction began Monday morning and was completed Tuesday at noon. A very quick job!
We had planned to stay through Thursday, but we were forced to leave after lunch on Tuesday because of hurricane Alex. God blessed us despite the short trip. The rain and winds started picking up as we left, concerning us about those we were leaving behind. Everyone is okay after the storm went through, and more were added to the Kingdom.

I Thought it was Supposed to be Easy

2010-06-17T15:36:00.005-05:00

This Sunday I preached at our church here at First Baptist Highlands. You've probably wondered at some point why being a believer can be so challenging. Even worse is that it seems unbelievers have it easier. Why is it that those who don't even consider obeying God seem to have an easier life? Jeremiah had the same thoughts in his day as well. He was so frustrated that he questioned God's justice and why the wicked live at ease. Yet Jesus invites us to take up His yoke because it is easy. How can Christ's yoke be easy when it seems unbelievers are the ones that live at ease? There was an issue with the sound feed so it is not your computer.

Common Questions of Kingdom Leaders (pt1)

2010-06-02T13:01:00.031-05:00

As you walk with Christ, you will start becoming more and more conscious of the despair and lostness in the world around you. The more you investigate, the more you will discover the depth and breadth of the brokenness and death that consumes so many families, communities and entire nations. The magnitude of the problem can quickly become overwhelming. This often provokes us to question: Can I really make a difference?

This is a question Kingdom leaders have been asking for thousands of years. The biblical story of Nehemiah can help us find answers to this nagging question. The story of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-2:6) takes place about 450 years before Christ. Jerusalem had been completely destroyed about a century before and many of its inhabitants carried off to serve the conquering king. Nehemiah was a descendant of those exiles and was serving as the cupbearer to the king of Persia.

One day, Nehemiah’s brother came back from visiting Jerusalem and reported how the city was still in ruins and its people were destitute and defeated. The report so moved Nehemiah that he mourned, fasted and prayed for many days. Despite his position of servitude, Nehemiah was willing to see far beyond himself and his situation. The willingness to look beyond yourself is critical to making a difference for the Kingdom. How much of your thoughts and prayers are devoted to matters beyond your immediate situation? Are you willing to peer beyond your concerns and consider the brokenness of others?

As Nehemiah was praying for Jerusalem, he began to remind God of the purpose that He had for His people. Certainly the current condition of Jerusalem and its people was not God’s desire for them. As Nehemiah observed the situation, he expressed a desperate longing for God’s purpose to be manifested in his homeland. A desperate longing for God’s purpose will propel you to be a difference maker as well. You and I can only make a difference for the Kingdom when we become obsessed with accomplishing God’s purpose in the world around us. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10). How desperate are you to see God’s purpose accomplished in our world and the Devil’s defeated? If not very much, ask God to develop a longing in your heart for His purpose.

The king of Persia began to notice that Nehemiah was depressed as he was carrying out his duties. He quizzed Nehemiah about his melancholy demeanor, so Nehemiah bravely explained the cause of his despair. By taking this bold action, Nehemiah was risking his life. No king would want to have his administration of a vassal state questioned, and certainly not from a foreign cupbearer. But the King was touched by Nehemiah’s passion and released him to travel to Jerusalem and oversee its rebuilding. Becoming a difference maker will require you to take risks for the cause of Christ as well. We are not expected to change everything, but we can change something. What are you willing to risk to see the purposes of God manifested in our world? The constant demand for safety and comfort will severely impede your Kingdom potential.

You and I CAN make a difference in our world just as Nehemiah did in his. We, like Nehemiah, must be willing to look beyond ourselves, develop a longing for God’s purpose and begin taking action where we are. Remember God’s promise that each one of us CAN do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Phil 4:13).

Who Gets Into Heaven?

2010-05-20T17:25:00.037-05:00

A curious invention has taken hold in the American religious melting pot. It’s something relatively new in human history. It is the widely held belief that heaven is a place where all “good” people go. We see it in our media, our politics and even in many churches. The belief suggests that if a person lives a reasonably good life they will ultimately make it to paradise. So dominant is this view that most Americans give little thought to what’s actually in store for them after death. The problem is that there is no mention in the Bible or by Jesus that good people go to heaven. According to the Bible and Jesus, heaven is not a place for good people, but for the humble. Even more fascinating is that no major religion in the world teaches that good people go to heaven. With all their varied formulas for entrance into eternal paradise, none suggest that simply being good is good enough.

The Biblical story of the criminals who were crucified next to Jesus provides the clearest understanding of who will be accepted into heaven and who will not (Luke 23:32-43). Jesus was flanked on either side by genuine criminals who were justly convicted. One criminal humbly cried out to Jesus and begged for His mercy. Jesus replied by promising him a place in paradise. The other criminal arrogantly mocked Jesus. He in turn received no promise of paradise. So we're afforded a real-life illustration from Jesus as to whom He will and won’t accept into heaven.

Yet the view that all good people get into heaven is so dominant that it demands an explanation why it must be false. To understand why only the humble and not the good get into heaven, we have to understand what heaven is like. Most of the sins that currently trip us up will not be an issue in heaven. You can’t hurt anyone since our glorified bodies will not be subject to pain or decay. Lust won’t be an issue because reproduction will not be a function of our new bodies. Theft and envy won’t consume us because we will have everything we could possibly want. You couldn’t lie because everyone would know the truth. There will be no special relationships like family, marriage or other authorities in heaven, therefore, relational strife won’t be an issue as we will all live in total equality and unity. Nor will our glorified bodies be susceptible to the addictions that destroy so many in this life.

Yet there is one particularly nasty sin that is an issue even in heaven. That sin is pride. Pride led the archangel Lucifer to lead a rebellion against God that ultimately got him kicked out of heaven. And pride is what will keep us from getting into heaven. Heaven’s primary concern is not our goodness, but our humility. This is why a mass murderer who humbly cries out to God in a prison cell will find himself in paradise one day. But your neighbor down the street who is the nicest guy you know and would do anything for anyone, but has never humbled himself before God will not.

Our most important task is to overcome pride. That can only be accomplished by humbling ourselves before God. We do that by confessing our belief in and need for His Son, Jesus Christ. By bowing our knee to Him and confessing our need for a savior, we can rid our life of the one sin that matters most in heaven. Pride.

Losing Ground and Gaining Speed

2010-05-18T10:39:00.016-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to preach at our church during the Sunday morning service. I spoke about the frustrating setbacks we seem to encounter all to often in our lives. The title Losing Ground and Gaining Speed is actually a lyric from my favorite artist, Jon Foreman. I think it sums up the feeling most of us have experienced at some point when it seems the harder we try, the farther behind we get in life. I focussed on how we get into this place, how to get out, and, most importantly, how to avoid getting there to begin with.