Imagine Warren Buffet’s personal assistant called your friend one day and told him that the famous investor wanted to personally teach your friend the secrets of financial success. What if the offer included personal investment advice with a guarantee that your friend would dramatically improve his lifestyle by becoming more prosperous, successful and influential? Now imagine that your friend told the personal assistant that he would be happy to learn from Mr. Buffet provided the billionaire first dressed more culturally relevant, listened to popular music, would speak common street jargon, would relate his teachings to popular television and film, and would post catchy memes on popular social media sites. Continue reading “The Warren Buffet Guide to Church Culture”
FGS: A Christian Plague?
I see it all the time. If you hang around church people, odds are, you do too. I’m talking about FGS. If my experience is indicative, it is one of the most prolific, unhealthy and damaging conditions in all of the Christian community.
Like a chronic health condition we learn to ignore, the signs of FGS are subtle and seemingly benign to those desensitized by years of exposure. To the unconditioned non-Christian or the sensitive believer, however, the manifestations are alarming, confusing, and can result in observer’s attempts to avoid God and His followers completely. Continue reading “FGS: A Christian Plague?”
Don’t Lose Hope
What is Hope?
HOPE is a word that is often thrown around lightly: “I hope my plane is on time,” “I hope the Patriots win the Super Bowl,” “I hope the weather warms up.” It seems we spend a lot of time hoping for things we have little or no control over and little-to-no assurance that what we hope for is actually going to happen. Praise the Lord, our relationship with God doesn’t have to – be like this.
The kind of hope the Bible talks about is very different from the one above. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for hope is defined as “confidence, security and without care (no doubt)” In the New Testament, the word for hope denotes “trust”. Doesn’t that sound much better than the kind of hope most of our culture has?
“Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.” – Proverbs 13:13 (MSG)
The Foundation of Your Faith
There’s an old story that speaks to the heart of tradition and one of the challenges inherent with it.
One day a young girl was spending time with her mother learning how to cook. Wondering why her Mother cut the roast in half and cooked it in two pans, she inquired. The Mother thought for a moment and said, “I’m not really sure, that is the way my Mom taught me, so I have always done it that way as well. Let’s give Grandma a call and ask her.” Continue reading “The Foundation of Your Faith”
Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 7: Humility & Pride
With the arrival of the last installment in the Jesus Judo series, we come to Humility and Pride. In case you have missed any along the way, all of the parts of this series along with hundreds of other teachings are on my website at www.restorethepaths.com. To make sure you don’t miss any future blogs, please sign-up here.
In this series we have already looked at the first six of the ancient seven deadly sins and the corresponding seven Christian virtues: Chastity / Lust, Temperance / Gluttony, Charity / Greed, Diligence / Sloth, Patience / Wrath and Envy / Kindness. We also provided an Introduction to Jesus Judo and the Law of Opposite Actions at the very beginning. Today we finish up. Continue reading “Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 7: Humility & Pride”
A Few Lessons From Billy Graham
Many people inside and outside the church feel a great sense of loss with the passing of, perhaps, the greatest Evangelist since the Apostle Paul. Even at the age of 99 – and long past his active ministry days – his loss is still deeply felt by millions around the world.
I believe it is only appropriate to take a break from our series to briefly honor this man who has impacted so many. Though days could be spent reminiscing all that he was and all that he accomplished, I have narrowed the list down to seven things that all of us would do well to imitate. Continue reading “A Few Lessons From Billy Graham”
Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 5: Patience & Wrath
After our brief excursion into Love Land last week in preparation for Valentine’s day, we continue our discipleship training in the area of “overcoming evil with good.”[1] (aka Jesus Judo). So far, we have studied four of the seven virtues and deadly sins recognized by the Church for over a millennium and a half. We have considered Chastity & Lust, Temperance & Gluttony, Charity & Greed, and Diligence & Sloth. Today is all about Patience and Wrath. Continue reading “Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 5: Patience & Wrath”
Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 3: Charity & Greed
In the introduction to Fast Forward 2018, we looked at how “Jesus Judo” can be used to turn the devil’s attacks against him. In part one, we discussed the seven Christian Virtues and seven Deadly Sins. We began with the first virtue – Chastity – and its opposing sin – Lust. Part two examined the second set in the virtues/sins list; Temperance and Gluttony. Today in part three, we will delve into Charity and Greed. Continue reading “Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 3: Charity & Greed”
Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 2: Temperance & Gluttony
In our introduction to Fast Forward 2018, we looked at how “Jesus Judo” can be used to turn the devil’s attacks against him. In part 1, we discussed the seven Christian Virtues and seven Deadly Sins that evolved between the fourth and sixth centuries and has been widely recognized in the church ever-since. We began with the first virtue – Chastity – and its opposing sin – Lust. This time we move down the list to number two. Continue reading “Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 2: Temperance & Gluttony”
Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 1
In our introduction to Fast Forward 2018, we looked at how the law of opposite actions a.k.a. “Jesus Judo” can be used to turn the devil’s attacks against him. This week we begin looking at some specific areas where the principles of Jesus Judo can be used to transform culture into Kingdom. In the most famous prayer of all time, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Continue reading “Fast Forward 2018 – Jesus Judo Part 1”