I was perusing website the other day, compliments of a like-minded friend of mine, and came across a number of articles that set me off. This one in particular caught my attention because of the subtlety of its deceit. Most people can spot blatant falsehood, and therefore I find a great necessity to speak out concerning falsehood that is not so blatant. What makes this hard is that due to the less obvious nature of the falsehood, I run the risk of tossing grace to the side and saying “thus saith the Lord” when the Lord has not said thus. But in this case, I feel I am justified in this written form of my anger. For reference, you can read the article for yourself HERE.
My first point is not especially critical to me, however it is something that annoys me from time to time when people say it. The writer says “Sunday is a very important day. It is the Lord’s Day and is when so much spiritual work is accomplished in the lives of God’s people as well as the unconverted.” I hate this. Not that God does work in people’s lives on Sundays, but that Sunday is so often set apart as “God’s day” as if God doesn’t really work as much throughout the other days of the week. Sure, it’s the day when Pastor preaches. Sure it’s the day when we all congregate. These are great things. But 1. The church should be congregating on their own in brotherly love, biblically, any and every day of the week. And 2. The day the Word is preached is no better than the days that the Word is lived out or experienced on a more personal level through the reading of the individuals. In short, Sunday is NOT set apart as the Lord’s day. Every day is set apart the Lord’s day.
Second, he blames Sunday ill spirits on the devil: “Satan wants to affect my attitude so as to affect the preaching of the Word of God.” The devil is not ultimately responsible. Too many people attribute their sins to the devil, when in reality it’s just their own immoderate, unchecked flesh. And this flesh continues to go unchecked as long as you think it’s the devil pushing you over the edge. Does the devil go throughout the earth seeking to devour? Yes. But I really believe that most of our sins are not due to his involvement. They are due to our own futility. Isn’t it the heart of man that is deceitful and desperately wicked? So stop blaming the devil.
This is just from the introduction. And granted, I think the author has good intentions for writing this article. Doubtless he wants pastors to be the best they can be when they are preaching the Word. But my problem is with his foundations. One of these foundations is the level of involvement the devil has on our attitudes. I think he is over the top. Like I said above, I believe that our own heart has a far greater affect on our attitudes than the devil does.
That said, you can see where the rest of this is coming from.
The author suggests several points throughout the article that emphasize running from any external influence that might aggravate your spirit. But is it not better to have the kind of spirit that is not so easily aggravated in the first place? Are you seriously angered to the point that you can’t properly minister the Word because you can’t find your belt or shoes? Then you’ve got problems! The author is right that “Preparation brings confidence.” But sometimes things happen that are beyond the control of our preparations. These times are “tea bag” times. They are the hot waters that reveal what’s inside of us. If that is ugly, then you are the one with the problem, not Satan. And this I believe is the overwhelming false premise of this article. Reactions come from within, initiated by things that are without. They are not initially caused by what is outside of us. Reference my previous blog about immaturity and moderation for more on this. Most of the points this author makes are actually pretty good points…if you’re living according to the flesh. They are good external restraints. But they are external restraints that overlook the power of the flesh and the need for a deeper spiritual walk.
The second great fallacy of this article is very emphasis of a few of his points. He’s basically saying “stay away from people.” Really? In order to handle the Word effectively I have to stay away from people because they might exacerbate my attitude? Put on your man pants (or, gird up your loins). Stop being so delicate, because it’s ruining your cross-centered ministry. And if I’m not mistaken, the same Word tells us to be intimately involved with people. The same Word emphasizes personal exhortation, not proper pulpit pounding. Being personally involved with people, pointing them towards Christ, is your first priority. Not the pulpit. The pulpit is great, and we need to hear a properly divided Word. But this cannot be separated from being personal! Referencing point 6, no conversation is “unnecessary.” Even the casual ones are necessary. Every conversation is a chance to edify, even the ones that start out about yesterday’s game or the weather. Your tactic is not to flee conversations that might distract you from God’s Word, but to be the kind of person who reflects God’s Word even during these conversations.
So, in conclusion, tend to your relationship with Christ rather than cover up your personal failures with these boundaries.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Moderation.
I think that a sign of maturity is an increased tendency to show moderation. I think of college kids who consistently drink their hearts out, run up their credit card bills with incessant expenditures, and drown out homework with their insatiable thirst for video games. Not to mention social interaction (which varies in degrees of morality). Why is this problem with moderation such a popular problem in college? Because college, for many, is a place where immaturity goes mostly unchecked and their lifestyles are moderated by nothing better than the wind.
But college students are not my primary focus. I use them as an example of moderation being a soul mate of maturity. Moderation is an issue from birth until death. My one-and-a-half year old daughter does not know when to stop eating snacks, and neither do many adults. They simply will not moderate themselves. The ability to say “no” to one’s self is a sure sign of some sort of maturity. On the flip side, the inability to say “no” is a sure sign of some sort of immaturity. And this moderation is not just something that deals with food and drink, but a plethora of life issues. Take anger for example. Some people cannot moderate their anger. Is this related to a chemical imbalance? Maybe it is sometimes, but probably not in your case. I believe it is mostly a sign of immaturity. You may be good at business, a great pastor, extremely intelligent, or awesome working with people. But if you cannot moderate your emotions, you yet have immaturity to deal with. If you always take things personally, you struggle moderating your emotions. You allow your emotions to convince you of whatever they say.
I would here define immaturity as it pertains to this lack of moderation as the inability to react to your surroundings in any way other than what comes naturally according to the flesh. 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 shows that maturity is something that surpasses the natural man: “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” Paul paints a beautiful picture of maturity in Philippians 3:12-21. He speaks of “pressing on” and an “upward call.” He calls the “mature” to do the same, rather than minding earthly things like those who make their belly to be their god. Who is this person? The person who follows natural passions. This same person is the person whose end is destruction. But we have a higher calling. Maturity is not just a social attainment. It is not graduating to the adult table at thanksgiving gatherings. It is not earning a master’s degree in something awesome, getting married and having kids, or being voted in as an elder by the laying on of hands. Maturity, as defined by Hebrews 5:14, is trained discernment which distinguishes between good and evil, aka being “skilled in the word of righteousness.” It separates between the natural and the spiritual and chooses what is spiritual. Now this “skillfulness” is not a skillfulness that is attained through college Bible degrees or becoming efficient in the arena of blogs, commentaries, Bible versions, Greek, Hebrew, public speaking, management, or any other element attainable by any human whether lead by the Spirit or not. This skillfulness is not known by the things of the flesh. It is only known by those in a thriving walk in the Spirit.
Paul uses his own personal example as an illustration of moderation in 1 Corinthians 9. In Verses 25-27 he tells us that he practices self-control in all things. He does everything he does deliberately. He does not just let himself “be Paul” and follow every feeling and desire. He says this would disqualify him. And perhaps this disqualification would not necessarily be because of one thing in particular that he did that got him “kicked out of the race.” But just like any athlete, if your lifestyle is not conducive to a victorious run, you will never be the type of person who is going to do well. You will never accomplish anything worthwhile, at least not to the extent that you are intended to had you lived in the Spirit and mastered your flesh. While accomplishment does not bring a Spirit filled life, a Spirit filled life will undoubtedly bring accomplishment of some sort. And I believe a lot of Christians are living mediocre lives because they simply are not mature due to following what is natural for them to feel and do.
“Be yourself” is certainly a trendy saying these days. The saying has even made it into a 7up slogan: “Be refreshing. Be yourself. Be 7up.” While there is truth that can be applied to “be yourself,” ironically enough, I’m sure the saying, inhibited by the flesh, has also kept many from coming to know Jesus. I’m not talking about people are not accepting Christ because of the philosophy. I’m talking about Christians not winning other people to Christ because they are more into “being themselves” (natural) than being the redeemed (spiritual). Don’t get me wrong…I believe you should express yourself in the way God made you. You should let your personality shine. But I believe that the only goodness found in this is if you are walking in the Spirit Who makes all things new, Who redeems the fallen and sanctifies the chosen. There is nothing good about your personality if its fruits are bitter, rotten, and useless. But this is what our expressionistic culture is emphasizing. Even if you are immoral and evil or even just an average floater who just wants to get by, as long as you stay true to who you are and accept yourself, you’re good to go. And Christians are adopting this philosophy.
The truth is this: Christ takes you in. Christ loves you. If you are born again, then Christ has redeemed you and set you free to be you without reproach. You once were lost and condemned buy now you are found and received. Nothing will separate you from the great love of God. But Christ’s intent is to renew you day in and day out! You cannot glory in your immaturity (fleshliness) and say you are an active disciple of Christ at the same time. But yet we justify our emotional instability or our gluttony (of food and of all other immoderate indulgences). These are the very things that are keeping us from maturing in Christ. These are the very things that are keeping us from knowing fullness in Christ.
So examine your steps – do you find yourself lacking moderation in various areas of your life? TV? Internet (not just the cites, but the frequency)? Food? Cell phone? Other types of addictions? Well, there really is one answer. Follow Paul as he follows Christ. Say no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit. Practice this day in and day out. Simply put, but seemingly impossible to do! But that’s where consistency joins the battle. No athlete ever won because he woke up early one day, did his 50 push-ups and sit-ups, jogged around the block, and then went out and took a Marathon by storm. Spiritual maturity is found in being unnatural. In other words, being who you are in Christ. Claiming your new identity and forgetting those things which are behind you. That is, the things of the flesh.
I’ve gotten a little off-topic. But I had to talk about the flesh. You can’t discuss moderation properly without talking about the flesh.
We could go on and on about how moderation affects the very details of our lives. Spiritual growth includes moderation. Moderation affects our money and time management, shopping experiences, parenting, marriage, emotional stability, daily activities, diet, and an abundance of other facets of our lives. So many of our problems could be bypassed if we’d only walk in the Spirit! We do not need therapy for these areas of our lives. We need the Gospel that gives us a new life in Christ and consistently reminds us of this life and enables us to live this life day by day – the Spiritual life!
But one must still ask the question: “What’s the difference between spiritual moderation and fleshly moderation?” Doubtless there are many people outside-the-camp that live moderate lives, right? Sure there are. Just like how there are unsaved individuals who love their families and neighbors. There is a part of us that can still reflect God’s nature in which we were created. But I would say the difference is this: while you can be planted and watered in the flesh, you remain fleshly until God gives the increase. If you are the redeemed, God will give a flesh-mystifying increase to your life. There will be an effectual swell in both the inner man and the outer affects of your work because God is working for you. Isn’t that amazing? God works for you, in you, and through you unto His glory. God doesn’t do this for anybody else. He gives you His increase. Justifying our immaturity is like turning down a stock that has a consistent past of high return on your investment. Of course in this case it is God which works in us both to will and to do His pleasure. Even better. He gives us the money and then gives us the world’s greatest stocks. So tell me again, why do we wallow in the defeated shame of our immature flesh?
I think that a sign of maturity is an increased tendency to show moderation. I think of college kids who consistently drink their hearts out, run up their credit card bills with incessant expenditures, and drown out homework with their insatiable thirst for video games. Not to mention social interaction (which varies in degrees of morality). Why is this problem with moderation such a popular problem in college? Because college, for many, is a place where immaturity goes mostly unchecked and their lifestyles are moderated by nothing better than the wind.
But college students are not my primary focus. I use them as an example of moderation being a soul mate of maturity. Moderation is an issue from birth until death. My one-and-a-half year old daughter does not know when to stop eating snacks, and neither do many adults. They simply will not moderate themselves. The ability to say “no” to one’s self is a sure sign of some sort of maturity. On the flip side, the inability to say “no” is a sure sign of some sort of immaturity. And this moderation is not just something that deals with food and drink, but a plethora of life issues. Take anger for example. Some people cannot moderate their anger. Is this related to a chemical imbalance? Maybe it is sometimes, but probably not in your case. I believe it is mostly a sign of immaturity. You may be good at business, a great pastor, extremely intelligent, or awesome working with people. But if you cannot moderate your emotions, you yet have immaturity to deal with. If you always take things personally, you struggle moderating your emotions. You allow your emotions to convince you of whatever they say.
I would here define immaturity as it pertains to this lack of moderation as the inability to react to your surroundings in any way other than what comes naturally according to the flesh. 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 shows that maturity is something that surpasses the natural man: “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” Paul paints a beautiful picture of maturity in Philippians 3:12-21. He speaks of “pressing on” and an “upward call.” He calls the “mature” to do the same, rather than minding earthly things like those who make their belly to be their god. Who is this person? The person who follows natural passions. This same person is the person whose end is destruction. But we have a higher calling. Maturity is not just a social attainment. It is not graduating to the adult table at thanksgiving gatherings. It is not earning a master’s degree in something awesome, getting married and having kids, or being voted in as an elder by the laying on of hands. Maturity, as defined by Hebrews 5:14, is trained discernment which distinguishes between good and evil, aka being “skilled in the word of righteousness.” It separates between the natural and the spiritual and chooses what is spiritual. Now this “skillfulness” is not a skillfulness that is attained through college Bible degrees or becoming efficient in the arena of blogs, commentaries, Bible versions, Greek, Hebrew, public speaking, management, or any other element attainable by any human whether lead by the Spirit or not. This skillfulness is not known by the things of the flesh. It is only known by those in a thriving walk in the Spirit.
Paul uses his own personal example as an illustration of moderation in 1 Corinthians 9. In Verses 25-27 he tells us that he practices self-control in all things. He does everything he does deliberately. He does not just let himself “be Paul” and follow every feeling and desire. He says this would disqualify him. And perhaps this disqualification would not necessarily be because of one thing in particular that he did that got him “kicked out of the race.” But just like any athlete, if your lifestyle is not conducive to a victorious run, you will never be the type of person who is going to do well. You will never accomplish anything worthwhile, at least not to the extent that you are intended to had you lived in the Spirit and mastered your flesh. While accomplishment does not bring a Spirit filled life, a Spirit filled life will undoubtedly bring accomplishment of some sort. And I believe a lot of Christians are living mediocre lives because they simply are not mature due to following what is natural for them to feel and do.
“Be yourself” is certainly a trendy saying these days. The saying has even made it into a 7up slogan: “Be refreshing. Be yourself. Be 7up.” While there is truth that can be applied to “be yourself,” ironically enough, I’m sure the saying, inhibited by the flesh, has also kept many from coming to know Jesus. I’m not talking about people are not accepting Christ because of the philosophy. I’m talking about Christians not winning other people to Christ because they are more into “being themselves” (natural) than being the redeemed (spiritual). Don’t get me wrong…I believe you should express yourself in the way God made you. You should let your personality shine. But I believe that the only goodness found in this is if you are walking in the Spirit Who makes all things new, Who redeems the fallen and sanctifies the chosen. There is nothing good about your personality if its fruits are bitter, rotten, and useless. But this is what our expressionistic culture is emphasizing. Even if you are immoral and evil or even just an average floater who just wants to get by, as long as you stay true to who you are and accept yourself, you’re good to go. And Christians are adopting this philosophy.
The truth is this: Christ takes you in. Christ loves you. If you are born again, then Christ has redeemed you and set you free to be you without reproach. You once were lost and condemned buy now you are found and received. Nothing will separate you from the great love of God. But Christ’s intent is to renew you day in and day out! You cannot glory in your immaturity (fleshliness) and say you are an active disciple of Christ at the same time. But yet we justify our emotional instability or our gluttony (of food and of all other immoderate indulgences). These are the very things that are keeping us from maturing in Christ. These are the very things that are keeping us from knowing fullness in Christ.
So examine your steps – do you find yourself lacking moderation in various areas of your life? TV? Internet (not just the cites, but the frequency)? Food? Cell phone? Other types of addictions? Well, there really is one answer. Follow Paul as he follows Christ. Say no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit. Practice this day in and day out. Simply put, but seemingly impossible to do! But that’s where consistency joins the battle. No athlete ever won because he woke up early one day, did his 50 push-ups and sit-ups, jogged around the block, and then went out and took a Marathon by storm. Spiritual maturity is found in being unnatural. In other words, being who you are in Christ. Claiming your new identity and forgetting those things which are behind you. That is, the things of the flesh.
I’ve gotten a little off-topic. But I had to talk about the flesh. You can’t discuss moderation properly without talking about the flesh.
We could go on and on about how moderation affects the very details of our lives. Spiritual growth includes moderation. Moderation affects our money and time management, shopping experiences, parenting, marriage, emotional stability, daily activities, diet, and an abundance of other facets of our lives. So many of our problems could be bypassed if we’d only walk in the Spirit! We do not need therapy for these areas of our lives. We need the Gospel that gives us a new life in Christ and consistently reminds us of this life and enables us to live this life day by day – the Spiritual life!
But one must still ask the question: “What’s the difference between spiritual moderation and fleshly moderation?” Doubtless there are many people outside-the-camp that live moderate lives, right? Sure there are. Just like how there are unsaved individuals who love their families and neighbors. There is a part of us that can still reflect God’s nature in which we were created. But I would say the difference is this: while you can be planted and watered in the flesh, you remain fleshly until God gives the increase. If you are the redeemed, God will give a flesh-mystifying increase to your life. There will be an effectual swell in both the inner man and the outer affects of your work because God is working for you. Isn’t that amazing? God works for you, in you, and through you unto His glory. God doesn’t do this for anybody else. He gives you His increase. Justifying our immaturity is like turning down a stock that has a consistent past of high return on your investment. Of course in this case it is God which works in us both to will and to do His pleasure. Even better. He gives us the money and then gives us the world’s greatest stocks. So tell me again, why do we wallow in the defeated shame of our immature flesh?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I’ve been doing some thinking about the subject of “real life.” I’ve held many conversations with people about this subject, and generally those conversations are recollections of past situations where we felt there may have been some excessive sheltering or brainwashing going on, or in some way our surroundings were not what we preferred our life to be comprised of. We felt needlessly restricted. We felt like captives in one way or another. After a lengthy description of that life, the conversations turn the page to the chapter entitled “but then I entered REAL life.” I was thinking about the meaning of “real.” Were we incorrectly defining “real” during those conversations? Was it just a matter of semantics? I will be dealing with “dreams” and “real life” in a fairly broad sense, as I do not want to paint everyone’s picture. Make your own strokes on the canvas.
I think that I have had a bit of right and a bit of wrong in those discussions. What I am now realizing about my involvement in those conversations is that I was complaining way too much about something that was merely one season in a life that includes many seasons. Perhaps my ideals were and are correct. Perhaps the situation I was in was truly incorrectly guided by the institutions involved. But where do we find it really necessary to complain? Would I really have come to hold to what is ideal if I had not endured those seasons of life?
Bringing it back to the discussion of “real life” more specifically, I think we all have dreams about what we envision reality to look like, and a lot of those dreams generally are things that are not a part of present reality. And there is nothing wrong with dreaming. I believe God has created us to be creative - to create and develop our lives and to pursue progress. I believe that we are essentially built to build. And dreams are the first step. However, dreamers are often complainers. Complainers because their dreams are still nothing but dreams. How they think things should be is not how things are. They begin to feel that their proposed utopia is the only way where things are acceptable.
And I must say that I think I have a lot of dreams and visions for how things should be in various arenas of life. And here is where I find myself getting discouraged. I want things to be in order the way I order it. Often I find myself discouraged and discontent because what I want my life to be comprised of seems so far away. I begin to lose sight of all the good that God has already formed into my life. I complain about things of the past – a past that was handcrafted by God for my proper development. My present is where my past has brought me. And my present will take me to a future that God has already mapped out. “Real life” is the life God has already given you. You do not need to seek another reality. My wife often tells me “be fully where you are.” This is great advice. We must remember that fulfilling our dreams does not make life better. Only God is the author of our story. We need to be fully committed to whatever life God has us in right now. But do not forget that you are a creative being. Maybe our creativity will not bring us to build the second Eiffel Tower or have several pieces in the Louvre or write the next big novel series worthy of Hollywood. But our creativity, enabled and developed by God (and only trifled with by our own laziness) is just enough to be who we are meant to be in any season of life. Do you have dreams? Then press toward their fulfillment. Maybe things don’t always turn out the way we want them to. Maybe our situation isn’t ideal. But be the influence God has developed you to be in the situation He has put you in. Show the passion that everyone else is afraid to show. Say the things that everyone else probably thinks but is too afraid to say. If anything you will stir waters that need to be stirred. And sometimes that is enough. Sometimes the plan for our life is to be a water stirrer. It’s amazing what the broad, long term affects can be when waters are consistently stirred. Sure, maybe your immediate vision does not become anything. But you have done a lot more good than you think because you’ve gotten people thinking. You’ve gotten people accustomed to seeing someone show passion for something. And no matter your situation, passion is viral. It’s just a matter of time. And passion gets things done. Nobody cares what you have to say if you don’t show passion and put feet to your passion. You’ve seen it in various churches time and time again. It doesn’t matter what your pastor says. If he doesn’t seem to care that much about it, then it means very little to you. On the flip side, maybe you pastor just has one simple thing he wants to get across. It’s not studied out through hours of preparation. But it’s something he’s got a passion for. That is what you are prone to connect with. You aren’t going to connect with a message that, while perhaps put together professionally with all the historical background, exegetical enlightenment, and systematic development, still lacks genuine, unprocessed, unpracticed passion.
This is the person you should be. Spiritualize “grab life by the horns.” Put your back into it. Get serious about Christ. Get real with God. Get passionate about His kingdom. Get reconnected with your family. Get intimate with your church. Get involved in your surrounding community. Your consistency in these areas will grow over time, and as it does you will begin to realize that real life has been around you all along, and the ability to develop your dreams into reality has always been right there in front of you. It was just hiding behind all your complaining, laziness, and insecurity in your relationship with God - and His relationship with you.
I think that I have had a bit of right and a bit of wrong in those discussions. What I am now realizing about my involvement in those conversations is that I was complaining way too much about something that was merely one season in a life that includes many seasons. Perhaps my ideals were and are correct. Perhaps the situation I was in was truly incorrectly guided by the institutions involved. But where do we find it really necessary to complain? Would I really have come to hold to what is ideal if I had not endured those seasons of life?
Bringing it back to the discussion of “real life” more specifically, I think we all have dreams about what we envision reality to look like, and a lot of those dreams generally are things that are not a part of present reality. And there is nothing wrong with dreaming. I believe God has created us to be creative - to create and develop our lives and to pursue progress. I believe that we are essentially built to build. And dreams are the first step. However, dreamers are often complainers. Complainers because their dreams are still nothing but dreams. How they think things should be is not how things are. They begin to feel that their proposed utopia is the only way where things are acceptable.
And I must say that I think I have a lot of dreams and visions for how things should be in various arenas of life. And here is where I find myself getting discouraged. I want things to be in order the way I order it. Often I find myself discouraged and discontent because what I want my life to be comprised of seems so far away. I begin to lose sight of all the good that God has already formed into my life. I complain about things of the past – a past that was handcrafted by God for my proper development. My present is where my past has brought me. And my present will take me to a future that God has already mapped out. “Real life” is the life God has already given you. You do not need to seek another reality. My wife often tells me “be fully where you are.” This is great advice. We must remember that fulfilling our dreams does not make life better. Only God is the author of our story. We need to be fully committed to whatever life God has us in right now. But do not forget that you are a creative being. Maybe our creativity will not bring us to build the second Eiffel Tower or have several pieces in the Louvre or write the next big novel series worthy of Hollywood. But our creativity, enabled and developed by God (and only trifled with by our own laziness) is just enough to be who we are meant to be in any season of life. Do you have dreams? Then press toward their fulfillment. Maybe things don’t always turn out the way we want them to. Maybe our situation isn’t ideal. But be the influence God has developed you to be in the situation He has put you in. Show the passion that everyone else is afraid to show. Say the things that everyone else probably thinks but is too afraid to say. If anything you will stir waters that need to be stirred. And sometimes that is enough. Sometimes the plan for our life is to be a water stirrer. It’s amazing what the broad, long term affects can be when waters are consistently stirred. Sure, maybe your immediate vision does not become anything. But you have done a lot more good than you think because you’ve gotten people thinking. You’ve gotten people accustomed to seeing someone show passion for something. And no matter your situation, passion is viral. It’s just a matter of time. And passion gets things done. Nobody cares what you have to say if you don’t show passion and put feet to your passion. You’ve seen it in various churches time and time again. It doesn’t matter what your pastor says. If he doesn’t seem to care that much about it, then it means very little to you. On the flip side, maybe you pastor just has one simple thing he wants to get across. It’s not studied out through hours of preparation. But it’s something he’s got a passion for. That is what you are prone to connect with. You aren’t going to connect with a message that, while perhaps put together professionally with all the historical background, exegetical enlightenment, and systematic development, still lacks genuine, unprocessed, unpracticed passion.
This is the person you should be. Spiritualize “grab life by the horns.” Put your back into it. Get serious about Christ. Get real with God. Get passionate about His kingdom. Get reconnected with your family. Get intimate with your church. Get involved in your surrounding community. Your consistency in these areas will grow over time, and as it does you will begin to realize that real life has been around you all along, and the ability to develop your dreams into reality has always been right there in front of you. It was just hiding behind all your complaining, laziness, and insecurity in your relationship with God - and His relationship with you.
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