Word of the Week - Gratitude

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

The word Gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness.  Gratitude encompasses all of these meanings.  Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for our blessings.  With gratitude, we acknowledge the goodness in our lives.  No matter our circumstance in life, there is always something to be thankful for.  I think the key to gratitude is to always be looking for the goodness and blessing in life, and making a point to acknowledge our blessings.  As believers, we recognize that the source of our blessings is the Lord.  I love this song by Brandon Lake titled “Gratitude” you can listen by clicking this link Gratitude Song .

An attitude of gratitude is a key to healthy living.  There have been many scientific studies by some of the most world’s most respected health organizations including Harvard Health, Mayo Clinic, National Association of Mental Health to name a few.  They have determined that Gratitude is a key to healthy living.  Check out this New York times article from June 8, 2023, titled “Gratitude Really is Good for You.  Here’s what the Science Shows” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/well/mind/gratitude-health-benefits.html  Our level of Gratitude is directly correlated to our health physically, mentally and emotionally.  God our Creator knew what He was talking about in Thessalonians 5:28 when He said “Give thanks to God in all circumstances”.

How do we foster Gratitude in our lives?

Know God and recognize who we are in Christ:

If we truly understand who we are in Christ, that we are adapted as His sons and daughters who have full access to His kingdom.  That we are co-heirs with Jesus to the Kingdom of God and all of the benefits.  That we will live in fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in heaven for eternity.  This is very exciting news that should fill our hearts with gratitude since we really did nothing to deserve this, we simply gave our hearts to God and trusted Him.  “For those who are lead by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children”.

Recognize and value those who have helped us along the way:

Thank God that He set things up for us to do life with others as a community of believers.  We are much better together as a body of Christ each with different and unique gifts and personalities.  None of us can do this life successfully without others.  It is important that we take time out to show our sincere appreciation by recognizing those who have helped us along the way.  “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others”. Romans 12:5  

Count our blessings Daily and show sincere appreciation for those who are in our lives:

We should make it a habit each day when we wake up in the morning and throughout the day, to simply thank God for His grace and the simple blessings of life.  Make a list of things you are grateful for 100 questions for gratitude from NYT Article.  We should not take for granted things like family and relationships and the ability to go out and enjoy the day and use our talents to influence the world and make a honest living.  As bad as things can seem at times, there is always a silver lining if we take time to look for it. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”. James 1:17

I am Grateful for you!  Have a great week!

-Duane

Word of the Week - Serenity

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Serenity

The definition of Serenity is a state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled regardless of your circumstance.  Having Serenity allows us to stay calm, present, and true to our core values during tumultuous life experiences. It is an ability to surrender control of circumstances to God while taking responsibility and ownership for our part.  Serenity and the peace that comes from experiencing serenity is an antidote to stress and anxiety. “This will bring health to your body and nourishments to your bones” Proverbs 3:8

Walking in Serenity

“Lord, I pray you would give me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that need to be changed and the wisdom to discern one from the other”.  I am not sure exactly who originated the prayer in its current form but my brief research implies it was originated in 1932 by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who according to “Wikipedia” is reported to have used the prayer as the last part of a longer prayer.  Nonetheless, it has been used by many faith-based and civic organizations & programs over the years, especially for people who are working to overcome addictions.  I know this simple prayer has helped millions of people over the years find peace, freedom, and Serenity. 

Personal Application of Serenity Prayer

This prayer has been a go to for me as long as I can remember, and has served as a foundational prayer I draw upon when I am facing the challenging circumstances of life.  I was first introduced to the prayer by my father-in-law, Bill Dore’ over 35 years ago.  He is a very successful entrepreneur and has mentored me over the years in life and business.  I remember him quoting the serenity prayer way back in the day in the context of a business, acknowledging that there are some things in life that we simply should accept as reality, and then discern our role and responsibility in dealing with the challenge or circumstance we are facing. I have placed my faith and trust in God through this prayer many times over the past 35 years through many life challenges.  I have used it often in our business over the past 25 years.  As an M&A deal transaction advisor, we are dependent upon many factors (capital markets, family dynamics, financial performance, personal moods and motivations etc.) outside of our control for a deal to close.  It is typically a binary outcome where if the deal either closes we get paid a success fee, but if it doesn’t close, we don’t get paid our success fee even though we put in the work, which is typically thousands of man hours.  This can be costly and quite discouraging.  This is why I love and use the Serenity prayer and encourage our team in this prayer.  So much so that the Serenity prayer is hanging on the wall in our conference room at the office.    

Surrender and Trust

The most important element to finding Serenity is placing our trust in God and believing that He knows best and desires what is best for us. “If God is for us, who can be against us” Romans 8:31 Serenity is a byproduct of surrender.  When we know and trust God we can surrender by faith and experience the peace and serenity that comes; “The peace of God that transcends understanding, that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6 We are simply acknowledging who God is and who we are.  It is so amazing that God desires for us to partner with Him.  He has a role for each one of us in His great plan for mankind, but we must not forget that it is His plan and not ours.  When we are walking in this truth under the covering of Jesus, we experience peace and serenity.  “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

Eternal Perspective

A few years back I discovered the second part of the Serentiy Prayer, which I had never heard before:

“Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace, Taking, as He did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that He will make all things right, If I surrender to His will, That I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next”

We all desire to experience peace and serenity during our time on this earth, and I believe that the Lord desires this for us.  But the reality is that we live in a fallen world, so the things of earth typically do not work out perfectly.  Having an eternal perspective allows us to recognize that the hardships of this life are what are refining us into the image of Christ.  There is purpose in the pain.  As we put our hope and trust in Jesus, we realize that the things of eternity, beyond our life on earth, are what really matter. This helps us in managing our expectations while we are here.  So, we can be “reasonably happy” while here, and look forward to being “supremely happy” with Jesus for eternity. 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

I pray you experience Serenity that comes from knowing and trusting the Lord.

-Duane

Word of the Week - Good Name

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver and gold” Proverbs 22:1

What is Reputation?  By definition it is the overall quality or character of a person as seen or judged by people in general; recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability; a perception of public esteem or regard; good or bad name. Our personal reputation is what is implied when people hear our name mentioned.  What do they immediately think about us?  In the context of a “Good name” it speaks to your integrity and character from a moral and ethical standpoint.  Essentially it is what you are all about; the essence of who you are from an outside perspective.  The same is true for organizations such as businesses, schools/colleges and ministries. 

The Value of a Good Name – Our reputation is most valuable because it becomes the premise for our interactions with others.  Our reputation precedes us.  This means people have heard things about us before they actually meet us, and typically have formed some type of opinion about us.  It may be positive, or it could be negative.  Our reputations can be influenced in many ways and sometimes it may be unfairly influenced by hearsay, gossip, and rumors, that are not accurate.  I am sure we have all experienced situations where we had a certain view about someone by reputation then when we met them and got to know them, we experienced something different then what we heard or thought.  The bottom line is that our interactions and all we do and say over time, our track record, builds our reputation.  Some people inherit a good name from their parents or grandparents, and thus have the privilege and responsibility to uphold their family name and reputation.  Most others build a good name by reputation over the course of time.  It can take a lifetime to build a good reputation and it can take just a few bad decisions or mishaps to undermine a good name.   “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation and only one bad deed to lose it”  Benjamin Franklin

Our identity and reputation in Christ – When we are born of the spirit of God, we are transformed into a new creation in Christ and our identity is planted in Christ.  We still have issues and a sin nature, but our hearts are made new.  As we pursue our relationship with Jesus through abiding in Him daily John 15:5, God’s values become our values and our lives begin to look different as we are sanctified and bear the fruit of God’s spirit.  We recognize that we are living for something much bigger.  We are not just representing ourselves and our family’s name, which is important and meaningful in its own right, but we are representing Jesus and our heavenly family, His Church.  In joining God’s family, we are held to a much higher standard as professing believers, especially as leaders.  The stakes are much higher because our “reputation” can influence people towards are away from faith and how they see and know us really matters.  “Keep your behavior excellent among gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation”. 1 Peter 2:12 This can be a bit overwhelming, especially to new and young believers and rightly so.  If we try to do it in our own strength it is very challenging, but if we pursue the Lord daily and depend upon Him through daily abiding, He gives us what we need to walk in His light.  He continues to do His good work inside each of us to produce good fruit in us and through us.  Over time our lives become an overflow of what God is doing inside of us, which leads to a godly life and Good name/reputation.

Image vs Reputation – A good name is of great value, and we should live with this top of mind as we walk out our day to day lives and interactions.  That being said, God’s word tells us that we must check our motives.  “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven”.  Matthew 6:1 Are we focused on an audience of one?  Are we motivated by our love and desire to please the Lord our God?  Or, are we motivated to please others “man” and keep a good image.  This is a question we need to be asking ourselves often, especially in today’s world of social media where so many measure success by how many “likes” they can get from others.  This is always a temptation for us as we all desire to be liked and win favor with others.  Our reputation should be built on the foundation of our true character, who we really are on the inside.  What we do when no one is watching.  If we are building our reputation by managing our image through impressions and perceptions, we may be building our Good name on a poor foundation, sandy soil.  We should care about our image, but not build our reputation from it.  As believers, our reputation should first be built on a foundation in Christ.  His values should be our values.  Secondly, it is built on who we are and how we live; simple principles like honesty, integrity and dependability.  Like coach John Wooden said “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Being true to God first and then to yourself is key to building a Good Name that is true and authentic.  “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” Matthew 5:16  This should be our motivation, to have our lives glorify the Lord.

Be encouraged and have a great week!!!!

-Duane

Word of the Week - Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and we can taking nothing out of it….But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  1 Tim 6:6-12

Labor Day is an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated in the late 1800s during one of America’s most challenging chapters during the height of the Industrial Revolution.  There was much achieved by our young and ambitious country at the expense of many.  During that time the average American worked 12-hour days seven days a week to eke out a basic living.  Many of these folks had no choice because they were simply trying to survive and they had the grit to do whatever it took.  Today the pendulum has seemed to have swung the other way with a culture fraught with apathy and entitlement.  God put us on this earth first and foremost to know and love Him and each other (great commandment), and secondly to be productive and purposeful.  This is godly contentment.

Contentment

So what is contentment?  The world generally defines contentment as a quality or state of being satisfied with your portion and condition in life.  This definition is mostly geared towards the physical or material state of being.  The biblical definition of contentment goes beyond the physical realm and focuses on our internal condition and perspective.  Godly contentment is much more focused on the condition of our heart and soul.  Are we at peace with God and our eternal condition?  “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” Ecclesiastes 4:6

Contentment in all Circumstances

Saint Paul spoke clearly about his amazing contentment in the face of many external trials and challenges in Philippians 4:11-12 “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want“.  I am convinced that if we receive the gift of internal contentment through our hope and trust in God, it will permeate into our external lives allowing us to find contentment in all things and situations, which is truly a blessing that we all desire.  That being said, our Western values and self-focused culture of materialism and social media makes it very easy for us to get sucked into the swamp of envy and discontentment, which at its core leads to discontentment.  It is clear that God has called His people to a life marked by contentment.  So how do we gain godly contentment and extricate ourselves from the pervasive appeals of our materialistic culture?  We seek godly purpose and contentment!!!

Godly Contentment vs. Worldly Ambition

“Better one handful with tranquility than two hands full with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6 This has always been an interesting and challenging topic for me.  On one hand, I love the ideal of the American Dream and grew up believing that personal ambition was a very good characteristic that gave me the drive to pursue and achieve my dreams.  I learned early in my life/career that too much ambition if not tempered with godliness and contentment can lead to destruction.  I almost lost everything (wife, family, health) during my mid to late 20’s because I was so ambitious and insecure.  Through the pain of this experience, called the school of hard knocks and by the grace of God, I discovered the amazing gift of godliness with contentment in my early 30’s and it has been life changing.  It is a beautiful thing when we come to the realization that God is our provider and He is truly the one that we should be striving to honor and please.  Most importantly that He has a plan and purpose for our lives that is way bigger and better than our own, and if we submit and align to His plan for our lives, we can live with godly contentment that Paul describes in Philippians 4 above.  This is an amazing sweet-spot where we are living to our full potential by using our gifts and talents to the full while at the same time keeping our lives in good and healthy order.  This does not mean that it is easy and we don’t give it our full effort, it simply means we are doing what God created us to do.  In this place, we can sustain high performance for long periods because we are working from our gifting.  If we “Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness” Matthew 6:33, then we find godly contentment and will flourish.  Divine order leads to divine blessing which produces godly contentment.

Am I content? – This is a question I ask myself often.  I believe it comes down to trusting God and truly believing He is sovereign and has made me for a purpose.  Knowing I am a son of the living God, and my name is written in the lamb’s book of life.  This allows us to live secure with our identity grounded in our relationship with Jesus resulting in a positive eternal perspective that foster godly contentment. 

The following are 3 questions that can help us gauge our level of godly contentment:

• Gratitude – Is my default a heart of gratitude or a heart of discontent? Do I see God’s hand and blessing in my life even in the challenging circumstances?

• Rest – Am I able to rest and practice Sabbath?  Do I recognize God as my provider an trust He knows and has what is best for me and my family?

• Being Present – Am I able to live in the present moment and enjoy the here and now, or am I always living in the future or questioning the past?

“Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil – this is a gift from God”.  Ecclesiastes 5:19

Have a great Labor Day…..

-Duane

Word of the Week - Healing

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:2-3

We just completed 21 days of prayer yesterday. This is a season of prayer where our church hosts morning prayer at 6am for 21 days.  During this recent prayer season, we had record attendance with thousands of people showing up at 6am seeking the Lord through fervent prayer.  There was lots of intense prayer around healing.  Additionally, I was with my friend Ed Kobel from Tampa, FL this week.  Ed leads an Abiding Ministry that encourages and trains believers to abide/connect with the goal to hear from God, John 15:5.  Ed has an amazing story.  Just 4 years ago he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and experienced a miraculous healing.  He also shared with me about his sister-in-law who was recently healed from late-stage brain cancer.  She was put on hospice back in April of this year and given a few weeks to live.  He was praying for her in his time of abiding and heard God prompt him to host a prayer meeting for her.  He called her and asked her if she would be willing to participate in a healing prayer service, and she said yes.  They called the meeting at her home and followed what James 5:14-16 outlines below. The next week she got a scan and was found 100% cancer free.  The doctors were perplexed and had no explanation.  This was 4 months ago, and she is doing great.  This led her to give her life to Christ!!!!  Hearing this healing testimony raised my faith and prompted me to share this “Word of the Week” on Healing.  I hope this encourages you as much as it encourages me.  

God our Healer - There are many benefits to a relationship with the Lord Jesus but one powerful benefit that seems to be overlooked by many Christians is the gift of Healing. We all have areas of our lives that have dis-ease and need healing.  Whether we are struggling with physical, mental, emotional, relational or spiritual brokenness, our God wants to bring us healing.  In Exodus 15:26 God introduces Himself as Jehovah- Rapha, “the Lord who heals.”  The word Rapha means “to heal, to cure, to restore and make whole”.  By calling Himself Jehovah-Rapha, He is saying, Healing is what I am”.  Our God is the Great Physician.  Wholeness and restoration is what God desires for us in all areas of our lives.  Nothing that causes pain or suffering in our lives is above the healing touch of Jesus.  The key to receiving healing in our lives is first to accept and receive the fullness of God’s grace and forgiveness through the blood that He shed on the cross, this is salvation.  “He (Jesus) Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds we have been healed” 1 Peter 2:24  Once we believe on Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can then trust in Him for His healing power.    

Scriptural truths related to healing – God is sovereign and can heal anyone at any time whether they ask Him or not.  That being said there are a few things in scripture that God prescribes to those who are seeking a healing touch from the Lord.  These include:

• Prayer – “For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” Matthew 7:8  Prayer is simply our way of communing with the Lord.  We share our hearts with Him and let Him know our concerns, fears, hopes and dreams.  If we have a personal relationship with the Creator of all things and the great physician, we should simply ask Him to Heal us.

• Faith – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not yet seen” Hebrews 11:1  Faith is the key ingredient for God to move and work in His miraculous way.  Faith places our belief and trust in God into the active state.  It is by faith that that God moves, so we should do whatever necessary to strengthen and increase our faith in the Lord Jesus. 

• Praise and Worship – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 6:12  Our biggest weapon against the enemy is acknowledging God by putting Him in the proper place through our praise and worship.  God’s name is above every name.  The name of Jesus is our trump card and is above the name of disease.  Everything must bow to the name of Jesus. 

• Fasting – “So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer”. Ezra 8:23  Fasting is a way to humble ourselves and couple the physical realm with the spiritual.  Fasting in conjunction with prayer adds another dimension of desperation and dependence upon the Lord as we cry out and trust for healing. 

• Anointing with Oil – “Is anyone among you sick:  They should send for the church leaders (pastors/priests/elders) and they should pray for him.  They should pour oil on him in the name of the Lord. The prayers given in faith will heal the sick man/woman, and the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ” James 5:14-15 As outlined in this verse, calling together the leaders of our local church to pray and anoint with oil is a powerful act of faith that can bring healing to the sick.

• Confession – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. ” James 5:16 Confession of sins to other believers who are safe and trustworthy activates healing.

Healing is Personal – We all need healing at different levels but from time to time we have circumstances in life that are dire.  In these situations we become more desperate and dependent upon the Lord to show up and do His miraculous work.  I know we all know someone in our family or sphere of influence that is suffering physically, spiritually, or emotionally, and desperately needs healing.  I have several that I am standing with in prayer daily who are facing serious illnesses to include:

• Camille Hersarling – 22year-old daughter of our life-long friends Rachel and Neil Hensarling.  I have shared about Camille in the past.  She is fighting ocular cancer and taking aggressive cutting-edge treatments at MD Anderson that are very hard on her body. 

• Jack Grimsley – 18year-old young man who is son of our friend Bubba who has a rare form of late stage cancer and has been in the hospital fighting for his life for the past year.  His dad has been sitting faithfully at his side day and night, praying and trusting God for healing.

• Duke Donner – My 83year-old dad who is fighting Parkinsons and the challenges that come with that disease at 83.  

These are heart breaking and gut-wrenching situations that I don’t understand.  So, what do we do?  We love our friends and family by standing in faith and crying out on their behalf through intercessory prayer.  Standing faithfully in the gap believing and asking the Lord Jesus to do His healing work.  We pray and trust God and leave the healing up to Him. Please join me in praying for Camille, Jack, and my Dad.

Salvation and healing are God’s twin mercies.   So let’s posture ourselves for forgiveness and Healing of all of our disease and be restored in the name of Jesus.  Our ultimate healing is not in this world but in heaven united with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for eternity.  So if we can truly embrace an eternal perspective then we will find healing in all circumstances as the apostle Paul understood and shared in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” What we lose in life we will gain in heaven.  Before that time comes, our purpose on earth is to live as a light of hope in the darkness of sin and death and point others to Jesus, He is the hope that brings healing.

Have a great week…. 

-Duane

Word of the Week - Revival

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14

What is Revival?  By definition it is an act of bringing someone or something back to life from a state of death.  It is also defined as renewed attention to or interest in something.  Christian revival is defined as increased spiritual interest and renewal in the life of the church or society, with a local, national, or global effect.  It is seen as restoration of the church to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of moral decline.   

What does Revival look like  – There has been many documented periods of revival around the world and in the U.S. over the centuries with the most recent U.S. revival being the Jesus Revolution  of the late 1960s and early 70s across America.  Since this was over 50 years ago, many Christians today have never personally experienced a great revival and may not know what it looks like.  The first revival in the bible was documented in the book of Acts in the early church with the beginning of the spread of the “way” amongst Jews and Gentiles.  It clearly illustrates what happens when people experience a fresh wave of God’s grace that results in spiritual enthusiasm among the faithful and its transmission to unbelievers.  This has happened over and over since the First Century, where Christians have experienced times of God’s renewing grace at an elevated level.  This results in energized Christians and churches that lead to new seasons of growth in the body of believers. These revivals include personal quickenings, when individual believers experience spiritual renewal with newfound focus on Christ; revivals of local churches that may begin in a particular church and then spread to others; and social awakenings like the Jesus Movement and Charismatic Renewal, in which Christians receive new enthusiasm and power, millions of unbelievers are saved, and national and even global culture is affected for decades.

How do we know if we are in Revival – The bible in Acts 2:36-47 illustrates signs of revival that have characterized spiritual renewal over the course of our church history. 

 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.—Acts 2:36-47 (NIV)

What are the signs of Revival  – The following are clear signs that Revival is happening.

• Jesus (Acts 2:36) – In Acts 2, Peter preached the clear gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, dead, buried and resurrected from the dead as Lord and savior.  In Revival, the gospel of Jesus is the top priority. We simply need Jesus as our Lord and savior.

• Repentance (Acts 2:37-38) – In revival, people experience conviction for their sins and repent and change.  They turn their attention away from the petty things of this world and spend more of their time and energy focused on things of God and eternity. Things that really matter.

• Passion for Prayer (Acts 2:42) – Revival gives people a new desire to pray, worship and meditate on things of God.  God takes away distractions and we hear from Him more clearly as we seek Him with fervor.

• Hunger for God’s Word (Acts 2:42) – When we are in a season of Revival, people pursue God’s Word to seek out truth and find the answers to the questions of life. 

• Burden for the lost (Acts 2:40) – Through conviction of sin and renewed life in Christ, believers realize that others are lost and desperately need Jesus.  We can no longer be content to let people live without being confronted and offered the love of Christ that we are experiencing.

• Increased Salvation (Acts 2:41-47) – A fruit of Revival and a burden for the lost is an increase in salvations and new believers.  Praise God!!

• Increase in callings to ministry and missions (Acts 2:20) – During revival, God’s people sense a calling to serving Jesus, whether in vocational ministry or in consecrating their daily work life to Jesus and using their vocation as a platform for the gospel of Jesus.

• God’s Presence (Acts 2:40, 43) – God is always present, but in Revival, God’s presence becomes obvious among us – whether in conviction of sin, healings, signs and wonders, or in manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

• Generosity/Giving (Acts 2:45) – Church offerings and giving to God’s work greatly increases during Revival.

• Greater frequency of gatherings for worship, prayer and God’s Word (Acts 2:46) – Not only do the number of church activities increase, but believers begin to meet together more frequently outside of church to share how God is working in their lives.

• Increased fellowship among believers (Acts 2:46) – In Revival, God’s people experience greater love for one another that draws them together frequently and attracts unbelievers to the body of believers.

• Favor and persecution (Acts 2:47) – God’s favor will be with His people as they abide in Him and spread the good news of Jesus.  Both favor and opposition arise in Revival.  Mockers and opposition from people in power will increase but we know in the end the Love of Christ will prevail.  This makes us dependent upon Jesus and thus we rely on the Lord’s favor to fight for us as we overcome persecution and opposition.  “the Joy of the Lord is our strength” Nehemiah 8:10

Revival is here!!!!! - Based on these signs and what I have seen and experienced recently, I would suggest that we are on the front end of a full blown Revival in America.  Beginning with the Asbury Revival back in February, to the  to what we are seeing and experiencing in our local Church, Church of the Highlands, here in Birmingham, I am pretty sure we are in a season of Revival.  Our church is in a season of 21 days of prayer that we do every year in January and August, and we are seeing record attendance.  Since the beginning of this year, we have been experiencing record attendance, salvations and giving like never before.  Last week we had four days of “Revival Services” across our 24 campuses and saw an amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  We had tens of thousands of people showing up with standing room only with people in overflow and foyers hungry for and seeking God.  I am experiencing this first-hand and it is remarkable and very encouraging.  I am also seeing signs of revival around the world.  I recently met with one of the leaders of Global Media Outreach Global Media Outreach (GMO), a ministry I have invested in for nearly a decade, that is using technology to fulfill the Great Commission.  Since 2004, they have touched billions around the world with the gospel message of Jesus using the internet and technology, and have prompted hundreds of millions of people in their decision to follow Jesus.  This year, they are seeing extraordinary growth and receptivity to the gospel message around the globe.  Finally, I have the great privilege to attend a million-salvation celebration next week with John Maxwell who’s ministry will surpass a million documented salvations this month.  I could go on and on, but you get the picture.     

This is so very exciting!!!!  For a time such as this God is bringing Revival.  What a blessing that we get to participate in a move of God through Revival in our city, nation, and world.  That being said, let us never forget that Revival starts inside each believer (you and me) and grows from there.  Gipsy Smith one of the most impactful British evangelist of modern times, who played a meaningful role in several revivals of the late 1800s and early1900s, was once asked how to start revival.  He answered:  “Go home, lock yourself in your room, kneel down in the middle of the floor.  Draw a chalk mark all around yourself and ask God to start the revival inside the chalk mark.  When He answers your prayer, the revival will be on”.  We are each revived by the spirit of the living God through Jesus when we are saved and born of His spirit.  The best thing we can do to fan the flame of revival is simply fan the flame of revival in our personal walk with Jesus.  It is from the overflow of our personal relationship that God does His amazing work through each of us to influence and change the world.  Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches, if you abide in me then I will abide in you and your will bare much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5

Be encouraged and have a great week!!!!

-Duane

Word of the Week - Integrity

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” Proverbs 10:9

What is Integrity?  The definition is simply “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness; the state of being whole and undivided”.  I think of integrity as being true to God, myself, and others with God at the center of it all.  I think we have all heard the concept of Integrity as what we do when no one is looking. “Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” Ephesians 6:6

As followers of Christ, are we truly living our lives first and foremost to an audience of one, Christ Jesus? 

Integrity allows us to live free before God and man – One of the most powerful blessings of Christ is that He came to give us true freedom through the Cross.  By overcoming the sin of the world, He gave us the gift of eternal life and the ability to access that same power to overcome our sin and curse of this world.  When we are born of the spirit of God, we are redeemed into wholeness in Christ and through this process we become what God intended us to be in Him, our unique person in Christ.  There is tremendous security and freedom that is found in realizing that we are created uniquely perfect in God’s image as His sons and daughters and His purpose for us is to live to the fullness of who He called us to be in Him, to realize our full God given potential and “become the best me I can be” and let God take care of the rest. 

Prior to my rebirth in Christ at the age of 33, I struggled in many ways;  subconsciously, I was always trying to become something or be like someone else.  This made me insecure, incomplete, and discontent.  Looking back, I can see how I lacked integrity, even though I was generally a good moral person by the standards of the world.  I was conflicted because my life was planted in shifting sand and not on the solid foundation of the rock of Christ.  When I surrendered my life to Christ and made Him Lord and King of my life, my identity was made complete in Him and I started living secure, free with wholeness/integrity to Christ, myself, and others.  What an amazing and powerful gift.  “For creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into freedom and glory of the children of God”. Romans 8: 20-21

Integrity protects us from sin and death – If a man walks with Integrity before God and man then he will be a man of virtue, pleasing to God.  The bottom line is that being a person of Integrity is foundational to being a person of solid character.  If we have a tendency to compromise, we are on a slippery slope.  Of course, the enemy is crafty and looks for our vulnerabilities, and as humans we all have weaknesses.  That being said, if we desire to be men and women of Integrity, we will seek the Lord and ask that our hearts be pure, and our ways be blameless.  We must realize our human depravity and understand we all have blind spots. “For the flesh sets its desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things you please”. Galatians 5:17. The power to walk with true Integrity comes from God through Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith; Jesus became a man and lived with full Integrity, blameless and without sin.  Walking in Integrity brings life and protection to every aspect of our lives. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12

Christ centered Integrity brings order and begets blessing – True Integrity is also a superpower in life, business and ministry, and leads to tremendous blessing and favor if demonstrated consistently over time.  If we place the Lord at the center of our lives and make Him our first and preeminent priority (First Fruit), then every area of our lives will be Integrated in and through Christ and we will live with divine order and blessing.  The alternative, which is very common to the ways of this world, is to compartmentalize our lives so that we have all components of life in different silos. This is a very challenging way to live because we are always fretting over how to order our time and priorities, and we generally live in disorder.  When we put Christ at the center of our lives and invite Him into every aspect of our lives, then we can live with much more order, which produces harmony, peace, and fulfillment in our lives. “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well”.  Matthew 6:33 As we place Christ at the center of our lives (live surrendered lives), we become more Christ-like and begin to produce spiritual fruit in all areas of our lives.  Christ at the center means that He is connected to every area of our lives, and He is the source, which brings us back to a key concept I talk about often, living with dependence on God through abiding in Christ. “I am the vine, you are the branches, if you abide in me I will abide in you and you will bear much fruit.  Apart from me you can do nothing”.  John 15:3 I believe this to be the life blood of our walk of faith and living a life of Integrity. 

See illustration below from my friend Ken Boa www.kenboa.org of Compartmentalized Life vs. Christ Centered (Integrous) Life:

View fullsize

View fullsize

As followers of Christ living with Integrity, there should be no sacred/secular dichotomy.  Our lives should be Integrated in all things.  We should be the same person at Church on Sunday, at work on Monday-Friday, on the golf course or at the hunting camp on the weekends, and especially at home with our families.  This is the evidence and blessing of Christ at work within us.  It all works together (integrated), so that we live in light of eternity and become all that Christ has in store for us to become in Him. 

Have a great week!!

-Duane

Word of the week - Rest, Recreation, Renewal

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, ad you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Matthew 11:28-30

I am just returning from a 12-week Sabbatical, see “Word of Week – Sabbatical” from April 30th for context.  It has been an amazing time of rest, recreation, and renewal.  During this time of extended sabbath rest I enjoyed: 1) Extended times of prayer and fellowship with God during my first fruits abiding.  I was able to take long prayer walks and just spend more time with God in His word allowing me to go deeper and feel more connected, 2) I spent extended time with my wife Amy on a few trips but mainly just having longer more casual visits over meals and at random times of the day or week, something that is very out of the ordinary for me.  Our relationship definitely has grown deeper and stronger during this time, 3) I was able spend some quality time with my kids and grandkids enjoying simple things at a much slower pace.  One of my favorite times was our week down at Dauphin Island with all the kids and grandkids, 4) I was able to connect with some of my good  friends at a deeper level on a few trips to the farm, lake and abroad, 5) I took the opportunity to take some bucket list trips with family and friends and travelled to Italy, Brazil Peacock Bass fishing, Argentina bird hunting and Rwanda Africa with Bridge2Rwanda, an amazing leadership development ministry that I have the privilege to support and serve as a board member.  Not to mention the time I spent doing the simple things I love like clearing trails in the woods at my farm, catching bass at sunrise or walking 9 holes of golf after dinner on a cool summer evening as the sun went down.  I could go on and on but you get the picture, see a few pics below.

I am so very grateful to be blessed with such a great team that afforded me the opportunity to take this time of extended Sabbath.  I did not have any major epiphany, but I can honestly say I have experienced soulful rest at a level like never before and it is deeply refreshing.  It is like I hit a reset button giving me renewed energy and excitement towards the future.  The good news is that even before I started my Sabbatical, I was living at a healthy rhythm and pace and taking a weekly sabbath, so I was not living anywhere close to the line of burnout like I experienced a little over a decade ago when I took my first sabbatical that literally saved me from burnout.  This time around, I started my sabbatical from a great place after working hard to plan and host a multiday event celebrating our firm’s 20th Anniversary, see “Word of Week – Celebration” from April 16th.   

As I reflect over the past 12 weeks, I wanted to share a few insights from my sabbatical:

Rest – What is soulful rest?  I believe it can be different for all of us, but for me soulful rest is when I get to a place where the internal voices and external expectations that drive me are quieted, and I find respite.  Rest is defined at intermission or cessation from motion.  For me, this is not so much a physical thing as it is mental and emotional.  One simple goal I had as I started my sabbatical was to be able to wake up in the morning without having a mental to do list that popped into my head before I got out of bed.  This is very hard for me because I love to produce and accomplish things, it makes me feel good.  If you are wired this way, it takes meaningful faith and trust to let go of your innate need to be productive and simply let go of those desires and fully trust God and rest in Him.  Getting to a place where you know all is well with your soul even though you are not really “doing” the things that make you feel like all is well, like working to accomplish and produce.  “Be still and know I am God” Psalm 46:10.  It took me about 3-4 weeks to wind down the list in my head and start to find my footing in a rhythm of rest, but I was able to get there and discover a new level of pace and serenity that was meaningfully refreshing.  Simply put, I believe soulful rest is when we experience deep inner peace, and the driving voices are quieted.  This allows us to be more present before God and others. 

Recreation – I love this word.  It is defined as refreshment of strength and spirit beyond work.  “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment”. 1 Timothy 6:17. God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others, but He also gives provision for our enjoyment.  As we recreate, we are being renewed and refreshed and it is good for the soul and spirit.  I think it is so cool how God created us with all of this in mind.  He created us to be responsible and productive in our vocation and calling, to work diligently unto to Lord and add value to others, but He also created us with a deep need to enjoy Him and His creation.  I used to think having hobbies was a negative because it competed for my time in areas that I believe to be more meaningful and important like work and family.  Now I see it much differently and greatly value my hobbies and time spent recreating, although I probably have too many hobbies 😊!  I now see recreational time in a similar way that I see the time I spend working on my physical fitness.  To maintain a healthy body, most people need an exercise routine to stay in good physical shape.  Similarly, to maintain a healthy soul, we must invest time in recreational activities that we enjoy, so we can be refreshed and find space between work and fulfilling our day-to-day responsibilities.  Of course, different seasons of life will influence how much discretionary time we have for recreational activities.  If you are in your mid-30’s with small kids and an aspiring professional career, you will need to be more thoughtful about how you use your time, because there are lots of demands during this season of life.  For example:  I hung up my golf clubs when I was 36, because we decided to have another child, our sweet daughter Isabella.  Fifteen years later I pulled them back out, based on my game may have been a mistake, but I am now in a season of life where I have time to enjoy golf.  The bottom line is that we need a healthy and balanced rhythm of recreation in our lives to maintain a healthy soul.  This reality was reinforced during my sabbatical.  

Renewal –  “Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man (flesh) is decaying, yet our inner man (spirit) is being renewed day by day” 2 Corinthians 4:16.  God made us multi-dimensional in body, soul and spirit, and our spirit is the part of our being that is most important because it is the part of us that can connect with God and will last forever.  God’s desire for each of us is that our spirit would come alive through the process of spiritual regeneration, when we make Jesus our Lord and King, we are born of the spirit of God.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17  But this is just the beginning of our walk with Jesus into the abundant life He speaks about in John 10:10.  God has designed us to be continually renewed in the spirit, which means we are made new and have new energy and excitement in our relationship with Jesus and walk of faith.  We cannot force this, but we can posture ourselves and set the table by taking away the distractions and creating the environment for God to show up and renew our hearts, minds, and spirit.  When we set aside extended time and make ourselves available with a desire to hear from the Lord, He is known to respond and give us the gift of His presence, which renews our soul and spirit.  During my time of sabbatical, I was able to experience extended times of less distracted fellowship with the Lord, which renewed my spirit and deepened my relationship with Jesus.  The biproduct of this is experiencing more spiritual fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control in my life.  I am not where I want to be but I have surely come a long way. 

The most exciting thing is how much my time of extended sabbath helped me realize how blessed I am in every way.  My heart is filled with gratitude, and I am counting my blessings.  Just to mention a few:  My amazing wife Amy of 31 years, who I love more than ever; who loves me, and may even like me more since my sabbatical 😊!  I have 3 godly daughters, 2 sons by marriage who are great men, and 7 grandkids who are all healthy and love Jesus.  I have loving and supportive extended family who I love spending time with.  I am part of a phenomenal church family at COH led by one of the most humble and gifted leaders I know.  I enjoy brotherly friendship with some amazing men of God who encourage and challenge me to keep getting better.  I am equally yoked with godly business partners, and we get to grow and lead a world class team of professionals toward becoming the Gold Standard in our industry.  I live in a great country, even with all of its challenges, I feel blessed beyond measure to be a U.S. citizen especially after spending so much time travelling aboard.  Ther is no place like good ole Birmingham, Alabama, USA.  I could go on and on, but I will spare you because I am sure you get the point and this Word is getting way to long! 

I pray we all can enjoy the benefits of Sabbath and enter into soulful rest in Christ, whether on a sabbatical or just enjoying a weekly sabbath.  It is healthy and good for the body, soul and spirit.

I hope you have a blessed week.

-Duane

Word of the week - Stand

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

The need to Stand – Based on the recent and rapid shifts in culture we are experiencing in our nation and around the world that include attacks on our personal identity in the way of gender confusion and sexual orientation, continued efforts to redefine marriage, and efforts to cancel and destroy everything from historical monuments to law and order (police and civil authority), just to name a few; which are being used as a wedge to promote division.  I believe there has never been a more opportune time for us as followers of Jesus, to take a Stand in God’s truth.  As the enemy tries to use the shifting culture to appeal to our flesh; and make us think we should give into the pressure of the culture and develop/believe our own “truth”, trying to entice us to lower our standards, as believers we must press into God and know what we believe.  To take a Stand for what is true, pure, good, and righteous before God and man, we must know the Word of God, believe the Word, and Stand on the Word.  Per the famous quote by Alexander Hamilton “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything”.  The only way we overcome this cultural attack is to Stand in our convictions and not compromise to the forces of the culture, especially as the heat gets turned up.  We must know who we are in Christ.  Not fighting with the weapons of the world but fighting with the weapons of the Spirit to include Prayer and God’s Word.  Putting on the full armor of God, see reference to Word of the Week message from May 19th, 2019 - Armor of God below.   

Standing on God with Grace (speaking the truth in love with Jesus as our model):  As we take a Stand in God’s truth for our values and convictions in Christ, we must remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities of darkness.  Therefore, we should speak the truth in love and always be seasoned with grace.  “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Hime who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 

As Pastor Chris shared in his recent message called Full of Grace and Truth from the book of Daniel, we learn from Daniel’s life that when culture shifts, we need to know who we are, reaffirm our convictions, and respond with love.  We can do this by learning to live in the tension between truth and grace.  Truth is God’s standard, and without it we lose our way.  Grace is God’s favor, and without it we can seem judgmental, harsh, and mean.  As we hold God’s truth high while giving grace freely to others, just as we were extended grace by Jesus, we can speak the truth in love and influence others to make a difference by:

Loving People - As Christ followers we are to Love people.   When we love people first, we can be accepting of them as people without approving their beliefs, values, or actions. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Serving People – Be a genuine friend by helping others in practical ways.  Figure out how to add value to others by meeting practical needs such as making friendly introductions to people in your network who can help them, buying them breakfast or lunch, listening, and empathizing with their challenges and needs and being generous in all circumstances. “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible” 1 Corinthians 9:19

Sharing Christ with People – Be prepared to share your testimony of faith with others – but do this with gentleness and respect.  It is not about winning arguments, it’s about winning hearts.  This is why a personal testimony of faith is so powerful, no one can argue with a changed life.  “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who askes you to give reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16

Putting on the full Armor of God equips us to stand firm in love:

“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10:13  It is the power of God through the Holy Spirit that gives us the ability to Stand firm in the face of the fiery furnace.  We must have deep convictions reinforced by a daily infusion of the God’s spirit, truth, and revelation.  We must abide and remain in Christ, so He remains within us, giving us His power to overcome and remain fruitful.  This is key.  Therefore, let’s decide each morning to put on the full armor of God: Belt of Truth, breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet in the Gospel of peace, pick up the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation and the take up the sword of the spirit, so we will be ready to take our stand in love through Christ Jesus. 

Jesus was the perfect model for this.  He is the author and perfector of our faith, and we can learn much by living by His model.  He took His stand all the way to the Cross, and never wavered in His love for us, even though we were enmity to Him.

Stand firm in Christ and have a great week!

-Duane

Word of the week - God’s Presence

“That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom he must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.” Acts 3: 20-21

God’s Presence – “Better is one day in your presence than a thousand elsewhere” Psalm 29:10 I was reminded this morning that all we really need is God’s presence in our lives.  God’s manifest presence and feeling His presence in our lives makes everything good.  As I spend time reflecting on my relationship with God and how He has impacted my life, I recognize that being in His presence and being touched by Him is what has truly transformed my life.  It is not about doing more it is about being intentional in connecting and staying connected to God through the person of Jesus. It is about being present with Him so we can experience His presence.  Inviting Him into every situation and enjoying our fellowship with Him.

The Person of Abiding – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15: 1-5 

Abiding is all about the most important friendship of your life.  Abiding doesn’t measure how much you know about your faith or the Bible.  In abiding, we are actively seeking, longing, thirsting to see, know, love, hear and respond to a person, the person of Jesus.  More abiding, means more of God in your life, more of Him in your activities, thoughts, and desires.  It seems that most believers don’t really believe God likes them.  We believe He loves us from a theological sense because God loves everybody, but we don’t feel particularly liked by Him.  This is a mindset that keeps us from wanting to spend time with Him.  We need to see Jesus as our best friend who desires to spend time with us and likes us, the good the bad and the ugly.  What we appreciate in a best friend is exactly what God offers.  He is trustworthy and patient.  When He looks at you, He does not call to mind the sins you’ve asked Him to forgive.  He sees only a beloved friend and worthy heir.   If we really abided in His love, we would come away feeling nourished, cherished, liked and deeply loved, that we would desire to spend as much time Him as possible.  

God’ Presence - Nothing Else – Jesus! – The lyrics of this song by Cody Carnes are powerful to posture ourselves to experience the presence of God

I'm caught up in Your presence, I just want to sit here at Your feet, I'm caught up in this holy moment, I never wanna leave….

Oh, I'm not here for blessings, Jesus, You don't owe me anything, More than anything that You can do, I just want You

I'm sorry when I've just gone through the motions, I'm sorry when I just sang another song, Take me back to where we started, I open up my heart to You

I'm sorry when I've come with my agenda, I'm sorry when I forgot that You're enough, Take me back to where we started, I open up my heart to You

I'm caught up in Your presence, I just want to sit here at Your feet, I'm caught up in this holy moment, I never wanna leave

Oh, I'm not here for blessings, Jesus, You don't owe me anything, And more than anything that You can do, I just want You

I just want You, Nothing else, nothing else, Nothing else will do, I just want You, Nothing else, nothing else, Nothing else will do

I just want You, Nothing else, nothing else, Nothing else will do, I just want You, Nothing else, nothing else, Jesus, Nothing else will do

I just want You, Nothing else, nothing else, Nothing else will do, I just want You, Nothing else, nothing else, Jesus, Nothing else will do

I'm coming back to where we started, I'm coming back to where we started, When I first felt Your love, You're all that matters, Jesus, You're all that matters
I'm coming back to what really matters, Just Your heart, I just wanna bless Your heart, Jesus

I'm caught up in Your presence, I just want to sit here at Your feet, I'm caught up in this holy moment, I never wanna leave

And oh, I'm not here for blessings, Jesus, You don't owe me anything, More than anything that You can do, Oh, I just want You!!!

Practice the Presence – Brother Lawrence , a seventeenth century lay Christian who worked in a monastery kitchen, describes his presence of abiding in God.  Brother Lawrence had a mindset of practicing the presence of God in all things.  Remaining in Christ by inviting the Lord into everything he did. 

“Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave him not alone.”
― Brother Lawrence

Have a great week experiencing God’s Presence….

-Duane

Word of the week - Friends

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” Proverbs 17:17

I am returning from a bucket list trip where I spent a week fishing for Peacock Bass in the Amazon Basin of Brazil with 7 friends. It was a fantastic experience that I will always remember.  I caught hundreds of Peacock Bass, 4 that weighed over 10 lbs, and 2 over 13 lbs, see pictures below. The area we fished was extremely remote (2 hour float plane ride from any civilization), beautiful and pristine.  As I reflect on the trip, I am filled with gratitude to have such an amazing opportunity.  But what I am most grateful for is sharing the experience with 7 godly friends.  Catching big Peacock Bass is an experience of a lifetime, but doing it with good friends makes it far better.  I am blessed with some great friends, men that build me up and help me become who I am called to be.  Over the past week we shared a lifetime experience together, celebrated each other in the victory of catching big fish (Trevor actually caught one a little bigger than my biggest one), shared some of our deepest pains and fears around the dinner table, ministered to the camp host and staff, prayed for each other, and built each other up.  This is such a rich blessing and I believe what God intends for all his sons and daughters to experience, the joy of friendship.  This is a key component of living the abundant life, “the life that is truly life”.  

Friends – There are few things in life more important and fulfilling than having good solid friends.  We all desire to have friends that we can spend time with and count on during both the good and challenging times of life.  There is a true joy that comes from friendships that cannot be found anywhere else. A friend is defined as someone you enjoy being with and share enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust with.  A true and healthy friendship is defined by a mutual unconditional love.  This may be different from the type of love you receive and give to your family or spouse.  Good friends show unconditional love and expect nothing in return.  They don’t judge you or think less of you when they see your weaknesses or when you share your deeper thoughts, fears and challenges with them.  They are considered a safe place to be transparent and process things that you might not share with others.  They will love and support you through the challenges of life.  Good friends are also willing to tell you things that you don’t want to hear.  They don’t shy away from telling the truth and helping you see things you cant see, exposing blind spots. “As iron sharpen irons so does one friend sharpen another” Proverbs 27:17

Friends help us overcome the challenges and trials of life – “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:8-9 Part of the reality of life is that we will all face trials and adversities in life.  “In this life you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world”  John 16:33.  One of the keys to going through tough times and persevering through the trials is having great friends to be there to support, encourage and protect as we endure the trials of life.  We were not created to do life alone and we all need help and encouragement to navigate the challenges of life.  We can comfort one another with words, physical presence and prayer.  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2.  We can encourage each other in the process and always point to the hope of Christ and his promises, helping each other keep an eternal perspective.  We often are inclined to give up too early but with good friends especially those who are Christ followers “band of brothers” we can be encouraged to hang in there through the pain to get to the other side so we can experience God’s best for us.  “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all”.  1 Thessalonians 5:14

What does it look like to be a friend - A true friend will love you even in the worst of times.  They will bring out the best in you and help you pursue godliness and realize your potential.  They will not gossip about you behind your back.  They will pray for you and stand up for you.  They have your back.  They will forgive quickly when you offend them.  They are faithful and trustworthy.  “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing”. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

How select our close friends – Proverbs teaches us to pay attention to the character of the friends we choose to build deeper relationships with.  We should avoid close associations with those who don’t have good character and are bad influences.  This includes those who lack integrity, are dishonest, disrespectful, abusive, or selfish.  It also wise to avoid close friendships with those who are judgmental, gossipy, or self-centered. “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character” 1 Corinthians 15:33 In finding good friends it is also to share faith and core values, to be like-minded especially as it relates to our beliefs and world views.  It is even better if you have a shared ministry mission that you can do together.  It is also helpful to share in hobbies and recreational interest like fishing, hunting, golf etc., so you can enjoy and do life together.

How to be a great friend – The best way to find a great friend and build a meaningful friendship is to be a great friend.  Be the kind of friend that you desire.  Live by the golden rule.  When we follow the teaching of scripture, we will become the type of person others want to be around, loving others with a Christlike brotherly love, and treating others the way we want to be treated. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. 

Take time today to send your friends a text and let them know how much you love and appreciate them.

I hope you had a blessed Independence Day!!!

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-Duane

Word of the week - Father

““Our Father in Heaven”  Matthew 6:9

The power of the Father relationship?  Research confirms that the Father relationship has the power to shape our view of God and ourselves at the deepest level.  A Father has many critical roles in life to include provider, protector, teacher, modeler, encourager, exemplar and much, much more. These are all very important roles to meet the very real needs of a child, growing adolescent and young adult.  As important as all these characteristics are in our development, what matters most is that we experience and know the unconditional love of the Father.  Love is the key, because “love overcomes a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8. 

Unconditional Love of our Abba Father:  I am blessed with a wonderful dad who demonstrated the characteristics noted above throughout my childhood and life and continues do so today at ripe young age of 83, but like all of us he was not perfect.  That being said, I never ever doubted his deep and unconditional love for me. This reality along with Jesus’ healing hand has been the catalyst for healing in our relationship and most importantly me receiving and knowing the love of God our Father.  Now as a Father of 3 wonderful daughters, 2 sons by marriage and 7 awesome Grandkids (see attached recent pic of 6 of our 7 grandkids, it is true that Grandkids are a great blessing from God 😊), I have the amazing responsibility and privilege to be a Father to my children and grandchildren and I can say it is the most meaningful, joyful and fulfilling role of my life to date.  Just like my dad, I am doing my very best, but I have made many mistakes along the way and unintentionally hurt my children.  That being said, I am so very grateful to God our Father in Heaven who gives us the perfect example of how to be a loving Father, our Abba Father.  “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast (unconditional) love” Psalm 103:8.  With this love and example from God our Father through His son Jesus along with great examples from our parents and others, we are equipped to be godly Fathers who sow blessings and life into our kids for many generations to come as stated in Psalm 127:3 “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.”

Heavenly Father:  Finally, no matter what your situation and relationship or lack thereof with your earthly Father, God is our eternal Father and He loves us and deeply desires to redeem and restore us to wholeness through the power of His unconditional and everlasting love.  This is available for all His children (us) no matter your circumstance or experience with your earthly Father, through the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our Abba Father God is a Good, Good, Father…..He will gladly leave the 99 to find the one lost sheep, that is how much He loves us….

“And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” Malachi 4:6.

Happy Father’s Day…..

-Duane

Word of the week - Memorial Day - Remember

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 13:12-13

Memorial Day weekend we celebrate something that I think is sometimes hard for us to comprehend:  the ultimate act of love – to lay down one’s life down for others.  This sacrifice of our fallen service men and women who paid this ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our freedom. In recent years I've heard many conflicted views on this matter. I think it would be a mistake to see these brave men and women as merely victims. While each fallen soldier has a unique story, each soldier is a hero who gave their lives for a greater cause.  I think part of our struggle to understand the fallen soldier comes with our difficulty in accepting sacrifice, especially when a sacrifice seems so final and appears to hold no obvious reward. The idea that someone could give up everything - for people they don’t even know - is hard to process. We spend so much of life trying to gain, to acquire, to win. Our country is home to the American Dream, the land of opportunity. So remembering the fallen solider can feel uncomfortable, but it is most important to remember the Sacrifice.  This is the only way we will be willing to do what is necessary to protect our freedom as a nation.  May we never forget!!!!

On this Memorial Day we remember the 1.2 million men and women who made the ultimate Sacrifice by giving their lives in service of our Country, I am reminded of the sobering reality of the true price of freedom, and how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America, “the land of the free” because of the price others paid for our freedom.  I am very grateful and humbled by this amazing reality.  Click the following link to watch a short 5-minute video “Path of the Warrior” tribute to remembering the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for me and you Memorial Day Tribute .  

In a similar frame, I am even more grateful for the fact that God freely chose to come down to earth in the flesh as Jesus our Messiah and was crucified for our sins, so we can have eternal freedom (salvation) and live with God forever.  “For it is for Freedom that Christ set us free” Galatians 5:1.  “You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” Galatians 5:13.  Let us remember who God is and what He has done for us through the Cross and let this be our motivation to live the great commandment to “Love God and Love others” by serving God and others in Love.  Lord, I pray that we would remember and understand the reality of what others have done for us as Americans and even more amazingly what you have done for us as Christians and never forget the suffering you endured for our benefit.  Let us receive the fullness of your love and Sacrifice.

-Duane

Word of the week - Mothers

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem”.  Isaiah 66:13

Love of a mother – Have you ever contemplated the amazing innate love of a mother.  How a mother’s love is so natural and pure that it is hard to put into words.  There is something so very special about the love of a mother.  There is no doubt that God designed woman with an amazing motherly instinct.  It has been scientifically proven that a woman’s body and brain change when they get pregnant and become mothers.  There is no love greater than a mother’s love except the love of God.  A mother’s “Love is patient and kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres” 1 Corinthians 13:4&7

Motherly love is yet Another way God shows His love for us – I think God’s design for life and family is so amazing and perfect.  There are so many different ways He could have brought human beings into this world and developed them into adults, but He chose to deliver us into the world through our mothers.  As we all know, life is formed as a man and woman come together to sow the seed of life through a pretty amazing process, which is made holy and sacred through the sacrament of marriage.  The process of a mom getting pregnant and a baby being formed inside a mother is really an amazing miracle in and of itself.  Then the mother has a 9 month period of pregnancy where she carries the baby in her womb until the baby is born into the world.  I have 3 daughters and witnessed all of them being born and it was definitely the most amazing special experiences of my life, a true miracle.  I can only imagine what it must feel like to carry and birth the baby, but as am man I will never know. What an amazing privilege and sacrifice for moms.  After going through such an intense process, it is no-wonder why they are so attached and connected to their babies/children.  I think we would all agree that a mother’s love for her children is an amazing godly blessing that is yet another way that God shows His unconditional love for us.  He is the One who designed this perfect process.

Unconditional and all-consuming love  – It is apparent to me that most mothers possess deep unconditional love for their children no matter the circumstances.  Children don’t have to earn maternal love it just comes naturally and it is always there.  As the number of children increases, a mother has amazing ability to show and give love to all of her children and make them all feel uniquely loved.  There is a special feeling of love and security that comes from a mother that we cannot get from anywhere else.  Motherly instinct is so critical as it is what is needed to give a baby what it needs to survive and thrive as it comes into this big world needy and defenseless. Maternal love is of divine nature and something we should deeply cherish and all value.  I have personally experienced this with my own mother Lillie who was always there for me, even when I was being an unkind and disrespectful know it all teenage boy.  I lost my mom just over 20 years ago and there are very few days that go by that I don’t think about her and how much I love and miss her.  I am so grateful for my mom who loved me so well, she had an amazing influence on me becoming the person I am today.  I have also witnessed my wife Amy’s unconditional and all-consuming love for our 3 daughters over the years and have always been amazed at the depth of her love and connection with all 3 of our daughters.  It is truly a beautiful thing that I deeply value but don’t fully understand as a man.  Now I am watching my two eldest daughters Mary Kathryn and Saige birth, raise and mother our 7 grandkids 😊, and it is truly amazing to see the depth of their love and sacrifice towards their children, our amazing grandchildren.  This is a view from another angle that helps me see an appreciate the love and significance of mothers and their roles in our lives.

I have often heard it said that a mother has one of the most significant jobs on earth and I think we would all agree that there are few roles more important than that of a mother.  Billy Graham once said “Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in molding of character in her children”

Happy Mother’s Day to you mom, Mamie, Amy, Mary Kathryn and Saige and to all you mother’s.  We are so thankful for you and all you do!!!!!

Blessings on Mother’s Day from Verona Italy,

-Duane

Word of the week - Sabbatical

“Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. "So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28

Last weekend we celebrated our firm’s 20th Anniversary (see Word of Week message from last week below on Celebration) by hosting a 3-day retreat at Pursell Farms with our team, their spouses, and close friends of the firm.  The weekend culminated with a Gala celebration on Saturday evening that included a wonderful dinner followed by a celebration presentation, which highlighted the story of Founders in four short videos about our History, Culture, and Future, along with a Lighthearted look inside Founders.  You can watch the videos by clicking the blue links.  It was an amazing and memorable time together with friends and family.  These are some of the special moments of life that are so sweet as we take time out to count our blessings and give thanks for what God has done in our lives.

Tomorrow, I begin a 12-week Sabbatical (so my “Word of the Week” messages may be spotty over the next 12-weeks as I am breaking from my routine).  I am excited about this time of extended Sabbath and grateful that I am blessed with an amazing team at Founders who can carry the load while I am away.  By the way, part of the concept of Sabbath is intentionally planning and preparing for your time of rest.  I have worked over the past 10 years to build a team and business that is not dependent upon me.  Encouraged by my Pastor Chris Hodges who introduced me to this concept, I took my first Sabbatical 10-years ago after we celebrated our firm’s 10th Anniversary.  It was a meaningful experience for me that I believe changed the trajectory of my life, family, and business.  I was close to burning out and it was exactly what I needed to recharge. The closest thing I had done to a Sabbatical up to that point was take a 2-week vacation with my family when I was 40 years old.  I remember that during the second week of my vacation I reached a state of rest that I could not remember experiencing since I had become an adult. Life slowed to a pace where I was hyper present and content, it was amazing! 

Sabbatical is defined as a rest or break from work; an extended period or time intentionally spent on something that is not your routine job.  A sabbatical is typically longer than a two-week vacation.  This longer period gives us time to unwind, settle in, and recover both physically and mentally from our regular routines.  It is essentially an extended time of Sabbath.  The following is a “Word of the Week” I shared on Sabbath and its benefits.  You may not be in a position to take a Sabbatical, but we all have the opportunity to observe the Sabbath each week.  I can assure you that your life will be healthy, and more enjoyable if you practice the Sabbath. 

The principal of Sabbath seems to be misunderstood by most.  As the 4th of the10 great commandments, many of us associate it with the old covenant and see it as a constraining and legalistic religious tradition from Jewish custom.  Or, we simply believe it is a day to attend church, which should be a major part of our Sabbath. The truth, as stated in Mark 2:27 above is that Jesus gave us the Sabbath for our own good and health. 

The Sabbath is for our us and our health - Since God actually designed and created mankind, He understands what is best for us and desires only the best for His sons and daughters.  In Exodus 20:8-11 God makes a clear connection to the Sabbath day by modeling it for us in the Creation story “on the seventh day God the Creator rested”.  Sabbath observance therefore involves the affirmation that God is Creator and Sustainer of the world.  If God needed a day off to rest surely we would benefit from doing the same.   

Observing Sabbath is an act of Faith – It seems pretty simple, if we really Trust God for who He is we will Trust that He is our provider and we can rest in Him.  He makes it clear that we are here on earth to glorify Him and serve others through our work and being productive, adding value to this world.  We should work heartily at all we do with passion and vigor.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”, Colossians 3:23. But God is so amazing and good that He did not create us to be production machines; He created us for soulful fellowship with Him and His creation. He truly desires us to be healthy and enjoy the blessings of life.  Since He is our Maker, He knows we need time away from the day to day grind of life to recharge and be refreshed spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally, even if we love our work. 

Sabbath is beginning the week with faith, trust and rest so we can start our week rested and refreshed - We all need space between us and our work or else we run the risk of burnout, not to mention the fact that we are more productive and creative when we take time away to recreate and recharge. This is the principal and gift of Sabbath.  To cease from our work to simply rest in knowing God.  To honor God by putting our faith in action by demonstrating we trust God and desire to set apart one day a week, typically the first day, to refocus your energy and attention on Him and those closest to us.  Most Christians who observe the Sabbath on Sunday because that is the day they are off of work but the Sabbath is not necessarily a specific day of the week.  For some like pastors who have to work on Sunday, they make other days of the week their Sabbath. 

Personal Testimony - For years it was very hard for me to do this but over that last 10 plus years I have made it a priority in my life each week.  I begin my Sabbath at 5:30pm on Saturday and end it at 5:30pm on Sunday.  I found that it is important for me to spend some time on Sunday evenings preparing for the week, so I have adjusted my weekend to ensure I get a full 24 hours of true rest/time away from work.  Since I love being productive this is not always easy for me, but it has been a blessing to my life and my family.  I literally try not to think about my work/business during this time and surely don’t engage in emails or correspondence unless it is an emergency.  You would not believe how much God has blessed me over the past 10 plus years.  My life health meter is running at the highest level ever and I believe it is largely due to the principal of Sabbath (margin).   

If you are not already doing so, I encourage you to take one 24 hour day of your week and make it your Sabbath by not engaging in your day to day work/job.  Instead of working spend your time fellowshipping with the Lord, your family and other believers (Church and more) enjoying praise and worship, prayer, bible reading and just hanging out with family.  Enjoy great meals with family.  Take a long walk with your wife, kids or good friend.  Spend time doing things that refresh you and bring energy like playing golf, pickle ball or taking a jog.

If you really want to experience Sabbath rest, plan an extended time of Sabbath and see what God will do when you rest in faith.

Shalom!!!

P.S. – Over the next 12 weeks I am limiting access to email and technology.  If you really need me you can email or call Katie Burns and she will deliver the message.   

-Duane

Word of the week - Celebration

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”.  Psalm 118:24

Founders Advisors 20th Anniversary Celebration – We are celebrating our firm’s 20th Anniversary this week by hosting our team and their spouses along with a group of close friends of the firm to include Board Members, Clients, Referral Sources, Past Employees etc, to the beautiful Pursell Farms for a long weekend of Celebration. We have been working on this for quite a while and have a fun weekend planned for our team including a crawfish boil with live Cajun/Zydeco music on Friday night, who would have guessed that😊, and a Gala celebration on Saturday night with a fun after party.  We are looking forward to our time together with the team and many who have helped us on the journey over the past 20 years.  This is an opportunity to “Celebrate” and practice what we preach.  As I was preparing for the festivities, I read my word of the week on Celebration and figured I would recirculate it as part of the Celebration.

Celebration is one of the most exciting aspects of our Christian heritage that I find most believers overlook.  It simply means to set time aside to remember and rejoice in what God has done.  It was common practice in the Old Testament.  The Jews were known for having multi-day festivals to celebrate and commemorate the work of God in their lives.  These celebrations were communal as well as theological.  In modern terms I would call this a party with a purpose, whereby we gather to recognize our blessings and give proper honor and thanks to the Lord and to those who have helped us along the way.  Taking time out to count our blessings as we walk through the journey of life.

Being from South Louisiana, I grew up in a culture that valued partying and probably took it a little too far.  It was “fun” but after the party was over there always seemed to be a feeling of emptiness.  As I have grown in my walk of faith, I have learned that our God is a God of celebration.  There are many examples throughout the old and New Testament of people coming together to enjoy life and celebrate together.  The big difference is that they are coming together to celebrate with a heart toward God and using the celebration as an opportunity to give thanks and honor to God.  I believe there is something holy and meaningful about taking the opportunity to set aside time and resources to celebrate what God has done and looking forward in faith to what He is going to do.  To take time out of our day-to-day schedule to celebrate victories and mark milestones in life. In our family we call this having a “Donner moment”.  This is one of the joys of life.  All too often we are so busy achieving we forget to take time out to celebrate. 

Heart of Gratitude

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  One of the keys to our walk with the Lord is to have a healthy perspective of God as our provider.  All things come from Him and it is good and healthy to continually count our blessings and give proper thanks to the Lord.  As noted in this verse, we should make this part of our daily communion with the Lord.  It is also important that we set aside time to celebrate special occasions such as big life victories, milestone birthday & anniversaries and the like. 

God’s principle of Sabbath

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His”. Hebrews 4:9-10  God is so good that He desires for us to enjoy this life and fruit of our labor so much so that He commands us to take time out to rest, rejoice and restore our souls.  Rest for our souls is at the core of Sabbath but it is also a time set aside to celebrate the goodness of God in fellowship with those we love and are close to us.  It is hard for most of us to relate with the reality that God is divine and Holy and to be feared but He is also loving and relational and desires for us to Rejoice in His goodness and celebrate.  To set aside time specifically to enjoy the fruits of this life and those who we are doing life with.

A Time for Everything

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;.” Ecclesiastes 3:4  Celebrating life is part of our worship. We engage in celebration when we enjoy ourselves and our lives in conjunction with our faith in light of God’s greatness, beauty and goodness.  We see our lives as simply a part of God’s great plan.  Typically, this means that we come together with others who know God to eat, drink and relate stories of God’s blessings and work within our lives.  To honor God and those who have shared the journey.  Holy delight and joy is the great antidote to despair and is a wellspring for genuine gratitude.

“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their work.  This too, I see is from the hand of God.” Ecclesiastes 2:24

I am grateful to God and to all the wonderful people who have helped us along the way over the past 20 years.

Cheers,

-Duane

Word of the week - Easter - Christ is Risen!!!!!

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.  Romans 8:11

The death and Resurrection of Jesus over 2000 years ago is by far the most significant event in world history.  Jesus death by crucifixion and His resurrection from the grave are historically recorded events that changed the world.  These facts are most meaningful because of their spiritual significance in that through His death on the cross Jesus bore the sin of all mankind (past, present and future) so we can be saved from the wrath of God through forgiveness of our sins and have eternal life.  16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. This is truly Good News for us to embrace by faith and celebrate on this special Easter day!!! 

By receiving and believing in Christ and what He did for us on the cross, we receive the full benefits of the Resurrection.  First and foremost, we receive access to forgiveness of our sins by the blood of the Jesus, the lamb of God who was slain on our behalf.  This is what allows us to be restored to fellowship with God our Father and have eternal salvation.  This is the “Good News” and truly the focus of this day, but there is much more for us to receive in Christ through what transpired on the cross at Calgary.  Through the cross we have access to the same power that allowed Jesus to rise from the dead.  God has empowered us as His sons and daughters to walk out our faith with confidence and trust in Him, which is what activates this power in our day to day lives.

The following are 5 additional benefits/opportunities for His resurrection power to come alive within us:

• Resurrect Hope – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

• Resurrect Purpose – “ For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared for us in advance” Ephesians 2:10

• Resurrect Faith –  “Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

• Resurrect Joy – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

• Resurrect Life – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 

In a world that lacks hope, purpose, faith, joy and life; Easter (Resurrection Day) is a day that reminds us that we have access to God’s power so His life can come alive in each of us.  Jesus is the source of our Resurrection power.  "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” John 11:25

My friend Chuck Scott continues to remind me of all of the R words we have access to “Today” and every day, due to the Resurrection of Jesus:

We are REDEEMED, RENEWED, RESTORED, RECONCILED, RESCUED & made RIGHTEOUS in Christ. 

Hallelujah Christ is Risen!!!!!  Have a blessed Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Duane

Word of the week - Community

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:24-25

Community?  The definition is simply to have common unity with others.  When people come together under common values and beliefs with shared identity, purpose, interest, passions and objectives.  God created us for relationship, first and foremost with Himself and secondly and as important with each other.  It is impossible to live to our full potential without being in Community with others. “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12: 4-5  As a body of Christ, we do life with others in healthy interdependent relationship that allow the body of Christ to function in fullness. 

Community is Life Giving – Life Giving Community should lift us up and bring out the best in us as we help bring out the best in others by using our God given gifts to love, relate and serve others.  I love the quote from John Maxwell that says “show me your friends and I will show you your future”.  The bottom line is that we become who we commune with; life begets life and but bad company corrupts good character.  It is very important that we develop Community with people who are like minded and share our core values, especially as it relates to our faith.  We need to pursue Community with godly people who desire to grow and live to their full God given potential.  People who are authentic and speak the truth in love.  Friends that will challenge us and love us enough to admonish us and call us out if we are headed down the wrong path.  Friends that we enjoy spending time with and have our best interest at heart and visa-versa.  Friends that will be there for us in the good times and especially through the storms and challenges of life.

Community is Covering and Protection  – Part of the reality of life is that we will all face trials and adversities in life.  “In this life you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world”  John 16:33.  One of the keys to going through tough times and persevering through the trials is to have a strong Community support system around us to provide encouragement and protection as we endure the trials of life.  We were not created to do life alone and we all need help and encouragement to navigate the challenges of life.  We can comfort one another with words, physical presence and prayer.  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2.  We can encourage each other in the process and always point to the hope of the Lord and his promises, helping each other keep an eternal perspective.  We often are inclined to give up too early but with good Community of believers “band of brothers” we can be encouraged to hang in there through the pain to get to the other  side so we can experience God’s best for us.  “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all”.  1 Thessalonians 5:14

Community is Health - Research has proven that that being actively involved in Community has positive effects on our mental health and emotional wellbeing.  Community involvement provides a sense of belonging and connection that is vital to staying healthy.  Man was made for relationship and Community and was not made to do life alone in isolation.  The abundant life that God promises is one of Community with others.  I have truly found that the most joyous experiences in life come through being connected to others through Christ.  It can be hard for some of us to commit to Community, especially if we’re guarded due to past wounds or simply more introverted and prefer solitude.  Community is God’s desire and design for us and a sign of mature faith.  At the end of the day, when we grow in our relationship with other through authentic and vulnerable Community with others, we are growing in our relationship with God.  We really are better together!!!! “Carry each other burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2

We can find and have Community in many ways to include social clubs, sports teams, workplace, neighborhoods to name of few.  These are all good, but they are not complete without having a spiritual Community.   If you are not connected to Community of believers (local church), I encourage you to make that a priority.  This is God’s plan for us, to be connected to God and others through the local church where we can be part of a community of believers.  “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” Romans 12:5

Have a great Holy Week in anticipation for the greatest day in history, Resurrection Day!!!!

-Duane

Word of the week - Love your Enemies

“But to you who are listening I say:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”.  Luke 6:26-27

My last several “Word of the Weeks” have focused on relationships, see below.  I believe relationships are the most important aspect of our lives, especially as followers of Jesus.  It starts with our relationship with God through Jesus and flows from there to our other relationships.  I was reminded this week that Jesus calls us to even more – to Love our enemies.  To love them, we need to have some relationship with them.  This does not mean we have to agree with them, hang out with them or even like them, we simply have to love them. 

Love your Enemies  - I read this verse in the One Year Bible during my first fruits time this week and it convicted me.  Do I really love my enemies?  I have heard and read this verse many times and it is always challenging, but for some reason this time around it really struck me deeply.  I started asking myself if I have really loved my enemies or simply tolerated or tried to ignore them?  First, we have to take time to identify our enemies, so we can love them.  By definition, an enemy is someone “who does not like us and is trying to harm us”.  You know the person – the one whose name spikes your blood pressure when you hear it or think about them. The person you avoid if at all possible.  It is likely someone’s face comes to mind.  If so, that person might fall into the category of enemy.  Did you notice Jesus made the word enemy plural in the verse above.  He knew we could not live in a broken world without accumulating a few enemies along the way.  He does not question whether we will have enemies, He assumes we will, and instructs us very clearly and directly to “love them and pray for them”.  This seems hard and radical.  Even if I want to love my enemies, will I have the courage and strength to actually follow through?  Here are a few thoughts and supporting scriptures on this challenging commandment from Jesus. 

How we love our enemies – Well, Jesus gave us some suggestions on this topic.  He says, “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone slaps you on the cheek, turn to them the other.  If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them” Luke 6: 27b-29) Wow!!  This is not making this any easier.  So, we love them, by praying for them, blessing them, doing good to them, showing gentleness and generosity towards them.  This seems impossible until we realize that this is exactly what God has done for each of us.  “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 While we were enemies, he showed His love by laying down His life.  It is by this radical love that we have the strength and power to love radically.  “What is impossible with man is possible with God” Luke 18:27 As a new creation in Christ, we receive God’s power through the Holy Spirit to live a radical and supernatural life that glorifies God and shows His love.  This is one way we separate ourselves from the world and live the gospel of Jesus. 

Just do it – With Jesus in mind as the greatest example for us, the question is no longer “can we love our enemies, but rather will we love our enemies?”.  The worlds way of loving is typically based on the principle of reciprocity. If you love me, then I’ll love you.  It is conditional and transactional.  God’s love is agape love, meaning it is unconditional.  He loves us even when our hearts had enmity towards Him.  God’s definition of love is to “go first” and initiate even though the other person is not willing.  This is the greatest form of love because it is pure and motivated by our love for God.  It is our response to what He has done for us.  The golden rule in Luke 6:31 commands us to “Do to others as you would have them do unto you.”  This is not conditioned on what others do or how they act, we cannot control those things.  What we can control is how we love others, and we can obey the Lord and decide to love others even when they don’t deserve it, or in the case of our enemies, when they may deserve recourse in the eyes of the world.  Loving our enemies by going first is an amazing demonstration of generosity and has to touch the heart of your “enemy”.  Mahatma Gandhi said “Whenever you are confronted with an opponent.  Conquer him with love.”  Try it and see what happens.  Prayerfully initiate an act of love and kindness toward someone you see as your enemy and see how they respond.  Even if they do nothing in response, be assured that you have gained an eternal reward in heaven. 

A great opportunity – As Christians this is one of our greatest opportunities to show our love toward God.  To live the great commandment at its highest level.  It is great to love God, our family and friends.  But how hard is it for us to love those who love us?  If we desire to truly relate with Christ and His amazing love, grace and mercy for us, then we need to experience what He experienced.  We connect and relate at a deeper level with Jesus and others in our pain and suffering.  “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

As followers of Christ, we are called to be God’s channel of mercy.  He desires to use us to pour out His grace and blessing upon the world.  Let us be willing vessels so His love and goodness can flow through us.  When we love our enemies, we receive a blessing for ourselves and our families for generations to come.  “But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments” Deuteronomy 5:10

Lord, show us who are enemies are and how to love them.  Today!!!!

-Duane

Word of the week - Family Relationship

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.  Psalm 133:1

Family Relationships  - God created the family as the primary unit for procreation, support and development for all mankind.  When you think about it, our family of origin is the likely the most important influence on our lives and who we become.  Thus, our family is a big deal!  None of us get to choose our family.  Since we live in a fallen world, this can make family relationships complicated and not always ideal.  The good news is that we have a heavenly Father that loves us and desires the best for each of us and our family.  When it comes to our relationship with God, we do have a choice.  We can choose to accept Him as our heavenly Father and trust in Him to bring healing and harmony to our family relationships.  Or we can try to go it alone and do it our way.  Of course, there are all types of families, great ones, more normal ones and terribly broken ones.  Whether you come from a great family or a broken family, all families have some degree of dysfunction and need God’s healing hand upon them.  This is part of the sanctification process, that despite our issues and dysfunction, we learn to live together in unity and harmony through the power of God working in us and through us.  I am convinced that the only way our families can live in peace and harmony is by the power of the Holy Spirit working in each family member.  “Bear with each other and forgive one another, if any of you has grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

What are the characteristics of a healthy family – There are several characteristics that are generally identified with a healthy and well-functioning family to include:

• Caring deeply for each family member – unconditional love

• Providing support and encouragement

• Providing security and a sense of belonging

• Having a deep commitment to one another

• Making time together a top priority

• Making each person within the family feel important, valued, respected and esteemed;

• Looking out for one another

• Resolving conflict quickly and promptly

• Having fun and enjoying time together

• Sharing values and beliefs

Healthy relational order  – Divine order fosters diving blessing.  I am convinced that order is one of the most important principles of life, especially when it comes to God’s economy and family relationships.  Even with the best of intentions it is easy to get things out of order since our family is always in transition.  We start life as a child within our family then transition to adulthood and ultimately to building our own families.  If we are not clear on our role and responsibilities within these different phases of life, we can easily get things out of order and create dysfunction, disharmony and relational damage. 

• God first - When it comes to proper order of relationships, as believers I think we would all agree that our relationship with God should be our highest priority.  If we are not connected and secure in our relationship with God, it is very difficult to have healthy and harmonistic relationship with others, especially family members.  Knowing who we are in Christ allows us to love, forgive and accept others even when they hurt us, which will happen in family relationships.  Abiding in Christ daily gives us what we need to bring health and life to our families at every level.

• Self - I would suggest that the next most important relationship is our relationship with self.  If we don’t have a healthy view or ourselves it is very difficult to love and accept others in their humanity, especially those closest to us in our family.  God tells us in His great commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:39 This means that if we are to love others unconditionally, we will need to love ourselves that way too!”  This is one that is easy to overlook because it is counter to our belief that being a Christ follower means we are selfless.  The truth is that to be selfless, we must have a healthy view of ourselves, so we can be less focused on our own needs and insecurities.

• Spouse – The husband/wife relationship is the core of the family.  Thus, for the family to flourish and realize its full potential, the marriage relationship should be the priority.  This can really be challenging at different stages of life when kids are demanding so much attention and it is easy to prioritize the kids above the marriage relationship.  Later in life as our parents and relatives age it can also be easy to get things out of order. There are many studies that confirm that in families where the parents have a healthy and prioritized relationship the family flourishes.  Make your spouse the top priority.  For more insight, see message below on Marriage from a few weeks ago.  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31

• Children / Grandchildren – Of course as parents it is our responsibility to “Raise up your children in the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 There are many things that our kids need at different stages of their development through life, and it is not always easy to discern.  See word of week message below from 2018 on Children and attached “Journey of Transition” for more details on parenting through transition from toddler to teen.  Our children don’t come with an instruction manual, but we do know that unconditional love trumps everything and they surely need to be loved unconditionally.  As far as grandchildren, they are an amazing blessing!  We have the opportunity to enjoy them and influence them in a huge way without the day-to-day responsibility.  Lord, thank you for the gift of grandchildren.  “Children’s children are a crown of the aged, and parents are the pride of their children” Proverbs 17:6

• Extended Family – This includes parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and beyond.  If healthy this can be an amazing gift to have the love and support of our extended family.  Often, there is brokenness and strained relationships withing extended family.  If this is the case, I would like to emphasize the importance of reconciliation and healing.  If there is brokenness and lack of relationship whether a parent, sibling or distant cousin, we should pray for our relatives and do whatever we can to restore the relationship while maintaining healthy order and boundaries with our immediate family.  “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen cannot love God whom they have not seen”.  1 John 4:20  We serve a God of healing and restoration, and He desires to heal our family. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3

“And He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” Malachi 4:5-6

Lord, thank you for the gift of family.  I pray your Holy Spirit will lead us as we love and lead our families.

-Duane