Word of the Week - Children

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” Psalm 127: 3-5

Amy and I hosted our second annual Cousins camp at our farm this weekend.  We had our four eldest grandchildren Selah, John Michael, Hazel and Lily for a weekend of fun and adventure.  It was an action packed and delightful weekend that included fishing, scavenger hunts, music, dancing sessions, prayer, worship, and much more.  Amy and I are a bit tired but really fulfilled and grateful for this special time with our grandchildren where we get to enjoy them and pour into them in so many ways.  Children are a blessing, but grandchildren are surely double portion of God’s blessings.  See attached pics from the weekend.

Our Children and Grandchildren are a blessing from God and as parents of our families we need to understand our role and involvement in influencing and receiving this blessing.  With divine order comes divine blessing, especially as it relates to raising up our Children.  God is sovereign over our lives and our Children but He is gracious in allowing us to participate in the process as parents.  He loves us and desires the best for us and our families, thus allows us to influence our Children and families, which ultimately influence and impact the world for His Glory.  Being a parent is an amazing blessing but also a big responsibility.  We as parents with God’s help, have the opportunity to sow into our Children and “Train them up in the way he/she should go, And when they are older they will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6  

God our heavenly Father has a great model and plan for Parenting.  To understand how to impart God’s ways into our Children I believe we as parents must first become Children of the living God and have a personal intimate relationship with Him so He can impart His wisdom into our hearts and minds.  We cannot give what we do not have, and the only way to possess the things of God is to be connected to the vine of Christ through an abiding relationship with Jesus. John 15:5.  Even though we serve a God of order and principal, many of the things of God come through revelation not necessarily through logical reasoning.  So to know the things of God you must be connected to His spirit to receive His guidance, especially when it comes to the complexity of parenting, it does not always make sense.  I clearly remember when I came to Christ at the age of 33 how God so graciously began to change my perspective on parenting and reveal to me so many ideas that were vital for me at the time because I had two young daughters Mary Kathryn and Saige and really had more questions than answers in regards to parenting.  It is like the lights started to come on, and as I grew in my relationship with God through prayer, reading His word and being discipled, I saw so many things that I had been blind to prior to knowing Him.  It totally changed me and the way Amy and I parented our Children and I believe ultimately changed the trajectory of history for our family and our lives.  Fortunately for me this happened before my daughters entered the challenging phase of teen adolescence. 

So what does it look like to raise up your kids in a godly manner?  As in most things of God and the spirit, it is an inside job that is more caught than taught, and must begin in our hearts through surrendering our lives, including our family and children to God by acknowledging that our Children are a gift from God and thus they are really His Children that we get to train for a short season of life.  Similar to other blessings, He is their heavenly Father so the reality is we are simply stewarding God’s children. We must get the right perspective and not take possession of our kids and think they are here for us.  From a biblical perspective, we have two primary objectives as parents: 1) To teach, train, equip and model our kids in their walk of faith and do everything we can to ensure that they have a relationship with Christ, and 2) to help them develop and understand their unique talents/giftings and connect with their life purpose so they become healthy, productive and godly citizens who live out their vocational calling to make a difference.  Our job is simply to help them through the “Journey of Transition” from dependence on us as their parents to dependence on God as they become adults. “Discipline your Children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.” Proverbs 29:17

The challenging years of adolescents - One of the most critical and challenging phases of parenting is when our kids are going through adolescents (generally between the ages of 13-17), the transition from kids to young adults.  This is a natural and healthy process when our Children desire to begin the process of gaining independence from us as their parents.  If we don’t have godly clarity and are not equipped with the proper tools this can be a very confusing time that can lead to life-long challenges if not navigated well.  It can feel like rebellion if not put in the right context.  I was blessed with the opportunity to attend JH/Outback www.JHranch.com ; www.jhoutback.com just as my oldest daughter was coming into adolescents.  The godly wisdom that God imparted in me and my family through JH/Outback were life changing and an amazing blessing that continues to impact our family today.  I highly recommend both of these organizations and encourage all parents to take your son/daughter through an Outback or to JH Ranch in their formative teen years, it will truly bless you and your son/daughter.  The simply key is to understand our roles as parents as our kids grow and mature.  As our kids grow we have to change our roles and interact with them in different ways.  This is not necessarily intuitive but it makes perfect sense if you understand it from a biblical perspective.  Check out the attached outline of the Journey of Transition authored by Bruce Johnston the Founder of JH/Outback.

Our Children and Grandchildren are a blessing but even in the pain of our Children going astray, by faith God’s plan is perfect and redemptive.   There is no doubt that our biggest blessings in life to date are our 3 daughters, Mary Kathryn (32), Saige (30) and Isabella (20), our eight Grandchildren Selah, John Michael, Lily, Hazel, Neriah, Kyle, Elouise and David 😊!!!!   Not to mention the wonderful joy of having two sons by marriage who I get to enjoy life with, especially enjoying God’s creation through hunting and fishing which we are blessed to share as a hobby/passion.  It just keeps getting better and I am so grateful.  All that being said, I do understand the reality of the brokenness of our world and the pain that comes when our relationship with our Children are not good and healthy.  Sometimes no matter how well we parent our Children, they go astray as in the story of the Prodigal son in Luke Chapter 15 “My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we have to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was lost and dead to sin and is now alive again; he was lost and is now found”. Luke 15:31-32  I do want to encourage you that it is never too late to begin the process of surrendering our Children to the Lord, even if they are grown.  We serve a God of redemption and second chances so be encouraged, there is always hope.  God is a healer and He desires to heal all His Children and family relationships.  In fact, God ends the Old Testament with the following promise “I will turn the hearts of the parents to their Children, and the hearts of the Children to their parents” Malachi 4:6

I apologize for the length of this “Word of the Week”, I am passionate about family and God’s generational plan for our families, so I have too much to share.  So much so that I founded a ministry called Heritage Forum www.heritageforums.com . 

Have a blessed week,

Duane

Word of the Week - Gentleness

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” - Philippians 4:5

Gentleness is also translated “meekness”, which is power under restraint.  It is not weakness, rather it is self-controlled strength that displays humble, caring, and gracious behavior towards others.  It is choosing to be caring towards others even when you have the power and position to be forceful.  The opposite of gentleness is being rough and harsh in our approach.  Sometimes gentleness can be confused with personalities that are soft and sweet.  In this context, Gentleness is not a personality but more of our approach and behavior towards others.  It is approaching people with a Christlike humility.

In the context of our faith as believers, Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  When we are walking in the fruit of Gentleness, we will confront others with a spirit of care and kindness instead of frustration and anger, knowing that their value as a human being and their salvation is most important in our interaction.  “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful”. 2 Timothy 2:24  We readily forgive, because we understand how much we have been forgiven by God.  Because of our love for Christ, our approach towards others is more about living the gospel and less about us and our personal agenda.  “Jesus must increase; I must decrease”. John 3:30

Of all of the fruits of the spirit, Gentleness is one of the most challenging for me.  The good news is that God in His amazing love and grace has been working His Gentleness into me for decades.  I am surely not where He desires for me to be, but I am more Gentle today than I have ever been.  I still have a long way to go, and it is a major focus for me, especially at this stage of my life.  Somehow growing up I developed more worldly views and values that were counter to being Gentle, especially in my early and formative years before being spirit filled.  I learned to value being direct and tough, a more shrewd approach toward people. This drove me towards being focused, intense and goal oriented.  These can be positive traits in life and business, but if not harnessed can hurt people and cause relational damage over time.  I learned to operate with a strong sense of urgency, which drives me to be efficient with my time.  I have discovered that going fast is often counter to being Gentle.  At the worst of times, I value results over people and how they feel.  The Lord continues to convict me deeply in this area.  Like most of my “Word of the Week” messages, this is an area of challenge for me that I deeply desire for God to enhance in my life.  I know that God values people over goals and our accomplishments.  That being said, I do believe Gentleness towards others and achieving excellence in all areas of life can coexist and go hand and hand.  I have experienced the blessing that comes from being Gentle towards others while also working diligently toward achieving a goal.

We are in a series at our church on “Fruits of the Spirit” and last week Pastor Charlotte Gambill shared a powerful message on “Gentleness”.  If you struggle in this area I would encourage you to watch the message by clicking this link Gentleness_10_27_2024.  I have summarized her message below.

3 Aspects of developing the fruit of Gentleness in our lives:

Awareness – The more I am aware the more gentleness grows within me.  “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness, “ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.  We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.  This makes is clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”  2 Corinthians 4:6-7 As I become more aware and understand that I carry the light of Jesus within me, my behavior and approach towards others becomes more godly and Gentle.  Gentleness is the biproduct of our connection to Jesus.  As we remain in Him, we are much more aware of His presence within us and we carry this treasure with us as we interact with others. As we walk with Jesus and grow in our faith we realize that people are fragile and we need to take a Gentle approach, especially if we are in positions of authority and power in our relationship with them.  God leads us as a Good Shepherd and this should be our approach towards others.

Security – Gentleness is the vocabulary of the secure.  “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship (sons and daughters) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves”. Ephesians 1:4-6  When we know who we are in Christ our tone and vocabulary changes.  Insecurity is loud and needs to be heard, whereas when we are secure in Christ we don’t have to compete or strive.  Our approach should not be from a place of anger or frustration but from a place of security, knowing who we are in Christ, allowing our tone to be Gentle. Christ is strong and Gentle (the Lion and the Lamb), He commands us to speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15).  This is our heritage in Christ; Gentleness is the vocabulary of those who are secure in Christ. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Forgivness – Gentleness is evidence of the fruit of forgiveness.  “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual (those responsive to the guidance of the spirit) are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness (not with a spirit of superiority or self-righteousness), keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.  Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ (that is the law of Christian love). Gentleness is power under constraint and the best picture of this is the Cross.  We have received the gift of forgiveness and salvation even though we deserve death and condemnation; therefore, we should desire to extend this amazing grace to others in the name of Jesus. The bible challenges us in this area to be ambassadors of Christ in all situations as we carry the love of God with us, especially in positions of influence and leadership.  Even in situations of disagreement and being attacked or unfairly accused, God calls us to be carriers of His Gentleness.   

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”  Ephesians 4:2

Let’s let our love for God and others be known by our Gentleness!

Duane

Word of the Week - God’s Glory

“Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts.” ~Psalm 96:7-8

God’s Glory is often described as the magnificence, worth, loveliness, holiness, and greatness of God.  God’s Glory is referenced throughout the bible and is often communicated as His special presence manifested in different ways to include pillars of Glory and fire (Exodus 13:21-22), or as referred to in Exodus 40:34-35 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the Glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Psalm 96 describes God’s Glory in terms like honor, majesty, strength, beauty, sovereignty, and righteousness with the intent of helping us understand the substance of our mighty God.  This all points to the almost indescribable reality of God “the awe of God”, which should compel us to simply praise and worship Him in His Glory and magnificence. “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary.” Psalm 96:4-6 God’s Glory also compels us to glorify His name by sharing His goodness with others and living our lives in a way that let’s His light and Glory shine through us.

3 Aspects of God’s Glory:

• The Magnificence and Splendor of God are displayed in the heavens and the earth.  We see God’s Glory in His creation and it points us to the awesomeness of God the Creator of all things.  His power and majestic beauty are on display each and every day.  The beauty of a sunrise on a chilly fall morning, the serenity of the sun setting over the water, or a clear night sky with thousands of stars twinkling, these simple but amazing wonders point clearly to the Glory of God.  I was at Lake Martin this weekend enjoying some time with Amy and friends.  During the weekend I was overcome with the Glory of God shining through His creation so much so that I just had to shout out to Him in praise.  I felt compelled to let God know how much I love and appreciate Him and the gift of being able to experience Him through His creation.  When we give God praise it reminds us of how good He and points others to the magnificence and splendor of God.  “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” Psalm 91:1

• Sharing His goodness - what God has done and is doing in us and through us Glorify’s God. There is nothing like the power of our testimony and sharing what God has done in our lives through His power and presence.  When we share with others our God story and how it has changed our lives it brings Glory to God and plants seeds for God’s Glory to shine.  It is not just our salvation testimony, which is very powerful but also what God is doing in our lives today as we walk with Jesus.  If we are abiding in Christ there will be godly fruit in our lives.  This fruit comes from God and therefore is meant to Glorify Him.  Living holy and godly lives Glorifies God.  We should be looking for the fruit in every area of our lives and always be ready to share with others who may be struggling or needing help in a similar area.  This is ministry, simply taking what God has done in your life to bless you and sharing it with others.  Whether it is your marriage, family, friendships, finances, business or whatever, we can use it to point people to God and bring Glory to His name. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31

• God’s presence in the person of the Holy Spirit is the manifest presence of God’s Glory in our lives.  God desires for personal intimacy with each of us.  When God’s presence shows up in a personal way, it makes God real and personal.  He is no longer a distant God who exists in the heavens, but He is a personal and relatable God who comes down to dwell with us and within us.  God can manifest His presence in our lives in many ways both eternally and internally.  The Holy Spirit is the great Comforter that allows us to sense the warmth of God’s love. It is also the spirit of God that prompts and convicts us.  The presence of the Holy Spirt in our lives is God’s Glory shining in us and through us.  His presence in us shows up as the manifest presence of God and impacts all areas of our lives to include our homes, businesses, and churches.  The reality and experience of His presence transforms those who are in His midst.  As we surrender more and more to the Holy Spirit we become more godly and God’s glory shines through us and radiates to those around us.  “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ”. 2 Corinthians 4:6

God’s Glory goes far beyond our human comprehension.  We will not fully understand God’s Glory until we get to heaven but in the meantime, He gives us glimpses of His Glory.  Revelation talks about this “And He carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.  It shone with the Glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal….I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  The city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” Revelation 21:10-11; 22-23 

Lord, show us your Glory and may our lives reflect your Glory and Glorify you!!!!

Duane

Word of the Week - Goodness (Expanded)

“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

Goodness expanded – Last week I shared about the fruit of Goodness, what it is and what it looks like, see below.  This week I want to expound on Goodness and further explore how we cultivate this spiritual fruit in our lives.   We are currently in a series at COH on the “Fruit of the Spirit” and looking at each of the 9 fruits of the spirit.  Last week Pastor Chris shared on Goodness.  Here are a few key take aways from his message.

How do we live in Goodness – Goodness is a function of being made upright and righteous in Christ.  It is being restored and redeemed to God’s original plan for our lives.  Righteousness is a state of a person as they ought to be in areas of integrity, virtue, purity, rightness, and correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting.  God desires for us to live free, purposeful, and blessed lives by Knowing God, Finding Freedom, and Discovering our Purpose so we can Make a Difference during our time here on earth. 

Key to living in Goodness:

• Relationship with God and other believers.  It starts by saying “yes” to Jesus and surrendering our lives to Him, but that is just the beginning of the journey of faith and Goodness.  God created us to live in fellowship with other believers and we will never get the fullness of God unless we are in meaningful relationships with others.  Life change happens in the context of relationships; we are the sum total of our relationships. “A mirror reflects a man’s face but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses”. Proverbs 27:19

• Living with honesty and being able to share what is going on within our mind and soul with others.  The truth is that we all struggle with something, and we need others to help us get these things out of us so we can stay healthy and free.  Confession is good for the soul. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. 1 John 1:9 God is attracted to honesty not perfection.  He loves it when we admit our flaws and come clean.  We confess our sins to God for forgiveness and to others to receive healing.  “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed”. James 5:16

• Inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives daily to lead us and guide us.  The Holy Spirit is our guide and source of power to walk in Goodness. The Holy Spirit tenderizes our hearts toward God and others.  “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws”. Ezekiel 36:26-27

We pray to the Holy Spirt to:

• Show us – “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139: 23-24

• Change us – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed, are being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit”. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

• Fill us – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit”. Ephesians 5:18

If we ask, the Holy spirit will put God’s Spirit within us and we will reflect the character and Goodness of God.

Have a great week enjoying and reflecting the Goodness of God!

Duane

Word of the Week - Goodness

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” ~ 1 Peter 1:5-7

What is Goodness – The root meaning of Goodness in the bible is uprightness of heart and life.  The spiritual fruit of Goodness enables us as sinful people to do good and to be good – good in the truest sense of the word.  Goodness is really rightness, which is rooted in righteousness.  Goodness, after all, is the essence of God’s nature as opposed to man’s nature, which is selfish and sinful.  Yes, contrary to today’s popular belief, we are born from sin and into sin and thus we come out of the womb sinful and selfish.  All you have to do is observe any young child and how they act when they don’t get what they want.  Yes, according to God’s Word, badness comes naturally and Goodness does not, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7 This is truth. 

But God has an amazing plan to radically transform our character!!  Though our natural inclination is to defy God in sin, He has determined and purposed through his love and grace to help us overcome that nature to live a life of righteousness and Goodness, which is possible only through a personal relationship with Jesus.  We are made righteous in Christ Jesus!  He is our righteousness.  As the apostle John explained, “He who does good as of way of life is of God, but he who does evil as a way of life does not know God.  “By their fruit you will recognize them.  Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”  Matthew 7:16-17.   Since we live in a fallen world we are in a daily battle against the principalities of darkness and must stay connected to the vine of Christ to overcome and remain good to bear Good fruit.

God’s Goodness is a blessing to us and those around us - As followers of Christ we must seek the be transformed into the likeness of Christ so that we can possess godly Goodness and the character of Christ so that good fruit is produced in our lives simply as a byproduct of our love and relationship with Christ.  As a people and a nation we must understand that the blessing on America and her Goodness is rooted from our forefathers understanding of this truth, which led them to found our republic on a Judeo Christian foundation.  One of the most famous quotes about the blessings of America was by a French author Alexis de Tocqueville who spent years studying the success of young America and published Democracy in America in 1838.  He concluded that “America is great because America is good”.  Referring to the Goodness that comes from our Judeo Christian heritage so clearly stated on our currency “In God we Trust”.  It is our responsibility as “we the people” to do our very best to protect this amazing and godly heritage of our country, which is definitely at risk in this generation.  It is the Goodness of God that produces the Goodness of “we the people” who as a whole are the United States of America. 

If we remove God, we remove His Goodness and blessing over our nation – “There is a way seems right to a man, but in the end leads to death.” Proverbs 16:25 It seems that our country is on this path and headed towards a place of destruction as we try to remove God and religion from our identity as a nation.  There are many case studies throughout history that have proved this to be a perilous pursuit.  No matter your political preference, if you are a follower of God and desire to have the blessing and Goodness of God as described above, we must stand firm in keeping our “Nation under God” and vote for leaders who hold firm to our God-fearing heritage.  This 90 second video produced by a Harvard Business School faculty member really drives home this reality and is something we should all watch and reflect upon https://www.youtube.com/embed/YjntXYDPw44 .

So, let’s resolve to pursue the Goodness of God through our pursuit of the Lord Jesus so that “we are not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, but especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is Good; blesses is the person who trusts in Him!  Psalm 34:8

Have a blessed and Good week in Christ,

Duane

Word of the Week - Hospitality

"Show Hospitality to one another without grumbling” 1 Peter 4:9

Hospitality is the relationship of a host towards a guest, wherein the host receives the guest with goodwill and welcome.  This includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.  Hospitality can also refer to the act of being friendly and welcoming to guests and visitors.  It can also refer to food, drink, entertainment, and lodging that an organization provides for guests, customers, or business colleagues.

Core Principles of Hospitality – At its core, hospitality is about creating a warm and welcoming environment where guest feel valued and cared for.  The fundamental principles include:

• Warmth and Courtesy:  Greet guests with a genuine warmth and politeness to make them feel at home.  This includes greeting people with a smile and a physical connection such as a handshake or hug if you know them well and apprpriate.  This makes people feel seen and valued and it is a key to making them feel welcomed and accepted.  This helps take down their natural defense barriers and allows them to be more open.  This enhances relational connection. 

• Personalization:  Hospitality is enhanced when we can customize and personalize it.  First and foremost is using the person’s name.  If we start by warmly addressing the person by their name, we are starting down this path.  If we have a deeper relationship and start to learn more about their family and personal preferences.  We can ask them about their spouse and kids or cater to their personal preferences as it relates to food, drink or topics of conversation.

• Attention to Detail:  Details really matter, and the little things can make the biggest impression or create the most friction.  Trying to ensure that every aspect of the guest/client experience is done well and above expectations.  Thinking through every aspect of the interaction from the guest’s perspective to ensure you are attentive to their needs and will be able to exceed their expectations and delight them in the process.

The heart of hospitality is well defined by Eleanor Roosevelt who said “True Hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests”. Hospitality is simply serving and loving people outside of your family/business/church in a way that makes them feel like they are part of the family.  Of course, we should love those inside of our family/business/church etc. at an even higher level so they feel loved and accepted.  A healthy person should not sacrifice internal relationship to serve outsiders in the name of being hospitable, which at times can become a challenging balancing act.  One of the biggest blessings of my upbringing was the fact that I grew up in South Louisiana in an area known as Acadiana.  This is the heart of Cajun country where many of the Acadians settled after migrating to the U.S. from France via a stop in a few other places on the way where they were not welcomed.  What is interesting about Acadians/Cajuns is they are some of the most Hospitable and fun-loving people you will ever meet.  They/we have a way of making guest (nonfamily/outsiders) feel fully welcomed and accepted.  They will go out of their way to welcome, feed, entertain and love people who they don’t even know simply to make them feel welcomed.  This is a blessing and gift that has served me and my family very well over the years.  It is one of our Donner family values.

Biblical Hospitality, “Let brotherly love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” Hebrews 13:1-2 One of the distinctives of Christian hospitality is the guests. We extend hospitality to strangers as well as friends, seeking not only to deep fellowship, but also to draw people into the light of Christian community.  We can use Hospitality to reach the lost.  We can extend love through Hospitality to people who are unable to reciprocate.  Hospitality is a way to give of ourselves to others expecting nothing in return.  This is an effective way to win favor with others and allow them to experience the love of Jesus with the hope that they will be drawn into the family of believers.

Biblical Hospitality is also about honoring God by loving and serving the church and our fellow believers.  “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” Romans 12:13 It is about loving other believers within our faith family.  A little different than the concept of entertaining, Christian Hospitality does not have to be a special occasion, it is more of a lifestyle.  It is simply opening up our homes and resources to our extended faith family.  This can be as simple as preparing meals to take to people going through challenging times or inviting people into our homes for a prayer meetings and small groups.  This allows us to deepen our relationship with other believers.  As people feel more welcomed, they become more comfortable, which allows them to open their hearts and share areas of pain and struggle.  This allows us to go deeper in relationship and minister to each other and build each other up in Christ.  This strengthens the Church and is pleasing to Jesus.  God uses Hospitality to build His Kingdom both inside and outside of the Church.

God is so loving and gracious that He has accepted us into His family and made us co-heirs with Jesus to His eternal Kingdom.  He invites us to sit at the table with Him each day and eat our daily bread through abiding in Him.  The response God desires for us as believers is to extend His love and grace to others.  I love this quote “People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – John Maxwell.  Hospitality is simply a tangible way to show the love of Christ to others and live out the great commandment “Love God, Love Others”!

Have a great week…..

Duane

Word of the Week - Commitment

"The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully Committed to Him” 1 Chronicles 16:9

We will never get the best God has for our lives without being fully Committed.  I think we would all agree that the first step in beginning anything of value is making a decision and a Commitment.  Whether it be a new exercise routine, job, relationship, business process or spiritual discipline, any new pursuit towards something meaningful begins with a decision to do something then a Commitment.  In todays digital age of instant gratification and having more flexibility/options available coupled with an emphasis “feeling” good and pursuing happiness, there seems to be a resistance toward Commitment.  It is almost as if Commitment is a negative word.  The truth is that the best things in life come out of making Commitments and being fully Committed.  One of the best examples is the Marriage relationship.  This is a legal covenant relationship before God, which is the highest form of Commitment.  Anyone who has been married for any amount of time will tell you that marriage is one of the most challenging and fulfilling relationships ever.  Amy and I have been married for 33 years and we will both attest to this reality.  I have never heard anyone say they regret staying married.  I have heard numerous people who have been through divorce say that it was a terrible experience and if they had to do it over again they would have tried to work it out.  I am not condemning divorce, I am simply making the case for being and staying Committed through the good times and the bad, and I can assure you that you will experience both.  There are certain situations that make it nearly impossible to stay married because ultimately you cannot control your spouses decisions or behaviors but you can remain Committed nonetheless.

God is fully Committed to us, “God shows His love (Commitment) to us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 This verse says it all in that God loves us so much that He came to earth as a man and died for us while we still rejected Him.  This is the utmost form of love and Commitment that God gave His life for us before we accepted Him.  If we grasp this reality and its implications, we are compelled to respond by receiving this truth and loving God by fully Committing/devoting our lives to Him and making Him a priority.  How we live our lives really demonstrates what we are Committed to.  Does your life and how you live express Commitment to God?

God wants us to be fully Committed to Him so He can bless us, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this;  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:4  It is  so amazing to me that God desires to bless us and give us the desires of our heart.  I have personally discovered that we receive this blessing through our daily Commitment to surrender our lives and hearts to Jesus.  Since God is the source of all good things, the best things of God come through our relationship with Him.  The foundation of relationship is trust and Commitment.  The response to trust is Commitment.  We must trust and Commit to get all the good things God has for us.  Some of the best things in life come through delayed gratification and God’s ways typically involve perseverance and “waiting upon the Lord”.  Commitment over time is truly the test of our hearts and demonstrate the degree of our love.

Being fully Committed is the only way we realize our full potential, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding.  Acknowledge Him in all things and He will direct your path and keep them straight” Proverbs 3:5-6  According to this passage we only get the best things of God if we are fully Committed to Him.  As a child of God He has an awesome plan and assignment for each of us individually (Ephesians 2:10), which is our full potential in Christ.  We can only know and realize this potential if we are Committed to Him and making Him the highest priority “first fruits” in our lives.  We show our Commitment by how we live and pursue God.  Putting God first in our thoughts, conversations, actions, daily/weekly routines, finances is how we demonstrate our Commitment to Him.  This also demonstrates to others our love for God and we become a light for Christ in a dark and broken world.  “In this same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”. Matthew 5:16

God is seeking out those who are fully Committed to Him to “strengthen them”.  I pray we will be fully Committed to the Lord today and each day and be strengthened; and experience the fruit that comes from walking in a fully Committed and submitted walk with Jesus.   “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act” Psalm 37:5

Have a great week…..

Duane

Word of the Week - Harmony

"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity (Harmony)!!!  It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.  It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore." Psalm 133

Harmony is the state of living with an agreeable and conforming spirit towards others with greater shared values and purpose in mind.  Similar to a “Willing Spirit” from last week’s “Word of the Week” see below, Harmony in relationship is such a blessing but is not easily achieved.  We all desire to live in a Harmonistic state with those around us but for some reason we often find ourselves in disharmony, especially with those closest to us.  I believe the key to living in Harmony with others is sharing and agreeing on core values and submitting ourselves to a higher purpose grounded in our core values/beliefs.  For me as a follower of Christ, this translates into submitting my life to Christ and standing on the God’s Word as a basis for a higher purpose.  I believe our human sinful nature makes us more geared toward independence and disharmony so a person without God will find themselves continually disagreeing, pushing their own agenda and creating discourse in relationship.  This is very prevalent in our culture today, where it seems to be more popular to look for things we don’t agree on and take issue with, then to look for common ground that we can stand on to build a base of Harmony to work from.  This approach is very divisive and creates much discourse and division in our world.  That being said, we all have the opportunity to live in peace and Harmony if we choose to do so. So how do we find Harmony with others when we have different perspectives and convictions?

Start with common ground – In most cases, if we are in relationship with someone, we already have lots of common ground, especially if they are friend or family and close to us.  Even in situations with colleagues at work and in other settings, we generally share basic values.  The key is to start with the things that you do share and work from there.  If we take time to explore what is important and really matters to each person then you build a base to stand on, which establishes shared values and Harmony.  In our business we spend lots of time discussing our shared values, vision, and purpose because it gives us connectivity that builds trust, strength and Harmony.  There are many things that we may see different as individuals, which if used correctly can be a strength, but it does not have to undermine the Harmony of the team.  We should always place the team/families shared values, vision and purpose above our own personal preferences.

Define the Majors and Minors – It is important to ensure that we don’t confuse values and principle with preferences.  Harmony is not uniformity, we all have different and unique personalities and methods of day to day living.  These preferences and techniques should not be confused with the principle and essence of what really matters.  Many times we get more focused on the how than the what and why.  It is important for us to keep perspective on the bigger perspective and be able to keep focus on what really matters, we don’t need to Major in the Minors.  As it relates to our faith, there are a few essentials that are the foundation of Christianity that cannot be compromised such as the Cross, Trinity, and the fact that Jesus is the only way to God the Father.  But there are many preferences that are not essential such as your denomination, style of worship, or the type of music played at church.

Be willing to yield and compromise – One of the keys to finding Harmony with others is humility and the willingness to yield and compromise.  If we have any self-awareness, we understand that we are flawed sinners, and all have issues and blind spots.  We also understand that there is power and protection in relationship and team; we are better together!  This should make us value others and their thoughts and opinions, especially when different from our own. From that perspective, we should approach relationships with a posture and willingness to yield and compromise when needed because it is much better to be unified in Harmony with some compromise than to be divided and right.  We don’t want to win a battle and lose the war.  We must always seek to do what is in the best interest of the greater purpose for our family, church, business etc.  This is the right thing to do and makes life much more productive, Harmonistic and enjoyable.  “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

Harmony is a choice to sacrifice our personal agenda for the greater good of the “team” whether that team is family, ministry, or organization.  Harmony generates peace and progress.  Whenever leaders come into Harmony and unity, those they are leading are also likely to follow.  So, let’s choose to pursue Harmony and see what God can do through our Harmonistic relationships.

“We must learn to live together as brothers & sisters or perish as fools”  Dr. Martin Luther King

I pray you have a week filled with peace and Harmony!

Thanks,

Duane

Word of the Week - Willing Spirit

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." Psalm 51:12

What is a Willing Spirit?  When it comes to our walk with the Lord, I believe a Willing Spirit means we have a posture of “yes”.  God is always leading us towards growth and maturity and for us to be able to receive what He has for us we must have a Willing Spirit, or we may not receive the best things that God has for us. 

Trusting God by His Word – By knowing the Lord and walking with Him, we grow in our trust and confidence in Him, which produces a more Willing Spirit .  Knowing that God loves us and has our best interest at heart gives us the reassurance we need to trust and be willing to say yes.  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths and keep them straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

Renewing our Minds in God’s truth – The renewing of our minds through God’s word is key to maintaining a Willing Spirt.  We must stay grounded in the truth so that we can be transformed.  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

God alone is our source – Knowing that God is the source of all life, and everything we need comes from Him gives us a posture of dependance.  King David, a man after God’s own heart, knew that his posture towards the Lord was key to his blessing from the Lord.  A Willing Spirit positions our hearts and minds to receive what God has for us and to be open and willing vessels, with the “Yes Lord” on the inside.  David gives us the key to having a Willing Spirit in verses 10 and 11 leading up to verse 12.  To have a Willing Spirit we need a pure heart and the Holy Spirit leading us. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”  Psalm 51:10-11.  This shows David’s dependence upon the Lord and his deep desire for God’s presence in his life, knowing he could not even trust his own motives but needed God’s spirit to lead and guide Him.

A Willing Spirit sustains us – God promises us that if we keep a Willing Spirit, He will be there for us.  “If you seek me you will find me if you seek me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13  Jesus also promises us that “if we abide in Him He will abide in us and we will bear much fruit but apart from Him we can do nothing.” John 15:5  

I pray that we would have a Willing Spirt toward God so we can receive all that God has for us; for He has great things in store for each of us.  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Have a great “yes Lord” week!!!

Duane

Word of the Week - Kindness

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32

Kindness is defined as the quality or state of being friendly, gentle, caring, and considerate.  I personally value these attributes of Kindness and desire to live these out in my day-to-day life but often fall short.  In my own self-evaluation, I find that other priorities and personality characteristics such as desiring to be straight forward and efficient often undermine my Kindness.  It is much more difficult to be Kind when you are moving fast.  Kindness is slowing down enough to notice and care about the needs of those around us. 

God’s Kindness is truly amazing and a wonderful model for us to understand the true definition and essence of Kindness. Divine Kindness - God’s kindness is demonstrated throughout His Word and the life of Christ.  It manifest in what is referred to as “common grace” in that God is inherently Kind to all (psalm 145:9), even when we His sons and daughters are ungrateful and disobedient He still shows us Kindness.  “Yet while we were sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.  “For it is the Kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance” Romans 2:4 Even while Jesus was on the cross He was showing Kindness by forgiving the very soldiers that were crucifying Him when He said “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34.  Then he turned to the criminal next to Him and invited Him to be forgiven and told him “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”. Matt 27:44

Kindness aims to do good in a way that is gentle and mild, in a way that is sensitive to the needs of others.  It is never harsh.  I am learning that Kindness goes beyond our intent; it is working to understand the other persons perspective, so they can receive the intended blessing in a manner that builds goodwill.  In other words it is as much about our delivery as it is our intention.  I find this very challenging because it implies we are responsible at some level for how people feel when dealing with us.  It is not simply having good and pure intent but how you deliver the message.  As much as I love the Kindness of the Lord, many times I can overlook this value in life and not give it the priority it deserves.   I know I have been guilty of this and I am working and praying to overcome.  Kindness is a key to healthy relationship and the true purpose of the Christian life is having healthy relationship with God and others. 

So,what can we do to be more Kind?

• Notice the needs of those around us – Love begins by seeing the needs of those around us.  People are wounded and we need to be willing to see their woundedness and have empathy.   Hurry is the death of kindness.  The more we slow down the more we will notice the needs of others. “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others”. 1 Corinthians 10:24

• Be sympathetic to the pain of others – Feel the pain and emotion of what others are going through by really listening to them.  Stop asking why they are that way and ask what happened to them.  Understand their story and what they have experienced. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”.  Galatians 6:2

• Seize the moment and do not delay – There is no better time than the present to engage in acts of Kindness.  Don’t wait to show Kindness make it your highest priority from day to day.  Why put off until later what you can do now.  There is much fruit to bare.

• Be willing to invest and spend whatever it takes – Being Kind and caring towards others can be costly because it is so personal.  It will likely cost us time, money, and energy but it is well worth it.  God values people more than anything and there is a high return when we invest in others by showing godly Kindness.

In summary, Kindness is love in action.  It is having pure motives grounded in love and slowing down enough to communicate in a caring and considerate manner.  Just like most of God’s truths, showing Kindness to others will not only make life more pleasant, but it will win favor with God and others and allow for more blessing in our lives. 

Lord, I pray that you would give us the capacity to know and experience your loving Kindness so we can extend the same to others.  To all people, even to those we may see as not friendly to us.  As followers of Christ, we are called to show loving Kindness to all!

Have a great week!

Duane

Word of the Week - Reputation

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

Reputation defined is the general belief or opinion that people have about a person, entity or organization as it relates to name, character, stature, status.

Good name in the verse above is referring to reputation or standing.  In ancient Israel, a person’s name was intricately linked with their reputation and standing in the community.  A good name and reputation is most valuable in this life, and should be desirous for all but especially for those who consider themselves disciples of Jesus.  We are not just representing ourselves, but also representing our “Good Lord” as His followers.  A good name and reputation can take years or even decades to build but can be destroyed in an instant.   

Building a Good Name – Our name and reputation are typically built over time through our interactions with others.  Our reputation is normally associated with our character.  Do we do what we say we will do and operate with integrity?  Do we treat people in an honorable and respectful manner?  Are we fair and reasonable towards others?  Do we have a heart of gratitude and generosity towards others?  Are we givers or takers; is our mode of operation to extract value from others or add value to others?  Do we care about others and how our actions affect them?  How do we make people feel, do we build them up or tear them down?  These characteristics build up over time to form our reputation as a person and as a collective group. 

Having a good name and honorable reputation is the result of developing inner character and living uprightly over time.  Living with integrity builds a respectable reputation.  Abiding in Christ and following and obeying God’s Word is not only pleasing to God but will lead to building a good name.  If we focus on our relationship with Jesus and have a healthy fear of the Lord, then our lives will bear fruit, and we will earn favor with God and others. “How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments.” Proverbs 112:11. God’s ways are higher and better than our ways.  Living to please God and always striving to keep a clear conscience before God and people will lead to a good name.  “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” Acts 24:16 

Loving God and others is the key – The greatest commandment of all is “To love God with all your heart, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:37-39 The second part of the great commandment has been translated into the “The Golden Rule”, to treat others as you would like to be treated.  This is a simple concept; but can be hard to live out day to day in our broken and sinful world, especially in the times we are living in where there is such a division of values in our culture.  If we are to live with integrity to God’s values (His commandments), we will surely offend people who are opposed to these values.  So, what do we do?  We lead with a spirit of love.  This is what Jesus did.  He always led with love, simply caring for people no matter their view or reputation.  He spoke the truth in love and with care.  1 Corinthians 13 is called the Love chapter in the bible as it defines love from God’s perspective. “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always projects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7  

Even though God has set the bar very high, as people of faith we can never go wrong by leading with love and doing our best to live out the great commandment and “Golden Rule”!  God promises us that if we live this way, we will build a good name and reputation before God and others.  I also believe this works in most aspects of life, especially business.  If you and your team treat people well and with integrity, then you will build a good name and reputation; and over the course of time, you and your business will be blessed.  This is the simple but powerful principle of sowing and reaping and it works.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” Proverbs 3:3-4

Have a great week,

Duane

Word of the Week - Empowerment (Trust in the context of Leadership)

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The greatest mission of all time from my perspective is the “Great Commission” outlined in the scripture above.  Pretty amazing what has transpired over the past 2000 years from Jesus three-year ministry on earth and His empowering 11 of his followers to such a big vision and mission.  He didn’t give lots of specific details to the plan or strategy, He simply empowered them with clear vision and equipped them with a few years of hands-on training.  Other than the fact that He was God in the flesh, which is a factor we should surely consider in this example, I think there is much to learn from His servant leadership approach and the fact that He trusted generously about a mission with the highest stakes – the eternal destiny of all mankind. 

Last week I shared my “WOW” on Trust, see below, and how God is calling us to trust Him with everything by faith and in doing so, learning how to extend trust to others so we can live to our full potential in Christ.  Many times, we limit God and ourselves by not being able to trust generously.  As I shared last week, this is an area I am often being challenged in.  I recently listened to a podcast by Craig Groeschel titled – “The high Cost of not letting go” and found it to be insightful as it relates to trust and leadership.  I would highly recommend you take 21 minutes of your time to watch or listen to the podcast by clicking Trust Podcast .  I have outlined some of the key points from the podcast in my “WOW” below as it relates to Empowering others.

Empower to give authority or power to someone; to promote the self-actualization or influence of the person being empowered. Empowerment is the mechanism for trusting generously and releasing control. 

In life there is a fine line between fully trusting and trying to control, and if we try to hold on too tight because we are just not sure if we can “let go” and trust generously, we limit our opportunity to grow and advance.  If we hold on too tight, we may end up going backwards in our journey of growth in whatever we have been given authority or stewardship over.  This principle applies to most areas of our lives including marriage/family, business, church, civic organizations etc.  Anything where you are in a position of leadership with a goal of growing and developing people and the organization.  If the Lord has put us in a place of leadership and authority, He is expecting us to develop and trust others.  He has empowered us so we can empower others.  “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” Luke 12:48

Trouble letting go – Is it possible to care too much?  Heck yes!  I have 3 daughters who I love and care for deeply.  They are thriving adults now producing lots of amazing grandkids, but when they were growing up, I had a really hard time letting go and trusting God and my daughters because I knew the risk were great and the stakes were high.  I was blessed by the ministry of JH Ranch when my daughter and I attended an Outback then JH Ranch, and I was equipped with the “Journey of Transition” framework.  This gave me a frame by which I could have an understanding for the timing in their maturation process to know how much freedom to entrust to them based on their age and ability to handle responsibilities.  This was a game changer for me because it changed my mindset from a protective/defensive posture to a more trusting approach.  I realized that if my daughters were walking with Jesus in an abiding relationship and hearing from Him, then I could trust He would lead them to the right place a the right time and would protect them from the dangers I knew existed.  If we shared clarity of vision and values, I could trust them. The more I trusted God and my girls, the more they felt empowered and thrived towards the ultimate objective of becoming independent of us and fully dependent upon God, which is where the landed right on time.  Thanks be to Jesus!

Our leadership in business is similar in many ways to what I shared above about parenting my daughters.  As a Founder of the business I have been leading for 22 years, it is sometimes hard to understand the right timing and factors when it comes to trusting and empowering the team.  This is a commonly diagnosed issue called the Founders Syndrome.  I am doing my very best to not fall into this paradigm, which is why I continue to work at learning and growing in this area.  As leaders we can all benefit from these principles.

In his podcast, Craig lists some of the Leadership Misconceptions that can really hinder the growth of an organization to include:

1. To grow bigger, we as leaders must do more

2. To lead better, you must get closer

3. To lead bigger, you have to know more 

These misconceptions are common because they have some truth in them.  Especially in the early days of an organization when it pays off to be close to the problems so you can get them fixed.  What seems necessary early in the life of an organization will inevitably limit our leadership later.  As a leader, there is a time to be hands-on, but there is more room to be hands-off.  “What seems necessary early will inevitably limit your leadership later”. Craig Groeschel

If we are too controlling and don’t empower others at the right time, we may:

1. Limit the growth of our business and developing leaders – If we are too controlling, we miss the opportunity to raise strong leaders.  Rember that control and growth can have a adversarial correlation.  Too much control will limit growth.  We must empower others by delegating authority.  “When you delegate task you create followers, when you delegate authority you develop leaders.” Craig Groeschel

1. Limit the development of strong leaders – If you don’t let the best leaders lead then you will not maximize the organizations potential and you run the risk of losing great leaders.  If you are wondering if you truly trust your leaders then you either have not developed them or you have the wrong leaders.  Either way it is up to us to solve.  “You can never grow big in a healthy way if you don’t trust deep” Craig Groeschel

1. Limit the impact of your organizational mission – If we don’t let go, we will become the greatest limiting force to our future impact.  Trust is not always in agreement.  We may have different views on how to achieve the mission but when we empower leaders, we must trust that they will accomplish the mission but may take different approaches and use different styles than we would.  We must not get caught up as much in the “how” as long as their methods are in line with the organizational values and mission.  “Trust is the currency of organizational progress” Craig Groeschel

We empower others by mentoring, training, equipping, and trusting them.  We transfer our power and authority as we gain and build trust.  In a similar way, God empowers us in His great mission through our discipleship, His written word, and the presence of the person of the Holy Spirit.  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Have a great week.

Duane

Word of the Week -Trust

“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 direct your paths and make them straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust defined by Merrian-Webster as: firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something; 

Biblical Trust is defined as complete surrender and reliance on God.  Believe in the reliability and faithfulness of God and His Word; placing confidence in God’s character and acknowledging His promises

In life there is a fine line between fully trusting and trying to control, especially as it relates to our relationship with God and those closest to us.  We all generally have a desire to control our environments to some degree for various reasons; the question is whether we are limiting our potential and those around us?  I have struggled with this balancing act my entire life and continue to be challenged in this area. The good news is that I have grown a lot in this area but have much more opportunity for growth.  I know that the Lord desires for us to overcome this through our walk of faith so that we can live to our full potential and help those around us do the same.  Our Lord is trustworthy and deserving of our full trust and faith.  He is our good Shepherd who intimately cares for us and desire the best for us.  Faith = Trust!   

The challenge:  Letting go and fully trusting God and others when we don’t understand

The consequences of not fully trusting God and others: The Lord is continuing to show me that I cannot live to my full potential in Christ if I do not trust Him fully in all areas and aspects of my life.  Not just the macro but also in the micro.  Desiring control in the smaller things of life are indicators that we are not trusting God fully.  How do we know if we are trusting fully or not?  One good question is how we are making those around us feel?  Is our worry and concern creating worry, angst, and anxiety.  God’s word is very clear on this topic, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matthew 6:34   Don’t get me wrong, I believe whole heartedly that we must take ownership for our responsibilities but trying to control circumstances and people, especially at the micro level is not healthy or productive.  God calls us to redirect our energy towards trusting Him and His word and reframing our mindset towards the healthy posture of God’s power and sovereignty, which gives us faith and love, and allows us to live our lives with sound mind and self-control.  These are fruits of our connection to Jesus and our faith and trust in Him.  “For God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity (lack of trust), but one of power, love and sound mind”

Trust God and others actively and generously “Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong”. Ephesians 3:17 Faith and trust are a funny thing in that the more we trust God by faith the more capacity we have for trusting God.  As we trust God by exercising our faith in Him, He shows up and does miracles, which makes our faith grow and increases our ability to trust Him more.  Somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Similarly with people, typically the more we trust people the more they become trustworthy, which allows them to grow, and us to grow in our relationship of trust.  The one caveat is that people are not perfect and will let us down from time to time, but trusting generously will reap the most fruit over time vs. trying to manage and control our relationships.  We must use our discretion and wisdom in the trust and responsibility quotient but to live to our full potential in Christ we must learn to trust God and others generously. “Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” 2 Corinthians 9

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;  Trusting that He will make things right If I surrender to His will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with Him Forever in the life to come.

Amen!!!!

Let’s make it a point this week to trust God and others generously and see how God blesses us!

Thanks,

Duane

Word of the Week - Salvation (Making it Attractive)

“Or do you show contempt for riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance”  Roman  2:4

Making our faith attractive is key to our effectiveness in sharing the “good news” of the gospel of Jesus.  My wife and I recently returned from a trip to the Greek Isles where we were “Tracing the footsteps of the apostle Paul” with John and Margaret Maxwell and a group of friends.  It was an amazing and memorable trip.  One of the most impactful takeaways for me was watching John Maxwell do what John does so well.  He is the best I have ever seen at authentically and persistently loving all people and sharing the gospel with them.  It is like second nature to him to share the good news with people.  He does it in such a loving and delightful way it is hard for people not to want to know God.  He lives his life and portrays our God (Jesus) in a way that is so attractive that people are drawn to know Jesus.  It is probably why he and his ministry have led almost 1.5 million people to professing faith in Jesus.  It shows the true heart and kindness of God in a world that is full of people both believers and non-believers that are anything but kind.

In follow up to my “Word of the Week” on Salvation last week (see below), I wanted to share a recent message from Pastor Chris (PC), who was on the same trip to the Greek Isles.  PC is one of the greatest evangelist I have ever known and has led hundreds of thousands of people to Christ; me being one of them.  He shared a fantastic message on June 21st that outlines key factors for sharing our faith with others and representing God in a way that is kind, loving and thus attractive to those who are lost and in need of a Savior.  This message convicted and challenged me in a big way.  You can watch the message by clicking this link https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/07-21-2024 . 

I have outlined the key components and takeaways from PC’s message below:

Why we Share our Faith:

• Because God has called us to be His Ambassadors – As believers we are the hands and feet of God on this earth, and He has commissioned us as His representatives to share the “Good News” of the gospel of Jesus.  In response to what God has done for us, we desire to share it with others.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf; Be reconciled to God (salvation).” 2 Corinthians 5: 17-20

• Because People need the Lord – Heaven and hell are real, and eternity is forever.  God desires for all to have salvation.  “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9   We have the opportunity to influence the eternal destiny of those around us.  We also have the opportunity to help others live a purpose filled abundant life in Christ during their time on earth.  “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. John 10:10

• Because People want the Lord – Even though we all have a sin nature and enmity toward God, every human being is made in God’s image and longs for a connection with the Creator of heaven and earth.  “Yet the God has made everything beautiful for its own time.  He planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end” Ecclesiastes 3:11  As long as sin is separating a person from God they will have a hole inside and are in need of God to fill the void.  We can give them the answer to this longing and the hope of Christ. 

• Finally, we share our faith in loving response for what God has done for us. - We were all once lost, and someone shared their faith with us.  We can never stop sharing the hope of Christ because God never stopped searching for us!  “But God demonstrates His own lover for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Romans 5:8

How we share our faith and hope- Make it Practical:

• Live an attractive life – we are called to be salt and light to those around us.  Our lives should be so attractive that people who know us but don’t know God will want to know God because they know us.  The goal is not perfection but an authentic abiding relationship with Jesus that produces fruit in our lives that is so attractive that they start asking about it.  Then we get to share our faith and point them to Jesus!  “You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again?   It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5: 13-16

• Value all People – Like the story of the Good Samaritan, every person we encounter can be seen as a victim to exploit, a problem to avoid, or a person to be loved.  Sharing our faith and hope with others does not mean we have to compromise and become like them or agree with their values, politics or lifestyle choices, we are simply called to share the love and hope of our faith in Christ.  “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the 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
   

• Enter their world and relate with them – Both the apostle Paul and Jesus created space for conversations in their interactions and built disarming bridges by asking questions.  When we share our faith, we need to try to understand where people are coming from and relate with their perspective, especially when it is meaningfully different for ours. It is through relating that we begin to break through to connection.  Sometimes this can take months or even years.  “The lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing any should perish, but that all should reach repentance”. 2 Peter 3:9

• Choose the right approach – The bible is clear.  We need to approach lost people with love, the Good News, and positivity – not negativity.  We need to be patient, not pressing, and show unconditional love.  When we share the truth in love and work to connect before we correct.  We are chosen people a royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, we can show other the goodness of God, for He called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.  “But you are a chosen people, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Lord Jesus thank you for the gift of Salvation and for anointing us as your ambassadors.  Lord give us passion for the lost.  I pray we will do everything short of sin to reach the lost because everyone needs Jesus!

Duane

Word of the Week - Salvation

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8  

My Salvation Experience - The best day of my life to date, was the day I fully surrendered my heart to Jesus and experienced the gift of Salvation.  This was the first time in my life at the age of 33 I knew at the depth of my soul that if I died, I would be with Jesus in heaven.  The beginning of life as a believer is Salvation in and through Christ Jesus our Savior who according to God’s word came to earth to bring Salvation to mankind.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16

Since our life is a mere vapor compared to eternity, where we spend eternity is a big deal!  Regardless of your faith or belief perspective, no one can argue the reality that we are all going to transition from life on earth to somewhere or something else at the end of our lives.  There are a few things that are certain in life, and one of those is the fact that we are all going to physically die, it is just a matter of time.  This is not a popular topic but it is a reality that we must all face in the journey of life.  “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens;  a time to be born and a time to die”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2  That being said, the “Great News” of Jesus Christ is that He came to earth lived, was crucified by death on a cross and rose again with the primary mission of bringing Salvation to all.  What is amazing is that He did the hard finishing work and sacrificed all for us, we simply have to believe and receive the “free gift” of Salvation.  This is the gospel message, the Good News of our Christian faith.

Based on my experience, I believe the biggest challenge we face in the journey of salvation is our way of thinking.  Since we live in a world where we work to produce and “earn our keep”, we tend to believe that God works in a similar way.  This is surely what I believed for the first 33 years of my life.  This is even how many world religions characterize Salvation, if your good works outweigh your sin then you will be accepted and have your reward.  Like a good works/bad behavior continuum where we are just trying to do more good than bad.  On the contrary, Jesus makes it very clear throughout His Word that our Salvation is about one thing, the person of Jesus and what He did on the cross.  The truth is that we can never be good enough or do enough good works to earn Salvation, it is simply not possible because we are sinful and human.  We are born into this world with sin.  The amazing news of our faith is that we don’t have to be good enough, we simply have to accept and receive what Christ did for us on the cross and fully surrender and believe by faith and we will have eternal life.  “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 

So, what about good works?  As Christians aren’t we supposed to be salt and light to the world and produce fruit of the spirit?  Yes, but this fruit is not produced by us it is produced by Christ at work within us.  The fruit and good works of a believer are simply a biproduct of believing and knowing Christ.  So the work of a believer is to pursue and know Christ through an abiding relationship and He takes care of the rest.  “I am the vine and you are the branches, if you abide in me I will abide and you and you will produce much fruit but apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5  The really cool thing is that the more we get to know the person of Christ the more we want to love Him by following His commands and loving others.  So our motivation to do good works is born out of love and gratitude and not driven by fear, it is simply our response to God’s amazing grace. 

Finally, when we trust God by believing in Jesus and become true followers of Christ, we are not just saved but we are fully justified and adopted as co-heirs with Christ.  So we are actually part of God’s family and have access to the same powers and privileges of Christ.  “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 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.[f] And by Him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Romans 8:14-17.  I know this is very hard to believe but it is what God’s word tells us.

I pray the Lord would draw us all to the fullness of Salvation and we would rejoice in our Salvation and share it with others.

Sincerely,  

Duane

Word of the Week - Team

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will life up his fellow.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!  Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12     

Power and synergy of Relationships - I love how God created humanity with a focus on relationship with Him and others.  This is the great commandment and the essence of our faith, to Love God and Love others.  In His divine Wisdom God put certain principals into motion that are true and delightful such as the practical and divine synergy of Team.  I think we all recognize that we are much better together as part of a Team or Body opposed to trying to do life solo.  For some reason we all have a tendency towards independence and trying to do things in our own strength, this is human nature and somewhat the American way.  Our country was pioneered and built with a spirit of rugged individualism, which definitely has some positive attributes.  That being said, we can only go so far in life on our own strength and talents but can do so much more together as part of a Team, especially when we put together the right combination of talented people with a clear focus and mission.  Even more powerful and fulfilling is a high powered Team that has the hand of God’s blessing on it; this divine blessing is the ultimate experience for a believer.  To live on purpose in your gifting as part of a Team where your giftings are exponentially multiplied through the synergy of the Team, where 1 + 1 > 3.  This is great but I believe if we have God’s favor and divine wisdom there is more synergy and blessing where 1+1+God >5!!!!

Joy and Protection in a Team - Not only do we have upside and synergy in Team but it is much more enjoyable to win with a team than solo.  Life is simply more joyful when we are doing life with others. Even more important is the great protection we have when we are connected to a Team.  No matter how strong and competent we are in our giftings and life situation, there will be times of adversity and discouragement when we will be knocked down by the circumstances of life.  If we are running solo there is a meaningful chance that we will not have anyone there to lift a hand to help us up and out in times of need.  Even in the times of victory and accomplishment, we can become vulnerable to pride and self-centeredness and need friends and Teammates to admonish us and protect us from self-destructing.  “As iron sharpens iron, son one man sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17.  There is an enemy of our soul that has one objective, which is to isolate us so that he can take us down and out, especially if we are living for God’s Kingdom.  We must remain connected to our teammates in an honest and intimate way so we have their covering and visa-versa.  In doing so we have the opportunity to provide the same covering and protection to them, which is an opportunity to minister to our Teammates.  The bottom line is that life is much better together because this is how God our Creator designed it.  “so that they may take hold of life that is truly life” 1 Timothy 6:19

We all have a place on God’s Team - Finally, we may not feel like part of a Team in certain areas of our lives but we must understand that we all have a place on God’s Team.  The Kingdom is incomplete if we have not found our place and purpose.  “As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, ...” 1 Cor 12:20-25  So make sure you do all that is necessary to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Your Purpose and Make a Difference by serving on God’s Team using your unique gifts to do what God has created you to do with others.

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision.  The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives.  It is the fuel that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results” – Andrew Carnegie

We are better together for the Glory of God!!!!

Be a great team player and have a great week…

Duane

Word of the Week - Freedom (Independence Day)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17         

Greetings from Athens Greece!  Amy and I are on a trip in Greece with some friends to “Discover Greece through the footsteps of Paul”.  We visited the Acropolis Museum this morning, see pics attached. Being out of the USA in a foreign country is great, but it always helps me appreciate our homeland of the United States of America and more specifically good ole Birmingham, Alabama!!!

July 4th – also known as Independence Day – is a time to celebrate America. The holiday marks the day in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, signaling the official separation of the 13 original colonies from Great Britain amid the Revolutionary War.  Even amidst so much turmoil and division in our country as of late, we must recognize that we still live in the most amazing nation on earth and rejoice in God’s blessing over the United States of America over the past 247 years.  We have much to be thankful as we celebrate our Independence. 

The price and value of Freedom:  I think it is most important to reflect on the true blessings and responsibilities of Freedom.  In a practical sense, we are truly blessed to live in a country that values Freedom and Independence for its citizens.  The United States of America was founded by men of faith on the premise that we must value and protect individual rights and hold these things sacred as outlined in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”.  It is easy to take this for granted because we are so accustomed to this reality that we really cannot fathom not having these Freedoms and individual rights.  Besides bar-b-que, fireworks and time on the water with family and friends, the purpose of the July 4th Holiday is to set aside a day to recognize the high price that has been paid over the past 250 years to gain and defend this amazing gift of Freedom and to never take it lightly or for granted.  To remember the cost of Freedom and the blood and sacrifice that was poured out to attain our Freedom as a nation.

Responsibility of Freedom:  As American citizens and believers (citizens of the Kingdom of God), I think it is most important that we take on the mantle and responsibility that comes with the gift of Freedom.  Ronald Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”  It is our responsibility as Americans to value, protect and steward our Freedom.  Similarly, but more importantly, Christ Jesus was crucified, died and rose again so that we could overcome death and have the ultimate Freedom that comes with salvation through Christ.  His blood gives us the power to find true Freedom from the wrath of God and the sin and strife of this world.  “It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1.  It is interesting that the Freedom of Christ is received not through a spirit of independence but by a spirit of dependence whereby we live our lives depending on God through an abiding relationship that He describes in John 15:5.  By living connected to the vine of Christ He blesses us with Freedom so that we can do His good work and produce godly fruit in our lives for His glory and purpose.  “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13

Lord, we thank you for our many Freedoms to include: 1) Freedom of religion and individual belief, 2) Freedom to worship, 3) Freedom of prayer and 4) Freedom of speech to name just a few.  We are grateful that we live in a nation that that values Freedom and want to remember and honor all of those who have sacrificed and died to make this a reality for us by exercising our Freedoms in a healthy, respectful and honoring manner.  Lord, most of all, we thank you for the fact that while we were still sinners you died for us so that we can be Free from the wages of sin and live with you in Eternal Freedom.

In celebration of July 4th,  I pray that we would remember the cost of Freedom, rejoice in the reality of our Freedom, and come together as a nation and body of believers in unity to acknowledge and honor the sacrifice of our veterans and American Heroes who paid a very high price for our Freedom.  Additionally, that we would rejoice in the goodness of the Lord and the sacrifice He made on the cross for our eternal salvation/freedom.  This is something to truly celebrate and unite over.

God Bless you and God Bless America, the land of the Free!!!

Duane

Amy and I in Athens, Greece.

The Parthenon in Greece.

Word of the Week - Today

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

As I get older it seems like time moves faster.  The days, weeks, months, and years fly by.  I often reflect on my life and how I invest the precious and finite time I am given here on this earth.  As the days and years pass, I value my time more and more.  I often quote a saying I heard at JH Ranch many years ago by Bruce Johnston, “we only get one life, but if lived well, one life is enough”.  Like most of us, I desire to make the most of my life.  I am finishing a book titled “Living Life Backward” by David Gibson.  The premise of the book is that we can only live our best life if we face our mortality and live life on earth in light of eternity by “living with the end in mind”.  There is only one thing that is certain for all of us: we have limited time on this earth.  Accepting death is our first step in learning to live.  This encourages us to live in the present of “today” recognizing that we truly don’t know if there will be a tomorrow or what tomorrow might hold for us.  This perspective allows us to live life well and to the full because we don’t take things for granted.  The bible is filled with scriptures about our lives in the context of eternity.  This can make us feel quite insignificant if we are not in a personal relationship with God.  On the other hand, if we are in a personal relationship with Jesus and know the love of God, our God purpose/mission, and eternal destiny, we can live “today” with peace, confidence, and “enjoyment”, knowing that this life is meaningful but not where it ends.  There is something much better awaiting us on the other side.  This is how we live present in today, regardless of our circumstances.  “Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 39:4

Today – “Yesterday is gone, Tomorrow has not yet come.  We have only today.  Let us begin” Mother Teresa I love this quote and believe it brings clarity to life.  The key is that we live in the present and be present where we are.  My good friend Chuck Scott reminds me every day to embrace grace “today”!  This is not always easy for me as I have a tendency to think forward and desire to live with a plan/agenda. That being said, the bible encourages us to reflect and plan and this is a good and wise practice.  The key is that we don’t try to live in from the past or in the future, but we live in the here and now of “Today”. 

Here are a few things that I have found keep me grounded in the presence of “Today”:

Make it a priority each day to connect with Jesus First – Jesus modeled this for us while He was here on earth.  “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”. Mark 1:35  Even Jesus made connecting with His father the highest priority each day by “Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” Matthew 6:33.  When we enter into the presence of God and connect with the Father through Jesus and the Holy spirit, all the things of this world that concern ourselves with begin to fade as God and His plan and purpose for our lives come into focus.  This grounds us in the things of God and allows us to find peace and comfort in who we are in Christ and His plan and purpose for our lives in the Today.  This allows us to enter our day centered in our connection to God, which helps us to be more present and focused on the here and now.  To trust that God has something good for us to do that matters for eternity.  When we are fully present and engaged in “today”, God can use us and produce His fruit in us and through us.  “Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?’ For the pagans seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Mathew 6:31-34

Make people a priority each day – Other than our connection to Jesus, there is no higher calling or better investment of our time than in building and nurturing relationships with others.  God makes it very clear that the only thing that will last is God and people.  Thus, He gives us the great commandment to “Love God with our all and Love others as we love ourselves” Matthew 23:37-39 As we connect and abide in Christ, hopefully we are filled with God’s goodness and spirit so much so that we want to share His goodness with others.  This is the essence of ministry.  Whatever our agenda, loving others should always be a priority that we pursue in today.  It is very hard to love others well if we are not present in the here and now.  Investing our time in others is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in God’s economy.  There are different degrees of this, but as followers of Christ it is our highest calling to be on mission every day to reach the lost, minister to the hurting, and disciple and encourage fellow believers in the body.  “Therefore go an make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20  This is the great co-mission that Jesus gave us before He departed earth.  Living on assignment gives us purpose in each day as we walk in our calling.  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35

Live each Day with a clarity of your Purpose and Values – “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you found out why” Mark Twain. 

For me, the day I surrendered my life to Jesus was the most meaningful day of my life to date, and in doing so, I found my purpose and began to live on purpose.  In fact, desiring to know my purpose was what compelled me to surrender my life.  God created each of us with a unique purpose in mind as outlined in Ephesians 2:10. “We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus, to do good works that He prepared in advance for us to walk in”. When we know our purpose, and begin to live in our God purpose, we realize the significance of each day and have a desire to embrace each day and make the most of it.  Prior to knowing my God purpose, I found myself trying to get through the day and living forward.  Always trying to find something to look forward to like my weekend or next adventure/trip.  I still enjoy lots of adventures and trips, but I don’t live my life looking forward, I simply enjoy the day and time I have in the here and now and do my very best to make the most of it.  I believe this is a secret to being present and living the abundant life that Jesus spoke of, “the life that is truly life”!

I believe that having clarity of our values is key to living present and in today.  When we know who we are and what we value it is much easier to be present and at peace with ourselves and others.  “Priorities shift every day; values once defined, stay the same.” John C. Maxwell If you have not done so already, it is powerful to do a values exercise to clearly identify your personal values similar to what we do in our businesses.  This is also a wonderful exercise for you to do with your spouse and family.  “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are your and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8

Challenge Questions:  Are you living in the present?  Or, are you preoccupied with the past or living in the future?  Is connecting with Jesus each day your first and highest priority? Do you make investing in others a priority each day?  Do you know your God purpose?  Do you have your values written down?

This is one of my favorite prayers because is emphasizes “Today”.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;  Trusting that He will make things right If I surrender to His will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with Him Forever in the life to come.

Amen!!!! 

Enjoy Today !!!!!!!

Duane

Word of the Week - High-Road Leadership

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each you to the interest of others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  Philippians 2:3-5                        

I am currently reading a book by my friend John Maxwell titled “High Road Leadership – Bringing people together in a world that divides”.  John shared on this topic at the Impact Leadership Conference back in December, see notes below, and has recently released his book.  This is very timely given the state of our nation and the division we are experiencing in our country especially as we move towards the November elections.  It is sad, concerning, and disheartening to see the state of our country and the poor leadership we have in both parties and the many examples of “Low Road” leadership we are witnessing day to day.  Statistics reveal that most Americans are feeling the same way with 63% of Americans saying they have little confidence in elected officials.  So, what do we do about it?  As John advocates in his book, I believe that being a High Road person/leader is the solution and surely an antidote to the crisis we are facing.  As followers of Christ, we are called to live this way and to model this approach, so we can be beacons of hope and light to those around us for good and God’s glory.  “You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5: 14-16

High-Road People are people who intentionally give first without worrying about receiving anything back.  They value every person and treat everyone well irrespective of the other persons beliefs, posture, or position.  They don’t worry about getting their share because they approach life and people with a perspective of abundance vs. scarcity and believe there is plenty to go around.  When I ponder this concept, Jesus is the first thing that comes to mind.  He was the ultimate High Road leader and an amazing model for us to follow.  Jesus surely challenged conventional wisdom with statements like this:  “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:35

The problem - At the core is the root of all evil, we are sinners who live in a fallen and broken world.  We should not be surprised by the ways of the world and the lack of High Road leadership.  If you are born again in Christ, you are likely lost, insecure and fearful, and revert to basic human instincts “fight or flight”, which is what we are seeing.  When leaders don’t possess good values and the conviction to walk them out, they will take the low road and use people to get what they want.  This typically is achieved by dividing people and making it about “us vs them”.  The propensity is to fight, disrespect and virtually demonize your opponent and assume they have evil motives; opposed to simply being able to respectfully disagree.  High Road leaders possess strong collaboration bias and are able to bring people together to increase understanding and broaden their perspective without feeling threatened.  The truth is that we need each other and are much better together, especially when we have different views.  Our side doesn’t have all the answers.  Believing we do is arrogant and dangerous.  You lose the best way when you must always have your own way.  We can’t divide people and expect to accomplish positive results.  “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” Ephesians 4:2-3

The 3 Roads we can take:

• High-Road People – see above

• Middle-Road People are most common and prevalent.  These are people who value fairness and are open to give-and take to keep things fair and what we perceive as even.  They are willing to compromise, as long as they are getting at least as much as they are giving, and they would prefer if they get their share first.  This sounds good and can work in life, but it is a mindset that limits us and is very transactional.  On the negative side, when people have this philosophy, they typically have a mindset of revenge when they get hurt or taken advantage of, which is going to happen.  They have an “an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth” old testament approach to people.  This is not a life-giving approach and certainly not the abundant life that Jesus desires for us.  It is hard to retain healthy long-term relationships with this mindset.

• Low-Road People Where people on the middle road strive for fairness, people on the low road think only of themselves.  We are all selfish by nature, but low road people take from others and don’t even think about giving anything back.  Why?  Because they believe taking is the only way they can get what they want.  If they don’t do whatever it takes to get what they desire, they believe they will be left out or get left behind.  Many low-road people are wounded and see themselves as victims.  So, when they take from others, they believe they are settling a score or making the world fair for themselves.

Three road characteristic comparison side by side:

High Road Leaders

Middle Road Leaders

Low Road Leaders

 Value Others

  Seek Value from Others

  Devalue Others

 Bring People Together

  Move back and forth

  Divide People

 Close the Gap btw People

  Live with the Gap btw People

  Widen the Gap btw People

 Give more than they receive

  Give equal to what they receive

  Take more than they give

Give first

Don’t keep score – giver

  Give back

  Keep score – quid pro quo

  Give nothing

  Don’t keep score – take

Want others to win

  Want us to win

  Want me to win

 Treat others better than themselves

  Treat others the same as themselves

  Treat themselves at others expense

High-Road Leadership – Though I often fall short, I deeply desire to be a high-road leader and pray for the wisdom, strength, and courage to walk this out in every area of my life, especially around those who have different values than me. My main motivation is my love and relationship with Jesus and my desire to be more godly, and Christ like.  Even though our greatest reward will come in heaven, I also have found that living life with a high-road approach and mindset produces tremendous fruit.  This is the amazing blessing of God and His ways.  Our walk with Jesus is paradoxical in that as we “lose our life and give ourselves away, we receive something much greater”, we experience the “life that is truly life”, which is the abundant life of Christ.  True fulfillment and significance is a path of helping others and making the world better by “loving others” first.  As John Maxwell says, “I believe if you make the first move by placing others ahead of yourself and add value to them, you will be blessed and feel fulfilled”.  Not only is this true, but it is how we have the most impact and influence.  I believe this is truly the way we can affect change and begin to move things in a more positive direction.  Most people model what they see, so we must model this for others and encourage others to do the same.  How do we change our culture, it starts with us.  Let’s make it our desire and focus to be High-Road leaders love and live like Jesus!  “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not record of wrongs” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.  They will know we are Christians by our love!!!!

Let’s purpose to be high-road leaders today in Christ!!!!!

Have a great week!!!

Duane

Duane and the Grandkids!

Popsicles with the Grandkids.

Word of the Week - Father

“Our Father in Heaven” ~Mathew 6:9

“A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way” – A wise father

The power of the Father relationship?  A Father's Influence is paramount in the development of faith.  Here are some interesting statistics from the aforementioned article/link: “Father’s Influence – Part 1”:  When a child is first to find faith in Christ, about 5% of the time the family follows. When a mother is first to find faith in Christ, 22% of the time the family follows. However, when a father is first to find faith in Christ, 93% of the time the family follows. It is in the family environment led by a Christian dad that God does an incredible work. 

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 our 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.  I never ever doubted my dad’s deep and unconditional love for me. This reality along with Jesus’ healing hand has been the catalyst for 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 pics of our family with all 7 grandkids along with a fun moment with my older 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….“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;”  Psalm 103:13

“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

Duane and the Grandkids!

Popsicles with the Grandkids.