Practicing What He Preaches

My pastor Brian Henson, St. Patrick Church in Cedar Park, Texas, sent this out recently and gave me permission to share.

-------------------------------

Friends,

Last week, I was having lunch with a buddy (I'll call him Bob)--a local businessman I met through a civic activity. Bob grew up around here, but hasn't had a lot of exposure to the church or Christianity. For the first thirty minutes or so of our time together, Bob shared with me some difficulties he has been having at work--mostly related to a couple of bad client interactions, and problems with employees. I responded by listening, and then offering a couple of suggestions. We then discussed some of the business connections I've helped him establish in the community (he's a gifted businessman, but not the best networker). Bob told me how helpful those contacts have been, and as he was considering the comments I had made about his work, I saw a quizzical look come across his face. He slowly began--as though he was searching for the right phrases to string together--one at a time: "So...you're a...pastor...and you...do that...full-time?" "Yes," I responded, but I knew where this was going, so I continued: "The local business community is sort of my niche, and I spend a lot of time helping guys think through their businesses, and praying for them, and talking to them about Jesus, like I'm doing with you now."

That led into a discussion about Christianity and the nature of the gospel. I explained to him the often-made (and remarkably helpful) distinction that, whereas all other belief systems are fundamentally advice (do this, do that, and you can have a good life), the gospel is news (this is what has been done for you by Jesus...trust in him). One is a message of self-improvement, one is a message of rescue. And as we talked, and he shared some of the darker things from his life, I said, "See man! You're perfect for Christianity--it's the only faith for losers like us!"  We both laughed, and I was able to elaborate on the fact that since Christianity is about God's grace, that who we are is no obstacle to his power to rescue us. He shared with me some more of his questions, and after giving brief answers, I offered to carry on the discussion another time (since it was getting late), and offered to get him a couple of books to help him think through our discussion, "If you'll read them," I added. He said he would, so I bought him The Reason for God, by Tim Keller, and Cold-Case Christianity, by J. Warner Wallace. I gave them to him on Friday night, so we'll see where things go from here.  Lord willing, he is doing something in Bob's heart. 

Grace & Peace,

Brian (on behalf of Erika and Joaquin)

-----------------------------

Brian spends a great deal of his time in the workplace, networking, having one-to-one meetings and going to luncheons and other events. I met him at a Chamber luncheon, see him in workplace settings weekly. He's on-the-streets, practicing Christianity.

To that end.......

You Need a Vision, by Tim Hetzner

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

If your vision in life is to become as rich as possible, hoard every penny you make, and indulge your every whim - your vision is not from God. 

But if your vision is to succeed, use your success to bless others, and fulfil the purposes of God in the earth, your vision is from God. When God called Abraham, He promised him three things: 'I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing [to others]' (Genesis 12:2). 

Understand this: every worthy vision comes from God whether or not it's related to so-called 'spiritual' matters, and whether or not the person with the vision realizes the source of their vision. 

The Bible says, 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.' We tend to compartmentalize our lives, to view God as having influence and relevance when it comes to 'spiritual' visions, missions, and goals, but little relationship to 'secular' visions, missions, and goals. St Augustine said, 'Let every Christian understand that wherever truth is found, it belongs to his master.' God is the fountain of all truth, and the source of all worthy visions. And since He gave you your vision you must pour yourself into it every day. The psalmist said, 'Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity [success] of His servant' (Psalm 35:27). 

With God as your partner you must expect to succeed - and you will!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your vision for my life – help me prosper in it for You and others You would want me to serve. In Jesus' Name, Amen

The above devotion was written/compiled from multiple sources by Tim Hetzner, President of Lutheran Church Charities and author of WORD Bible Studies. 

LIVING ABOVE LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES, by Neil Anderson

Philippians 4:11 

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am

 

Some of us tend to assume that it is God's will if the circumstances are favorable and it isn't God's will if the circumstances are unfavorable. Next to the Bible, I would guess that more Christians are "guided" by this means than any other. Yet of all the possible means of guidance, this is the least authoritative and trustworthy.

 

I had the privilege of pastoring a church that purchased new property and went through a building program. Through most of the process the circumstances didn't seem favorable. Twice I sat with the mayor, who was also a local real estate agent, and asked him if he thought our plans were feasible. He advised us not to make the land trade, and he didn't think the city would allow us to build. He knew the real estate and the political climate better than anyone in the city. But the land swap increased our assets by millions and the city planning commission voted 7-0 in favor of our building plans.

 

You may have to set sail by the tide, but you'd better be guided by the stars or you're going to end up on the wrong shore. Circumstances may have their effect on your plans, but you have a far greater accountability to God. Make sure you follow Him, not the tide of circumstances.

 

I heard a motivational speaker say, "I don't like to recruit Christians because when the going gets tough they quit, concluding that it must not be God's will." Generally speaking, I believe that Christians should live above life's circumstances and not be guided by them.

 

Also be careful about applying too much significance to unusual circumstances or coincidences. "It must be God's will. Why else would that book by lying there!" It could be God's will, but I would never take that kind of a sign on its own merit. I have helped many people in occultic bondage who have made bizarre associations or attached far too much significance to irrelevant events.

 

Prayer: Lord, I determine to test all guidance by Your Word and not to be swayed away from Your will by circumstances or popular opinion.

My first encounter with author Jordan Raynor this morning via Edward Reed's Facebook post. Click to Pre-Order Raynor's new book Called to Create.

Devotional: C.S. Lewis And The Call To Create

Author: Jordan Raynor

How Lewis Created

“What I owe to [the Inklings] is incalculable. Is there any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?” - C. S. Lewis

As we’ve seen modeled in the life of C. S. Lewis, reimagining our work as a calling from God changes our motivations for creating and the products we choose to create. As we’ll see today, following God’s call to create also changes how we create.

The Bible offers a tremendous amount of insight into how we as Christians should work: We should work with excellence, integrity, diligence, and graciousness. But what’s often overlooked is the need to create in community with other believers. For those of us who choose to follow the call to create, we must surround ourselves with fellow Christian creators who can help “renew our minds” (Romans 12:2) with eternal perspective as we create.

Again, C. S. Lewis provides a model for what this looks like. During the 1930s and 1940s, Oxford was home to some of the world’s greatest Christian minds, including Charles Williams, Hugo Dyson, Owen Barfield, and most famously, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and his brother Warnie Lewis. This group of friends, known simply as the Inklings, shared a love of the Lord and literature, each of them following God’s call to create through their writings. But they did not create in isolation. For nearly two decades, the group met on a near-weekly basis to read aloud their latest writings, get feedback from the other members of the group, drink a pint of beer, and help renew each other’s minds with regards to their Christian faith.

Without constant communion with other believers to refresh their eternal perspectives, Tolkien may have never completed The Lord of the Rings and Lewis may have never finished The Chronicles of Narnia. Like these creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we create.

If our work is to feel like a vocation—a true calling on our lives—we must be willing to follow the example of C. S. Lewis and reimagine our work as service to God and others. When we do, we will find the lordship of the True Aslan, Jesus Christ, changing our motivations for creating, the products we choose to create, and how we go about creating them, in community with others following the call to create.

Author: Jordan Raynor / Called to Create

A Christian's Happiness

A Christian's Happiness

http://subspla.sh/c7427ad

A Christian's Happiness Dr. Timothy Keller View

Danny L. Smith, CMPS

512-773-6528

LinkedIn.com/in/DLSmith

Two Commissions

God gave us two commissions.

1. Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living."

2. Matthew 28:18-20 “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”