ACTION (def.) energetic activity, an exertion of power or force; a change in organs, tisssues, or cells leading to performance of a function, as in muscular contraction; something done, an act or deed.
This thought of action is what Nike had in mind with it’s now internationally recognized slogan “Just Do It.” Take action.
In one of James Allen's lesser known books, "Byways of Blessedness", he devotes the entire first chapter to beginnings. He writes, "Most beginnings are small, and appear trivial and insignificant, but in reality they are the most important things in life."
Ideas are practically worthless ink on paper until some action is taken to put it into motion. A plan never becomes valuable until action is taken. Without a beginning they will someday be filed in the “round file” and be lost to the world. We often talk as James Allen did of “small beginnings.” Truthfully there are no small or large, significant or insignificant beginnings, important or unimportant beginnings. There are just beginnings, and every accomplishment in life, no matter where we place them on man’s scale of greatness or importance, is the result of initial ACTION. The greatest of plans can be the greatest failure if no action it taken. Yet, even incomplete or what seems to be insignificant plans result in great success because someone was willing to take action. Too often we procrastinate. The definition of procrastinate is to delay action.
When Jeff Bezos decided to start Amazon.com, he left his job on the East Coast and headed to Washington State. He had his wife drive him and their belongings across the country so that he could stay on the phone constantly; convincing potential investors and vendors why Amazon would be a success.
Even the smallest of actions can lead to great success. Sir Isaac Newton's principle that a "body at rest tends to remain at rest and a body in motion tends to remain in motion," definitely applies to the action principle. Once you've taken the first step (even a baby step), the next steps seem easier to take.
But there is another principle that is important to success in life. It is FOCUS. Have you ever been in conversation with someone, and they took off in a different direction on another story or topic? Then they paused to say, “But I digress.” Often in life we take action, we start moving, but then someone where along the way “we digress.” The definition of digress is “to deviate or wander away from the main purpose in speaking or writing.” Since digress applies to speaking and writing “detour” would be the better word for our purpose today. We start, we take action and head down the path of the plan but take a detour. We have to focus on the plan, the purpose and stick with it.
Some of you that read these everyday are saying, “Okay, okay but don’t just give me a motivational talk. Where the Scripture?” Here it is... Philippians 3:13-14 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Paul uses a couple of words here that are important. DO speaks of action. Not one thing I talk about, plan for, write down, but DO... take action. ONE thing speaks of focus. Not a dozen I dabble in, but ONE thing I DO. Let’s try that. Find the one thing that could make the most difference and DO IT.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You have a plan and purpose for my life. Give me wisdom to know what that plan and purpose is, give me the strength and courage to take action, and a resolve to focus on Your priorities for my life. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Friday, May 4, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Can we accomplish The Great Commission?
Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
I hear a lot today about the growth of Islam in the world. Things like it is the fastest growing religion on the earth. They are more in number than Christians and they may be growing faster than they ever have, but they are not the fastest growing religion. They are a force to be contended with in the world today, BUT THEY ARE NOT the strongest, fastest growing religion in the world. That is a lie the enemy has spread to discourage and cause fear among God’s people, His true church.
I did some research some time ago on the internet concerning world missions and the evangelical Christian church. Here are some facts they should bless and challenge you. Jesus told us to reach the entire world, make disciples in every nation, baptize them, and teach them Biblical truth. (Matthew 28:19-20) Wow! That’s a huge task, but keep in mind that God would never give us an imperative that’s impossible! It is possible! We will do it! In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit we are doing it! Read the following statistics gathered from the internet.
Christianity is the single fastest growing religion in the world. For example, in AD 100 there were 360 non-believers for every believer. Today, there are only nine non-believers for every believer, and only four of those non-believers are from unreached people groups.
Considering the growth rate of the world’s religious blocks, Christianity is by far the fastest-growing religion in the world today. The total population of the world increases by 1.72% annually. The world’s religions growth percentiles are as follows: Buddhists 1.7%, Nominal Christians 2.2%, Hindus 2.3%, Muslims 2.7%, Non-religious 2.8%, Great Commision, Bible-believing Christians 6.9%.
More Muslims in Iran have come to Christ since 1980 than in the previous 1000 years combined. Before Khomeini’s revolution in 1979 there were about 2,000 Iranian believers. After years of intensified persecution, there are now more than 15,000.
There’s a seminary in Indonesia where to graduate you have to do all the schoolwork plus start a whole church plus see at least 15 Muslims come to faith in Jesus Christ. In the past 6 years, these students have started more than 600 churches and seen 40,000 Muslims find new life in Christ.
The number of people who are being personally presented the plan of salvation every day is now over 250,000. This does not include television ministries that it would be impossible to accurately count. Pray for today’s quarter million plus. May they respond to the call of Christ.
Every day now the average number added to the body of Christ worldwide averages nearly 200,000. 3,500 new churches are opening every week worldwide.
In recent years, the best-selling book in Japan has been the Bible. In a government survey, Japanese citizens were asked to name the greatest religious leader in history. Sixty-seven percent replied, “Jesus Christ.”
In 1900, Korea had no Protestant Church; it was deemed “impossible to penetrate.” Today, six new churches open every day in South Korea, and it is site of nine of the world’s largest churches – some with more than 800,000 members. Today Korea is more than 30% Christian with 7,000 churches in Seoul alone. Millions of Buddhists have come to Christ.
In North America, 85 million copies of the New International Version of the Bible have been sold in the past 15 years; and 42 percent of its purchasers read the Bible every day. Every week 34 percent of the American population reads the Bible outside of church – that’s 75 million weekly exposed to the Word that “will not return void”. On an average day Americans will buy 35,932 Bibles.
The largest face to face meeting of human beings in all of history is a prayer meeting in Yoido Plaza in Seoul, Korea where 2.7 million people came together.
Every 14 days another translation of the New Testament is begun in a new language. If we’re still here, at least some portion of the Bible will be translated into every language on earth by the year 2020.
God chosen to allow us to be the channel though which the Gospel is communicated to the world. What an amazing thing. While the numbers look great the harvest is still very huge. There are yet billions that have not heard. So here’s the truth... We don’t have a harvest problem. We have a laborer problem. Jesus said to PRAY for LABORERS to be sent into the fields of the lost to harvest them for the church. (Matthew 9:38)
Prayer: Lord Jesus , I pray for those who will be presented the Good News today. I pray their hearts will be fertile ground for the seed of the Gospel and that they will come into the great family of the Church You are building. I pray for workers in the churches of the world to carry the Gospel seed and gather the harvest, and I give myself to be one of those workers. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
I hear a lot today about the growth of Islam in the world. Things like it is the fastest growing religion on the earth. They are more in number than Christians and they may be growing faster than they ever have, but they are not the fastest growing religion. They are a force to be contended with in the world today, BUT THEY ARE NOT the strongest, fastest growing religion in the world. That is a lie the enemy has spread to discourage and cause fear among God’s people, His true church.
I did some research some time ago on the internet concerning world missions and the evangelical Christian church. Here are some facts they should bless and challenge you. Jesus told us to reach the entire world, make disciples in every nation, baptize them, and teach them Biblical truth. (Matthew 28:19-20) Wow! That’s a huge task, but keep in mind that God would never give us an imperative that’s impossible! It is possible! We will do it! In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit we are doing it! Read the following statistics gathered from the internet.
Christianity is the single fastest growing religion in the world. For example, in AD 100 there were 360 non-believers for every believer. Today, there are only nine non-believers for every believer, and only four of those non-believers are from unreached people groups.
Considering the growth rate of the world’s religious blocks, Christianity is by far the fastest-growing religion in the world today. The total population of the world increases by 1.72% annually. The world’s religions growth percentiles are as follows: Buddhists 1.7%, Nominal Christians 2.2%, Hindus 2.3%, Muslims 2.7%, Non-religious 2.8%, Great Commision, Bible-believing Christians 6.9%.
More Muslims in Iran have come to Christ since 1980 than in the previous 1000 years combined. Before Khomeini’s revolution in 1979 there were about 2,000 Iranian believers. After years of intensified persecution, there are now more than 15,000.
There’s a seminary in Indonesia where to graduate you have to do all the schoolwork plus start a whole church plus see at least 15 Muslims come to faith in Jesus Christ. In the past 6 years, these students have started more than 600 churches and seen 40,000 Muslims find new life in Christ.
The number of people who are being personally presented the plan of salvation every day is now over 250,000. This does not include television ministries that it would be impossible to accurately count. Pray for today’s quarter million plus. May they respond to the call of Christ.
Every day now the average number added to the body of Christ worldwide averages nearly 200,000. 3,500 new churches are opening every week worldwide.
In recent years, the best-selling book in Japan has been the Bible. In a government survey, Japanese citizens were asked to name the greatest religious leader in history. Sixty-seven percent replied, “Jesus Christ.”
In 1900, Korea had no Protestant Church; it was deemed “impossible to penetrate.” Today, six new churches open every day in South Korea, and it is site of nine of the world’s largest churches – some with more than 800,000 members. Today Korea is more than 30% Christian with 7,000 churches in Seoul alone. Millions of Buddhists have come to Christ.
In North America, 85 million copies of the New International Version of the Bible have been sold in the past 15 years; and 42 percent of its purchasers read the Bible every day. Every week 34 percent of the American population reads the Bible outside of church – that’s 75 million weekly exposed to the Word that “will not return void”. On an average day Americans will buy 35,932 Bibles.
The largest face to face meeting of human beings in all of history is a prayer meeting in Yoido Plaza in Seoul, Korea where 2.7 million people came together.
Every 14 days another translation of the New Testament is begun in a new language. If we’re still here, at least some portion of the Bible will be translated into every language on earth by the year 2020.
God chosen to allow us to be the channel though which the Gospel is communicated to the world. What an amazing thing. While the numbers look great the harvest is still very huge. There are yet billions that have not heard. So here’s the truth... We don’t have a harvest problem. We have a laborer problem. Jesus said to PRAY for LABORERS to be sent into the fields of the lost to harvest them for the church. (Matthew 9:38)
Prayer: Lord Jesus , I pray for those who will be presented the Good News today. I pray their hearts will be fertile ground for the seed of the Gospel and that they will come into the great family of the Church You are building. I pray for workers in the churches of the world to carry the Gospel seed and gather the harvest, and I give myself to be one of those workers. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Reputation and Character
Historians tell us that in ancient times, brick makers, engravers, and other artisans and craftsmen used a symbol to mark their creations. It was known as their “character.” The value of the work was determined by the skill and care with which the work was done. Every single brick, every piece of pottery, every painting, every piece of jewelry, every creation of their hands had their “character” on it so it was important that each one reflect the quality claimed by the creator. The character became well known and highly respected when the quality of the work was high. It is the equivalent of our “brands” in today’s world. There was a time when a “brand” indicated the quality and durability of merchandise. Certain brands had certain marks of quality and they were trusted because they had been proven through the years. However, through the years ownership of the companies changed and the values of leadership changed so the quality of those products changed. It is the character of the person that determines the quality of what they produce in life.
When speak of our lives the ownership change should be to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Instead of diminishing quality, as in the case of some brands, there should be increasing quality in our lives and what we produce through our lives. The level of our work should be the best. The brand of “Christian” should speak of high quality, high moral values, high respect for authority, and high dependability.
Sometimes we speak of this as “reputation.” A good reputation is a valuable thing, but it is character that sustains you throughout your life. William Hersey Davis gives some great insights into the difference in character and reputation. He wrote:
“The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation . . . The truth you believe determines your character . . . Reputation is what you are supposed to be; Character is what you are . . . Reputation is the photograph; Character is the face . . . Reputation comes over one from without; Character grows up from within . . . Reputation is what you have when you come to a new community; Character is what you have when you go away . . . Your reputation is made in a moment; Your character is built in a lifetime . . . Your reputation is learned in an hour; Your character does not come to light for a year . . . Reputation grows like a mushroom; Character lasts like eternity . . . Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor; Character makes you happy or makes you miserable . . . Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; Character is what the angels say about you before the throne of God.”
“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
Our hope and our future are in our character not our reputation. Reputations may change because they are largely the opinion of others, but character is who we are inside. That eventually manifests itself outwardly. Reputation does not determine our character, but character will ultimately determine our reputation.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, if there are any blemishes on my character I ask You to reveal them to me today. I want to carry the brand of “Christian” not so that I can be proud, but so that You can be proud. I don’t want to do anything to blemish the name of Jesus before the world. Help me develop deeper, stronger character every day that I serve and live for You. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
When speak of our lives the ownership change should be to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Instead of diminishing quality, as in the case of some brands, there should be increasing quality in our lives and what we produce through our lives. The level of our work should be the best. The brand of “Christian” should speak of high quality, high moral values, high respect for authority, and high dependability.
Sometimes we speak of this as “reputation.” A good reputation is a valuable thing, but it is character that sustains you throughout your life. William Hersey Davis gives some great insights into the difference in character and reputation. He wrote:
“The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation . . . The truth you believe determines your character . . . Reputation is what you are supposed to be; Character is what you are . . . Reputation is the photograph; Character is the face . . . Reputation comes over one from without; Character grows up from within . . . Reputation is what you have when you come to a new community; Character is what you have when you go away . . . Your reputation is made in a moment; Your character is built in a lifetime . . . Your reputation is learned in an hour; Your character does not come to light for a year . . . Reputation grows like a mushroom; Character lasts like eternity . . . Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor; Character makes you happy or makes you miserable . . . Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; Character is what the angels say about you before the throne of God.”
“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
Our hope and our future are in our character not our reputation. Reputations may change because they are largely the opinion of others, but character is who we are inside. That eventually manifests itself outwardly. Reputation does not determine our character, but character will ultimately determine our reputation.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, if there are any blemishes on my character I ask You to reveal them to me today. I want to carry the brand of “Christian” not so that I can be proud, but so that You can be proud. I don’t want to do anything to blemish the name of Jesus before the world. Help me develop deeper, stronger character every day that I serve and live for You. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Where's the Fruit?
Fruit doesn’t grow on the trunk of the tree. To find fruit you have to get out on a limb. Remember that old expression? Going out on a limb meant taking a risk, getting out of your comfort zone. Another word for it is faith. Doing something that we know will demand the involvement of God’s supernatural help. If I can do it then I don’t need God. Faith keeps me in a position that I need God and call on Him regularly. Maybe that why the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God.
On the other hand to bear fruit means I have to expand, to grow limbs that are reaching out. I can’t just stay to myself. I have several trees in my back yard. They grow either in or near the property line. Those trees don’t know where my property line is because they just grow right over my neighbors pasture. In fact, probably more of the tree hangs over the neighbors pasture than in my yard, but the tree is mine because the trunk in on my property. All of the fruit doesn’t fall in my yard either.
Psalms 1 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3 (NIV)
We must as a church and as individuals be continually reaching out, letting our limbs be extended bearing fruit and dropping fruit in new places and to new people. We don’t bear fruit to benefit ourselves but others. I have never seen a tree eat the fruit it provides.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be a bearer, a producer of the fruit of the Spirit. Help me to grow limbs long and sturdy that will reach many people with this wonderful message (fruit) of hope and life in Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
On the other hand to bear fruit means I have to expand, to grow limbs that are reaching out. I can’t just stay to myself. I have several trees in my back yard. They grow either in or near the property line. Those trees don’t know where my property line is because they just grow right over my neighbors pasture. In fact, probably more of the tree hangs over the neighbors pasture than in my yard, but the tree is mine because the trunk in on my property. All of the fruit doesn’t fall in my yard either.
Psalms 1 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3 (NIV)
We must as a church and as individuals be continually reaching out, letting our limbs be extended bearing fruit and dropping fruit in new places and to new people. We don’t bear fruit to benefit ourselves but others. I have never seen a tree eat the fruit it provides.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be a bearer, a producer of the fruit of the Spirit. Help me to grow limbs long and sturdy that will reach many people with this wonderful message (fruit) of hope and life in Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Monday, April 30, 2007
Heart Matters
John Maxwell says, “You don’t attract what you want, you attract what you are.” Another person said it this way, “When you stop working on what it is you’re trying to get, and start working on YOU, then you will get what it is you want.” Goethe, the German philosopher said, “Before you can do something, you first must be something.”
All these very smart people are smart because they have learned Biblical principle that has been around thousands of years. Proverbs 23:7 says, “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The Hebrew word for “thinketh” is found only this one time in the entire Old Testament. Barnes Notes commentary on the Old Testament notes “[Thinketh] The Hebrew verb is found here only, and probably means, ‘as he is all along in his heart, so is he (at last) in act.’"
Is it time for a heart check? If you want a picture of what you will be in the future look at your heart today. After all our heart is what we are on the inside. I attended a conference a number of years ago and the title of the seminar was “Leadership... from the Inside Out.” I don’t remember much about the details of the seminar, but the title is the message.
If you don’t like what you see in the future after a heart check then change your heart. While determination and willpower may have a lot to do with changing the heart ultimately the Holy Spirit will need to be involved so why not start there. That’s where David started when he did not like what he had become. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” [Psalms 51:10 (NIV)] David knew everything is a matter of the heart.
My friend, Richard Exley, did a radio show a number of years ago and now writes a periodic blog called “Straight From the Heart.” You can read them at www.richardexley.typepad.com . Life really does proceed from the heart and we need help with it. Motivational speakers will have you believe that you can do it all just by disciplined thinking. It is a powerful thing to discipline our thinking, but the truth is that “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” [Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)] We need help from God who can create in us the heart we need and one that is pure.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a heart like yours, pure and holy, kind and compassionate, at the same time strong but submitted to Your will, full of faith and confidence in the Father’s promises. I pray with David, “create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
All these very smart people are smart because they have learned Biblical principle that has been around thousands of years. Proverbs 23:7 says, “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The Hebrew word for “thinketh” is found only this one time in the entire Old Testament. Barnes Notes commentary on the Old Testament notes “[Thinketh] The Hebrew verb is found here only, and probably means, ‘as he is all along in his heart, so is he (at last) in act.’"
Is it time for a heart check? If you want a picture of what you will be in the future look at your heart today. After all our heart is what we are on the inside. I attended a conference a number of years ago and the title of the seminar was “Leadership... from the Inside Out.” I don’t remember much about the details of the seminar, but the title is the message.
If you don’t like what you see in the future after a heart check then change your heart. While determination and willpower may have a lot to do with changing the heart ultimately the Holy Spirit will need to be involved so why not start there. That’s where David started when he did not like what he had become. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” [Psalms 51:10 (NIV)] David knew everything is a matter of the heart.
My friend, Richard Exley, did a radio show a number of years ago and now writes a periodic blog called “Straight From the Heart.” You can read them at www.richardexley.typepad.com . Life really does proceed from the heart and we need help with it. Motivational speakers will have you believe that you can do it all just by disciplined thinking. It is a powerful thing to discipline our thinking, but the truth is that “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” [Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)] We need help from God who can create in us the heart we need and one that is pure.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a heart like yours, pure and holy, kind and compassionate, at the same time strong but submitted to Your will, full of faith and confidence in the Father’s promises. I pray with David, “create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
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