For a better life and a better eternity
I’ve been a Christian for nearly 30 years. I’ve been working as an evangelist for over 20 of them. I confess that in the last month, I’ve realized I have had evangelism exactly backwards. I discovered this from one of the most well-known parables, which I’ve read over and over and over for years. Perhaps it is because it was so familiar to me that its real message was lost on me. Please, allow me to explain.
If there is anything we assume in our modern day, it is #LOVEWINS. It has become a mantra for everything. But have you ever stopped to ask why we believe this today? I’m not asking have you ever stopped to ask why we should believe this? That is a good question, but a different one. Have you ever stopped to ask why that statement has even made its way into modern consciousness and is even meaningful to us? Keep reading to consider the profound answer and some powerful implications for us.
Let’s face it. It doesn’t matter what you resolve or how committed you are to the resolution, sometime you are going to fall. Stumbles and setbacks happen. It is what you do next that really matters. Will you fall into failure or will you fall forward?
If you want to fall forward and continue on with your resolution and commitment even after a fall, you have to follow our third Be RESOLVED principle: Strategize around your setbacks.
[Read more…] about Be RESOLVED Principle #3: Strategize Around Your Setbacks
I once heard a sadly accurate definition of “Diet.” A diet is a period of starvation preceding a gain of 10 pounds.
Though these articles really aren’t concerned with weight loss, the illustration provided by this definition is simply too good not to use to make today’s point. If we are going to stick with our resolutions and spiritual commitments, we need to learn to Establish behaviors not byproducts. Keep reading to find out why.
[Read more…] about Be RESOLVED Principle #2: Establish Behaviors not Byproducts
I’m leery of even writing about this. I worry there is no way to write about it without being misunderstood or misrepresented. Yet, if this doesn’t get talked about, there is no way folks will understand. This is a warning to Christians of all ages and all places. It is a call to make sure we keep the main thing the main thing. It is not a warning against something that is a sin all by itself. Rather it is a warning that our enemy is taking what can be a good thing when kept in its proper place and trying to supplant the best thing. I hope I can remotely do this topic justice.
Are those resolutions still sticking? Starting to wane? Completely abandoned? You know, it doesn’t have to be January 1 to be RESOLVED on growth and life improvement. But whether you are considering making a completely new life-improvement resolution, wanting to stay on track or get back on track with an old one, or just wanting to improve your life in general, you can be RESOLVED. Today we jump into Principle #1: Rewrite your motivation.
[Read more…] about Be RESOLVED Principle #1: Rewrite Your Motivation