A month of this New Year has already past. Time flies when you are having fun or closing in on fifty years of age. Before too much more of this year goes by I want to encourage each of us to accept a very special challenge.
My personal challenge for 2008 is to get in shape. I want to be in the best shape of my life as I face this year and the coming years ahead. These years may hold difficult times as well as overwhelming joys. I want to be in great shape to endure and enjoy them.
You are probably saying “It’s about time -- Pastor Dave needs to get off the couch and over to Balleys.” I would be the first to agree with you and I intend to do just that. However, the shape I was speaking of was my spiritual shape. My challenge to myself as well as to you is in regard to our spiritual shape.
Our inner man, just like our outward man, needs to be cared for. Indeed, failure to care for the soul will cause damage that can be more severe than not caring for the body. Neglecting the soul causes spiritual maladies like apathy, apostasy and hard heartedness. With this in view, here are some surefire ways to get your soul in great shape this year.
In many ways the world is God’s gymnasium for us. It is after all, God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). To get in shape in 08 I must see my life in this way. I am in God’s gym and everything that comes my way is designed or permitted by God to exercise me. That strenuous place of employment is a stairmaster sent to develop my endurance. Those difficult relationships are the heavy weights designed to strengthen me. Those trails and tribulations are the treadmill permitted by God to insure my heart’s good health.
My spiritual diet is going to play a major role in my soul’s welfare in the New Year. Here are a few simple suggestions. Take in some of God’s Word, our spiritual meat and substance, everyday. Days on end without time in the Word make the soul malnourished. It’s been said that “Seven days without prayer and Bible reading make one weak”. One Proverb a day can make our souls wise. Five Psalms a day keeps our souls worshipful. A regular reading of the gospels will stir our souls to Christ-likeness.
I would be smart to eliminate certain things from my soul’s diet as well. Books, magazines, movies, websites, or TV programs that lack virtue have no place on my plate. They are junk food at best. Negative people and influences can be toxic to the soul and thus should be avoided whenever possible.
In addition to our diet, our conversation with God -- our proper breathing, if you will, is critical. Daily, I need to make time for this conversation. Minute by minute I need to be conscious of this conversation. Prayer enables my soul to draw strength from God as well as claim God’s promises. I need to pray for forgiveness when I sin, pray for wisdom when I am confused, pray for help when I am in trouble and pray a huge “thank you” when God answers my prayers. It is well with the soul that prays.
For my soul to “get in shape in 08” I am also going to need to enlist a personal trainer. By this, I don’t mean just the Lord. We all need mentors, or in contemporary language, we all need a “life coach”. Joshua had Moses. Elisha had Elijah. The Disciples had Jesus. Timothy had Paul, and Paul had Barnabas. We need someone with experience, who knows the ropes, to keep us accountable. Who is your spiritual life coach?
Finally, for my soul to be healthy in the New Year, it is going to need rest. Yes, I said rest. The Sabbath rest is a Biblical principal that just can’t be violated without causing harm. My life schedule must carve out time for rest and restoration. Rejuvenation takes down time. If I don’t take time to “come apart”-- I’ll just plain come apart.
Welcome to the gym. Get in shape in 08.
Dave Watson, An Urban Christian
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 04, 2008
Don’t Read This!
New York City is truly a great place to live. As I begin my 19th year living in the Big Apple I feel qualified to make this statement. Let me explain.
Perhaps the greatest thing about living here in our fair city is that we share it with some eight million other people. Obviously you know that, but you are still wondering why living here is so great. Simply stated, I have found that living with so many people in such a large city allows me to always have someone else to blame for my problems and failures. I never have to take personal responsibility, or experience accountability. Everything that happens can always be someone else’s fault. Let me elaborate.
I have a little problem with tardiness to meetings with other Pastors. I usually start later than I should and thus show up late. I’ve had this problem as long as I can remember but here in the city I can blame it on the traffic. I don’t even have to go into a long explanation. I just walk in the room and say, “Has anyone seen how bad the expressway is today? Wow, when are they going to do something about that?”
I have always eaten chocolate and other sweets when under stress. I could get away with it when I was younger but now it shows. Fortunately, I’m here in the city and it’s easier to rationalize because, you know, living with all these people and dealing with all this traffic stresses all of us out and how can I help but indulge in a little “comfort food”?
I have, like everyone else, a hard time carving out a place for time with God in His Word and prayer. The city moves so fast and, you know it’s hard to keep up and well, it just makes this quiet time thing almost impossible. Don’t you agree? It’s not my fault. What’s a man to do?
Being a good citizen or a good employee can be hard. Doing our part to make the city better or giving an employer a day’s work for a day’s pay is really just too much to ask. Fortunately, we live here with all these people… so, since almost no one cares about being a good citizen or a good employee, we have the “everybody’s doing it” or in this case “nobody’s doing it” defense.
Given the fact that there are so few authentic Christians among us, this excuse-laden mindset can be easily extended into our daily walk in the world. I mean, after all, what do you expect? It is crazy to think we could actually make a difference. We are outnumbered 1000 to 1. The best we can hope for is mere survival. Who could blame us if our language is a little, shall we say, “colorful”? Or if our ethics are a little, shall we say, “shady”? We’re doing the best we can! What’d you expect, it’s hard here!
It’s the Mayor’s fault, it’s the commute’s fault, it’s the neighborhood’s fault, it’s the boss’s or the job’s or the big company’s fault. These excuses provide a somewhat reasonable defense and all sound great. Well, they do sound great, if you want to be a victim.
In 1 John 5:4-5 we read, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” These verses make it clear that as a Christian I’m not a victim, but a victor. I am not overcome, but an overcomer. Thus, I really have no excuse. I have no one else I can blame.
The apostle Paul wrote this to the Roman Christians, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12) This points out the truth that not only am I responsible for my actions, I am also accountable to God. I can’t blame anyone else for what’s up with me and I am going to stand before God and explain my actions to Him.
With my responsibility and accountability clearly in view I do well to follow another exhortation of Paul to the Romans. After calling for total surrender to God, in Romans chapter 12, verse 2, Paul says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” I can get above the world’s low expectations by allowing God through His Word to transform me into an individual who seeks His goals and ideals for my life.
My watch words for the New Year are personal responsibility and personal accountability. I’m taking personal responsibility for my spiritual growth because I will be personally accountable for my spiritual health. I’m taking personal responsibility for my physical conditioning because I will be personally accountable for my physical condition. Since you have read this article, you too are now personally responsible and personally accountable. I warned you about reading this.
Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Dave Watson – An Urban Christian
Perhaps the greatest thing about living here in our fair city is that we share it with some eight million other people. Obviously you know that, but you are still wondering why living here is so great. Simply stated, I have found that living with so many people in such a large city allows me to always have someone else to blame for my problems and failures. I never have to take personal responsibility, or experience accountability. Everything that happens can always be someone else’s fault. Let me elaborate.
I have a little problem with tardiness to meetings with other Pastors. I usually start later than I should and thus show up late. I’ve had this problem as long as I can remember but here in the city I can blame it on the traffic. I don’t even have to go into a long explanation. I just walk in the room and say, “Has anyone seen how bad the expressway is today? Wow, when are they going to do something about that?”
I have always eaten chocolate and other sweets when under stress. I could get away with it when I was younger but now it shows. Fortunately, I’m here in the city and it’s easier to rationalize because, you know, living with all these people and dealing with all this traffic stresses all of us out and how can I help but indulge in a little “comfort food”?
I have, like everyone else, a hard time carving out a place for time with God in His Word and prayer. The city moves so fast and, you know it’s hard to keep up and well, it just makes this quiet time thing almost impossible. Don’t you agree? It’s not my fault. What’s a man to do?
Being a good citizen or a good employee can be hard. Doing our part to make the city better or giving an employer a day’s work for a day’s pay is really just too much to ask. Fortunately, we live here with all these people… so, since almost no one cares about being a good citizen or a good employee, we have the “everybody’s doing it” or in this case “nobody’s doing it” defense.
Given the fact that there are so few authentic Christians among us, this excuse-laden mindset can be easily extended into our daily walk in the world. I mean, after all, what do you expect? It is crazy to think we could actually make a difference. We are outnumbered 1000 to 1. The best we can hope for is mere survival. Who could blame us if our language is a little, shall we say, “colorful”? Or if our ethics are a little, shall we say, “shady”? We’re doing the best we can! What’d you expect, it’s hard here!
It’s the Mayor’s fault, it’s the commute’s fault, it’s the neighborhood’s fault, it’s the boss’s or the job’s or the big company’s fault. These excuses provide a somewhat reasonable defense and all sound great. Well, they do sound great, if you want to be a victim.
In 1 John 5:4-5 we read, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” These verses make it clear that as a Christian I’m not a victim, but a victor. I am not overcome, but an overcomer. Thus, I really have no excuse. I have no one else I can blame.
The apostle Paul wrote this to the Roman Christians, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12) This points out the truth that not only am I responsible for my actions, I am also accountable to God. I can’t blame anyone else for what’s up with me and I am going to stand before God and explain my actions to Him.
With my responsibility and accountability clearly in view I do well to follow another exhortation of Paul to the Romans. After calling for total surrender to God, in Romans chapter 12, verse 2, Paul says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” I can get above the world’s low expectations by allowing God through His Word to transform me into an individual who seeks His goals and ideals for my life.
My watch words for the New Year are personal responsibility and personal accountability. I’m taking personal responsibility for my spiritual growth because I will be personally accountable for my spiritual health. I’m taking personal responsibility for my physical conditioning because I will be personally accountable for my physical condition. Since you have read this article, you too are now personally responsible and personally accountable. I warned you about reading this.
Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Dave Watson – An Urban Christian
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