There is a tangle of interstates near downtown Birmingham, AL that is affectionately known as “Malfunction Junction.” If there is a place where wrecks, traffic snarls, or any other type of traffic dysfunction is apt to happen, this is it. Every day on the local news, traffic cameras and helicopters focus on this one section of highways to look for problems.
The truth is that every family is dysfunctional, we are just dysfunctional in different ways. What is your family’s “malfunction junction?” We all have a place where we are more prone to be dysfunctional. It may be one particular issue that continually rises up to create conflict. It might be personality conflicts where two or more personalities just don’t seem to mesh. Perhaps it is the presence of strong-willed individuals who insist on having their way rather than seeking compromise on certain issues. You can be sure that there is at least one area where problems can and will arise. The good thing about dysfunctions is that they can be overcome.
Jacobs family got off on the wrong foot and hopped around on it for thirteen years before Joseph finally steadied them during a time of crisis. In the end they were able to move past the past and toward a brighter future. But not without a great deal of heartache and pain.
The Psalmist states in Psalm 127:1, Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Perhaps it’s time to begin building upon a different foundation than that of our dysfunction. If we build our families upon the surety of God’s truth and Christ’s love they will certainly be able to stand and function as God intended. What better time to start being functional. Let’s start now!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The All-Season Father
We hear a lot about things being seasonal. If fruits, vegatables, or even animals are not available to be eaten or hunted they are deemed to be out-of-season. If a sport is not currently being played the term off-season is liberally used. People’s age determines what season of life they are in (I refuse to enter the winter season of life, I’ll just repeat Autumn twice!)
If something’s usefulness spans more than one season (Spring season, summer season, fall season, and last but not least, winter season) it is called Multi-Season and if it by some chance is able to span all the seasons it is called (go figure) All-Season. I want to explore what an All-Season Father would look like.
The first Psalm is one of my favorite psalms. Let me share it with you.
1 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.
Now I know that this Psalm is not talking just about fathers, but I think there are some traits that a father would do well to emulate.
How about you? Does your life add value to the world in which God has placed you. Does your character bear witness to the life-changing power of God? How will your children remember you? What will they say characterized your life? These are tough but important questions that all of us (especially fathers) need to answer as we continually evaluate what is most important to us and what molds and shapes our lives. Are you an All-Season Father (or person) who can impact this world for God?
If something’s usefulness spans more than one season (Spring season, summer season, fall season, and last but not least, winter season) it is called Multi-Season and if it by some chance is able to span all the seasons it is called (go figure) All-Season. I want to explore what an All-Season Father would look like.
The first Psalm is one of my favorite psalms. Let me share it with you.
1 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.
Now I know that this Psalm is not talking just about fathers, but I think there are some traits that a father would do well to emulate.
How about you? Does your life add value to the world in which God has placed you. Does your character bear witness to the life-changing power of God? How will your children remember you? What will they say characterized your life? These are tough but important questions that all of us (especially fathers) need to answer as we continually evaluate what is most important to us and what molds and shapes our lives. Are you an All-Season Father (or person) who can impact this world for God?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Living @ the Next Level: Lifestyle
Our lifestyle is dictated by our core values. The choices we make in life arise from what we consider to be important and valuable. We choose to do those things which we sense benefit us. Some people even choose what is known as an alternative lifestyle.
I’m all for an alternative lifestyle. It’s just that my alternative is not more of the same old flesh-driven, sinful-nature prone activities that just give me more grief and conflict. My alternative is a fruit-filled, Spirit-directed lifestyle which enables me to bring maximum glory to God and good to others. Lifestyle does matter!
What I find, however, is that my attempts to overcome my sinful nature are generally futile. When I make a self-directed attempt to radically change some aspect of my lifestyle I usually succeed, but only temporarily. Lasting change never seems to last. But there is good news.
When we chose to respond to God and to accept Christ and turn from our way to His way, He gave us a resource to help us become more like Him.
Over the last three weeks we have learned about the resource Jesus gave us— the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces supernatural change in those who will give Him that opportunity. As we grow in our knowledge of God and our experience of trusting Him more, the Holy Spirit will produce lifestyle changes in us that will last. They last because He performs the change in our inner core. He changes us from the inside out. I trust that you will allow God to produce fruit in your life. Jesus said, “by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matt. 7:20). Do people recognize God because of your lifestyle? Maybe it is time for you to bear some fruit.
I’m all for an alternative lifestyle. It’s just that my alternative is not more of the same old flesh-driven, sinful-nature prone activities that just give me more grief and conflict. My alternative is a fruit-filled, Spirit-directed lifestyle which enables me to bring maximum glory to God and good to others. Lifestyle does matter!
What I find, however, is that my attempts to overcome my sinful nature are generally futile. When I make a self-directed attempt to radically change some aspect of my lifestyle I usually succeed, but only temporarily. Lasting change never seems to last. But there is good news.
When we chose to respond to God and to accept Christ and turn from our way to His way, He gave us a resource to help us become more like Him.
Over the last three weeks we have learned about the resource Jesus gave us— the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces supernatural change in those who will give Him that opportunity. As we grow in our knowledge of God and our experience of trusting Him more, the Holy Spirit will produce lifestyle changes in us that will last. They last because He performs the change in our inner core. He changes us from the inside out. I trust that you will allow God to produce fruit in your life. Jesus said, “by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matt. 7:20). Do people recognize God because of your lifestyle? Maybe it is time for you to bear some fruit.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Living @ the Next Level: Relationships
Relationships . . . you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them. If the truth was known, we all have a love-hate relationship with our relationships (pun intended). We hate some relationships, tolerate others, and cultivate those we really value.
Our worst and best relationships all can be improved. God wants us to better all our relationships and provides the necessary tools to do so through the fruit of the Spirit.
The difficulty we have is that we think that the best way to go about this is to change the other person in the relationship. We think that if we can get them to think, speak, act, or react differently that our problem will be solved. While that is true, what we forget is that we can’t really change anyone but ourselves. We are not the masters of others destinies. The good news is that with God’s help we are the masters of our own.
So, what are the factors involved in establishing or maintaining vibrant, growing relationships in which we can live out God’s purpose for our lives?
First, we have to value every relationship which God has given us. Sure, there are some that will be more important and vital than others but every person we know is someone who God loves and values greatly.
Second, we must be willing to change. The relational dynamic is increased in its value in direct proportion to our growth. If we add value to the relationship then its overall value increases. Sometimes we can be the catalyst who takes the relationship to the next level.
Third, our efforts to bring about peace where conflict exists means that we have to take a pro-active stance and meet conflict head-on so that we can “nip it in the bud” before it escalates.
The fruit of the Spirit will bring fruitfulness to our relationships. Let’s give it a try!
Our worst and best relationships all can be improved. God wants us to better all our relationships and provides the necessary tools to do so through the fruit of the Spirit.
The difficulty we have is that we think that the best way to go about this is to change the other person in the relationship. We think that if we can get them to think, speak, act, or react differently that our problem will be solved. While that is true, what we forget is that we can’t really change anyone but ourselves. We are not the masters of others destinies. The good news is that with God’s help we are the masters of our own.
So, what are the factors involved in establishing or maintaining vibrant, growing relationships in which we can live out God’s purpose for our lives?
First, we have to value every relationship which God has given us. Sure, there are some that will be more important and vital than others but every person we know is someone who God loves and values greatly.
Second, we must be willing to change. The relational dynamic is increased in its value in direct proportion to our growth. If we add value to the relationship then its overall value increases. Sometimes we can be the catalyst who takes the relationship to the next level.
Third, our efforts to bring about peace where conflict exists means that we have to take a pro-active stance and meet conflict head-on so that we can “nip it in the bud” before it escalates.
The fruit of the Spirit will bring fruitfulness to our relationships. Let’s give it a try!
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