Letters to God

This past weekend, my wife and I watched a video entitled “Letters to God.” Although this movie will never win an academy award as it is not the best produced movie, it does have a great story line that is worthy to consider for those who struggle with faith.

The movie (inspired by true life events) tells the story of a little boy, Tyler, who is a brain cancer patient. In the midst of his battle with cancer, Tyler begins to write daily letters to God. Although you would possibly expect Tyler to be bitter and resentful toward God, he instead demonstrates a tremendous peace with his condition. Surprisingly, Tyler focuses most of his letters to God describing his love and concern for family members, friends, and even the postal carrier who daily picked up his letter addressed to God.

Tyler’s simple faith in God inspired others in his life to also begin to trust God. As result of watching the move, I was inspired to offer prayers to God through the discipline of writing an actual letter to God. This is a new fresh perspective to approach the spiritual discipline of prayer in a non-intimidating way!

Are you willing to join me in setting some time aside to write a letter to God? If so, then get out a piece of paper and pen and prepare your heart to pour out your thoughts in a personal letter to God. Let me help you get started … "Dear God …"

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

It is difficult to find positive things to comment in our country’s present economy. Unemployment is high, economic growth is sluggish, and financial loans are difficult to obtain.

And yet one positive that exists for seekers of God is the opportunity to put our faith into action to help those in our community who are hurting financially. Jesus taught, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT

As another school year is just around the corner, there is an opportunity for followers of Jesus to put into practice the call to love our neighbors and seek to lighten the financial load of those who are finding it difficult to fill their children’s school supply list. So this week, there is a month long effort culminating at the Coffman Family YMCA in Springboro to help fill donated school book bags with donated school supplies.

It is not too late to participate in this effort. If you would like to participate in this effort simply stop by the Coffman YMCA and donate a book bag or some supplies and volunteers will make sure it gets to children in the area in need. This is a great way to show God’s love in a practical way to some of our school age neighbors!

Do You Go to Church? Or … Are You Being the Church?

Small Things Done With Great Love Will Change the World!

The latest surveys are pointing out that only approximately 17% of the people in the United States will be “going to church” this Sunday. This means that approximately 83% of Americans will be working, sleeping, gardening, watching TV, lounging at a beach, or some other leisurely activity this Sunday morning as opposed to gathering with other believers in Christ and worshipping God.

Of those who actually “go to church” this Sunday, how many of them are simply checking a box of religious obligation? God’s design for the church is that we not simply “go to church,” but that we live out what it means to “be the church!”

The early followers of Christ understood that they were called to live out their faith by actively engaging in the life of the church, God’s family. Listen to this call for action in the Bible: “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 (GW)*

On any given week, individuals within a church family are dealing with the sadness of losing a loved one, the challenges of caring for a sick child, the financial challenges of unemployment, the concerns of health problems, the “busyness” of caring for young children or aging parents, and etc. As we learn of needs within our church family and within our community at large, it is important for us to recognize that we are called not to simply “go to church,” but to “be the church!”


* (GW) – God’s Word Translation

Seeking God in the "Land Between"

This week, I had the opportunity to listen to a wonderful message by Jeff Manion entitled, “The Land Between.” He is an author and pastor in Michigan who has written a book with the same title, describing the challenging time in Israel’s history as they traveled in the wilderness (actually desert) between the time they were released from Egyptian slavery and the time they inhabited the promise land.

In many ways the message spoke to my heart as I longingly wait for future dreams in my life and in the church that I serve to be realized. And yet, in this “land between” I am learning many valuable lessons about what it means to be a seeker of God and his will. The challenge for anyone presently caught in the “land between” is to remember that as long as we seek God’s lead in our lives, that we have a bright future!

Jeremiah spoke this truth into the lives of God’s people at a time they longed for a better future while they lived in Babylonian Captivity. He said, “This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT

Seeking to Listen

During the last three years I have attended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit Simulcast. This effort is spearheaded by the Willow Creek Church in the Chicago area and is shown via simulcast in more than 150 locations throughout the world. This year, I will be participating in this event at the Cincinnati Vineyard Church 35 minutes South of Springboro.

As I prepare for this leadership conference, I am seeking to prepare my heart to listen for what the LORD wants to communicate to my heart and to my life. I am inspired by the willing heart to listen to God’s direction in the life of Samuel the prophet. When he was first called into spiritual leadership, he responded with this humble request: "Speak, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10 NIV

This is my heart’s desire as I participate in the 2010 Global Leadership Summit. I am also wondering … Why don’t I have that heart’s desire every day? Do you?

Mentor Leadership

This week, I began meeting with a young man who has asked me to be his mentor. First of all, I was humbled that he would approach me to provide that type of influence in his life. Secondly, I began this new adventure praying that the LORD would work through me to provide spiritual leadership in his life.

To better prepare me for this new relationship, I bought the new book written by Tony Dungy entitled, The Mentor Leader. The author begins his description of mentor leadership with the following statement: “Mentor leadership focuses on building people up and building leaders for the next generation.” He continues with this description of effective leadership, “It’s not about you and what makes you comfortable or helps you get ahead. It’s about other people.”

There is a desperate need for more and more people to take on the call to be a mentor leader to pour into the lives of those who are younger the lessons that we have learned along the way in our own personal journey. We see this example in the Bible through numerous relationships where one individual of faith invests in the life of another. Moses and Joshua, Naomi and Ruth, Elijah and Elisha, and the Apostle Paul and Timothy are just a few examples of relationships that involved mentoring. The Apostle Paul gives the following instructions to Timothy to continue the chain of mentoring. He wrote, “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2 NLT

I am ready to embrace the privilege of mentoring my younger friend and I take to heart the challenge of Tony Dungy when he wrote, “Mentor leadership can be taught and learned; but in order to be absorbed, it must be practiced. The best way to evaluate leadership philosophies and find your own style is by testing them in action. You can’t stay in the ivory tower reading books and discussing theories. Eventually you have to wade into the fray.” (Dungy; The Mentor Leader; 2010).

I am ready to wade into the fray … How about you?

Seeking to Live by Godly Principles

There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.Leviticus 23:3 NIV



There have been numerous arguments made through the years over certain teachings of the Old Testament (the portion of the Bible that was written prior to Jesus time on earth). By reading the Bible through the prism of the New Testament (the portion of the Bible written describing the life and teachings of Jesus and his followers), it is clear that followers of Jesus are not bound by the Old Testament dietary laws and numerous instructions of the animal sacrificial system.

The tougher questions are how to make sense of the Old Testament teachings like observing the Sabbath (listed above) and tithing. On these topics followers of Christ can disagree. And yet I have found blessings in my life by applying these teachings as timeless principles in my life.

On the subject of observing the Sabbath, I have found peace and rest by only working 6 days of the week, and enjoying a day of “rest.” I find that by observing a day of rest, I learn to trust God and realize that it is not all up to me. I also find rest, refreshment, and recharging for my emotional, physical, and spiritual batteries.

In my life, I am pretty busy on Saturdays and Sundays, but I observe Monday as my day of rest. Two of the last three weeks, I have enjoyed playing Golf with a relative and found it extremely relaxing. Now for some serious golfers they can find themselves getting stressed during a round of golf. Personally, I am so terrible at the sport that I don’t take is serious enough to get stressed.

Are you observing the timeless principles of a day of rest? If not, why don’t you see if God is big enough to take your 5 or 6 days of work and enable you to accomplish a week of work? And you might just find yourself being refreshed by God in the process!

Neither Hot nor Cold

Ice Cold Tea is soothing …. Steaming Hot Tea hits the spot! But lukewarm, room temperature tea is disgusting! Listen to Jesus’ commentary of a church that had become complacent in their relationship with Christ and how he described their apathy:

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!… I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Revelation 3:14-16;19-20 NLT

One of the books that I have been reading is the book entitled Crazy Love by Francis Chan. In the chapter entitled “When You’re In Love,” the author discusses the problem of being “lukewarm” in our commitment to Christ by writing the following words:

“Lukewarm living and claiming Christ’s name simultaneously is utterly disgusting to God. And when we are honest, we have to admit that it isn’t very fulfilling or joyful to us, either.

But the solution isn’t to try harder, fail, and then make bigger promises, only to fail again. It does no good to muster up more love for God, to will yourself to love Him more. When loving Him becomes obligation, one of many things we have to do, we end up focusing more on ourselves. No wonder so few people want to hear from us about what we ourselves feel is a boring guilt-ridden chore!” (Crazy Love by Francis Chan)

So what is the answer? The answer is found in realizing that we are called to a relationship with Jesus Christ and when we see that our commitment to him has grown cold or even worse … lukewarm, then we are called to reconnect in our relationship with Jesus and to “fall in love” with him all over again!

In Revelation 3, the promise is to the Christians* who recognizes that they are lukewarm in their commitment to Christ that if they will simply open the door that Jesus is there knocking and waiting at the door ready to embrace us and enrich our relationship with him!

How do we open that door? … simply asking God to open our hearts and to create in our hearts a greater love for Christ. You see Jesus didn’t say … to the Lukewarm Laodiceans … try harder, or add to our daily check-off list … instead he says … “open the door.” For some of us we simply need to be honest with God … “open the door” and tell him … “I have been lukewarm in my love and commitment to you … please change my heart … please allow me to become “hot” in my love for you!!”

*Just a quick personal note: This is a passage that is not written to the person who has not yet become a Christian, but instead to a lukewarm church composed of people who had come to know Christ, but who had allowed their relationship with Christ to become stale. To learn more about becoming a Christian … click on the link to the right that is entitled Seeking to Become a Christian.