Archive for the ‘Pastors & Recovery Pros’ Category
Monday, June 17th, 2013
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about What if___?
The idea was to consider opportunities by pondering their implications.
- What if … I read a book per month?
- What if … I made the effort to meet all of my neighbors?
The notion is to think about what might change in my life.
Yesterday I was cranking my bike and for some reason a couple of What-if’s popped into my head.
What if … Jesus is exactly who He says He is?
What if … He was serious and meant everything He said?
Of course I absolutely believe He is precisely who He claimed to be and meant everything He said.
But when I thought about it that way, in terms of implications and what would have to change if someone really believed, I stopped my bike at the top of a hill and stared across a field.
What … if … I really believed what I believe?
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, God's Love, healing, New Beginning, Responsibility, worry
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Step 12, Step 2 | No Comments »
Thursday, June 13th, 2013
One advantage of my injury is a healthy dose of humility. I’m constantly reminded of my relative dependence on others.
Yesterday during my bike ride I spent a lot of time thinking about this passage from Deuteronomy 6.
When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)
It’s intended as a reminder to the people of the Exodus of God’s provision as they entered the Promised Land. But there’s a broader principle.
I drink from wells I did not dig.
I live in a wonderful city I didn’t build. I ride on roads and trails for which I didn’t pay. I live in a beautiful state explored and settled by others, in a country whose relative liberty was secured by others’ vision and sacrifice.
I drink from wells I did not dig. So how am I to respond?
I’m grateful, to God and to the people whose efforts allow me to enjoy so much of what I take for granted.
And I’m responsible, I think, to leave something behind, to build something with all I’ve been given by God. It’s not enough to say thank-you and take all I can for myself. I need to leave a legacy.
I eat the fruit of trees I didn’t plant because others planted trees they might never enjoy.
My bike ride was a good time to reflect on the wells I dig and the trees I plant.
How about you?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
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Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article ! 
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of: 
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, ministry, motives, relationships
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, General Recovery, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Friday, June 7th, 2013
Everybody knows the story of Jesus calling the children to Him. It’s one of our favorite images, an infinitely calm, patient Jesus surrounded by squirmy kids in an idyllic children’s sermon.
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Luke 18:16)
But there’s a piece of this verse I tend to brush aside—the part about the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Those little children were dependent and trusting. They assumed their needs would be met. They didn’t have a Plan B if the adults in their lives failed to come through.
Jesus says folks with these attitudes inherit the kingdom of God. I’d rather skip that part.
See, I don’t want to be quite that dependent. I trust God completely, but I want a backup plan in case things don’t quite work out like I planned. I believe He’s in control, but I want to know I can pick up the pieces if it begins to fall apart.
If I’m honest, everything about my behavior as a follower of Jesus seems to end with “…but…”
I’ve been to that place of complete dependence, the place where I knew I needed a God bigger than me because nothing I could do would ever fix the mess I’d created. It’s the story of Relentless Grace. I trusted God because I had no other choice, and He came through.
You’d think that would be enough. You’d think the son who rebelled, crawled home, and was welcomed with the open arms of grace wouldn’t turn into the hard-hearted older son. But…
I wish I had an answer. I wish I could say I’ll stop hedging my bets. I wish one part of me didn’t trust God while another makes a god of my own feeble capabilities.
I get really frustrated about my inability to do what I know is right. Sometimes I think about giving up. Then I picture an infinitely calm, patient Jesus putting His arm around me.
“Don’t quit, Rich. We’ll get there together.”
THAT’S my backup plan.
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, God's Love, hardship, motives, New Beginning, Responsibility, worry
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Anxiety, Assurance, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Wednesday, June 5th, 2013
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5, NKJV).
Lately I’ve been singing that chorus about asking God to open the eyes of my heart so I can see Him. Isn’t that what happened to Job?
In the above verse we see a humbled and chastised Job who, after losing everything and bemoaning his fate because he believed he had done nothing to deserve such misery, has now come face to face with the living God. As a result, his entire perspective has changed.
Like Job, nearly everyone has at least heard of God. However, unlike Job who clung to his belief in God regardless of his circumstances, the majority of people who hear of God choose not to believe in or trust Him. How different their reaction might be if the eyes of their heart were opened and they could actually see Him!
I’ve heard people say, “When I get to heaven I’m going to ask God why He allowed this or that to happen.” Really? I don’t think so. First of all, when we arrive in heaven it won’t be because of anything good we’ve done, but rather because Jesus paid the price of our admission and we humbly accepted His gift. Second, when we finally lay eyes on the God of the universe, the One who spoke it all into creation, I believe we will be too awestruck to say anything, except maybe, “Holy, holy, holy!” And that, of course, is the point. All else will be swept away when we behold His glory; nothing else will matter as we bask in His unearned, unconditional love.
I want to be like Job, don’t you? I don’t want to just hear about God; I want to SEE Him with the eyes of my heart. And I want others to do the same. Open the eyes of our heart, Lord, that many might see You!
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, Macias, New Beginning, Responsibility, strength
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Assurance, Attitudes, Faith, General Recovery, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Renewal, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2 | Comments Off
Tuesday, June 4th, 2013
I’ve been thinking lately about engagement.
My thought—an awful lot of what we call following Jesus is really talking about following Jesus. I think following might have to involve some sort of engagement.
I think Satan would like nothing more than for us to spend a lot of time discussing Jesus. He’d be pleased if we devoted ourselves to learning about Jesus, studying His teaching, and knowing every detail about His life.
Our enemy would encourage religious leaders who make themselves celebrities. He’d be excited about large church bureaucracies, rigid policies, and divisive doctrinal statements—especially if lots of time, energy, and money were spent crafting, re-working, and maintaining them.
I think he’d delighted by anything that looks religious without actually engaging with people and their pain.
In Exodus 3, God addresses Moses from a flaming shrub. After a quick introduction, God briefly explains His plan. Then He says, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10 NIV)
So now, go.
That’s it. No college degree or internship, no time to make an action plan or pull together a support staff. No building, no office, no organization.
These people need help. You’re my guy. So now…GO!
God didn’t want Moses to learn about the problem, study it from a safe distance, and train some missions experts he could send a few years later. He didn’t want concern or charity or even a prayer chain.
He wanted engagement. He wanted Moses to actually go somewhere and do something.
Several centuries later, Jesus showed up. He could have opened His own university to train disciples. Imagine the coursework He might have offered! Instead, He said, “Follow me.”
Come with me. Watch. Do what I do.
After He hung out with them for a few short years, it was time to leave. His final words to His friends:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)
I think I have a new phrase for my bathroom mirror.
So now… GO!
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, hardship, ministry, New Beginning, Responsibility, strength, worry
Posted in Anxiety, Assurance, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Renewal, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 3 | Comments Off
Friday, May 31st, 2013
As a teacher I was never a fan of hypothetical situations.
I don’t believe there’s much value in “What would you do if…” questions. I frankly believe it’s dangerous to force students to stake out and defend a position without the risk of facing the real-life consequences of their choices.
Recently my friend Jon Swanson proposed a much better alternative to “What would you do if…?”
Jon suggested considering opportunities in the form of “What if …?”
Some examples:
- What if … you rode your bike a few miles each day this summer?
- What if … you read a chapter in the Bible each day this summer?
- What if … you spent some time with a lonely kid this summer?
Get the idea?
Instead of locking you in, these questions open doors and invite us to consider possibilities.
Think about different aspects of life—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, relational. What might happen if you intentionally explored your dreams and goals?
What if…?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, ministry, motives, New Beginning, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
2 Corinthians 2:14: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”
Do you spread a fragrance or a stench? When we are God’s children, “[He] always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”
Verse 15 tells us, “We are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” That aroma is gentle and compassionate. The aroma of Christ looks for common ground rather than attack like a bulldog. Later the aroma of Christ explains differences.
In verse 17, the Bible says, “We speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” When we talk with unbelievers, we need to remember we are speaking “before God.” He is listening. That phrase, “with sincerity,” doesn’t allow for hypocrisy or wavering. We have a sacred trust because we are “sent from God.” How often do we keep in mind that God sent us?
What happens if we don’t allow God to lead us, and we go our own way? We become obnoxious to the non-Christian. We do not reflect God’s love. We are judgmental and self-righteous and ruin our reputation with the unbeliever.
If we spread a stench, why would the unbeliever want to be a Christian? If we are obnoxious, what can we offer the unbeliever? If we lack love, how can the unbeliever know God’s unconditional and eternal love?
When we allow God to lead us, we will walk in “triumphal procession in Christ.” I’d rather triumph than fail any day. Wouldn’t you?
Dear God, help me allow you to lead me in triumphal procession in Christ. Amen.
Application: What will you do this week to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
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Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2010-2013, Yvonne Ortega, LPC, LSATP, CCDVC
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Yvonne is a Speaker, Author, Counselor, Cancer Survivor and
serves on the Board of Directors of Christians in Recovery.
She is the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer.
If you would like to have her speak for your organization or church, please contact her through
her website: http://YvonneOrtega.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, fellowship, humility, relationships, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 28th, 2013
Bob Goff (author of LOVE DOES) wrote an interesting article last week about picking fights and making a difference. Bob referenced a bible story I’d never heard.
I know that shocks you.
In Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua is checking out Jericho prior to the big day when he encounters an angel with his sword drawn. You can imagine this was a somewhat intimidating sight, and Joshua asks an understandable question.
“Whose side are you on?”
Makes sense to me. Joshua’s about to lead his men in conquest of this strange land, and he wants a little reassurance. I’ll bet he didn’t expect the answer he received.
The angel tells Joshua he commands God’s army and…he’s not on either side!
Since I wasn’t familiar with this story, I read a bunch about it. I found lots of really deep thoughts and interpretations of the precise identity and prophetic implications of the angel’s appearance. But the angel’s response carried a clear, unmistakable message:
God’s army isn’t “for” anyone. Its sole purpose is to accomplish God’s will.
For me, the lesson is crystal clear. No matter how hard I pray, God’s not going to show up to wear my team jersey, advance my political agenda, or carry my flag. Put another way:
The question isn’t whether God’s on my team but whether I’m on His team.
It’s pretty easy to invoke God’s blessing on our cause. We assume He’s on our side because we’re “obviously” more right than the other side. He can’t possibly be for them, so He got to be for us…doesn’t He?
But the angel’s response makes it clear: God doesn’t choose sides. Instead, He invites us to choose His side.
And as I said last time, there’s a lot more to being on the team than simply wearing the jersey.
When we choose His side, God offers the opportunity to actually participate, engage, and play for the team to accomplish His will.
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:17)
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, failure, hardship, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Anxiety, Assurance, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Friday, May 24th, 2013
When I was a kid, cheering for a sports team was simpler.
You knew and cheered for the players on your team. There were no free agents and really good players were rarely traded.
That all changed in the mid-70’s. Now, team rosters vary drastically every season. Last year’s villains might be this season’s beloved heroes. We no longer cheer for players. We cheer for laundry. It’s not about the guy, but the jersey the guy’s wearing.
Like I said yesterday, jerseys are cool.
I have two authentic New York Yankee jerseys in my closet. They’re identical to those worn by the guys who actually play for the Yankees. It’s fun to show them off once in a while, though I don’t wear them to games because I fear mustard stains.
But here’s the thing: I can put on the jersey and the cap and all the fancy equipment, but nobody’s going to mistake me for an actual player.
Wearing the jersey doesn’t make me part of the team. Being on the team involves a lot more than wearing the right laundry.
Fans are involved, even passionate, but they don’t have any real skin in the game. They express an opinion, maybe buy a ticket, but when the game ends they head back to their lives. Win or lose, the jersey goes back in the closet.
Being on the team requires commitment. The players on the field sacrificed to get there. They spent long, lonely hours training and practicing. They risked failure, endured pain, and faced fear in pursuit of a goal.
For the players, the jersey symbolizes commitment to something bigger than themselves. It’s meant to be worn, not displayed. Dirt, sweat, and even some blood stains are okay.
I don’t think Jesus wants fans—even passionate ones. He’s not looking for us to sport the laundry and cheer from the sidelines. I think He wants us to do more than wear a nice, clean, unwrinkled jersey.
I think He wants us to engage, face our fear, and sacrifice courageously together toward something bigger than ourselves. I think He wants followers whose commitment goes deeper than Sunday morning attendance or an opinion on Facebook.
I think He wants followers whose jerseys get sweaty and dirty.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, ministry, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
I’m excited about today’s word-of-the-week…
JERSEY
Team jerseys are cool and fun. There’s a real sense of belonging, being part of something bigger than yourself, that goes with wearing a jersey.
I’m thinking about jerseys because we just finalized our team for this summer’s Front Range FREEDOM Tour 2013. It’s interesting, and a little scary, to think about bringing a group together for an intense week of physical, emotional, and spiritual challenge.
Deep down, I think we all like being part of a team and wearing the jersey.
One curious aspect of team jerseys is the development of an “us vs. them” mentality. When you’re on a team, people are either on your side or the other side. They’re either for you—or they’re against you.
It’s a false choice, and potentially a dangerous one.
Once you put on that team jersey, it’s easy to assume God’s on your side—and opposed to the other side. This can lead to some good-natured humor when we invoke God’s support for our favorite sports team. It’s not so funny when the issue’s more serious.
I’m spending some time thinking about the issue of teams and jerseys and choosing sides. I’ll share some of it in the next couple of posts. For now, this starter:
The question isn’t whether God’s on our team but whether we’re on God’s team.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, fellowship, motives, New Beginning, Responsibility, self image
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Copyright 2009-2013 Kathi Macias, all rights reserved. Used by permission.
