motives « Christians in Recovery® BLOG

Posts Tagged ‘motives’

Are You Digging A Well?

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 HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article ! Dixon

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

Do You Trust yet have a Backup Plan?

Friday, June 7th, 2013

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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

What If?

Friday, May 31st, 2013

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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 ! Dixon

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

Whose Team are You On?

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

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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 ! Dixon

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

Why did you decide to do something so hard?

Friday, May 17th, 2013

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Last weekend I was drinking coffee in our church lobby when a guy named Brett walked up and introduced himself. First he asked why Monte wasn’t with me. Then he wanted to talk about my “crazy bike ride.”

I struggled to get past the fact that my identity at church is now apparently defined by a goofy-looking dog and a crazy bike ride. While I pondered my self-image, Brett pulled up a chair. He had some serious questions.

He asked about details and logistics. After I explained as briefly as possible there was a long, thoughtful pause. Finally he found the right words.

“Why did you decide to do something so hard?”

I’ve had this discussion dozens of times. You’ve read about some of them. But this was somehow different, because Brett wasn’t half-jokingly asking if I was nuts. I sensed he was seeking the answer within himself.

“Well, I think ‘hard’ was exactly the point, or a big part of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’d been riding my bike for more than ten years. When I started I enjoyed riding but it was incredibly hard, and I learned a lot about myself and my relationship with God when I stuck with it through the difficult parts.”

“Yeah. I read your book, Relentless Grace, and I got that. The biking was a big piece of your recovery.”

“It was, but eventually I reached the point where the hard parts weren’t really hard any more. I could keep riding around town and stay in shape and have fun, but the aspect of challenging myself and learning about God was gone. I’d reached the point where I could pretty much do it on my own.”

“That sounds like a good thing.”

“Well, it was certainly safe and comfortable, the kind of place we all think we want to be. But it wasn’t the dream. I wasn’t using my gifts and passions to serve others. And I believe God planted a seed of discontent that wouldn’t let me settle for safe and comfortable.”

“That’s it!” Brett exclaimed. “That’s exactly what I’m feeling. I’m settling for a safe life, and it’s not enough.”

“But…” I waited.

“But…I like safe. I want to take my faith seriously, I want to be challenged, but I like being comfortable.”

“So,” I smiled, “you want to be comfortably challenged, right?”

“Yeah,” he sort of hung his head. “And it sounds really dumb when you say it out loud.”

It’s not dumb at all,” I chuckled. “It’s exactly what we’re all looking for. We’re all trying to find a risk-free way to follow Jesus.”

“Yeah, and then something just grabs you and you realize you can’t have it both ways. That’s what your crazy bike ride has done to me.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to mess you up.” Thankfully, he was laughing.

“Yes, you did. You totally want to make us squirm. That’s why you’re doing this, right?”

“So are you going to join us?”

“No, biking isn’t my thing, but it’s not about biking, right?

“So can I ask one more question?”

“Sure,” I said.

“Is it as hard as it looks?”

“Honestly? It’s harder.”

We attend a big church. One drawback is that I don’t know everyone. I don’t know if Brett and I will cross paths again any time soon.

I shared this interaction because it seemed like a conversation you and I might have over a cup of coffee. That’s sort of how I think of this blog. I appreciate you being here.

I take mine black. You?

CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article ! Dixon

Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com

Tags: Attitudes, Choices, hardship, motives, New Beginning, Responsibility, strength
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off

Are You Doing Something Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

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Becky and I have answered a lot of questions about Rich’s Ride over the past few weeks. Those discussions got me thinking back to Jesus’ words in Luke 6:38:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I think we tend to read this as Give so that it will be given unto you. Jesus’ message becomes a sort of contract. Generosity becomes an investment strategy. I share in order to receive the good measure poured into my lap.

With this mentality, my incentive for enduring the sacrifice of a mission trip is the bigger bonus I’ll receive in return. I help those in need so that I will be helped even more. It’s as though Jesus provided a way to game the system.

God’s economy can’t be charted as calculated input versus desired output. He’s not about maximizing Return On Investment.

He asks us to do something outside our comfort zone, something that doesn’t make sense from the world’s perspective. He asks us to give too much with no strings attached, help a stranger who can’t repay us, or forgive someone who’s harmed us when we don’t feel like forgiving. He asks us to do something outrageous and difficult like riding a bike 450 miles to stop human trafficking.

He doesn’t ask us to do those things for what we’ll receive in return. He simply says, “Follow me. Do what I did. Be like me.”

He does promise He won’t waste our effort, that He’ll use it for good (Romans 8:28). He promises that He’ll use that space beyond our “limits” to forge a deeper relationship with Him and help us discover our own souls.

Do you think, like I do at times, about what’s in it for me? Maybe we need to hang out with Jesus a little more, get to know Him a little better, learn what it means to sacrifice when there’s absolutely NOTHING in it for you.

At that point, God’s economy makes perfect sense.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article ! Dixon

Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com

Tags: Attitudes, Choices, ministry, motives, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off

Do You Have the Courage to Do the Right Thing?

Sunday, May 5th, 2013

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A four-year-old philosopher brings us today’s word-of-the-week…

TRUTH

My cousin has been emphasizing the importance of always telling the truth with her four-year-old daughter. Seems like a simple, straightforward concept, right?

So after one particular heart-to-heart, the young philosopher got that look that said there was something spinning around in her brain.

“Mom, Jesus always told the truth, didn’t He?”

“Of course He did, sweetie.”

“Mom, didn’t they kill Jesus because He told the truth?”

Learning what’s right is tough enough.

Age four is pretty young to understand the courage required to do the right thing.

CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article ! Dixon

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, motives, relationships, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, New Beginning, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 4, Step 5, Step 9 | Comments Off

Are You Passing the Comfort On?

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

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2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Most of us realize that life is not easy, but we have God, the Father of compassion, on our side. He is also the God of all comfort.

The Bible doesn’t say that God comforts us in some of our troubles. It says, [God] comforts us in all our troubles.” Whether we suffer with marital problems, prodigal children, finances, health issues, lack of a job, or the loss of a loved one, God “comforts us in all our troubles.”

Because we are Christians is no guarantee we won’t have problems, or that God will take them away. The Bible says he “comforts us in our troubles.”

God’s offer is for real. We decide whether we want to accept our compassionate Father’s comfort.

Once we accept God’s comfort, we “can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” We don’t have to be speakers or writers to share that comfort. All of us have families, neighbors, and acquaintances who need God’s comfort.

When we offer comfort to those in trouble, God doesn’t tell us to fix their problems. People must want to change. No matter what we say or do, we can’t force someone to change.

A difference exists between comforting others and enabling them. A woman told me she paid a fine for the boyfriend of her daughter, so he wouldn’t go to jail. He continued to drink and expected her to bail him out again. She didn’t. The daughter broke up with him after he stole from her to buy alcohol.

That man still drinks and has served several jail sentences. He doesn’t want God’s comfort. He wants someone to fix his problems.

Dear Father of compassion, I accept your comfort. Amen.

Application: When will you comfort someone this week with the comfort you’ve received from God?

CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !

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, God's Love, healing, ministry, motives, Pain, relationships, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, Pain, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off

How do you think?

Friday, April 12th, 2013

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My friend Clark Osborn inspired today’s word-of-the-week…

NUANCE

Clark made a simple statement: “Always” is almost always wrong.

He’s mostly right.

I tend to seek the central theme, the big idea, the captivating sound bite. Social media feeds this obsession—we’re all trying to capture our deepest thoughts in 140 characters.

Life, of course, just isn’t that simple. Unless you’re Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton, it’s unlikely that you’ll boil life’s keys down to a couple of simple, powerful equations.

Big, important ideas require nuanced thought. Ideologues win elections, sell books to desperate souls, and attract polarized audiences. They don’t advance the search for truth.

If truth was easy to write in words, I wonder why God sent Jesus to be “the Word made flesh.” My sense is that knowing the words isn’t sufficient. To know the truth, we must know The Word.

I want to know The Truth. He’ll set me free.

I’ll still seek and share what I see as central themes. Who knows—maybe I’ll find one that’ll sell a few million books.

But I want to always be open to discussion, to seeing exceptions, gray areas, and blind spots. It’s in those nuances where we can learn and grow.

Mostly.

Have a great week.

CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article ! Dixon

Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com

Tags: Attitudes, Choices, God's Love, motives, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off

When you see a dog following two men…

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

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“You cannot serve both God–and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Of the enemies of the cross of Christ, the apostle declares that they “mind earthly things.” They are only concerned about increasing their stores, and thus be able to say with the rich man of whom the Savior speaks, that they have ample goods laid up for many years; on the strength of which they intend to take their ease, and eat, drink, and be merry. All their thoughts are of the earth, earthy. The things of time and sense–they regard as first and last, middle and end.

It is impossible for the mind to be governed at the same time by two opposite principles. The love of the world–and the love of God–are diametrically opposed to each other.

“If any man loves the world–the love of the Father is not in him.”

“Don’t you know that the friendship of the world–is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world–is the enemy of God.”

“You cannot serve both God–and mammon.”

To borrow a quaint illustration from one of our old writers, “When you see a dog following two men — so long as they walk together, you do not know to which of them the dog belongs. But let them come to a parting road and there separate from each other — then it will soon be seen who is the owner, for the dog will follow his master wherever he goes.”

Just so, an individual may pursue the world, and profes to be a Christian at the same time — and it is often difficult to ascertain whether God or the world possesses his affections. But by and bye he comes to a parting road, when God calls him one way, and the world another way — and then he will show to whom he really belongs. If God is his master — then he will follow and obey God. But if the world is his master — then he will follow after it!

How are you affected by the respective claims of the things of time — and those of eternity? After a few more rising and setting suns, it will be a matter of total indifference to you — whether you have been rich or poor, successful in your business or unsuccessful. But it will be of unspeakable consequence — whether you have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before you in the gospel.

Listen, then, to the words of the Lord Jesus,

“Do not labor for food that spoils — but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!”

~ John MacDuff {adapted}

Tags: Attitudes, Choices, motives, New Beginning, Responsibility, temptation
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 3 | Comments Off

Christians in Recovery® BLOG

Posts Tagged ‘motives’

Are You Digging A Well?

Do You Trust yet have a Backup Plan?

What If?

Whose Team are You On?

JERSEY

Why did you decide to do something so hard?

Are You Doing Something Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Do You Have the Courage to Do the Right Thing?

TRUTH

Are You Passing the Comfort On?

How do you think?

NUANCE

When you see a dog following two men…

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