Posts Tagged ‘Responsibility’
Friday, April 27th, 2012
What’s stopping you from following your dream?
That’s the question I asked as the guys at the retreat prepared for a day of mountain biking, hiking, 4-wheeling, and rock climbing. I challenged them to talk with their companions about the fears that get in the way.
One particular response was particularly revealing. “I’m afraid if I really listen to God, He might tell me to do something I don’t really want to do.”
What a wonderful—and brutally honest—insight. It’s an interesting twist on a common complaint.
Lots of folks grumble that God never speaks to them. What if the real problem is that we’re afraid to listen? What if we intentionally keep God at a distance to avoid disrupting our self-created illusion of security?
Most of the guys around the fire that night agreed. We seek to serve—when it’s convenient, when it fits into the schedule. We want to finish well—but we need to guard the 401(k).
We want to follow—on our terms.
What if we’re not-so-secretly afraid that Jesus was serious when He said, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27)
What if our efforts to follow Jesus in a safe, sanitary manner actually cause us to avoid God because we’re afraid of what He might say?
I stated my goal on Friday night: I wanted to pose some questions that might create a bit of internal dissonance, prompt conversations, and cause each guy to lose a few minutes of sleep. Sunday morning brought several mostly good-natured complaints, and demands for extra coffee, from men who didn’t sleep quite as much as planned.
I intended challenging questions. I didn’t plan on answers that would keep me awake.
Are you avoiding God because you’re afraid of what He might tell you?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
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Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article ! 
Copyright 2008-2012 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, bondage, Choices, God's Love, ministry, New Beginning, rebellion, Responsibility, worry
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Assurance, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
I spent the past few days speaking at a retreat in Moab, Utah. It was a perfect weekend.
I’m thinking about “perfect” because of a particular scripture passage:
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. (Matthew 5:48)
That seems a bit unrealistic. I understand God’s perfection, but how can Jesus possibly expect me to match God’s flawless nature?
The Greek word teleios, translated “perfect,” means “full, needing nothing for completeness.” It’s different than our notion of perfection which implies a total absence of defects. It’s more about being what’s intended and completely fulfilling a purpose. In The Message the same passage clarifies:
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
This weekend wasn’t free of blemishes. But it did complete its intended purpose.
You and I can’t avoid errors. We’ll fail and stumble.
But we can grow up. We can live generously and graciously toward others. We can strive to live out our God-created identities.
We can’t achieve perfection. We can seek to be perfect.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
here
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2012 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, ministry, motives, New Beginning, rejection, Responsibility, sin, slip
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
Psalm 119:66:
“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.”
When challenges come—and they will, what do we do?
The psalmist prayed and asked God to teach him “knowledge and good judgment.”
If you recently received a diagnosis of cancer, you are probably scared. You may feel depressed and wonder if you’ll survive.
Perhaps a family member or friend struggles with a life-threatening disease or the loss of a job or a home. You may feel the same emotions as the one struggling with the disease or the loss.
God wants us to know we can go to him and ask for his help as we make the necessary decisions.
The qualities of knowledge and good judgment belong to God, but he longs to teach them to us. All we have to do is ask.
We are blessed to serve a God who loves us so much that he will teach us knowledge and good judgment. We don’t need to stumble in the dark.
The second part of the verse says, “For I believe in your commands.” God loves us, and his commands are good and worth believing.
The difficulties in our lives can shake our faith and we may find ourselves saying as the man whose son possessed a spirit, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
Dear God, teach me knowledge and good judgment. Amen.
Application: How will you show this week that you believe God’s commands?
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, failure, grief, hardship, loss, New Beginning, Pain, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Assurance, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, Pain, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
A few days ago I asked What’s It Cost?
My basic conclusion was to count the cost (Luke 14:28) because following a dream is an all-in deal.
After reflecting on my own words (dangerous activity) I’m wondering if I asked the wrong question. Maybe we ought to ask:
What’s the cost of NOT following the dream?
A dream offers a choice. You have to decide, eventually, to follow or not-follow. It’s a mistake to perceive “not-follow” as a non-choice, because not-following is expensive.
Not-following has costs. Perhaps the most obvious is regret, a nagging lifelong sense of “what if?” rattling around in those spare moments when you’re not distracted by day-to-day tasks. Don’t dismiss it. “What if” haunts you forever.
The not-following costs are harder to nail down. People not touched, opportunities missed, gifts unused—it’s difficult to put those on a balance sheet.
A dream, a God-inspired desire, is its own entity. A dream invites. It shows up like Jesus and says, “Come. Follow me.” A dream opens a door and invites you to enter.
I don’t know where this bike-riding thing is leading. I’m consistently surprised by where I go, who I meet, and what I do.
Honestly, a big part of me wants to drop the whole notion. I don’t need the aggravation, the uncertainty, the risk. I’d rather drink another cup of coffee. I’ve tried to resist this dream’s invitation. It’s uncomfortable, and I don’t like uncomfortable.
For me it comes down to this (at the risk of a confusing double negative): I can’t be all-in for not-following.
Not-following means settling for safety and comfort. Not-following means “what if.” Not-following is expensive.
I’m following this dream—riding and writing—because I’m unwilling to pay the price to not-follow.
You?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
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Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2012 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
Tags: Attitudes, bondage, Choices, hardship, motives, New Beginning, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 3 | Comments Off
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
Colossians 1:9: “Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
We have the privilege of praying for our family, friends, and co-workers.
One mother prayed for the future husbands of her daughters since they were babies. When each daughter became engaged, the mother would tell the young man how she had prayed for him for years.
When I pray for others, I often ask God to fill them to overflowing with his wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding.
In our daily activities, we meet people at the post office, the gas station, the beauty shop, the grocery store, our place of employment, and other places. Let’s pray for them.
I sometimes ask people how I can pray for them. They are surprised that someone wants to pray for them and thank me afterward.
Let’s pray for our doctors and dentists. We want good care, don’t we?
Don’t forget our church staff and their families need our prayers every day.
Dear God, help me pray daily for my loved ones. Amen.
Application: Which special people will you pray for this week?
Tags: Choices, fellowship, healing, ministry, relationships, Responsibility
Posted in Choices, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Prayer, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
Do you follow or obey Jesus out of a sense of duty or obligation?
Duty is only a substitute for love. ~ C. S. Lewis
I’ve always had this nagging sense that Jesus never wanted anyone to follow because they felt obligated or compelled. He doesn’t want followers who fear the consequences of not-following.
That’s why God sent a person rather than a list of rules or a book of theology. If I could know this person completely, I’d follow because I couldn’t imagine anything better. My desires lead me astray to the extent that I don’t truly “get” Jesus.
I encountered this wonderful quote from C. S. Lewis: Letters to Children:
A perfect man would never act from a sense of duty; he’d always want the right thing more than the wrong one. Duty is only a substitute for love (of God and of other people), like a crutch, which is a substitute for a leg. Most of us need the crutch at times; but of course it’s idiotic to use the crutch when our own legs (or own loves, tastes, habits etc) can do the journey on their own!
I think Lewis is saying that when we focus on duty—rules, obligations, anything that smacks of coercion—we create false gods.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Whenever I feel guilty for not doing something, or afraid of what will happen if I don’t do something, I figure it’s a sign that I’m missing the point. Jesus isn’t about fear and guilt.
Following from a sense of obligation tells me where my desire isn’t aligned with the person of Jesus. It’s not telling me to fight my desire.
It’s telling me to learn more about love. It’s telling me I need to get to know Jesus better.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
One look at how this works in real life: Clear Eyes, Full Heart.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
here
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2012 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, bondage, Choices, freedom, motives, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
Yesterday my friend Jon Swanson posted an article titled How Jesus Fixed Breakfast For Some Losers. Jon’s final line: If you’ve left your nets to follow Jesus, the way forward isn’t going to be by going back.
Jon’s got me thinking about how often I “go back.” Jesus addressed it:
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” Mark 2:21-22
I can’t patch Jesus onto the holes in my old life. I can’t dump out the junk and pour Him into the same empty container.
Jesus didn’t come to prop up a sagging life or serve as a fresh coat of paint on a dilapidated house. He came to tear down the old and build something new. He offers a solid foundation, but the old building’s gotta go first.
Am I willing to let Him do that? “Die to self” is a catchy little phrase–except for the “die” part. That pretty scary if I take it seriously.
But I think that’s exactly what He wants.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
here
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2012 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, Forgiveness of God, God's Love, healing, New Beginning, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Assurance, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, Forgiveness of God, General Recovery, New Beginning, Renewal, Responsibility, Step 3 | Comments Off
Friday, April 13th, 2012
As I thought about the first Easter morning, it prompted me to wonder how I would’ve felt if I’d been part of Jesus’ circle of followers.
I missed the entire message. Jesus told me—in person—exactly what was going to happen. I listened, but obviously failed to understand.
I fell asleep, denied and deserted Him, and ran away. I hid in fear of the authorities. Despite hearing His teaching first-hand for three years, despite the miracles and healings, I clearly didn’t get it. I thought Jesus was dead and gone.
I’m overwhelmed with regret. Once I saw the empty tomb and realized He was really alive, I felt like a fool. I missed my chance. I regret my lack of faith and my unwillingness to support my friend and teacher.
I’ll bet He’s really angry at me, and really disappointed that I let Him down. I don’t think I can face Him. I’m afraid He’ll see only my shortcomings and failures.
I wouldn’t blame Him if He decided to dump all of us and find more dependable followers.
I blew it.
And then Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you.”
Jesus didn’t reject His friends. He assured them it would all be okay. Despite all their failures He stuck with them. He used them to spread His message and build His church.
I think that’s still happening today. He’s offering another chance.
I’m relieved. I’m grateful.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
here
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2012 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, backsliding, Choices, failure, Forgiveness of God, God's Love, healing, New Beginning, Pain, reconciliation, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, Forgiveness of God, New Beginning, Pain, Renewal, Responsibility | Comments Off
Thursday, April 12th, 2012
Your own eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD
which He did (Deuteronomy 11:7, NASB).
I was 26 years old before I came to know the Lord personally. Prior to that I knew and, to some extent, believed the basic tenets of Christianity, including that Jesus “died for the sins of the world.” Unfortunately that didn’t impact me until I understood that He died for ME, for MY sins. That changed everything.
It’s amazing how me-centered we are, isn’t it? Even after we become believers and spend time growing spiritually, we still fight that tendency to think the universe revolves around us. And yet there are times that God wants us to personalize our faith; Deuteronomy 11 is a great example of that.
As a matter of fact, God spends a lot of time in Deuteronomy reminding and recounting His many amazing and merciful deeds on behalf of the Israelites. He wants them, as a nation of chosen people, to remember all that He has done for them so they won’t be drawn away by false gods or start thinking they accomplished anything by their own efforts.
But Deuteronomy 11:7 makes it personal: “Your own eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which He did.” Yes, God is speaking to Israel as a nation, much as He speaks to the Church as a whole. But He also speaks to individuals, reminding us of what we have personally seen Him do for us. I am always blessed to read stories of what God has done for His people throughout the ages, but I am also blessed when I stop and remember all that He has done for me as an individual. My eyes truly have seen amazing things, times where God intervened on my behalf, and reflecting on those times encourages me when I face trials today.
Like the Israelites of old, we must not allow ourselves to be drawn away by false gods—and the world is full of them!—or be lulled by our egos into thinking we’ve accomplished anything on our own efforts. If we will make it a practice to meditate on God’s acts of love and kindness to us over the years, both personally and as a corporate Body of believers, we will certainly be more apt to cling to and trust Him for all that yet lies ahead.
Tags: Attitudes, bondage, Choices, God's Love, humility, Macias, Responsibility, salvation, temptation
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, Forgiveness of God, Renewal, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
A bible story and a television commercial got me thinking about:
CATEGORIES
In a commercial for a soft drink, people appear on a street wearing t-shirts proclaiming their identity.
I’m a dreamer.
I’m a winner.
I’m a survivor.
I’m a wingman.
I’m a beginner.
I’m a fighter.
I’m a …
I wonder what it would look like if we gathered all the dreamers in a group, the winners in another group, and so on. Would the wingmen look different than the survivors? The beginners? The fighters?
Maybe more importantly…would we judge them, treat them differently, simply because of the labels on their shirts?
Sounds silly, right? Why would we base our opinions of people on something as superficial as a t-shirt slogan?
What if the labels were things like Democrat or Republican? How about Christian? Muslim? Mormon?
If we’re honest, I’ll bet some of those labels evoke some sort of reaction. It’s as though we know something about those people. We categorize individuals based on labels, and those categories subtly, or not so subtly, impact how we engage them.
Jesus experienced that same issue. In Mark 2:13-17 He called Levi to follow Him. Then He did the socially unthinkable: He accepted Levi’s dinner invitation.
Levi’s t-shirt said “I’m a tax collector.” In first century Jewish culture the tax collectors were the lowest of the low, the worst of the worst. They were outcasts, shunned by nearly everyone. So Levi’s only friends were other outcasts. In fact, they probably all wore shirts proclaiming “I’m an outcast.”
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (verse 16)
I do it. You do it. We all put people in categories, often based on a superficial label that has little to do with the heart inside the shirt.
I’m beginning this week with gratitude for Jesus, who sees me and not the label on my t-shirt.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
here
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2012 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, disabilities, failure, judgement, New Beginning, rejection, respect, Responsibility, self image
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, General Recovery, New Beginning, Renewal, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2 | Comments Off
Copyright 2010-2012, Yvonne Ortega, LPC, LSATP, CCDVCAll Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Copyright 2009-2012 Kathi Macias, all rights reserved. Used by permission.
