Difficult Separations

Separating is one of the most difficult things to do in this life. The loss of a loved one is a separation. Losing a job means you are separated from employment and relationships. We will do almost anything not to separate from the things and people we like to be around. Separations from things and people you love is always hard. However, it is interesting that God’s Word often refers to separating in a positive light. There are things we love that God does not want us connected to something that hinders our spiritual growth. 

The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recognized the Corinthian church had an unhealthy attachment to people who drew them away from God. He said, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NIV). 

Paul compares two oxen yoked together as their master guides them to plow his field. Paul reasons with the Corinthians on how they can be on a mission for Jesus if they are being guided by another master and yoked together with someone who will not listen to Jesus. How could you intentionally connect with people plowing the right field and guided by Jesus, our master?

Faith in your flock

There is a saying “Birds of a feather flock together.” Most people know that the people around you have more impact on your life than you think. If you want to get better at anything, you need people who are moving in the same direction of where you want to go. If you want to make better investments, then you need financially wise people around you. If you want to get in better physical shape, then go to the gym with friends. All of this is true that we need to have the right people around us, but it goes beyond that. There is a powerful story in the Bible that shows it is not just their influence that changes you, but the faith of people around you can directly impact you. 

For example, A group of men brought their paralyzed friend to see Jesus and it changed the paralyzed man’s life.

“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2, NIV)

Jesus forgave the paralyzed man of his sins and then healed him physically. Not to minimize the miracle Jesus does, but I want you to notice one other thing. Jesus healed, not because of the paralyzed man’s faith, but because Jesus saw “their faith.” That is incredible! 

Questions to consider:

Do the people around you have great faith? 

Do your friends push you to get closer to Jesus?

How can you be the person to encourage the faith of people around you?

Are you Leaking?

Have you ever tried to pump a ball? Maybe it was a soccer ball, basketball, or volleyball, but they all have the same pump. The pump has a needle-like attachment that goes into a rubber portion to open a flap that keeps the air in while more air is being pumped in. If you have pumped up any ball, you also have had the experience of pumping vigorously for a time and noticing the ball is even more flat than when you started. Sometimes the ball is the problem that it just doesn’t hold air anymore. However, often, there is something wrong with the pump. To be more specific, the pump is working but the needle attachment leaks. When there is a problem with the pump attachment there is a direction problem with the air causing too much air to exit the right spot. The result is a flat ball. I have found God’s word shows us that our communication can often leave people deflated and not pumped up. God says it this way as Paul pens the words to the Ephesian church, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29, ESV). 

Let your words pump up, without letting the corruption leak out!

Contentment is a Choice

The famous fictional race car driver, Ricky Bobby, once said “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” As silly as that statement sounds, most of us believe that to some degree. I would not be too surprised if many of us live with a seemingly constant feeling of inadequacy since we do not “win” at everything. Most of the time we are not the best at whatever we do. Of course, we all strive to do our best, but perfection is not a realistic expectation for ourselves.

Since the Summer Olympics are going on right now, it reminds me of a study that was done several years ago on the perceived joy of people who medaled. It was during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics that  researchers analyzed award ceremonies and interviews to see how “happy” the medalists were. The gold medalists seemed the happiest, but the bronze medalists seemed happier than the people who won silver.

I think many of us have the attitude of a silver medalist. We compare ourselves with the person who “won” and fail to appreciate how much we do have. God’s Word speaks to this idea of discontentment in the face of all that we have.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:6-9).

God has given you a lot, be content and worship Him for all of it!

Getting Knocked Down?

Most people have heard of Mike Tyson since he is one of the most famous boxers. Tyson is known for his ferociousness in the ring and his prefight comments that strike fear in his opponents. He fought 58 times and only lost six of those fights. 

Tyson’s punching power was so great that 44 of his wins came by knockout. However, on one occasion, something unexpected happened. In 1990 Tyson fought Buster Douglas. If you have never heard of him, that is because he was not a great fighter, and everyone thought he had no chance to beat Iron Mike Tyson. Just like other opponents, Tyson knocked down Douglas in the eighth round. While in the fight, Tyson hit his opponent with an uppercut, and Douglas went to the ground. However, Douglas did not stay down. Surprisingly, the inferior Douglas went on to beat the greatest fighter in the world. 

You might be going through a severe fight, and you have been knocked down. God’s spirit gives power right when the enemy thinks he has you down for good. 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4). 

Perseverance means nothing if it’s easy. God didn’t cause the hardships, but God will use them.

The Olympic games start today, and they will be off to the races! Literally off to the races, since running is a big part of the Olympic heritage. As tradition goes, the original Olympics started in 776 BC when a man won a 600 ft race. Of course, the Olympics has expanded with many other competitions, but the race is one that often stands out. Some of the memorable runners were Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, and Usain Bolt.

 The athletes run towards the finish line to win or even compete. God’s Word uses racing as an analogy to how we are to live our lives. Paul states, “You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win” (1 Cor 9:24, ESV). This seems obvious that we should run in such a way to win. What does that really mean?

 As previously stated, RUN TOWARDS THE FINISH. Notice, when a reported interviews after a race no runner comments regarding how they ran far away from the start line. No one cares, because that’s not the point. They don’t run away from the start, they run towards the finish. Seems obvious, but why is much of our lives marked with what we run away from?

-          The job didn’t go well, so I left.

-          The boss was mean, so I left.

-          The marriage didn’t work, so I left.

-          Counseling was too personal, so I left.

What are you running towards?

God consistently shows us that we have a race marked out for us, so run towards the finish!

Its Hard but Worth It

Our lives are filled with storms. As followers of Jesus, we are destined for peace, security, and never-ending bliss. However, we will not experience the fullness of these things before we get to heaven. When we find success, we know we are blessed, and God’s favor is in our lives. What if God is with you and guiding you though the challenges of life too. You may have heard of the story in the Bible of how Jesus calms the storm. However, what we may not have realized about the story of Jesus calming the storm, began by Jesus leading them into it. Jesus “said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat…” (Mark 4:35-36).

We all want to live in the moments before or after the storm and skip the storm. In other words, we would prefer our lives to be lived in the adoration of the crowd or the peaceful boat ride. However, God grows our faith when we stick with Jesus through the storm. I want to challenge you to stay in the boat! When Jesus said to you, “Let us go over to the other side,” know it will be hard, but it will be worth it.

But things are going well...

Many people who are at the pinnacle of their career but are forced out or kicked out of their profession. It is the norm for people to stay in an area of “expertise” for far too long. It is true in the political world, corporate world, and even in the sports world. Professional athletes are generally forced out because their profession is almost exclusively based on their physical ability. As with all of us, sports athletes get slower, and cannot jump as high, and the injuries eventually catch up. Therefore, the people who stand out are the athletes who can remain at a high level for decades, such as basketball star Lebron James, who is the same age as his coach. However, the other much smaller group of athletes, catch attention because they leave their sport before they begin a physical decline. 

Enter Hall of Fame running back, Barry Sanders, who played for the Detroit Lions for ten years and then he unexpectedly retired. His accolades are unheard of, by rushing for 1,000 yards every season. He did not decline, but only got better as he was one of only three people to ever have more than 2,000 rushing yards in a season, which came only two years before he retired. Barry Sanders had 15,269 yards and could have broken the all-time rushing record, but he chose to retire while he was on top. 

Last Sunday, Pastor Drew showed how Abram “Answered the call.” We often start thinking about what is next for us when things start to get rocky, but what about when things are going well? Maybe God isn’t calling you to physically move from your geographic region, but He could be calling you to step into something that is not comfortable. All of us need to be open if God is leading us to serve in a new way, connect with people we normally wouldn’t, or something else… I hope you pray and seek God on this!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Here to serve,

Scott Schneiderman
Pastor of Ministry Development
New Beginnings Church, Harrisonburg VA

What's Next is the Wrong Question?

What’s next for you? Most people are thinking of what is happening now, but many people still think about what is next. Most of the time our minds wonder what it would be like if…. this happens. Fill in the blank to the thing your mind is focused on. Although we are in Summertime and our thoughts are on the vacations we will go on or the camps we will send kids to. All those things are great, but what if we could change our focus slightly? What if instead of thinking what is next for us, we shift to thinking about who is next? 

This is exactly the shift in thinking King David made. In 1 Chronicles 22, David shifted from thinking of the things God would do in him, but them started shifting to what could God do through him for Solomon. David had it in his heart to build a proper temple for the Lord, found in 1 Chronicles 17:1-2. However, God redirected the seemingly good desire David had to build a temple as God said, “Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build a house to dwell in” (1 Chronicles 17:4). The question was not “What is next for David,” but “who is next for David?” David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparations for it” (1 Chronicles 22:5). David made it his mission to make his son successful in the very thing David could not do. 

Reframe the question in you mind from “What is next” to “Who is next?” 

World Changer

Difference-makers are credited with doing seemingly superhuman feats to win battles as a ruler, diplomat or someone who brings new ideas into the world. Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor as he conquered most of Europe. Winston Churchill was a master politician and leader, as he led Britain to victory in World War II. Socrates had great intellect and challenged the ancient Greeks to question their way to brilliance. The greatest man in history was “the man Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 2:5, NIV). Jesus changed the world by doing the will of God the Father through the power of God the Holy Spirit. You might not change the world, but you can change someone else’s world. God’s Word says you can make a difference, “if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,” because God saved you (Romans 8:11, KJV). 

In other words, you have all the ability you need! The list of people are not that great unless they have the Holy Spirit. Whose world could you change? The only thing that is stopping you is not ability, but fear. The good news is God is with you… “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Be great, by changing someone’s world. 

Famous Last Words to Change Your Life

Last week we talked about knowing your purpose and this week we can see how to live that out. Our possible last words can help us! Last words are often highly regarded as what the dying person cares the most about. Legal precedence is used in court as they give greater weight to last words than other comments, not on their deathbed. Sometimes a person's last words are valuable in a court of law and other times they are just funny. For example, the battle scene in Monty Python between two knights said, “It’s just a flesh wound” as multiple limbs had been cut off. Groucho Marx said, “Die, my dear? Why that’s the last thing I’ll do!” When you don’t know what to say, make it up like Pancho Villa, who said, “Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something.” Maybe if they thought about it beforehand, they would come up with something better.

God’s Word records King David’s last words and they are profound, as it states, “These are the last words of David” (2 Samuel 23:1). David goes on to say, “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant” (2 Samuel 23: 5). David’s house, which means all that he is responsible for, was not perfect, but David led his house to seek God first. God was David’s priority, so much so that he said it in his last words. 

Have you ever thought about what your last words will be? Maybe that sounds morbid to think about it, but did you know God tells us to put our focus on the end? Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Whatever you want your last words to be, they should indicate how you should live now. What do you want to have the most weight in your life?

Going Into Deep Waters

When Laura and I lived in Okinawa, Laura wanted a conch shell badly. She went to the ocean to find one. Finding a shell like what she wanted was impossible just sitting on the beach. A friend told Laura, he had seen one since he was just out snorkeling. Laura took him up on the offer, so our friend dove deep into the ocean and came up with a beautiful conch shell.  

Almost everyone has been to the beach and casually walked around picking up shells that washed ashore. A few people enter the surf to find the shells as the waves bring them in. An even smaller group of people go to the ocean to find a specific kind of shell. 

God has a purpose for us, but it takes effort to draw it out. Part of the process is seeking the reason you were born. God’s Word says, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Proverbs 20:5).

It has been said, the second most important day is your birth, but the most important day is when you discover why.

God doesn’t make all your problems or temptations go away, but He invites you into a purpose greater than your problems. 

Don't follow Nostalgia

Nostalgia is an interesting phenomenon. You know, that feeling you get when you hear a song from “your era,” whenever that was. Maybe you see clothing fashion come back in style. You could see a clip from a movie, and it takes you back to a timeframe in your life. It is usually never about that one thing you experience, but it encapsulates an emotion that is hard to describe. We all have nostalgia for certain things, and we know other people have it, but it is impossible to fully appreciate someone else’s nostalgic feeling. Did you know there is a clear example of nostalgia in the Bible? 

I encourage you to read the entire thirteenth chapter of Genesis, but the point we will discuss is found in Genesis 13:10-11. This passage describes when Abram and Lot are experiencing heightened tension. Abram and Lot had growing businesses, and the resources were running out, so it was time to separate. Abram suggested that Lot choose the best for him and take work in that land, then Abram would go the other direction. It is here that we see Lot has a moment of nostalgia, “Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt” (Gen 13:10). Did you catch that? Lot looked around and the land he saw reminded him of the “land of Egypt.” Lot must have enjoyed his time in Egypt when he went there with Abram during a famine (Gen 12:10). Egypt was an escape from their real famine, but Lot took a long look back and escaped his current stressors. 

We all have a metaphorical “Egypt” from our past. Abram, rather than Lot, provides an example of pressing forward to his purpose instead of looking back for previous pleasures. Which will you choose when things get tense and stressful?

Is there "Load Management" for Christians?

Every athlete plays sports because they have a burning desire to get in the game. Sure, professional athletes love money and fame, but you would be hard-pressed to find one who did not love their sport. However, coaches have a responsibility to put the people in the game who will put the team in the best position to win. In the 2010s, one professional basketball coach, Greg Popovich had an aging team, and he is credited with starting “Load management” for his players. Load management is a nice way of saying they are resting the old guys. Coach Popovich was resting his starters one game and his reason for the roster substitution, he listed, “Too old.”

It is one thing for a coach to rest a player, but it is another thing for a player not wanting to get in the game. Fans everywhere look down on players who get to do what they love but choose to sit out because they are “tired.” What if God had a position He wanted you to play and you said, “No, I am just sitting on the bench?” There is a story in the Bible that this exact thing happened in the book of Genesis. We all know the “Great Cloud of Witnesses” hall of famer, Abraham, but we do not hear much about his dad. Abraham’s dad had his number called by God to get in the game, but he decided to sit it out. Read what happened.

“Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there” (Gen 11:31). 

We cannot say why the Bible says Terah was going to Canaan; however, it is likely God was leading him to the future promised land. We do know Terah intended to go to Canaan but fell short. Notice Terah started strong as he headed to Canaan, but God’s Word says when he got to “Harran, they settled there.” Terah could have been taking a rest, but he never moved on from there. Thankfully, God’s plan does not rely on one person, so Abram (later changed to Abraham) was told “Leave your father’s family and go to the country that I will show you” (Gen 12:1). 

The question for you is, do you have a “Harran” you are tempted to settle in? I hope you get in the game and keep in the game God called you to!

The Danger of Constructing Silos of Excellence

It would have been incredible to live on this planet at the same time as Jesus. I always wonder to myself if I would be like the people who just showed up to his teachings, the Pharisees who knew how serving God is supposed to look, or like one of Jesus’ close disciples. I hope I would have been like one of his disciples, who learned from Jesus and lived it out by his direction. 

Jesus had a way of saying and doing things no one, not even his disciples, would have expected. One shocking statement Jesus made was “I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away” (John 16:7). Can you imagine the befuddled looks on the disciple's faces… “Good” that you go away?” This strange statement is more understandable when coupled with a previous statement by Jesus on why he would be leaving, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). In other words, being with Jesus is not all the disciples had to learn, there was more!

I have found this true in my own life, the more I know about God, I realize how little I know. This has been true in leading teams, working a job, and getting degrees to name a few. This is one of the things I love about being in core groups and other study groups where discussion is the primary focus. I learn so much from hearing other people’s ideas about how to do something, how to live for God, and other aspects of Scripture application. I want to encourage you to be a lifelong learner, which requires you to listen to people around you. I think the attitude to accomplish genuine listening is Paul’s statement to the Romans when he said, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). Let's be a people who never revert to our perceived silos of excellence. 

Let’s consider other people above ourselves and how can you do that in the coming weeks?

You Have No Chance, but God has the Final Word

There have been countless locker room speeches to rally the team before they go back to the game for the second half. Some memorable real-life speeches turned around the players to finish the game with an inspired purpose. Usually, the most inspiring speeches are because of the insurmountable odds against winning. In one such speech, Deion Sanders “Coach Prime,” talked to his team at halftime. He said, “God usually gives me a word before now, but that’s because it’s not about them, its about us… when we started this journey, we said it would be trying… we don’t have tomorrow, we have NOW!” 

There is a lot of truth to this speech by Coach Prime when we think of how it relates to our journey in this life. As we consider the individual and collective journey God is guiding us on, it’s not about any opposition, it’s about who God’s called us to be. God has already called us to it, so it is up to us to walk in it. Even better than Coach Prime’s halftime speech, is the pep talk Moses gave to the children of Israel. Moses sinned and abused his leadership, so God would not let him go in the promised land. Moses, however, would give one final pep talk to the people to follow God’s ways and be courageous as they walk into what God gave them. Moses said, “The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut 31:5-6). 

Will you be strong and courageous? It’s not about the opposition, it's also not about you, it's about the LORD! BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

Build a Better Life?

Buying a house is a stressful thing. It is stressful because it is usually the largest expense you will have and there are a lot of unknowns. Even when you get an inspection on a house there are things the inspector did not check or could not know. The two major structural things people should look for in a home are the roof and the foundation and Jesus explains we should live our lives like someone who orders their life like this. Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt 7:24, ESV). 

The passage's context is not a self-help manual on how to make a good life for yourself and your family. The context to building on the right foundation is the follow-on statement from Jesus saying, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt 7:22-23, ESV). 

Jesus goes on to let his audience know that storms are coming, and they beat on everyone. You will not avoid the storm. The storm shows what your foundation is on. When the storms come, God will reveal if you are built on Him or something else. 

Mistaken Identity

In 2006, four students and one staff member from Taylor University were killed in a crash involving a truck. There was confusion after the crash and two young ladies, who were both blond with similar features were also both in the wreck. Witney Cerak’s parents received a call that their girl was one of the students killed in the crash. Laura van Ryn, another girl’s parents were called to say their daughter survived but was in critical condition. For five weeks the van Ryn family held a vigil praying for Laura’s recovery. As the bruises and swelling subsided on Laura, family members realized it was a mistaken identity. Whitney was the girl who survived and unfortunately for the van Ryn family, Laura passed away in the crash. A few years later, Whitney married in the same church her family held her funeral. 

Looking at the New Testament, there is a case of mistaken identity too. Jesus knew people believed good, but false things about him. “He asked his disciples, who do people say the Son of Man is” (Matthew 16:13)?  They listed off various prophets Jesus identifies with or could be compared to, but they miss the mark. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). However, Jesus explained to his disciples what he must do, die on the cross, because of his identity. On hearing this Peter, who gave the great proclamation moments before, had a case of mistaken identity about Jesus. Peter rebuked Jesus, which prompted Jesus to respond with “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matthew 16:23). 

Let’s get our minds on what God wants or we will not have a case of mistaken identity about Jesus.

If I won the lottery...

What would you do with a million dollars? This was a question I have heard many times in my life. I am sure the answer has changed since I first heard it in elementary school. What would you do with $340 million? In January 2023, one man seriously contemplated that question. The man is John Cheeks and he looked up the numbers for the DC Lottery Powerball to see they matched his ticket exactly. Every number was correct, which meant he would get all the $340 million! To be sure, John rebooted his computer just to be sure and the same numbers were there. His excitement cannot accurately be described. John did not know the individual who would get him the money, but he had the matching numbers.

A few days later John went to cash in his winning ticket, but the claims agent for the lottery said none of the numbers matched and the “ticket was no good, just to throw it in the trash can.” His bewilderment, anger, and disappointment cannot accurately be described. The website with John Cheeks' winning numbers was an accidental error. The numbers were just a random example of the winning numbers until the official numbers were to be posted later. 

All people have some measurement of success in their minds and how they will receive a reward for that one day. Jesus told of a similar story to the mistaken lottery winnings, but Jesus gave a much worse scenario. We will have a horrific surprise if we think we just need to match some standard to receive the reward of eternal life and not know the one giving the reward.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21–23).

 Take time every day to get to know Jesus.