Going through a message series out of 1 Peter which is addressed to Christians who are going through trials and suffering because of their faith in Jesus.  Not everyone around them is “yippy-skippy” about their faith in Jesus.

Trials and suffering come in many forms.  Sometimes it is as simple as taking a little teasing.  It can look like this:

Blue team won a challenge and got the option to either go home for a week, or send the black team home for a week which they did hoping to sabotage their weight lose by denying them their trainer, Jillian, and also thrusting them back into all sorts of temptations.

Dina lost in the elimination room.  DANNY LOST 15 POUNDS AT HOME!!! (I think 12 of those 15 pounds were from his tears )

(Shifting topics) The other thing that has preoccupied my mind is 1 Peter.  I’m preaching a series in it now entitled Square Peg::Round Hole.  In short, how do you live an authentic Christian life when there are those around you who are less than supportive at best, outright antagonistic at worst.

I see some parallels with 1 Peter and the contestants who went home on the black team.  It was interesting to note a few things:

1.  When the Biggest Loser contestants went home and caught a glimpse of their “old life” by way of eating habits via their family members – they were repulsed.  This is not a bad thing.  You want Dina to be “repulsed” by what she used to eat and what she used to consume.  You don’t want her to long for the “old days.”  BUT how do you live as the “new you” without making everyone around you miserable or put-off by your new found repulsion?  There is always the tendency to be judgmental and verbally critical.  “Do you know how many calories are in that?”  “Do you know how many fat grams you just consumed?”  “I used to eat the whole thing [as if that is a bad thing while others around you listening have every intention of eating the whole thing].”  “Why don’t you put the rest in a doggie bag?“  Ever been around someone who once was fat, now are skinny, and they won’t shut up about it?  You want to punch them in the throat.  Same phenomenon can happen in Christianity.  How do you live a new life without being an overbearing judgmental &#* with those who have not yet joined you on that journey?

2.  When you get started in the “new you” a support system is critical.  Until the new way of life really becomes habit, almost automatic by way of response, it is VERY DIFFICULT to be around old contexts and old relationships and not be tempted to go back to what you once were.  This is why I can’t go to a Chinese Restaurant while trying to diet (I’m a two-plater in round one…if you know what I mean).  With cameras around poised to show the world what you ate, it might be a tad bit easier to remain disciplined, but when the cameras are gone and a cheesy burrito (or cheese fries) is thrust in front of me…bring it!!!  Some of the contestants had very little by way of support.  Dina and Shay especially came to mind.  It seems that for a season, the “new you” might need to be surrounded by those who can support you in your new life venture while the contexts of the “old you” might need to go by the wayside for a time (and maybe forever).  Interesting that in Dina’s after shots we never saw her husband.  I’m not saying they split.  She went  home and continued to lose weight.  Good for her.  But the only ones I saw around her was her son, and personal trainer.  When you get started in a new life in Jesus, you might not be able to hang out at that club on the weekends because you know what happens to you in thought and behavior when you do.  Until your “new life” becomes habit, almost automatic, going out for drinks with your co-workers might be off-limits because of the conversation (or gossip) that transpires is not what you now want for yourself.

It is a tight rope that requires much grace, wisdom, and discernment.  Living the “new you” while guarding yourself from relapse and at the same time genuinely loving everyone around you who may not celebrate or support (even if it is passively) the “new you” (and thus avoiding getting punched in the throat ).

• How do you live as a Christian when you are surrounded by those who aren’t?
• What should you do when you have received a new life in Jesus and rather than celebrating that reality with you, your spouse, family, friends, co-workers make fun and/or alienate you?
• What happens when your faith in Jesus causes you to feel like you don’t quite fit in anymore with your social surroundings?

You have two options:  1) abandon all of your relationships with non-Christians and opt for only hanging out with Christians; or 2) learn how to live as a Christian in the middle of a non-Christian world.  We think you should choose option #2. Come Sunday as we begin talking about how to live as an authentic Christian even when it feels you are a “square peg” trying to fit in a “round hole.”

October 11 – Gain That’s Worth the Pain (1 Peter 1:1-12)

October 18 – Odd Man Out (1 Peter 1:13-2:10)

October 25 – Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About (1 Peter 2:11-3:22)

November 1 – That Was the Old Me (1 Peter 4:1-11)

November 8 – Hit Me With Your Best Shot (1 Peter 4:11-5:14)

Bring a friend!!!

A recent conversation with another minister has sparked a few thoughts (yea…I have one every now and then).  The overall admonition the other minister was making was a call for churches to be Bible-centered.  Before I enter my diatribe let me say upfront – I’m not interested in being the voice that says, “Hey, let’s forget or marginalize the Bible!”  The debate we had revolved around what it looked like to be bible-centered (or “biblically compromised” in his wording).

After a little thought (and at the risk of sounding heretical), I’m not sure the church should be Bible-centered.  Hold on.  Let me finish.

I believe the church should be JESUS-CENTERED. (you are probably asking “what’s the difference…)

If a church is Jesus-centered, it will go deep in regards to the Bible.  A Jesus-centered church never marginalizes the Bible (why?  Because Jesus doesn’t marginalize the Bible).  A Jesus-centered church is always striving to interpret rightly the Word of God and applying it to life.  A Jesus-centered church acknowledges the authority of Scripture, and submits itself to it.

BUT…

You can be a Bible-centered church and look nothing like Jesus!  I think you can be so Bible-centered that it leads to bibliolatry (the worship of the Bible…which by the way, is why I don’t sing hymns to the Bible…and yes…they do exist).  I think it is possible to be a Bible-centered church full to the brink of Bible knowledge and totally miss the heart, character, and person of Jesus.  More information (Bible knowledge) does not necessarily mean transformation.  And as the Bible tells us so clearly, sometimes, knowledge (I would suggest even Bible knowledge) can make us puffed up (prideful, arrogant, judgmental, etc.) [1 Corinthians 8:1].

What is so interesting is Jesus’ on words on this matter to a group of people (called Pharisees) who were TOTALLY Bible-centered.  They loved the Scriptures.  They were devoted to the Scriptures.  They invested hours each day reading and studying the Scriptures.  Many of them had the entire Old Testament committed to memory.  They loved to debate, argue, and discuss the Scriptures.  And then Jesus comes along and says this:

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me...” (John 5:37-40)

The Bible doesn’t give us life.  JESUS gives us life!  The Bible didn’t save anyone.  Jesus is the one who saves.  The Bible didn’t die on a cross.  Jesus is the one who died on the cross.  The Bible is not God…JESUS is God!!!

The Bible isn’t our meal, it is the menu that points us to our meal (Jesus, the Bread of Life)!!  The Bible never screams…LOOK TO ME…LOOK TO ME…but rather always points us to – Jesus!

And just like in the days of Jesus, it is very possible to be a Bible-centered church and still be mean, angry, bitter, judgmental, unloving, full of contempt, harsh, argumentative, legalistic, self-righteous, condemning, etc.  It is possible to have Bible studies galore within the church (Sunday morning Bible Study, Sunday morning sermon, Sunday night sermon, Wednesday night Bible Study, Thursday morning women’s study, etc.) and have people in those studies who miss the heart and purpose of Jesus.  Happens all the time.

But you can’t be these things if you are Jesus-centered.

So…I know it seems a slight distinction, but if I have to pick between being Bible-centered or being Jesus-centered…I want to pick Jesus-centered every time!

I think the goal (at least one of them) is to be in a place where God can give me everything I want!

Yea…that’s right.

I want God to give me all the desires of my heart!!!

I’m not there yet.

But I want the heart of God with such passion that what I want IS what He wants; that what my heart desires IS what He desires.

Where the kingdom and will of Sam is so yielded to the Kingdom and will of God that He can say without hesitation… “I can give Sam everything he wants and desires!”

It took ten days, but we finally got the results to Kelly’s tests (they were in after a week, but because of the holiday she had to wait until Monday to find out).  She had seven “suspicious” freckles/moles removed and tested.  And so we waited.

Waiting in a grocery line, in traffic, for the internet to pick up speed is one thing…but waiting for a pathology report is excruciating.  Given my history of “suspicious” thoughts in the arena of cancer I don’t handle it in the most sane of ways.  I prepare myself for the absolute worst with all of its accompanying images and thoughts (very tragic, very sad, very miserable) and then if we get “better” news I’m relieved.  Not sure why I do this.  It seems a weird (and not particularly healthy) defensive mechanism for my life.  I would like a better ways of handling these things.

I notice a lot about myself in these times.  I only have two modes in anxiety…deep distraction or paralysis.

I find things to distract me.  Work is a big one.  T.V. seems to be my second favorite option.  And it seems crazy what I will watch for distraction.  I watched hours of Dog the Bounty Hunter, Clean House, and Operation Repo over the past week (especially during the holiday weekend…should I be embarrassed to confess this?).  Take these things from me and I want to lay on the couch paralyzed in the fear of what might be coming next.  I stop exercising; I don’t give two flips about eating right (and I didn’t); my normal routine goes out the window (which really throws my OCD brain off); and things that are are still important and urgent are replaced with what I feel like doing (or not doing) at the moment.  I don’t blog (which could be a result of other factors too…don’t automatically assume if I don’t blog for awhile that I’m in some worry/crisis mode ).  I become more of a recluse (which is opposite my personality).

For many people, this is the time when their prayer life picks up.  Not me.  I grow more quiet, brief, and to the point with God.

Everyone handles stress, anxiety, and worry differently.  And we all worry about something different.  I believe when it comes to coping with anxiety – some ways are healthier and more faithful than others.  I’m not there yet.  Given the state of economy, family, jobs, world, etc. there seems to be a lot of anxiety.  People are anxious.

Jesus talks VERY SPECIFICALLY about this topic.  We’ll talk about it together as a church in a message series in September.

Oh…Kelly’s results:  six of the seven freckles/moles were normal.  One was “abnormal.”  It isn’t cancer.  It is “pre-cancer” (there is a more technical term for it…I don’t remember what it is…and I don’t look that stuff up on the internet ).  Meaning (as I understand it), it isn’t cancer now, but if we did nothing, there is a good chance it would turn into cancer.  So…glad we did something now.  She’ll have to keep checking in with the dermatologist on a routine basis.

I guess it is the price you pay being a uber-hot tan beauty   (disclaimer:  I am not condoning risking ones dermatological health for beauty)

What is your default coping mechanism for handling stress, anxiety, and worry?

[With apologizes to Andy Stanley in whom I was convicted of this principle and am now trying to paraphrase in my own words]

If I want to go to Florida but head west on the 80/90 Toll Road towards Chicago, you know what will happen?  I will NEVER make it to Florida.  If I pray and ask the Lord to get me to Florida; if I’m wearing swim trunks meant for the beaches of Florida; if I am wearing sun screen and have packed a bag ideal for the conditions of Florida – BUT I’m on the 80/90 Toll Road headed towards Chicago, you know what?  I’M NEVER GOING TO GET TO FLORIDA.

The reason…direction ALWAYS determines destination.

We all know this truth in regards to geography, travel, navigating maps, etc.  What is interesting is how there is a complete disconnect between this profound truth (which we know to be true in one area of our lives) and how it applies to EVERY other area of our life.

We like to judge our lives based on intention, dreams, desires, etc.  We intend certain things.  We dream about certain things.  We want certain things for our lives.  We even pray for certain things.  BUT all of those intentions, dreams, desires, and prayers are trumped by one simple thing…DIRECTION!

• You may intend to have an awesome marriage, but the real question is what path are you on, and is that path going to lead you to an awesome marriage?
• You may intend to lose weight and be fit physically, but the real question is what path are you on?  And does that path lead you straight to Culver’s Butter Burgers?
• You may intend to grow in your discipleship to Jesus, but the real question is not about my intentions, but rather about my direction.  Am I on a path that will lead me to growth in discipleship?
• You may intend to lead a church to be outward and mission, but the real question is not what our hopes, dreams, and prayers are…but rather, what is the direction of your church?  Is it on a path that leads you to be outward and missional (e.g. measured in emphasis, time, budget, energy, resources, etc.)

Anyone can say they want a good marriage, healthy relationships, spiritual children, fitness goals, organization goals, spiritual goals, etc.  We can intend for those things, we can hope for those things, we can dream about those things, and we can even pray about those things.

But if the directional movement of our lives aren’t set for those things…we will never get there.

DIRECTION not INTENTION is ALL that matters when it comes to where you life is heading.

So get the road-map of your life out and take a look.  If you continue down this path, will you REALLY get to the destination you intend, dream, hope, imagine, and pray for?

DIRECTION DETERMINES DESTINATION

To ALL MEN who are bored with church and want to reject a Christianity that has as its main purpose helping you abstain from certain behaviors…we need you.  To seriously down-to-earth men who live their lives with the appropriate levels of testosterone that God gave you…we need you.  To men who feel uncomfortable singing songs about Jesus that makes him seem to be your “boyfriend”…we need you.  To men who would be willing to follow Jesus in a way that is defined by world-changing, radical revolution full of great risk, challenge, boldness, and danger…here at the Living Stones Church…we need you!!

Here’s why (click on logo):

Jeff Gritton, Volunteer Ministry Leader, put this together.  I love it! You’ll see it in our bulletin too.  If you’ve been wondering about a way to get involved – check this out:

There are 10 current opportunities to serve at Living Stones!  Review the top ten list and find the opportunity that best fits you.  A growing church has growing needs and our service base must increase.  Lead the way and volunteer today.  To indicate your interest, check the box on your connection card or e-mail iservelivingstones@gmail.com.