What in the World?

It is a part of our family's vernacular daily, "What in the world?" Regularly, we ask the question about something my son has just done due to not thinking through an action's consequences. Other times, and most often, we ask about my daughter's reckless attempts at driving. Our entire family also uses this question as an opening comment to outlandish things we share with each other from Instagram or YouTube.

Two thousand years ago, Paul may have likewise used his version of this bewildered phraseology. Because, after hearing of the happenings at the Church at Corinth, I feel like he may have been searching for words on more than one occasion. Upon departing as their pastor, he had left them with a solid foundation. Yet, they quickly digressed into the muck and mire of sin despite previous deliverance. Drunkenness, sexual immorality, and divisive actions had once again become commonplace behaviors.

Unable to visit his former church in-person, Paul wrote to his congregants with incredible disappointment. In his letter, at one point, he is so frustrated that he expresses a desire to take a whip to the backs of those choosing to disgrace grace.

It leads me back to the question, "What in the world?" But, with a more sincere use of the inquiry as I find the Holy Spirit leading me to self-examination, "What in the world is in me?"

What part of the world's behavior, ideologies, philosophies, and sinfulness has gotten loose in me?

In my life, where have I become worldly? Where have I ceased consecration?

And, if I have in any form stopped yielding to grace's victory over sin(s), then why?

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is authoritative in tone. With skill and precision, it will pierce the heart of any believer. I invite you to journey with me through the first chapter of 1 Corinthians in this message, "What in the World is in You?". In the message, I share why it's essential to know the meaning of some big, intimidating words in Scripture. Righteousness, sanctification, redemption... knowing how to yield to God's grace as we embrace his promises on these subjects helps us to keep the world out of our hearts and behavior. And, thankfully, as a result, we find:

1. Victory over the PATH of sin,

2. Victory over the PENALTY of sin

3. Victory over the POWER of sin

4. Victory over the PRESENCE of sin.
   

Check out the message in its entirety here: What in the World is in You?

Where Is God In All of This?

Right now, you are spinning at 1,000 mph. Your forward progression is catapulting onward at a rate of 67,000mph.

But do you feel it?

No?

The earth’s revolution is 1,000 mph, and the earth moves around the sun at 67,000 mph. It’s happening, but you are unaware. Do you find that strange?

Perhaps, even more mind-boggling, at the center of all of this galactic movement in the Milky Way, is a black hole.

A. Black. Hole.

I wonder if this cosmic reality is God’s way of painting a picture of how easy it is for human life to spin at reckless speeds while orbiting around nothing?

Every person and every home revolves around something or someone. And, most likely, we are doing so at fast, hurried paces. For some, it may be education, and the priority is to gain good grades. For others, it is sports, and the focus is to win. Yet still, others orbit around money, and the priority is work.

What do you orbit around?

What is the center of your universe?

If you were to hire a biographer to capture your life’s story, she would want access to at least three things: your checkbook, your calendar, your conversations. This access, once analyzed, would provide answers to these questions: How do you spend your money? How do you spend your time? And, what do you talk about in emails, texts, and conversations? But, more specifically, it would answer one thing primarily, “What is at the center of your life?”

Take an honest look at your life by evaluating just these three parts of your life: finances, schedule, and conversations. What does the examination reveal you to be orbiting around?

If the answer to all of these questions -- or even just one -- isn’t God, then it is likely that your life is off-center.

We might even have become self-centered. Gravitationally-driven by selfishness. Blind to its consequence as a result of self-entitlement. Numb to any conviction due to self-righteousness. And it might be happening fast. Really fast. Too fast. Dangerously, circling ever closer to a black hole of self-indulgence; so, we must attempt to discern any places in our life that are orbiting towards demise.

Maybe the best way to determine where we are off-center is to evaluate where we lack peace. In John 20:19, the resurrected Jesus appeared and stood in the middle of the room. Upon arriving in the center of his disciples’ gathering, he pronounced, “Peace be with you.” All of these men were afraid for their lives. They were hiding. They had locked the door in fear. But, Jesus came into the center of their room, their challenge, their situation, their relationships, and decreed, “Peace be with you!”

When Jesus is at the center, it doesn’t matter what situation surrounds us; peace will still be with us!

I pray this is your experience as you choose to allow Jesus to take his rightful place at the center of your life.

I would love to share more with you on this subject, “Where Is God In All of This?” including some struggles we have had in our own family as we have too often been made aware that things were off-center or hurling out of orbit. You can find those thoughts here: https://youtu.be/n04YLhF9iLw

How to NOT Look Like What You’ve Been Through

When I was 17 years old, I desperately wanted a step-side Chevy Silverado with a 350 engine, five-star rims, dual-exhaust pipes, and a five-speed transmission. It was my dream truck. But, it was outside of my financial means. Yet, to my surprise, after several months of dreaming, my dad bought one for me!

My response: immediately, determine how fast it would go.

Every time I took off, I was blessing the blacktop with a new layer of rubber. Not long into my ownership experience, I got an itch for racing backroads. The suicide lane was my standard line of sight. Too often during races -- to avoid oncoming vehicles -- I put my prized truck in ditches and cleaned out culverts. On weekend excursions, I took it through creek beds and gravel roads, and I even hit a massive deer. By the time I entered my 20’s and finished my testosterone-fueled cruises, the truck was nearly destroyed. But if you were to see that truck today, it looks like it did the day it rolled off the showroom floor. I think it looks better.

To me, it's amazing when I go into my garage, and while staring at the truck, reflect on all of my teenage recklessness. I think about all of the life-threatening mistakes I made trying to prove my manhood, the things I put in jeopardy while behind the wheel. With ease, my memory vividly recalls the events that created deep dents, long scratches, destroyed bumpers, and busted headlights and taillights. Yet, when I see the truck today, it doesn’t look like what it’s been through.

My truck has been restored.

Do you look like what you’ve been through?

Your marriage?

Your business?

Your relationship with your children?

Seriously, be honest. Do any of those things look like what they’ve been through?

If so, then you need to know: God is in the restoration business. He doesn’t just desire to cleanse you (wash you off, but leave the dents and dings), he wants to restore you so that you don’t look like what you’ve been through!

I invite you to watch or listen to my message on this subject. Within it, you will learn some practical ways to position yourself for restoration. I also share a personal story of how God cleansed my marriage from the disfiguring effects of offense and bitterness and restored Mandy and me to the point where our relationship no longer looks like what it’s been through.

You can watch it here: You Don't Look Like What You've Been Through