Posts

Posted on

On Mission

Proverbs 22:9 says “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”

Serving & helping others helps us to grow spiritually, improves our relationships and blesses us. If that is true, why don’t we serve others more often? Why aren’t we more generous with our time & resources?

Several years ago I went on a mission trip to Biloxi MS shortly after hurricane Katrina hit. I was with a team of 40 people that worked together for a week to help everyone we could. My main job was to find work for our volunteers to do. I would walk from home to home asking how we could help. I got leads from the local church we were staying at as well. We worked hard everyday until it was too dark to work. Some groups worked into the night. WE got up early ready to make a difference; we cleaned up yards, cut up trees, built fences, repaired walls, floors, roofs, doors and even put up a mailbox. We touched many lives that week, we grew in our faith, developed new relationships and strengthened existing ones. We were exhausted, but we all felt blessed more than we could express. Since then I have gone back several times and even gone to the Middle East on mission trips.

On my way back home from that trip I kept thinking; why do we need to go on a mission trip to help and serve people. What would happen if we took that mentality of helping and serving people in need home with us? Could we take the same attitude of serving we had on that trip and apply it in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities we live in?

Most of us don’t serve others as often as we would like to because we are too busy. We miss opportunities because we are so caught up in our daily schedules and habits. When we stop long enough to go on a mission trip our focus changes. We take our eyes of ourselves and our comfort and put it on other people that are hurting and in need of help. We feel amazing, useful, we feel like our life has meaning & purpose.

What if every day could be like that? What if we all would approach this next week like we were on a mission trip? A trip that would take you to your workplace, your family and friends, your neighborhood, your grocery store, your bank, your church, your small group.

How could you serve the people you come into contact with this week? Maybe it’s just a smile and taking the time to listen to someone. It could be doing a random act of kindness like paying for someone’s meal. Maybe it’s playing longer with your kids or doing the dishes every night. Maybe it’s volunteering at your church. Get creative, look for opportunities to serve people and watch your attitude change. I promise you that the more you serve and volunteer the more you will grow spiritually, the better your relationships will get and the more you will feel blessed.

Serve On!

Posted on

Questions

Anytime you are feeling stuck it helps to ask the right questions. Maybe it’s someone else asking you some questions to draw out what is inside you. Maybe it’s asking yourself some questions to reflect on where you are and where you want to go.

For me asking questions has been very helpful in my own growth and also in helping other people grow. I often think about what my next step is in many different areas of my life. It may be my marriage and how I can make improvements in that important relationship. It may be my spiritual growth and relationship with God. I also ask questions about my financial situation and goals and what I can do to improve that area of my life. I also reflect often about my work and what I need to do better as a leader. So whatever area you want to focus on whether personal or work, these questions can help bring some clarity to what your next steps might be.

  1. What is happening in your world? Tell me about it?
  2. What is going well? What is not going well? (This question helps you zero in on the area most important to you right now)
  3. What is really important to you right now?
  4. What obstacles are you facing?
  5. What is success in this area and what is keeping you from success?
  6. What resources are out there that may be helpful to you?
  7. Who can you talk to that may be able to help you?
  8. What is working? What is not working?
  9. What are you learning?
  10. What is your next step? List 2-3 specific things that you can do over the next week to improve your current situation.

When you ask the right questions you can dig down to the root issues and start addressing those, instead of the surface stuff. So if you feel stuck, plateaued, or declining in certain areas of your life, ask your self some of these questions. Or have a trusted friend ask them.

Posted on

Plateau

The dictionary defines a plateau as a state or level of little or no growth or decline; to stop increasing or progressing; remain at a stable level of achievement; level off. Does that describe any area of your life? Maybe spiritually, physically or relationally.

I have been working out for over 8 weeks now. It is a pretty intense program with a variety of exercises. I kind of felt like I was doing pretty well. I wasn’t sore anymore and I was able to keep up with most of the exercises. On Monday I did a new workout that I had not done yet. Those new exercises were a real challenge for me. I made it through the workout, but I could tell I was being pushed to a higher level of fitness. The next day I could feel the effects of the workout. I was sore and stiff in several areas of my body.

That soreness is an indication that my muscles have been stressed and that they are rebuilding and will be even stronger. Maybe you have been working out for a while doing the same thing. It might be running, walking, biking, basketball or whatever exercise machine you like. If you don’t change up your workouts from time to time your body gets used to it and you plateau.

To go to new levels physically, spiritually, relationally or emotionally you need to change up the way you are doing things.

To keep growing spiritually we need to keep progressing on that journey with God. Many people plateau spiritually because they are not experiencing God in new meaningful ways. Sometimes we get stuck in the same old routine, doing our favorite things.

Churches can also plateau by doing the same thing over and over again. Things that once worked well and where helpful are now just something to be checked off. Churches and individuals need to try some new things and keep it fresh by using some spiritual muscles you may not have used for a while.

So if you feel like you have plateaued spiritually, physically, relationally or emotionally here are some things you can do to get back on track:

  • Get some help from a person that can coach you and encourage you – A personal trainer, counselor, executive coach, pastor etc.
  • Talk to some people that are further ahead of you in whatever area you are plateaued.
  • Try to do something you have not done before – A different workout, try a new sport, give more, volunteering at church or in the community, find a partner to train with, forgive, write some thank you notes to people that have influenced your life, read a book, write a story.
  • Change up your routines – drive a different route to work, Stop and spend time praying in the middle of the day, do a random act of kindness, Fast for a day or three, confess your sin to a trusted friend, listen more than you talk, take a break from texting, facebook or the Internet.
  • Be real – trying to fake it is the biggest way to plateau and start declining.
Posted on

Walls

What do you do when you hit a wall emotionally or spiritually? Most of us try to find another way around that wall. In other words we choose another path with less resistance instead of trying to break through that wall. The funny thing is God usually brings us back to same place again and again until we break through. Many times we can get lost trying to find another way instead of working on a way to break through that wall. On the other side of that wall is new freedom and emotional health. This process builds our character and increases our faith if we are persistent.

To break through those tough walls in our lives, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to recognize lies that are holding us back and replace those lies with God’s truth. The way in which we think directs our behavior and that thinking often times keeps us behind walls and stagnate in our spiritual growth.

When our thinking changes and lines up with the way God thinks, we can break through those obstacles. Our thoughts have power. To win over them, we must submit to Christ and control what we allow our mind to dwell on. The more we dwell on God’s truth the more we can recognize the lies that are holding us back from the freedom God wants us to have.

Whatever walls we face, to keep growing spiritually and emotionally we must face those walls head on and keep pushing to get to the other side and freedom. God has promised to always be with us, and if we lean on Him for strength we can break through any obstacles on our spiritual journey.

Posted on

Self-medicating

Are you self-medicating? When we experience physical pain or illness we seek medicines from the doctor to cure the ailment or end the pain. However when we hurt emotionally or spiritually, we usually end up medicating ourselves in ways that numb the pain but rarely cure the hurt.

We self-medicate in many ways, but the goal is always to mask the pain of whatever we have experience or are experiencing. We look for things that make us feel good for a short period of time. It can range from actual drugs like tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, painkillers or sleeping pills to things like caffeine, food in general, chocolate or ice cream. Other times it can be things like pornography, affairs, spending money, gossiping, or over-working.

All of these things ignore the real issues in our life and keep us from experiencing real freedom and relational health. The best way to medicate ourselves is to turn to God. He tells us to cast all our worries and problems on Him, because He can handle it all. God invites us to give our anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, greed, jealousy, fears and worries to Him and let Him deal with it.

That sounds simple, but it can be hard to do. Why? because we like to take those things back after we give them to God. We like to go back to what is familiar and comfortable. So, when you catch yourself self-medicating after you have been hurt, pause and invite God in to help you deal with the real hurt you experienced. When you open your heart and pour it out to God He fills it back up with healing, comfort and peace.

Posted on

LifeStyle Change

I am so excited about the new series NewPointe Community Church is starting called “The Me I Want To Be”. Most of us know that the person we are right now is not the best version, the version God designed us to be. At times we get glimpses of that best version, but those times can be few and far between. One of the things that I have discovered is that to achieve true long lasting change I need to change my life style, not just a few behaviors.

About three years ago my wife and I made the decision to get healthy. We got involved in a wellness program that helped us to lose weight. We both dropped weight over the three months we were on the program. What usually happens after we lose weight is that we slowly gain it all back, because we are not on the “program or diet” anymore. This time it was different for Vikki and I. We made the decision to make this a lifestyle change. We decided to keep doing the things that gave us the great results. We continued to eat the right kinds of food in the right portions. We continued to exercise, actually we both increased our exercise over the past three years.

Guess what happened, we started to think differently about food and exercise. We started to think in a healthy way about what we ate and how we exercised. The results have been great for us both. Between the two of us we have lost over 60 pounds and kept it off. We lowered our cholesterol, mine dropped over 100 points, and lowered our body fat.

I am now running in 5k’s and hope to run my first half marathon this spring. I have been in an extreme exercise program for 7 weeks and have improved my conditioning, strength and flexibility dramatically. I guess you could say we have made significant lifestyle changes physically.

I have started making some of the same changes spiritually and emotionally as well. I am working on my spiritual growth the same way I worked on my physical growth. I have developed a growth plan for my spiritual life, my relational life, my financial life and my physical life. I now have a road map that I refer to to keep me on track.

In any area of our lives positive growth doesn’t just happen. When we are not focused on growing and being healthy spiritually, emotionally and physically we get out of shape. To get back into good shape, it takes hard work and long lasting changes.

For me to grow spiritually I need to spend time with God, in ways that work for me. Each of us do that in different ways. What works for me may not work for others.

One of the things NewPointe has done to help people grow spiritually is a new website called The Change Inside. You can go there every day for a Scripture to read and a short devotional to read. I encourage everyone to go there over the next couple months. Start to make changes in how you think about spiritual growth. Look for ways you can connect with God and draw closer to Him. You can also get a NewPointe devotional at our bookstore or at the info desk at the Millersburg & Louisville campuses.

Don’t wait to make a lifestyle change, start today by making the decision that a year from now you will be closer to the person you want to be.

Posted on

Snow Path

I have a snow path that leads to our neighbors barn. Each day either my wife or I walk that path to give our goat fresh water and hay. With the snow so high, it is not good to get off this path. You need to try to step in the footprints that have packed down the snow. Tonight I made a couple of missteps and sunk into the deep snow. I got snow down my boots and nearly got stuck.

That made me think about what path I am on in life. I believe that God has a path for each one of us. He has packed down the snow for us and cleared the path. The problem is many times I do not pay attention to where I am walking and make some missteps. When I do I can sink, get stuck or even fall down. That snow path to the barn is pretty narrow and God’s path is pretty narrow as well. It also can go in unexpected directions.

So how do we stay on the path?

  • Keep your eyes on the path and not on the distractions around you.
  • Slow down, don’t be in such a hurry. Steady plodding brings prosperity.
  • Look for the footprints that God has left for you to follow.
  • When you make one misstep, don’t keep going by making more steps in the wrong direction.
  • Sometimes you just need to stop for a moment to look for your next best step and to be reminded where your final destination is.

What path are you on, yours or God’s? Where is your path leading you?

Posted on

Commitment

I recently wrote a blog about Decide, Commit, Succeed. I thought I would zero in and drill down a little more on the idea of commitment.

We are all committed to something or someone. In marriage two people make a lifelong commitment to each other. Olympic athletes make a commitment to become world-class athletes in their sport. Many people are committed to their families and to their career’s. Some people are also committed to their faith.

All of us are at different levels and degrees of commitment in each of these areas.

Here are some examples of people that were committed to something:

  • Christopher Columbus – Was told his mission or vision was “Quite Impossible”
  • Orrville & Wilbur Wright – Were told it is impossible to fly.
  • Thomas Edison – Took nearly 1,000 experiments to develop filament for a light bulb.
  • Abraham Lincoln – Failed in 12 out of 15 elections in his life.
  • John Wesley – Average 5,000 miles a year mostly on horseback and 15 sermons a week.

People that make a difference are committed for the long haul. Even when obstacles get in the way they persevere and keep putting in the work needed to reach their goal.

So, what are you committed to? Here are some closing thoughts on commitment:

  1. Lasting commitment is making a decision before the solution is found, knowing the principle is right.
  2. Commitment is the motivator that keeps me moving toward my goal.
  3. Commitment lets other people know where I stand.
  4. Commitment gets me started while others stand, and keeps me going while others quit.
  5. Commitment helps me break through barriers and reach new heights.
  6. Commitment strengthens relationships.
  7. Commitment helps me grow.

If you are committed to the right things, it leads to health in all areas of your life.

Posted on

Finishing Well

I was talking with a friend and mentor of mine the other day after a funeral that we were both involved in. I asked Jim what he wanted people to say at his funeral. He is 88 years old. He paused and thought for a moment and then said “I want them to say that I was a decent man, that’s it.” Then he thought some more and said, “Chad, I want to finish well, not many people in the Bible finished well so I want to be one of the few that does.”

That made me really think about my own life and the legacy that I want to leave behind. It also made me think about what it means to finish well. I think for my friend Jim, he wants to finish with his focus on God and family. He doesn’t want to let his family down by making bad decisions or saying things to hurt people. He wants to remain humble, helpful and serve the people around him as best he can. I think he wants to pass on what God has given him to his family and friends.

I am 40 years old and want to finish well. None of us know how long we have to finish well. I may get another 48 years and get to the age Jim is at. I may only get a few more years. What I need to remember is that every day matters and every decision matters.

Finishing well doesn’t mean you have to live a perfect life, just a surrendered life. Finishing well is all about having the right perspective about your life, your purpose for being here and your relationship with God. Finishing well for me means building strong healthy relationships, growing in character, learning from mistakes and pouring what you have into the people around you.

My prayer for you today is to finish well, no matter what you did in the past you can make the choice to finish well from this point on.

Posted on

Decide, Commit, Succeed

On January 4th I started an exercise program that is pretty intense called P90X (Power 90days Extreme). The tag line for this program is Decide, Commit, Succeed. I like that a lot. If you want to transform your body, you need to first decide you want to do it. Then you need to commit to making it happen. If you make the decision and the commitment you set yourself up to succeed. Your decision needs to be more than just a desire to get in shape. You need a vision for your health and a goal to get there.

I just finished week 5 and have another 7 weeks to go. I already am seeing some great results. I am stronger, and more flexible. I can almost keep up with most of the exercises and I am less sore after workouts. I can do more reps and use higher weights. The hard work and dedication are paying off with more energy, strength, focus, and just feeling better.

So what do you want to change in your life? Maybe it’s your marriage or your workplace. It could be your physical health or maybe your financial health. Maybe you want to deepen your relationship with God. Whatever it is that you want to change or transform, it starts with a decision.

My decision to change physically came several years ago when I got a bad check up. My wife and I decided to change how we eat and how we exercise. We committed to eat healthier and get more exercise. We have been successful so far because of that decision and commitment. We both have lowered our cholesterol, our weight, our blood pressure and many other measurable things.

When you make the decision and make the commitment you then need to take action and actually do it. You need a plan or a guide to help get you there. For us we started with a program called Thin & Healthy, which taught us to eat the right portions and the right types of foods. It taught us to be more knowledgeable about what we are eating.

Next we started to exercise and be more active. I now am following another program that is helping me stay on track and get more fit. If I can stay committed to the program I will get results.

Spiritually it is the same way. When you decide you want to grow spiritually and make a commitment to God that you will do it, you need a plan on how to get there. One such program is Monvee. It is a spiritual formation tool that can help guide you on your spiritual journey. NewPointe Church is a test church for Monvee. You often need multiple ways to help you grow and change. For me physically it has been Thin & Healthy, Our Wellness program at work, my wife’s knowledge & skill at cooking, playing basketball, running 5k’s and now P90X.

Monvee could be one of your tools to keep you on track spiritually. The main thing is to decide, commit and succeed. Check it out and let me know if you are interested in joining Monvee NewPointe and discover your road map to a more intimate relationship with God.