AUTHENTIC FRIENDSHIPS

Rick Warren, the author of Purpose Driven Life,posted the following article that you might find interesting:
But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:7-8 NCV)

In Christian fellowship people should experience authenticity.
Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It’s genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing.

It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking and superficial politeness, but shallow conversation.

People wear masks, keep their guards up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.
It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, “If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other.… If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:7–8, NCV).

The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.

Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection and being hurt again.
Why would anyone take such a risk?

Because it’s the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed” ( James 5:16a, Msg).

THE STORY OF THE EAGLE

The eagle has the longest life-span among birds. It can live up to 70 years. But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision. In its 40’s, its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. Its long and sharp beak becomes bent. Its old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly.

Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days. The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out. After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its talons. When its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old-aged feathers. And after five months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years.

Why is change needed? Many times, in order to survive we have to start a change process. We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions. Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Message in a Bottle

I have been going through a really big point of upheaval in my life. It started with a great opportunity.  I went about it like I always do: focused, determined on my training and working out like nothing else even mattered or was important. I wanted to be ready for this opportunity that was in front of me. To be honest, I poured everything I had into being ready, to give it 110%. Well, it didn't work out exactly how I had envisioned. In fact, it didn't work out in any way I had thought it would. This has caused some really painful and deep feelings of failure.

      One of the things that I have noticed is that my willingness and effort to reach out to people has dropped dramatically and that I feel less connected to God. Most of this is probably due to me just feeling like I let people down and trying to deal with everything. Let’s be honest, we have all gone through times when we just put ourselves on an island, breaking away from people and throwing away our connections. I really put my self on a deserted desert island just because I wasn't happy with the situation that had developed. It’s been getting worse the last few days, but like always this timely placed message and hint appeared, from someone -- not sure who: 

      "I am like a caravan, lost in the desert searching for water." (Job 6:18 CEV) Do you ever have that feeling that something is missing in your life, but you don't know what it is? Maybe there's a longing in your heart, and you feel disconnected from God.  If you feel like God is a million miles away, guess who moved? God didn't move; you did.

      When you live on earth, you will sense a disconnection from God, where you feel he is far away. This disconnect leaves a hole in your heart that nothing else can fill. A lot of people look for ways to fill that hole, but they look in the wrong places. Why? Because they don't know they should be looking for God. In today's verse, Job described it as being like someone lost in the desert searching for water.

      You want something to fill the emptiness, to satisfy the unmet desire. You try to quench that unquenchable thirst. But the longer you continue to look in the wrong places, the more darkness will increase in your life until you get to a place like the one the Bible describes: "They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself"(Ephesians 4:18 MSG).

      I was sailing toward that big island and pushing people away with short answers and harsh responses, but just this little passage seemed to help bring me back. Well actually I kinda’ started sending up smoke signals for a start. But it’s a start. Writing this has already done wonders to make me feel like the loneliness is my own creation. Now, to just get off this island: maybe a rowboat or a helicopter. (CA)

More Than a Little Light

While I(CA)was in Bismarck playing (professional basketball), we would have chapel before games. During one chapel, a visiting pastor had a very colorful way of describing our life with the Lord. He said, "The path to God is like a dark street, and we want to try and stay in the street lights." The thing that has hung with me the most is his description of the street light’s glow. He said that as you go from bright spot to bright spot there is black and gray and that, just like walking in and out of a light’s glow, you’re gonna have trouble with your faith. Sometimes you will be closer to the light and sometimes, farther away. Even though you are closer to its shine, the important thing is that you’re working to always be close to the light. "Working" not trying, or attempting, but working at having a relationship with our Lord. I guess my little inner kid comes out and there is no way I want to be in pitch black with out any light!

He's in Heaven, Duh!

Belated Happy Easter!

I, personally, had a very amazing Easter! During the Easter season, I read more scripture than usual; learned a lot; and was able to unravel some things that I didn’t understand fully. Consequently, I found so much more joy in the holiday. I was even more aware of an amazing thing that happened Sunday morning.

While at church on Easter Sunday our pastor gave a sermon about "Where's Jesus!" More designed around the old "Where's Waldo". Now this to me was an amazing reminder of where Jesus is but I found something even better! A family sat in front of me with a young daughter maybe 5 or 6. When our pastor asked the question, "where is Jesus?”, the question was quickly and confidently answered with "In heaven, DUH!" The little girl was so positive and had no doubt that she was completely and utterly correct! I really feel like my faith should be so strong that I know where Jesus is, with out a question and no hesitation!

Easter: Fresh Start

Happy holy week! So I (CA) do a lot of reading and I got this devotional sent to me today and for whatever reason it was calming and just gave me a great feeling of comfort knowing the future, past and present are accounted for so take a look.

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life, and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven (1 Peter 1:3–4 MSG).

"Jesus is in the business of giving people a fresh start."

As we enter Easter week, I want to make sure you thoroughly understand that Jesus is in the business of giving people a fresh start. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done; it doesn’t matter where you’ve been; it doesn’t matter how bad you think you’ve blown it: Jesus will give you a fresh start.  The apostle Peter says several things happen once you give your life to Jesus:

• You open up your life to God and get to know him.

• You’re given a brand new life, which gives you everything to live for.

• You get a future in heaven.   You can say it this way:

You get your past forgiven, you get a purpose for livin’, and you get a home in heaven. What a deal! You’re past, present, and future are taken care of as you put your trust in Jesus. A fresh start!

“Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).

You Want Me To Do What, God?

“The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.”

I received this quote in a chain e-mail, and through the last few weeks it has really been at the forefront of my mind. It seems so simple when you first read it, but it encompasses so much of our faith. Not to mention that it has some very strong points that greatly impact our relationship with God in our everyday lives.

The first thing that I notice about the statement is the fact that faith is so important in just taking that first step. There are several stories in the Bible that illustrate this very well. One of the most notable is the story of Moses and his fear of speaking. Yet, God told him to speak to the Pharaoh about releasing the Israelites from Egypt. Then there’s Jonah who would have rather been swallowed by a big fish than follow God’s command to tell an entire city that they were doomed. In both cases they had to act according to God’s will, but were not confident that God would protect them. Faith is trusting God’s will and being willing to take that first step. That leads right into accepting God's grace and having faith that He will protect us in whatever He has chosen for us. Throughout the Bible, New Testament and Old, He continually tells us that we are His beloved. All we have to do is accept Him and trust Him. His love is infinite.  Our trust leads to a deeper relationship, which leads to mutual love, etc.; and the circle goes on.

 

In the last few weeks, this quote has brought me much comfort.  I know that, as I deepen my relationship with the Lord, His grace is there and His helping hand will guide me and catch me if I stumble. (CA)