When do plan to be free of all your stuff?

Ecclesiastes 5:15New Living Translation (NLT)15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

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I'm moving from one country to another. Moving house with a very limited removals vehicle has forced some hard decisions. Do you keep the children's school art (they've all grown up). You read that book years ago, why do you need to keep carrying it? Possessions own us! We desire them. They weigh us down. Quite literally they weigh a lot! I was looking on web sites that estimate the weight of a person's household to make sure the hired 3.5 ton Luton van with 15.5 cubic meters can safely carry the sum of my worldly possessions.

My mind is loaded with thoughts on this subject.

A few years ago I decided I need a new rucksack (sm day backpack) to carry my stuff for work, as well as the all important pack up (lunch), and maybe a laptop too. I decided a large-ish one made by Victorinox (the Swiss Army Knife People) weighed in as the winner. Firstly, it seems other middle aged guys had the same idea, since I started seeing them around town. Second, I noticed they were really too big, unfortunately after I bought it (You look like a pregnant mule is strapped to your back). Third, I should have known the first rule of bags (and life for that matter), You tend to fill all the space available. 

The bigger your bag the more you carry. Just in case! The bag owns you, you are just the willing pack horse for stuff that wants to move around!

The Daughter of Davis are an inspirational band made up of two sisters (Fern and Adrienne) who sold everything they had to buy a camper van to tour for two years around the United Kingdom. In a real sort of way, they lightened their load so they could follow their dreams. Well they sing a song called Butterfly. I must confess even when I am an ardent fan, I struggle to catch and sing along with all the lyrics. This leads to alternate lyrics. 

So when I heard the line, 'I could get into this living life ' I was sure they were singing, 'I could get into this living light' and further it made perfect sense to me as they sold everything and a butterfly is so light. The point is living light feels so good. We love to travel light but we don't. We clutter our life all up with junk. And if it is not actual physical junk it is emotional 'baggage'.


Bethany, my daughter did her gold Duke of Edinburgh award this year. One of the requirements is a group orienteering camping exercise for six days in the countryside. One of the binding principles is that you can only use what you can carry! No stopping off at the corner store or some outdoor shop along the way to get supplies. So the common schoolgirl error is to carry too much stuff, just in case. So the trick is to carry just the right amount of stuff. Enough to survive but not so much as to be burdened down.



I'm sure that's why the author of Hebrews encourages his readers to strip off the weight that slows us down.

Hebrews 12:1-2New Living Translation (NLT)12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

(I can't find the original artist to give credit or ask permission.)

Pictured above is a classic woodcut rendering of the character, Christian in John Bunyan's epic tale Pilgrim's Progress. In the following passage Christian is freed from the burden that weighs him down.

Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation. Isaiah 26:1. Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, “He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.” Then he stood still a while, to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bunyan/pilgrim.iv.iii.html

Sooner or later you will lose all the stuff you are carrying. The choice is up to you whether you loose it like Christian at the foot of the cross or if you'll lose it when you get to your grave. Did you know if it isn't in Christ it isn't going to make it to the otherside. Some good things, even gifts from God, are for this life only and many only for a time. All things should be held with lose hands. For naked and alone you came into the world with nothing and naked and alone you shall leave.

Mark 8:36 (KJ21)36 For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

"Loosen your grip," I heard one night in a prayerful vision more than 13 years ago. For some reason I find this a hard thing to do. But by degrees God is graciously prying my stone cold grip off the weights and encumbrances.


Jesus has more than filled my hands with blessings. But there is no blessing greater than the blessing giver himself. I can embrace him best if my hands aren't full.

How far will it take you?

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 2 Corinthians 1.8.NLT (Paul the Apostle)

http://bible.com/116/2CO1.8.NLT Bible.com/app

There's a lot of people handing out 'encouragement' and advice that don't know what they are talking about. Some people are being told that God won't let them suffer.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

But its obvious enough if you read what the Bible says that people who suffer (that's supposed to be everyone who follows Jesus) will sometimes feel like its too much. They'll think that the suffering is going to kill them. They're not immediately, easily, or peacefully finding 'the way of escape.'

The Apostle Paul is not some kind of sissy drama queen. He's seen his share of tough situations.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NASB

... in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

That's a list that puts Jason Bourne to shame. 

Paul's story is real life and far more exciting than anything Hollywood can dream up. But all that adventure doesn't make you into a rock. Paul wasn't transformed into a fearless, emotionless, 'never cry'- kind-of-action-hero. 

Paul thought sometimes it was too much. He thought it was going to kill him.

Go back to the top and read what super Apostle was saying.

CRUSHED   
OVERWHELMED
BEYOND our ability to endure
Thought we'd NEVER LIVE THROUGH IT

Today I'm writing to give you permission to feel crushed. Don't let your brother's and sisters tell you you are wrong for feeling crushed. I can already hear the hard nosed super Christians with the stiff upper lip and the faith to move mountains start to object and say this is Paul and it isn't an example. And in fact Paul's 'lack of faith' may have been sin!

I don't buy that.  

Let's look at Jesus. Jesus never sinned. So this account in Mark must not be sinful.

Mark 14:33-36 NLT

He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Faith has a long view. The view of faith extends beyond the grave. The view of faith trusts the plan of God. The view of faith says this life is only a short time at best. Faith can wait till thier wife is 99 before she has her first baby. Faith can willingly sacrifice thier son, because it believes in the resurrection of the dead. Faith feels pain but believes in heaven. Faith thinks things may be unbearable but believes God will make it come good even after death.

2CO 1:8-11 NLT

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

Another Take

Philippians 2:3-4 NLT

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Another Take

When people get seriously difficult news from the doctor often friends will encourage them to "get another opinion."  In life we all recognise the value of a "fresh set of eyes." So when someone comes along and offers a new perspective based on some lateral thinking we're inclined to take notice. That's what I think Paul is offering the people of Philippi.

In most cultures of the world things haven't changed much, in fact even in the animal kingdom the tenancy is to look out for number one. It's a "dog eat dog" kind of a world. In fact just yesterday a quite selfless colleague of mine repeated that very motto. "You've got to look out for yourself because no one else is going to do it."

Self promotion is the heart of competition, grades, ranking, management levels, pay scales and dibs on "riding shotgun".

Here in Britain the culture highly values the "no queue jumping" sentiment but it is not humility that protects your position in the queue, its self preservation. We don't want some one at the front to begin letting a long string of late-comers into the queue ahead of them because that will put them all ahead of us.

So Paul's perspective is fresh because it counts on God's justice. The person who subscribes to the point of view found in today's verse-of-the-day can let everyone take his place because they are confident of God's advocacy on thier behalf.

Do you trust God to have your back? Can you prefer others over yourself? Are you willing to humble yourself and prefer others because God will promote you if you need to be promoted.

God will feed you, clothe you, save you, give you a home and a place at his table. Jesus humbled himself and his Father exalted him to position number one. Satan will tempt you to grasp it. Look where that got him. Jesus didn't travel the easy path of queue jumping when Satan tempted him to, instead Jesus trusted his Father's plan.

The way up is down

Death is not the grand finale!

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 NLT

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

It's so easy to think of death as the end. And as it is a formidable enemy we may find death the winner in our epic struggle to live. But the Apostle Paul uses all of Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians to assure us that death is not the end. And in fact death is not the winner. Jesus is the winner. Life and it's author triumph over death. And so can we. We may still feel the slap in the face but we will not be taken down forever by death. Death is defeated. Death will lose and has lost.

We look at life and fear the worst. We fear the finality of death. We talk about a life or death situation and raise death as the ultimate spector and unavoidable grand champion. But death is down for the count and life triumphs. In the end life wins. Jesus has been resurrected and so will all those who are in him. So you can be confident. You can be enthusiastic. You can look death in the eye and smile because for you and those you know in Christ death doesn't have a chance. So go to the bookie of life's race and put all your money down on life. Bet it all. Because in the two horse race of life and death, life wins ever time if the rider of life's white horse is Jesus.

Can people see God among you?

Are the people in your church using the gifts God had given them in harmony and in such a way that when outsider visit they see God among you? Are you? Have you thought about the contribution that God had planned for you to make in his family? It was never the plan for everyone to be the same. Paul asks in chapter 12 what kind of body Jesus would have if everyone was an eye. We all have different gifts. Different roles, different perspectives and when they work together to declare the praise of God's glory, people respond by seeing God among you. We display God best in unity and harmony. We display God best when we as individuals fade into the whole that is the church, together we are Christ incarnate for the world today. Filled with his Spirit, gifted by his Spirit, for the benefit of the others we show the watching world we are not the same.

Your just a middleman

It's clear the gifts of the spirit of God are given by God for the benefit of others and God alone decides who gets what. This puts us between God and God's helping of others. We are the middlemen of God's ministry and blessing of God's people.

Bad church?

Churches can do more harm than good. What about yours. Are the conflicts louder than the message of Christ's kingdom?

Your temptation and suffering is in His control.

What you are facing is not out of God's control. God knows what you are suffering. God knows what you are dealing with. He can stop it. He can give you strength to face it. He knows your breaking point. Trust in him and you will my break any more than he can repair you.

Church Growth 101

You grow through love. What you know is not half as important as who you know, especially if the who is Jesus. Churches grow through love.

So let God love you so you can spread it.

Still vital

Although, I'm not able to write much these days, I still believe that it is vital to read the Bible everyday. Listening for God's voice. Opening my heart to his loving living word, expecting God to change me.

Attached to things?

Attachment to things leads to disappointment. Moths and rust, mildew and decay take away our treasure if it is here on earth. But if we make Jesus or treasure, then we can not be disappointed.

Oh these things are in the context of relationships for if our desires for "completeness" are dependant on people and relationships we'll be disappointed.

Two letters (by)

Presto chango -  such were some of you.

But

You were cleansed, made holy and your future is altered irrevocably.

How?

BY

Calling on the name Jesus.

Will you be a fool?

Being clever by the world's standards is worthless of you ignore God.

Use what you got and you'll get more

Apollos got on with it. He didn't know that whole story but he trusted God. He took the bit he understood and shared it. God brought people into his life who gently brought him up to date.

Use what you know to be from God.
Listen when taught.
Get out and use the more you are given.

All guns a blazing

1CO 2:1-16 NLT

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.  For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God —his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the L ord ’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Church Growth

As the new church spreads a real partnership in ministry builds the church up.

Church in Home

Is your church like a home? Your you part of a family?  Do people in your church risk thier lives for each other? Is your church comfortable, welcoming, hospitable, "lived in", sacrificial, "always room for one more at the table", and memorable?

Jesus reason for living

Jesus didn't live to please himself. If we trust God we can live for others.

Talk about walking through open doors

When God opens the gate, go though.

God grows the church

It is completely a work of God from beginning to end.