I Don't Like To Be Told What To Do

by Sylvia Gaston

Therefore, when I first considered following Jesus, I was surprisingly concerned about what I would have to give up. I assumed that I would have to radically and immediately change my life. I wasn’t sure that I really wanted to do that. But, it soon became clear that God had my attention. Eventually, on December 10th many, many years ago, I took a step of faith and said, “OK, God, I’ll follow You even though I don’t have all the answers to all of my questions about You.”

I soon realized that although my life would change, it did not happen the way I had imagined it would.

This loving God took it easy with me. He slowly drew my attention to one thing that I knew I needed to change and I did that one thing. Then, my attention was drawn to another area where I was not living right and I decided to change that thing. On and on it went, slowly but steadily. God never criticized or coerced me into changing. His Holy Spirit made me aware of areas where I needed work and I changed little by little, always with His help - and always with His love.

I now realize that His love was, and is, mine and would have been mine whether I changed or not. I’m his little girl. He only wants what is best for me but never at the expense of relationship. I am accepted as is, change or no change. That’s unconditional love! The Bible says it this way, “See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children—think of it—and we really are!” (1 John 3:1 TLB)

The process became a lifelong one. I’m far from the person I used to be. My personality is the same, for better or worse, but my behaviors are different. My thoughts are different. My words are different. My lifestyle is different.

Guess what? He isn’t finished with me yet. I realize now that there are always going to be ways that I can grow and become more loving, more giving, and well . . . better. I will never be perfect but that’s OK. I am loved nevertheless.

Looking back on that day in December, had I known how many ways I needed to change – how long the improvement list was - I probably would have run for the hills. God knows not to overwhelm us with all of it at once. Yet, I see how much happier I am. I see the self-destruction that was a definite possibility for me. In hindsight, I see how slowly He brought things to my attention. He still does. Sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step back. It’s a process of love.

The Bible tells us how God feels about our process, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)

What’s your process? Perhaps you’re following Jesus but at a distance. Have you held back out of fear of what you might have to change or give up? He loves you! Don’t be afraid to get closer. If you, like me, don’t like to be told what to do, He knows that. He’s a kind, caring God and won’t push you faster or further than you are willing and able to go. You’ll like where you land.

If You Could Change The World

by Sylvia Gaston

If you could do one thing to change the world for the better, what would it be?

It’s very easy to get frustrated with the way things are today. There are many things that need to be fixed. Here are some of the things that I consider…

War

Crime

Political division

Substance abuse

Disease

Homelessness

Environmental problems

Hunger / Lack of clean water

Absence of parental guidance

There is a tendency to look at a problem, see the magnitude of it, and simply back away and do nothing because it seems overwhelming or futile. Yet, many amazing, world-changing things occur because a single person takes that first small step.

The world seems too large to influence yet some of you are destined to influence communities, states, nations. But most of us will live our entire lives on a much smaller scale. So what one thing could you change on a smaller scale to make the world a better place? Many have turned the tide because they stepped out, did or said something, and influenced others toward change.

Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War 2, is best remembered for his inspiring speeches and for his refusal to give in, even when things were going badly. He successfully led Britain through World War 2. He changed his world.

Rosa Parks was not the first African-American to boycott racial segregation but she was the first one to see her act of “civil disobedience” through the lengthy court process. She, and the year-long bus boycott that followed, became important symbols for others to rally against racial segregation. She changed her world.

One man…one woman…making a significant change to their world by taking that first small step.

You are one man, one woman. What first small step could you take to influence your world – on a large or small scale?

For me, it comes down to looking for opportunities to come alongside a person who is struggling or in a personal crisis. It might be a pending divorce, a health issue, errant children, or depression. Sometimes their crisis seems much too large for me to influence. But I can pray with them and for them, I can tell them what God says about their situation, I can point them to a Creator who will never abandon them  - even in the darkest days. A first small step.

There’s a huge difference between optimism and hope. Optimism is defined as “confidence about the future or a successful outcome of something”.

Hope is the “expectation of something desired; desire combined with expectation”.

We can be optimistic about our circumstances or we can have the expectation that our outcome will be positive.

My hopes and expectations originate with Jesus. Once I chose to put my trust in Him, I no longer had to worry about my future. Despite what life throws at me, I have an expectation that God will see me through it. He will stay by my side, His Holy Spirit will guide me through it, and eventually, I will live forever worry- and pain-free with Jesus in Heaven. My hope! My expectation!

The first thing you can do to change your world is to choose to follow Jesus. You can begin to lead a life that is not perfect, but a life that is hopeful. 

If you already are a Jesus-follower, take that first small step – whatever it may be – to change the world around you. That step will look different for each of us. Don’t be afraid. You have nothing to lose. Be hopeful! Be expectant! Change your world.

2018 Are You Making The Right Changes?

by Tim Howard 

Records reveal when I was born on February 13, 1951 I weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. My hands were only an inch or so long, my hair didn’t exist and my skin was all shriveled up.  Even though my parents used the term ‘cute’ to describe me, I’m not sure that was absolutely true.

Years later, however, some major changes have taken place. I’ve grown to 5’8” tall, my hands are much larger, I’ve managed to put on 160 lbs, and I don’t want to talk about the hair thing because it seems like I’m regressing back to my infancy in that area.

Growth produces physical change but external change is not the only thing we humans need.

Speaking directly and bluntly, Jesus confronted the religious leaders about their emphasis on external change without any focus on what was happening internally. Matt chapter 23 puts it this way.

"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something… People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin you're total frauds.” MSG

From this very insightful scripture, it’s clear that God desires more than mere behavioral modification!

I’ve had times in my own life when I looked like I had it together outwardly but was a mess internally. My life was incongruent and the inside didn’t meld with the outside. I’ve learned you really can’t always judge a book by its cover because looks can be deceiving!

God wants to change us from the inside out. Yes, He is concerned with your behavior, but He is ultimately concerned with your heart and attitudes because all your actions flow from your heart. King Solomon said: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Changing from the inside out will require God’s involvement.  Christianity is not about human effort and conforming to certain spiritual laws but being transformed into God’s likeness by the power of Jesus Christ.

Just like a skilled doctor who is able to do heart transplants for those in physical need, Jesus is able create a new spiritual heart within each and everyone who asks.

You can live without an arm, a leg, one kidney or one eye but you can’t live a life pleasing to God without A heart transplant. He will do it if a person asks!

Here’s God’s promise to those who do ask: 

Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

A Little Change

by Andrew Cromwell

How many times have you tried to change your life and failed? You threw the ciggys away, dumped the drink, tossed the sweets, or deleted their number from your phone. You told yourself, “never again.”

And for a little while, for a few days, or maybe even a few weeks, you rode high and in victory. But then something happened, you had a bad day at work or someone waved a cronut under your nose, and just like that you were right back to your old habit. And no matter how much you beat yourself up, you still ended back up where you began.

Change is tough! Especially when we are trying to change something in our life that has become part of our normal routine. Whether it is drinking a soda or a beer after work, having a cigarette on our break, or snacking in front of the TV, these routines are strongly entrenched and become almost automatic. We don’t even consciously think about doing them most of the time.

Let’s get even more personal for a moment because some of you don’t have any of the vices we’ve talked about so far. Have you noticed the way that people walk around with their phone in their hand and “check” the screen every few moments? How about at stop lights? Have you ever looked around and noticed how many people grab their phones and pet them during the red light? Or maybe you’re too busy looking at your phone.

I particularly love the chimes, dings, chirps, guitar riffs, and dog bark alert sounds that cause people to go scrambling. I’m pretty convinced that if an alien culture came to study us, they would conclude that we get our marching orders from our phones. Bye, bye free will.

But I digress.

The point is that we get trapped in these habit patterns that are really, really difficult to break. And we don’t help ourselves when we try to change things cold turkey. More often than not, that is a recipe for failure.

A recent study showed that people trying to lose weight were much more successful if they didn’t change anything else other than beginning to journal everything they ate. This small change led to other changes — they became aware of what they were eating and some of the habit patterns that surrounded their eating. This awareness then led them to make adjustments to those patterns. It caused them to break out of their automatic routines and introduce some healthier ones.

As humans we want everything right now. We want a new life tomorrow, or better yet today. But we aren’t designed to work that way. The prophet Isaiah said more than three thousand years ago that God, “tells us everything over and over--one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!" In other words, little by little! 

Want to grow? Lose weight? Quit a bad habit or relationship? Perhaps you want to build a good habit of eating right, talking to God more, or changing the way you talk. Maybe you start small and build on little victories. Maybe you begin by asking some “why” questions (“Why do I do that?”) before jumping to the what question (“What do I need to do?”). 

You just might find the key to your change is little by little.

Tolerate Me

by Sylvia Gaston

I am a Christian.

I haven’t always been a Christian and was not raised in a Christian home so I came to this lifestyle in a rather different way than most.

When I was about 10 years old, I asked my mom if she would take us to a small nearby church. I cannot recall what piqued my interest about that church or if it was God Himself beckoning me (He does that, you know). She agreed and came with us for a while but then after a time, I remember we often went by ourselves.

It was there in that very small church in that very small town that I first learned about God, about praying, about the Bible. I remember laying in my twin bed one night, particularly upset over the fighting that took place in our home, and asking Jesus to help me with this thing called ‘life’. And, for a while, I was very aware of something bigger than myself watching and guiding and comforting me.

Fast forward to junior high, high school and college. I’m now not so aware of God’s presence probably because we had moved and my church attendance came to an end, as did my interest in Him. But, His pursuit of me did not.

After walking on my own, with better than average success in my life, I felt that familiar beckoning once again; coincidences that I could not explain and people in my path in the most astounding places and ways. It was then, in my 30s, that I made an adult decision to follow Jesus again.

My life after that adult decision is forever changed. My priorities of career, power, and money were replaced with concern for healthy relationships, purpose, and God’s will over my own.

I wish I could tell you that all my problems went away from that point on but they didn’t. That’s not the way it works – ask any Christian. Life’s challenges are still there. Relationships are still hard sometimes. I also seem to have the lifelong job of overcoming some personality traits I’ve developed over a lifetime of coping with difficult situations from my past.

Yet, through it all, I wouldn’t change that adult decision I made long ago. Because, despite the fact that life on this earth will never be perfect, or even easy, I have amazing hope. Hope in a Savior that guides and comforts me. Hope in wisdom from a God who knows all. Hope in what lies beyond my years in this body and on this earth.

I don’t struggle with fear about the future or with what I’m supposed to do next. I have a Counselor and a Protector to decide those things for me.

Living in this current culture of tolerance, I often wonder why there is so little tolerance for Christians. I recognize that not all Christians have represented God well. But, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

When I think of the incredible gifts offered by God the Father, His Son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit, I don’t understand why more aren’t intrigued. His gifts are forgiveness, acceptance, and guidance. He places great value on joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. His overwhelming trait and message to our world is love for all. ALL.

He loves you. He’s beckoning you. 

Hit your knees in prayer or jump into a church to connect with Him. If it’s not a good fit for you, try another and another, if you have to. He has a place for you – a place where you and He will connect and where you will receive the benefit of His unconditional love and purpose for your life.

Change Challenge

by Andrew Cromwell

A wise person once said, “If you want to change the world, you would do best to first change yourself.” This formula for change is simple, but it is anything but easy. To change, really change oneself may be the most difficult thing of all.

We know two things about the world. First, everything changes. Second, good changes take work. Think about it. The world and everything that is in it is breaking down. That new car that was your pride and joy, will soon lose its new car smell, be pock-marked with dings, and burn oil in a few short years. Your brand new iPhone will soon be cracked and slow. Your tight, beautiful skin will wrinkle and sag (if it hasn’t already). Even the sun will eventually burn out. 

Everything changes, and everything breaks down. That is why the good changes, the growth changes, take work. The farmer who wants the ground he owns to produce a crop, knows that it will not happen without work. He must clear the ground of rocks and trees, turn over the soil, add fertilizer, turn it over again, plant seed, and add water. Then he waits for the crop. But his work is not done. He must fight the weeds, fight the pests and fight the elements to preserve his crop. He has to measure how much and when to water so that the crop grows at an optimal rate. He will watch carefully to see if herbicides or pesticides are needed. He will pray that it doesn’t get too cold or too hot and that the rain falls at the right time. And, then when the time is right, he will harvest. 

This, of course, is an over-simplification of the work required to grow things, but it is clear that it takes a lot of work. Because a good crop doesn’t happen by accident. Weeds on the other hand, they’ll grow all by themselves. 

In the same way, if you want to make positive change in your life, it is going to take an investment of time and energy. You are going to have to clear the ground, plow and water. You will need to pay close attention to the kind of seed that you are planting in your heart. And you are going to need to studiously keep removing the weeds and pests that will continue to pop up. It will take sustained effort, but in due time you will reap a harvest.

Change is challenging and you will not change without experiencing challenge. If you want to grow intellectually you are going to have to exercise your mind. If you want to build your physical muscles, you are going to have to visit the gym. And if you want to stop being the self-centered, selfish oaf that we all tend to be, you are going to have to do the tough work of exercising your heart—forgiving, giving, loving, and serving.

Wanting to change is different than actually changing. We all want to change. We all want to be better people. But only the few who are willing to invest the time are going to reap the reward. Jesus said, “Guard your heart diligently, for from it flows life.” If you want to change, start with your heart. Pull up the weeds of bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger. Kill the pests of hurry, worry, and empty pursuits. Water regularly with conversations with Father God and encouragement from His Word. And in due time, you too will change.

What do you need to do in order to change from the way you are today, to the way you need to be? Stop putting it off and get started. Remember, if you don’t the weeds will just keep on growing.

Sometimes a Little Change Makes a Big Difference

by Andrew Cromwell

Our lives are steered like sailing ships headed across a vast ocean. The destination is far ahead and it will take many weeks, if not months, to arrive. At the beginning, it is important simply to get headed in the right direction—there is plenty of time to make adjustments since the destination is so far off—but as time passes it is increasingly important to make small corrections to our course. The longer we wait to adjust, the more miles we traverse and the farther off course we steer. If we wait too long, we find that we may have to go backwards if we want to end up where we were headed.

Charting the course of our lives is very similar. We know we want to get from point "A" to point "B" but they are far apart.  We want to get an education so we enroll at a local college, but the destination—the diploma—is years (and many classes and term papers) ahead of us. We want to raise a healthy and whole family, but the destination—the kids leaving the nest as well-adjusted individuals ready to take on the world—is two decades into the future. We want to lose 30 pounds, but the destination—that favorite pair of jeans that we can no longer wear—just seems beyond our reach.

We all know that if nothing changes, nothing will change. We all know that we have to get started if we are ever going to get to where we want to go. But something about the size of the task ahead freezes us in our tracks. Sometimes it is because we have tried and failed before. Sometimes it is because we just can't believe that our destination is even possible for us to reach. Whatever the reason, we delay. We talk ourselves out of the changes necessary to accomplish our goals. So instead of making a course correction, we continue to sail. And the longer we wait, the harder it is to make the change. 

Let me encourage you, there is still time. But also let me urge you, there will not always be time. While the destination is often many months or years ahead of us, if we do not make the small course adjustments today, we will delay and may even miss our goal. 

The great news is, often a small correction is all that is needed today. A little change makes a big difference when you have a long way to go. And once you have made one change, the next one gets a little easier. Before you know it, you are well on your way. 

So maybe, for this week, you don't eat that extra portion at mealtime. Don't starve yourself; don't go on some crazy diet. Just do something measured and attainable. Maybe, if you haven't been to school in 10 years but you know you want to complete your degree, just enroll in one or two classes (not five)! You get the idea.

What change are you going to make today? Don't talk yourself out of it, don't delay any longer, and don’t be overwhelmed by the size of the goal. Remember what Psalm 119:1 says, "You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God."

Change Agent

by Tim Howard

I don’t know if your parents did this or not but my parents tracked my physical growth progress. No, they didn’t use computers or the latest technology. Their method was Old School. They had me stand up straight in one of the doorways and made a mark on the door jam at the top of my head. As I grew, you could see many marks indicating the changes taking place… I started of at 22” and ended my journey at 5’9.” I wasn’t always aware of the changes taking place because change often is imperceptible. 

Most people have a desire to change and alter their lives in some way. They may say things like:  I’m ‘too’ short, my nose is ‘too’ big or my cheeks are ‘too’ fat. I’m ‘too’ young or I’m ‘too’ old. I have ‘too’ little money or ‘too’ little time. I’m ‘too’ fearful. I’m ‘too’ stupid, it’s ‘too’ hot or it’s ‘too cold’… Have you personally had a few of those ‘too’ thoughts? 

You might be interested to know God’s Word offers some insight and instruction that will help you make positive changes in 2015. Here are four truths that are important.  

1.   God’s priority is to change the internal and not primarily the external. The religious people back in the days of Jesus were interested in looking great rather than becoming great. They were famous for asking the “How Do I Look” question. Jesus, however, teaches that real life is expressed from the inside out. He wants to change the heart and attitudes of a person first. When the attitude changes the actions follow. 

 2.   Anything can change but not everything should change. It’s a human tendency to desire comfort and convenience. Some of the things that shape and develop character, however, are not always pleasant or easy. In the Bible, the book of Romans chapter 5 reveals that God uses adversity to make us stronger. When we seek to remove all difficulty and pain from our lives rather than persevere, we rob ourselves of an opportunity to grow stronger, deeper and ultimately higher. When you experience difficulty, it would be wise to pray that well-known prayer: “God grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”

 3.   Your priority is to see change in yourself. Jesus said to us in the New Testament book of Matthew chapter 7 these words: Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. 

 4.   God wants to help you change because He has designed you to be a change agent. You can go it alone – reading self help books, acting on your own understanding and ability or you can discover the Creator’s divine design and ask Him to help. 

When these 4 truths are understood and acted upon – your growth will become evident to all. There will be marks that indicate your progress. God will use you to bring about positive change in others. After all – It’s not all about you… You are called to be a change agent and help others.

New

by Tim Howard

I like NEW! New cars, new clothes, new houses and new places to visit, but none of these compare to the new things offered by God to those who will receive.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 The Apostle Paul explains to us that we can be transformed from the inside out – We can become a new person. When God changes you – old things pass away and new things come into being. 

The old lifestyle gives way to a new lifestyle. Motives for self-advancement give way to a new sense of purpose, which involves others. 

Rather than spending all their time, efforts and money on things that don’t satisfy or last – people who make God a priority develop a new set of goals to pursue. 

As you move through this New Year, don’t miss the new things God has for you!

1.  With each New Year, God makes a new beginning available to every person who calls on Him. 

2.  There are new relationships that God has pre-ordered for you. Some of your best friends may still be in your future. Don’t underestimate the impact of any and all new people you will encounter.

3.  New opportunities await those who pursue a desire to love God and people. Opportunity knocks and it will be knocking on your door this year. Don’t close you eyes and mind to new possibilities. Don’t be so ensconced in your routine – making it difficult to take a risk.

4. New victories will come your way. Those old habits, addictions and patterns will give way to new hope when you learn how do battle with your giants. God wants you to win. He wants to be on your side and help you grow stronger with each passing day.

5.  New life rather than mere existence awaits those who exercise faith in Christ. Someone said: “It’s sad to live and then die but it’s even more sad to die, having never lived.” The Bible calls this: ‘Eternal Life.’ It is more than existence – it is a quality of life that lasts forever. The good news is – you don’t have to die to receive it. It can start right now.

Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun. He said: “What will be – has been.” Even though this is true when speaking about humanity it is not true individually.
There are surely new things awaiting you and me in this New Year. Things we have not yet experienced in fullness.

1 Corinthians 2:9 “…no eye has seen – no ear has heard and no human mind has conceived —the new things God has prepared for those who love him.” 

Inside Out

by Tim Howard

OK, I admit it, I like playing with my grandson’s Transformers. Who wouldn’t? Alien robots who can disguise themselves by transforming into everyday machinery – a truck that changes into an airplane or a car that becomes a mighty battleship with the ability to launch missiles is exciting.  I like things that change! Full disclosure:  I also liked the movie ‘Transformers’ and it’s sequels… Now you have the full confession!

Change is one of those things in life you can count on. It happens – whether you want it to or not! One day you are young and see yourself in a certain way – then years later, the mirror of life reveals some changes in your looks, your status, your motivations for living and the goals which you pursue. Sometimes these changes seem to be for good and other times not so good.

Unfortunately many of us struggle with change when the force of it encroaches upon our comfort zone. Our desire for comfort and convenience can often lead to a resistance to change and catapult us into a life of maintenance rather than adventure. Change is important because it’s the first step to transformation.

Change initially modifies behavior but the goal of transformation is to alter your value and desires. The Bible isn’t primarily focused on ‘change’ but upon ‘transformation.’ There’s a big difference.

When you are transformed you ‘become’ someone who is different. You can change the channel on the television; change the way you dress or change your direction but stopping there doesn’t address the real issues – only the external ones. God is ultimately interested in a change that leads to transformation – a change that happens from the Inside – Out.

Allow me to give you a personal illustration of what I mean. Recently I was on vacation and allowed myself to eat anything I wanted. That resulted in a few added pounds to carry around. Seven days prior to the end of my time away I was looking at myself in the mirror and decided to make a change in my diet. I wanted to lower my calorie and fat intake! That decision led to other behavioral changes.

For breakfast I had to stop myself from eating that egg, bacon and cheese sandwich, which had 460 calories and 20 fat. For lunch I had to say no to that tempting Southern Smokehouse Bacon Big Mouth Burger that offered 1610 calories and 107 fats.  (The very name of that burger ought to say something to you.) So I did! I had oatmeal for breakfast and a tuna sandwich for lunch. I made a change for 7 days but I wasn’t transformed.

How do I know? Because one of the signs that you haven’t been transformed is – you want to go back. Transformation happens when you no longer want that burger. In fact, you now desire something that doesn’t make you lethargic. Something that doesn’t makes you sleepy. Something that isn’t unhealthy.

Transformation is experienced when your values have shifted and your desires have shifted to such a point that you want to go ahead and not back. It happens when you want to change the inside as well as the outside.

Jesus made a scathing statement to the religious leaders who only focused on external change. Matt. 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”

Jesus calls for a change that leads to transformation – Inside and Out!

Little Foxes

by Andrew Cromwell

One little change can make a big difference. We all know it’s true. A little change in tone can turn a compliment into an insult. A little change in attitude can turn a negative experience around. A little adjustment to your pace of life can mean the difference between crashing and burning and lasting for the long term.

Little things turn into big things. That’s just how it works. Little babies turn into big strapping adults. Little puppies, so cute and cuddly one day, become ugly, slobbering yard destroying beasts the next. And little expenses (think Starbucks, $0.99 app store purchases, and bank fees) turn into big money problems.

King Solomon, known as the wisest man who ever lived, once cautioned the vineyard owner to take care to keep the little foxes out of the vines (Song of Solomon 2:15). Foxes are little animals that generally seem harmless. But in a vineyard, the foxes eat the grapes and thus destroy your profit. Left unattended, one little fox turns into a colony that will eat all the grapes and leave you with nothing.

The solution to a fox problem, of course, is to get rid of the foxes (or never let them get in to begin with). But foxes look cute, they have a way of disappearing underground whenever you go searching for them and they just don’t cooperate with attempts to send them on their way. That is precisely why the vineyard owner will often ignore the foxes until they become a major problem; because by that time enough profit has been lost that they become unavoidable. But once you are infested, the solution is neither easy nor inexpensive.

What little foxes have you let live in the vineyard of your life? Perhaps the little foxes are cute and cuddly now, but if left undealt with, they will turn into a destructive force that will threaten to ruin your life. Perhaps there are financial foxes that keep you from getting a hold of your money because every time you go out you find you have spent more money and you just never seem to be able to get ahead. Or maybe there are relationship foxes that come in the form of bad attitudes and selfish behaviors you have allowed yourself to get away with and as a result the good fruit in your relationships are being threatened. Or it could be the foxes of addictive behavior that, for the moment, is under control but down the road will cease becoming a choice altogether. 

If we are wise, we will take Solomon’s advice and deal with the little foxes now, before we have to rip out the entire vineyard just to take care of a simple fox problem. 

New Year, New Chance

by Andrew Cromwell

As the calendar turns, we once again wrestle with the realization of how little we’ve changed over the last twelve months. The year passed so quickly. Resolutions that we made with dedicated resolve at the beginning of the year were quickly discarded as we found the rut of our routine too comfortable and familiar.

And now we find ourselves at the beginning of a new year and we are tempted to give up even before we have started. We wonder, is there really any point? Can I, in fact, change? Or will 2014, simply be a repeat of 2013?

Let me encourage you not to give up too soon! Change isn't easy and quitters never win. Just because you have failed in the past, does not mean you must fail in the future. I love the Bible verse in Proverbs that says, "the godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again" (Prov. 24:16). The difference between failure and success is often simply the decision to get up one more time and try again.

The best news of all is that you do not have to undertake your New Year's resolutions all by yourself, if you will simply invite our Heavenly Father to be involved in the process. After all, He wants you to grow and change! He knows what great things are possible in and through you because He created you for greatness in the first place.

So what resolutions do you need to invite Him to be a part of this year? Maybe you have some dirty laundry you need to give up to Him instead of carrying it forward. Perhaps you need to make a few phone calls, ask forgiveness and mend those broken relationships. Or maybe you need to change some old routines and exchange them for new ones. Sometimes we have done things for so long, we just assume that we must do them, but maybe it’s time to give up some of the old patterns of behavior.

One of the best things you can do is be around people who have resolved to grow and change. If all your friends are resolved to stay the same and to keep you there too, it might just be time to get some new friends.

Change Agents

by Tim Howard

Have you ever met someone who changed your life for the good? Someone you can point to who made you a better person? My mother and father gave me life and shaped my life but there are a handful of people I can point to who changed my life. My wife being one of them… Because of her I am a better man. 

Jesus came to change people and it’s not because He doesn’t like who we are. He’s not mad, uptight or dissatisfied with us. It’s not because He finds us unappealing or distasteful but because He loves us. After all, we are created in His image. He loves us enough to accept us on the basis of who we have become but loves us too much to leave us in our current condition. 

When God created the world, everything was good. You can read about in Genesis chapter 1 and 2. We were designed in His image with the objective of having open communion with Him on a personal basis. In Genesis Chapter 3, however, mankind decided to rebel and didn’t want to follow His lead. From the beginning of time, people have wanted what they want, when they want it and how they want it. 

That rebellious streak plays havoc in relationships and caused a breach in our communion with God. You cannot be self-centered, self-willed and selfish without causing damage. Relationship of all sorts will suffer. We were designed for good but damaged by evil.

We are all broken! We are all damaged! There is not one of us who has it all together. But under all the damage and debris, there is an original creation. There is a Real You!

You may have watched the news cast on TV a couple of weeks ago about a man who purchased a $4 painting at a yard sale. A few days later when he was trying to reframe his purchase, he found an original painting by Andy Warhol worth an estimated $5.5 million.

Jesus wants to change you back into your original condition because you are worth much more to Him than that painting is worth monetarily. He wants the real you to be revealed.

He does this by changing four things. He changes our relationship to God. We became His enemy when we rebelled. He didn’t turn on us but we turned on Him. He starts by reconnecting or reconciling us to God because without a genuine relationship with Him, long lasting change is not possible. John 15 tells us that apart from God we can do nothing.

He then seeks to change our character, followed by our relationships with others and ultimately our destiny - both short term and long term.

For those who plug into Him, there waits an eternity with Him after death. There isn’t a long-term plan longer than that!  He also changes our short-term destiny. Rather than just survive life and eke out a living, we are invited to change the world by partnering with Him. 

In 1983, Steve Jobs was trying to lure CEO John Scully away from Pepsi to come run Apple. Scully resisted Jobs’ overtures, citing his lack of experience in technology. Finally, Jobs asked, “Do you want spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do want to change the world?”

You can change your world by discovering the Real You! You were created to have relationship with God and be a change agent. 

Open Hands Not Closed Fists

by Andrew Cromwell

One of the more famous statements made by Jesus is “turn the other cheek.” He made this statement during his most well known sermon called the Sermon on the Mount. During that speech, Jesus redefined what it means to be a true follower of God. The strategy He used was to contrast the standard understanding of God’s laws against their true meaning.

As He does this, we begin to see that there is more to God’s law than a set of rules and regulations. We learn that God is much more interested in transforming our heart than He is in controlling our behavior. It is not that He doesn’t care about behavior, but rather that He knows a change in heart results in a change in behavior. In contrast, if you change behavior only, you may not ever get to the heart.

Many have misunderstood this statement because they have made the fundamental error of thinking Jesus was dictating a particular behavior when He was talking about a heart attitude. Because of this you have people believing Jesus is telling us to be absolutely non-violent and passive. But clearly this is not what Jesus is saying.

We know this because He gives us four pictures illustrating what He means. The first is of an individual who has been insulted with the traditional “slap of insult”, well known in eastern cultures. This is equivalent to being insulted with words either to our face or behind our back. The second is of someone sued in court, has lost the case and must hand over some property. The third is of someone forced to do something against his or her will by an authority figure. And the last is of someone who is asked for a handout.

All of these are situations we are familiar with! In each case, our natural reaction is to respond with anger, bitterness and a desire to “stick it to them”. But Jesus tells us the correct response is one of the open hand—that is, a generous spirit.

Instead of slapping back, we are to absorb the insult and if necessary receive more. Instead of haggling down to the penny what we lost in our legal battle, we are to be generous and give more than what the judge ruled. Instead of obeying those in authority over us through gritted teeth, we are to “go the extra mile with a smile.” And instead of ignoring that request for a handout, we are to give more then the minimum.

Each of these examples demonstrate a heart attitude of generosity that gives not because it is required, but because there is a recognition that God is a God of generosity! Why do we go the extra mile? Because God did for us? Why do we not worry about penny pinching? Because God owns everything and we believe that He is going to care for us! Why do we give more than is asked? Because God did first!

Jesus is calling us to live life with an attitude that refuses to hold on to anger and bitterness. Those things slowly eat away at our insides and make us small people. When we instead keep our hands open and let go of those destructive tendencies, we are actually being like God and we open a channel for him to fill us with more of Himself.

So the question I have for you is, are you living with tightly closed fists? Are you harboring bitterness, anger and resentment for insults and abuses you have received in the past? Or are you living with open hands? Remember, bitterness is the poison you drink hoping the other person will die.

This weekend the pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to help you understand Jesus’ teachings and become a person who lives with open hands. Why don’t you gather your family together and make a Sunday of it?

New Year, New Chance

by Andrew Cromwell

As the calendar turns, we once again wrestle with the realization of how little we’ve changed over the last twelve months. The year passed so quickly. Resolutions that we made with dedicated resolve at the beginning of the year were quickly discarded as we found the rut of our routine too comfortable and familiar. 

And now we find ourselves at the beginning of a new year and we are tempted to give up even before we have started. We wonder, is there really any point? Can I, in fact, change? Or will 2012, simply be a repeat of 2011? 

Let me encourage you not to give up too soon! Change isn't easy and quitters never win. Just because you have failed in the past, does not mean you must fail in the future. I love the Bible verse in Proverbs that says, "the godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again" (Prov. 24:16). The difference between failure and success is often simply the decision to get up one more time and try again. 

The best news of all is that you do not have to undertake your New Year's resolutions all by yourself, if you will simply invite our Heavenly Father to be involved in the process. After all, He wants you to grow and change! He knows what great things are possible in and through you because He created you for greatness in the first place.
 
So what resolutions do you need to invite Him to be a part of this year? Maybe you have some dirty laundry you need to give up to Him instead of carrying it forward. Perhaps you need to make a few phone calls, ask forgiveness and mend those broken relationships. Or maybe you need to change some old routines and exchange them for new ones. Sometimes we have done things for so long, we just assume that we must do them, but maybe it’s time to give up some of the old patterns of behavior.

One of the best things you can do is be around people who have resolved to grow and change. If all your friends are resolved to stay the same and to keep you there too, it might just be time to get some new friends! The pastors in Kings County would love to encourage you and help you get a fresh start for the New Year. Maybe one of the best decisions you could make would be to get right with God, get in His house and start looking at yourself through His eyes. You’ll be amazed at the wonderful things He has in store for you!

Change From the Inside - Out

by Tim Howard

When I was born on February 13, 1951 I weighed approximately 8 lbs. 2 oz. My hands were only an inch or so long, my hair didn’t exist and my skin was all shriveled up like a little old man.  Even though my parents used the term ‘cute’ to describe me, I’m not sure that was absolutely true.

If you were to compare some of my old baby pictures with some current photographs, you would immediately notice some major changes. I’ve grown to 5’8” tall, my hands are much larger, I’ve managed to put on 160 lbs, and I don’t want to talk about the hair thing because it seems like I’m regressing back to my infancy in that area…

I’m very thankful for is the possibility of change! I know God loves us too much to let us remain the same but His interest in changing us is not only connected to the external realm.

Back in the day Jesus confronted the Religious leaders about their emphasis on external change without any focus on what was happening internally. He states it very bluntly and forcibly in Matt chapter 23.

 "You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something… You're like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin you're total frauds.” (The Message)

God desires a heart change and not mere behavioral modification. Even though one can change a specific behavior for a period of time, when the heart is not connected to the change, it is only temporary. The ultimate result is hypocrisy.

People in general and religious people specifically can look good externally but be very corrupt on the inside. Isaiah the Prophet puts it this way: “ They draw near to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.” In other words: Some proclaim they are Christians but don’t practice what they proclaim. They seem to be religious but don’t have a personal, ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. They conform externally but aren’t changed internally.

God wants to change us from the inside out. Yes, He is concerned with your behavior, Yes, He is concerned with your beliefs but He is ultimately concerned with your heart and attitudes because all your actions flow from your heart. Maybe that’s why Solomon said: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Changing from the inside out will require God. You can’t do it yourself! You need a heart transplant. The old heart is deceitful, disingenuous and untrustworthy. That’s where God comes in. Ezekiel 36:26 says God will give us a new heart if we ask. Christianity is not about conforming to certain spiritual laws but being transformed into God’s likeness by the power of Jesus Christ. Just like a skilled doctor who is able to do heart transplants for those in physical need, Jesus can give you a new heart.

Some people try to change by searching for some key hidden in their past. Some seek to change their lives by working harder, praying longer or attending church more often. Various approaches to change may be helpful but only Jesus can change you from the inside - out. 

Jesus, the Change Factor

by Tim Howard

There’s a scripture in the Bible that gives a lot of hope to people who are stuck. It communicates the incredible possibility of change and how it can happen. It’s found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” NIV

Everyone gets stuck between a rock and a hard place throughout his or her journey. When it happens, you may feel like you’re trapped, locked in, powerless to change things and the possibility of real transformation will seem to be only a dream.

This scripture doesn’t tell us that God will change or remove all our difficulties but if we turn to Him, He will change us! I can’t speak for you but that is very encouraging to me. Even though I may be powerless in the midst of a difficult situation, God has the power to change my heart, change my perspective, change my attitude and change my future. All He needs from me is my attention, adoration, a willingness to seek Him and responsiveness to His directives.

Many people in the Bible have experienced this type of transformation when they responded to Christ. Mary Magdalene had a very sordid past. It is even said she struggled with demonic forces and was considered possessed by demons. Then she met Jesus and was transformed from being possessed to a passionate follower of Christ. The disciples went from being fearful to ones filled with faith when they encountered the risen Lord. Thomas was a doubter but after his encounter, became a full-fledged believer.

Paul the Apostle was a religious person but hated Jesus and those who proclaimed their belief in Him. He’s an example of those who go through the motions and do a lot of religious stuff but don’t have any real relationship with Jesus Christ. You can read his story in Acts chapter 9 and see how he went from being a persecutor of Christians to one who preaches the truth to people.

God wants to change you! Not because he doesn’t like what He sees but because He does. Someone said: “God loves you just like you are but He loves you too much to let you remain as you are.”

There are four ways God uses to bring about change?

1. He first starts with kindness and blessing. Rom. 2:4 God’s kindness, tolerance and patience… leads you toward repentance. God wants you to recognize his goodness and volunteer to be changed by Him. The word repentance means a change.

2. If there is no response, He will convict you. Your conscience when trained by the Word of God functions like our modern day GPS system. It will correct your course and keep you on track if you follow its advice. Check out John 16:8.

3. God counsels you. Psalms. 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. The Bible, books, seminars, small group meetings, one on one fellowship, classes, DVD, CD teaching series and weekly church family gatherings are a few ways God provides direction and the possibility of change.

4. If all else fails, God will confront you. The author of Hebrews calls it: ‘Chastisement’ or ‘Discipline.” Heb. 12:10 “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.”

Can you identify any attitudes, beliefs, expectations, thinking or behavior that needs to change? If so, there’s someone who can help you. His name is Jesus.