A Lifelong Commitment

I love weddings and especially love to officiate them which gives me a front row seat for the ceremony. Fortunately, I have been part of dozens of different weddings during my years in ministry. I have been able to stand with couples I have known for years and also with couples I have recently met. As part of my preparation, I try to spend time with each bride and groom to hear their story. If we are going to share in this great day together I want to know how they met, the tale of their proposal, and their hopes for the future. I even share the story of the beginning of my own marriage and feel this gives us a common bond and greater insight into each other. 

This is a key part of the preparation process for me because of how uniquely special the wedding day is. I know these couples are in love and now we are unified in the vision for their ceremony and the power of the vows they will share. This is the beginning of an entirely new phase of life for this man and woman. It is their time to declare that even though they may not know the exact path for their lives, they know who they want their traveling companion to be. It will be a journey of transformation, great suffering, and great joy and they will make their way through it together. This adventure begins in front of their family, friends, and God as they declare their intent to commit to each other for life. 

A wedding is the gateway to the rest of their lives. While I cannot guarantee happy, healthy marriages as a result of this ceremony (that would certainly impact my fee structure if so!) I pray they see this as a launching pad of potential for the long and unknown future. It's the promise of what can be and the foundation of love which causes me to look forward to each wedding with such anticipation.

Going 100

The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.  Mark Batterson

I’m not that man, but I would like to be. How do I keep growing in that direction? What do I need to set aside so I can put my life in God’s hands? How do I need to see the world around me if I am fully committed to this cause?

Choosing to follow this path won’t just change me, but will also change everyone I come into contact with. This isn’t an overestimation of my influence, but an accurate reflection of what God is capable of doing if I truly dedicate my life to serving Him. Batterson says the world hasn’t seen that level of manhood, but I haven’t even seen it in myself. I can’t expect the world to change if I’m not going to focus on changing me first. My desire is the first step in the right direction.

Real Commitment

Commitment is an interesting word. I think we use it more often than we actually align ourselves with its true meaning. I know I’ve watered it down in my own life depending on the circumstances around me. Many of us have turned it from a word signifying our resolute pledge to endure into something that can be altered or broken whenever it suits us.

How do we determine our level of commitment? It’s going to be revealed in our adherence to physical, spiritual, and relationship principles through uneven times. Are you willing to run in hot weather, high humidity, and sore muscles? Are you going to choose the healthy option for eating even if other foods sit untouched in front of you? Are you committed to your marriage no matter how encouraging or flirtatious someone else might be? Will you persevere through obstacles seemingly preventing you from reaching your goals? Are you committed to your church even if you don’t agree with everything that is happening? Are you committed to following Christ even when your prayers don’t seem to be answered and you feel lost and confused?

The depth of our commitment is rarely seen on the smooth portions of the road. it’s only when we encounter obstacles and rough passage that we find out where are real allegiance lies. Decide what you are truly committed to and be ready to stick with it when it isn’t easy. This is the difference in true dedication and convenience.

Committed Pursuit

I am reading another book (All In) by one of my favorite authors, Mark Batterson. I always enjoy his challenging thoughts and the word pictures. He has a way of writing that is complex and yet simply expressed at the same time.

He shared a manifesto about going all in and going all out for God. I've heard him express it before, but it's a worthwhile challenge which still conveys great thoughts.

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.

Set God-sized goals. Pursue God ordained passions. 

Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention.

Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God.

Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution.

Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.

Stop playing it safe and start taking risks.

Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey.

Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can.

Live like today is the first day and the last day of your life.

Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God.

Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails.

Don't let fear dictate your decisions. Take a flying leap of faith.

Quit holding out. Quit holding back.

Go all in with God. Go all out for God.

Shifting Allegiance

Then he (Moses) took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Exodus 24:7

That sounds like a group of fairly committed people. In fact, I think they believed the intent of their own words and didn't plan on falling short. In that moment the people of Israel wanted to follow God and stay under his authority. Sadly, history tells us that less than 40 days later they had failed miserably and suffered the consequences of their decisions. 

On the surface it seems hard to believe that an entire group of people could shift their allegiance so quickly. Before we decide to judge the Hebrews too harshly perhaps we should examine our own life patterns first. How quickly we walk away from our commitments? How often do we make bold statements about our convictions and then abandon them in a matter of days? What life changing resolutions have we written down and then ignored once the shine of their newness wore off? 

If we want to make positive declarations about what we will (or won't) do, we've got to have a corresponding action plan to make it stick or we're just making a lot of noise.

More Than Words

As I wrote yesterday, I have an understanding of the power of words and also see tremendous value in the right words being spoken at the right time. I saw this in action today as I was able to do one of my favorite things as a pastor, and officiate the wedding of a wonderful couple.

It was a day marked by their desire to enter into a covenant relationship and affirm their love for each other. The ceremony was brief and filled with words that spoke of great promise. These were words that were carefully chosen to represent their love for each other and the vows they were sharing. There was added power and accountability to these words as they had selected a group of friends and family to bear witness to what was said over them. The depth of this commitment was in what was spoken, but most importantly in the intent of what was shared.

This is a time in life when words are extremely important. Not only are they a reflection of deep love, but also a promise for a great unknown future and a commitment to endure. I'm grateful for a chance to play a small part in days like this as a front row witness and guide even as I'm reminded of the depth of our verbal promises.

For the Win

"They are playing to play, not playing to win."

I heard this phrase on the radio last night as it was used to describe an under-performing college basketball team. This analyst assessed their level of mediocre success by accurately describing their lack of instinct to work together to see victory. They are a young team that is stuck on playing the game on their schedule so that the can get to the next game. That doesn't describe a team with a winning mentality, but one that is trying to make their way through their season.

This can describe a lot of of us if we're honest. We don't always apply our energies and focus in a way that brings success, but do things that allow us to check an item off our task list and consider it accomplished. There are probably some common areas for all of us to fail:

• Attending church-even giving our time & money-but never engaging in a life change beyond Sunday morning.
• Paying special attention to our spouses on an anniversary or birthday, but not doing much more the rest of the year.
• Letting our children know how much we love them during big life events, but not through the day-to-day affirmation they desperately need.
• Spending dedicated time in prayer when life's circumstances bring us unexpected turmoil, but not really bothering with it otherwise.
• Working hard enough at our jobs to keep the paycheck coming, but not in a way that directs people to God's calling on our lives.
• Contributing to our community in moments of crisis, but not investing on a regular basis in the people we share life with.

Playing to win takes teamwork, a dedicated commitment, and regular sacrifice. It's also the only formula for healthy families, happy marriages, deepening spiritual relationships, and a thriving community. Make sure you're making the commitment to play to win.

Go Hard

When I was working in athletic training we were always cautious with athletes who were returning from an injury. Not only we were focused on rehabilitating the physical injury, but we had to help the athlete develop the confidence to return to action. There is always great danger in an athlete returning from injury and being tentative. They were more susceptible to further damage by playing with less than 100% focus and energy.

In Mark 12:30, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It isn't a dictatorial principle of God, but is instead a measure of protection. He knows that we won't be successful or reach our goals if we not completely invested in following Him. Not only will we fail to see the completion of His vision in us, we will be more susceptible to the schemes of the enemy. Pursuing a 100% self-investment is the only way to see spiritual victory.

Square One

These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. Luke 6:47 (The Message)

The truth that we hear from God is not supposed to be a supplement to the lifestyle that we are already living. It cannot be compared to putting an addition on our home. That concept doesn't change the fundamental root of who we are, but adds a bonus room for our pleasure & convenience. This is why people struggle with maintaining a commitment to God. We keep trying to fit it into our current life pattern and then wonder why it doesn't work. 

Living life God's way is brand new and requires a setting aside of old pretenses and patterns. We have to do the hard work of knocking down the walls we have built up over our lifetime and ripping up the foundation so that we can start fresh. Unless we go back to the beginning our commitment to Christ will be unstable and our faith unreliable. It's not too late to begin again and starting over is the only way to build a faith that will endure.

Middle of the Road

From my experience in ministry (and my own relationship with God) I have seen that people turn to God when things are going poorly. When we have no other solution for health, relationship, or financial problems, we will fall on our faces before God & beg Him for mercy and healing. We are also quick to jump into the fray for others that are struggling with similar issues.

I have also found that we will seek God to give Him credit when things are being blessed beyond our imagination. When the job promotion comes through, financial windfall occurs, the healing we asked for is given to us, or a relationship is restored, we throw our hands in the air (like we DO care) and sing out praises to how awesome God is.

My hypothesis (proven in my own life) is that we struggle with praising God when life is in the middle of the road. It's unfortunate that this is true since most our life is lived here. This is the relationship that He desires-not just when we press in close to Him because we are desperate for His solutions or are highly grateful for some magnificent, divine providence. Can we gain the realization that He is in all details of our lives even when we don't give it much thought?

It's the perseverance of faith that is shaped in the mundane that actually has value. We show our confident dedication to God when we stick closely to Him in the day-to-day and not just the highs and lows of life.

I Have Decided

I was listening to music from my friends at Salty Church in Ormond Beach this morning and they sang the words to the old hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. The truth contained in those lyrics is timeless and brought me to contemplate what it really means to live those words out.

Following is more than saying a prayer or being baptized-it is a commitment to letting Christ lead you throughout the rest of your life. It is a journey that is started by being willing to leave everything else behind-job, social status, friends, addictions, sin, life goals, family history, selfishness and more. Choosing to follow means that you stick with it even when it's tough-when you have relationship difficulties, when your reputation is being damaged, when your emotions are telling you something that is contradictory to what God is telling you, when you are unsure of what is next and how to move on. It is a matter of trusting in the One who is leading. It is putting our confidence in His ability to take us where we need to go and having faith that His way is the best way.

When we decide to follow Jesus it is more than a statement made with our voices. It is a declaration of allegiance to the King and His guidance and plan. It must infiltrate all of our decisions, passions, attitudes and talents if it is going to be an accurate representation of our heart's intent. This level of faith isn't attained overnight, but is a journey of discovery and endurance that is traveled by keeping our eyes focused on the One who leads us.

"Christian faith is not so much what you say you believe, 

but how you behave in a consistent manner." A.W. Tozer