Today I Begin a New Life

One of my very favorite books is Og Mandino's bestseller - The Greatest Salesman in the World.  I was first introduced to this book many years ago when as a Pastor I was needing to supplement my income and began a job as the front desk clerk at a local hotel.  The manager there required all of his staff to read this book. From the maids to the maintenance crew to every desk clerk and sales manager.  He called them the ten commandments of sales - and he was right.  As I put the 10 steps into place in my life, I became a better front desk clerk and hotel employee.  But I was equally pleased that each of the 10 steps made my life as a Pastor more effective too!

For the next few weeks I am going to share some reflections about the steps Mandino puts forth in this book - because I believe if you will live his way your life will be better in every way.  Every way.

Today i want to talk about the first step just a little.  If you want to be better at your job, better in your relationships, better at making a difference in your life, you have to take the first step.  And the first step is to realize and claim that today "I begin a new life." Say it out loud right where you are Today I begin a new life!


This first step sets the stage.  We can't live in the past - we can either learn from it and move forward or let it paralyze us.  We can either seize the new days opportunity or we can let life pass us by.  Because each new day brings a new start we can create good new habits and stop following the impulses that always lead us int trouble.  Because every day allows us to begin a new life we can shed the old skin and has for to long suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity.  Today we get a new start, a new life, a new hope.  Today I begin anew - aiming at the "more" life has to offer.  More joy.  More hope.  More love.  More.

It is a decision - to begin a new life.  To not live in the past.  To not be a slave to that which could have been, to not be chained to the failures of yesterday.  And we have that power - the power to choose.  To choose life.  To choose love.  To choose joy.

Choose this day.....to begin a new life.

R.E.A.L. CONNECTIONS

Connected - it is how we are created to be - 

Connected to God through Jesus.

Connected to the body of Christ - the church

Connected to one another-person to person.

Sunday we spent the morning learning what it means to be connected.  We learned that good connections are R.E.A.L!   We learned that there are 4 Keys to REAL connections!

Key # 1:  Real connections are RELIABLE.

  

Proverbs 17:17 tells us:  "a friend loves at all times.  

Building relationships that matter really requires dependability.  We can't love sometimes.  Not just when it is convenient.  Not just in the good times.  But at ALL times.  If you want to be REAL - be RELIABLE!

Key # 2:  rEal connections are ENCOURAGING

Do you ever need an encouraging word or a hug that says it is going to be ok?  Well - you are not alone.  People all around you are needing the same thing.  A kind word of assurance.  An act of kindness, a simple touch.  To have good connections we need to learn to be encouraging to the people around us. If you want to be REAL - be ENCOURAGING!   

Key # 3:  reAl connections are AUTHENTIC!

Being authentic means being honest with yourself about who you are! It means not putting up walls or fronts that keep people from knowing us.  Being authentic changes the way people will see us.  It will bring genuineness to our relationships.    If you want to be REAL, be AUTHENTIC!

Key # 4:  reaL connections are LOVING!

If we really want to have great connections, we have to be loving.  Being loving is about watching out for the other guy first.  To make sure the needs of others are being met.  To hear Jesus say - "love one another - as i have loved you" and understand that this is about sacrificing ourselves for the good of others - an not just those you already like and love.  If you want to be REAL, be LOVING!

LETS BE CONNECTED - AND LET'S BE REAL!

Connections - With the Community

How many of you have heard someone say - "I can believe in Jesus and not go to church."?    Almost every Pastor I know when they hear this simply roll their eyes to the back of their heads and walk away.  It is seemingly a death sentence to a conversation.  Because it is so simple it seems to be true.  "Yes, you can," we tend to mutter and give up hopelessly as their is no seemingly good answer.  But we know better.  We know that this person's belief is short term if it is real at all.  We know that the person uttering these words are still focused on themselves and their world.   We know that in all reality, the person uttering these words are afraid of being connected - or are asking you to challenge them enough to help them WANT to be connected.  To give them a good enough WHY to be connected - and ultimately - the HOW to be connected.  I say this because even non-beleivers are wanting to be connected, wanting to have relationships that really matter.

Almost every person I have ever met WANTS to be connected to others in their heart of hearts.  That is because we are created to be in relationship with others.  No one is created in or for isolationism.  No one comes into the family of God by themselves and staying there all alone is impossible too.

There are also some  great advantages for being in the body of Christ - and these should be shared.  Like:

1.  being connected to the church identifies you as a genuine believer.
2.  being connected to the church moves you out of self-centered isolationism.
3.  being connected to the church helps you develop spiritual muscle

Each of these is true.  Being in the community call the Church identifies you as a real believer - it means you belong to the family - you are one of the "in" crowd.  You belong to a group - not just to yourself - that life isn't really just about you, your desires, your goals, your dreams.  And in the body of Christ you can train together to grow stronger.  You can pray together, worship together, study together, grow together.

There is something else.  Not only do you need the body, not only do you need the church -  the church needs you.  That's right - the church needs you.  Your gifts, your talents, your love, your gifts - and more.

Get connected - its good for you - and for the church!

Pastor David

Connections - Who's Your First?

655 friends on facebook.  355 connections on linked in.  5 very different networking groups.   


My message to you is It Is WHO You Know that matters in life!

There is a very important fact in life for those of us who want to make their lives better.  We have seen this to be true time and time again.  That fact:  

YOU CAN'T DO IT BY YOURSELF!

While you are responsible for making the decision and taking the steps towards a better you in 2011, a better you next month, a better you tomorrow,  you can't do it by yourself.  It is going to take connections to make it happen.  

That's what this series is about.  Making the connections to become everything you are designed to be.    You know this come straight from scripture.  As human beings we are designed to be social.  To have relationships.  To depend on one another.  

Today I want to talk a little about the first connection we need.  Where do we start?   I think we start with our connection to God.   The John 14:6 tells us that our first connection is to be Jesus - he is the way, the truth and the life.    

This first connection carries with it amazing benefits. If you are connected to Jesus, then everything God has is available to you (see Gal 4:7)  If you are connected to Jesus then every need will be met (Phil. 4:19).  If you are connected to Jesus, then you will receive the priceless inheritance (1 Peter 1:4)!    And there is more - IF you are connected to Jesus.  

SO THEN, THE QUESTION OF THE DAY IS:  HOW DO I GET CONNECTED TO JESUS?

Look at Matthew 9:9-13.  Jesus comes by Matthew's tax collecting booth.  Looks at him and says - "follow me."  Jesus words while important aren't what we need to see.   The words we need to see tell us what Matthew did:  "And he got up and followed him."   That is how you get connected to Jesus - you follow him.  And you follow him like in the child's game - Follow the Leader - you go where Jesus leads, you do what Jesus does.   You talk to him, you listen to him, you follow him.  

One of the coolest things about this is that Jesus never forces the issue.  Nothing made Matthew get up and go.  Nothing makes you go.  It is your choice and your choice alone to make this connection and to make 2011 better than 2010.  

Let me ask this question?  Are you connected?

Follow!