Where are you at? Do you feel like you’re being thrown in every direction? Are you upside- down, turned around, wondering when this merry-go-round called life will stop? News flash…..it doesn’t stop! In the words of Phil Collins, “That’s just the way it is”!

It is so crucial that you implement the next step as you run this “Amazing Race”! You’ve started! You’re “on your mark”! Now it is time to “GET SET”! Steady yourself! Get entrenched! Make a decision then stay the course! Colossians 3:2 instructs us to “Set our minds on things above and not on earthly things”! You can’t control the wind, but you can “set” your sail. You can’t predict the future but you can “set” your mind on the one who knows everything! “Well, I’m already set in my ways. You can’t teach old dogs new tricks”. First, you are not a dog. Second, these are not tricks. They are God’s promises that will “set” you free!

To set your mind on things above means to establish a “God” perspective on life. He sees things so differently than we do. Isaiah 55:6-9 tells us to seek the Lord while he’s here to be found. His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours. In verse 7 it says that the wicked must abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. This means that God wants us to start thinking like He thinks. We must say farewell to our old ways and start doing things His way! 1 Corinthians 2:16 says that we have the mind of Christ. How does Jesus think? That’s how we’ve gotta start thinking. How did Jesus live? That’s how we’ve gotta start living.

How is this possible you might ask? Philippians 4:13; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”! How about that? If Jesus lives in you, you can do whatever you “set” your mind to. Remember, you now have the mind of Christ, His word is in you, you’re living a new way, your thoughts are becoming like His. No more selfish, self-centered, insecure, self-serving ambitions. You are now running for God’s glory. You’re living your life for His purposes. Whatever you may be facing today, keep running to God. He is the beginner and finisher of our faith! Until Next week……..

! Set for the Race

Pittsburgh wins the Super Bowl! This is what it looked like at our house after the game.

This journey that we call “life” is a race. What kind of race? That’s up to you! It can be an adventure! Filled with new challenges and great victories. Or it can be what has been referred to as a “rat race” where everyone, even the winner is still a rat!

Hebrews 12:1 says this about the race….We’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! Keep your eyes on Jesus who began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed. (The Message translation)

For the next several weeks, we will be talking about this race. As is the case in any race, we should be running to win. That may mean something different for each of us. However, the common finish for all is to become more like Christ. To become who He has called us to be. And to do what He has called us to do on a daily basis. Are you ready to run? Will you run to win? Please stay the course with us. Here’s what we will discuss.

ON YOUR MARK……………………..2. GET SET…………………3. GO!

Until next week,

Grace for the Race!

“10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1…Happy New Year!” It is a tradition that is shared by peoples and nations all around the world, regardless of ethnicity or religion. However as we turn the last page and close the book on 2008 not everyone shares the same feelings.

For some it is a time of celebration and they welcome the New Year with open arms. To them it will be a year in which births, graduations, marriages, and many of life’s other joyous milestones occur. Looking forward to such events these people eagerly step into 2009 with an attitude of expectancy and hope.

Others are not in the same position. Some leave 2008 feeling used and abused. For them 2008 represents the year they got divorced, buried a loved one, or some other memory they would rather forget. Many of you have been a victim of the economy and have lost your jobs or are currently watching as your 401K and retirement accounts shrink at an alarming pace. For those who find themselves in this position they dread the arrival of another year expecting that it will only bring more stress, anxiety, and fear.

Regardless of how 2008 treated you we want you to stop right now and take a moment of silence, for 2008 has passed away and is officially history. It is a new year and 2009 is a book that has yet to be written. Empty pages represent a new start, a future with endless possibilities and new levels of potential that you have yet to reach.

Psalm 65:11 proclaims “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.”

Declare now that 2009 will be a year of goodness and abundance! We are members of God’s Kingdom, that means we are a part of God’s economy. Knowing this we are not to allow the current headlines to dictate our steps or tell us how to conform our lives. The world’s paths are wrought with drought and recession. The Bible tells us that God’s paths “drip with abundance”. Which path do you want to follow?
Our passion and determination have never been greater. In fact we have raised the bar and intend to take all areas of our lives, ministry, and music to a new level this year. We will not be fearful, anxious, or hold anything back because of what is going on around us. We have full confidence that God is going to see us through any storms that may lie on the horizon of 2009. Our prayer is that you will accept this invitation and join us as we begin this journey into 2009. Please share with us scriptures that are of encouragement to you in these areas. Let us know about what challenges you are facing so we can bind together in prayer, together we can make it and achieve the victory!

Psalms 95:6-7
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker: For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

As I write this, we are getting ready to head home from the Philippines. It will be great to see our families. However, last 72 hours have been very emotional to say the least. The Filipino people are very loving, hospitable and kind. The country is amazing. Yet, the poverty here is somewhat overwhelming. I’m reminded that I have no right to ever complain about anything.

I’ll always remember this great country and it’s beautiful people because of the way they worship God. In the midst of the economic struggles, corruption and lack that many of them are experiencing, their passion in worshipping Jesus is so refreshing. They understand that God is their maker and that they are to worship Him.

I wish you could see what we’ve seen these past 3 days. I hope that some day our kids could see what it means to have so little, yet be so in love with God not for what He can give but for who He is! One thing these people have learned is that no matter what, God is good! HE is our Maker and we are the people of HIS pasture. Yes, times can get hard and things will become difficult. But remember, He is God and we were created to worship Him. If He never does anything else for us again, He’s already done so much more than we deserve. It’s His nature to be good and to do good things for us. We’re His children and He loves us beyond what we can ever understand.

He’s done and will continue to do His part. Let us do ours….Come, bow down and worship Him. It’s for your own good!

My world has been rocked by a book that our entire church has been studying for the last few weeks. It’s a book called “CRAZY LOVE” by Francis Chan. This book has been challenging me to take a closer look at how I’m doing in loving Jesus. In chapter 2, it breaks down a passage that is found in Phillipians 4:4 –

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” You’ll notice that it doesn’t end with “… unless you’re doing something extremely important.” No , it’s a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge “Don’t be anxious about anything” (v.6).

That came as a pretty staggering realization. But what I realized next was even more staggering.
When I am consumed by my problems, stressed out about my life, my family, and my job— I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command to always Rejoice.

WORRY implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.
STRESS says that the things that we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

These two behaviors communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we’ve been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won’t be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God’s strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are? I find myself relearning this lesson often. Even though I glimpse God’s holiness, I am still dumb enough to forget that life is all about God and not about me at all.

Remember to rejoice in the Lord always. Do not be controlled by your situation. Have a blessed Thanksgiving

-james