Thrill of Victory and Agony of Defeat

It was ABC Wide World of Sports that coined the memorable phrase: The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I guess life is filled with both. But in one of the most profound verses in the Bible, God promises that, even in the most defeating times, followers of Jesus Christ can still experience the thrill of victory.

Consider this: "… we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37

Now I really like words, so, humor me here. When you look at the phrase, more than conquerors, in the original Greek it is just one word: hupernikome. Huper, where we get our word, hyper. And Nikome which means Victor or Conqueror (as in the brand name – Nike).

Those who trust Jesus are Hyper-conquerors! It sounds like the name of a super hero! Or the promise of a sports drink commercial! And a closer look at this verse and its context, reveals that this victory is related to something very specific – the confidence that nothing will separate us from God’s love.

Here’s the deal. Life is filled with battles. And in every battle, your spiritual enemy has a singular goal … to separate you from experiencing God’s love. But what Paul wants us to comprehend is that in every one of life’s battles, we win! Why? Because we still have God’s love. No matter what, we are Super-Conquerors. Nothing can sever us from the unwavering affection of God.

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Do the Math

Here’s a question you ought to ask yourself often: If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31.

It’s an astonishing question. Look closely. The question is not simply, “Who can be against us?” That is not the question; for undeniably we face all kinds of opposition. Indeed the world, the flesh and the devil are marshaled against us. God never promised that we would not face resistance in this life.

Rather the question is, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” The Bible does not promise that we won’t have any opposition. Instead it promises is that we won’t have any opposition that matters.

No matter what you face as followers of Jesus Christ, God is on your side. And God + You = a Majority. It’s worth pondering this truth everyday.

If God is for us, who can be against us?


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Do all things work for good?

Sorry, I've been away from posting for awhile as my laptop was stolen. I'm back. Here's my latest eCouragement:
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Romans 8:28 is one of the most recognized scriptural addresses in the entire Bible. “All things work together for good.”

But is that true? Or just naïve? Deep down, if we are honest, we sometimes wonder. We think of young mothers who died of cancer, teens who were hit by drunk drivers, child victims of abuse. How can that be good?

As it turns out, the Bible never teaches that all the things we face in life are good. Certainly much is not. Rather it teaches that in all things God is working for His good purpose in us, and that good purpose is defined in the often overlooked following verse: Romans 8:29. "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…”

God is at work in all things to bring about the best good that is possible ... that we would become more like Jesus.

Now, no one in our generation knows what Jesus looks like. But God has seen fit to allow Christ’s likeness to be reflected in His followers. His goal is that we might become more and more like His own Son in attitude, authenticity, and action.

That is God’s greatest good for us. Whatever we face, we can know that God is always working His good in us.

Adopted!

I love the story of two little first-grade boys who were brothers. On the first day of school, the children were introducing themselves. One of the boys said, "Me and Jackson are brothers. One of us is adopted and one is not, but I can't remember which is which."

That attitude conveys the full-fledged embrace that we have received from God as He welcomes us into His family. He actually treats us, and see sus, and loves us, in the same way He does his Only Begotten Son.

In fact, the Bible says, You have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"… Romans 8:15. And it is because of this adoption, that we can experience a deep intimacy with the Father. As Christians we don't address God as "Your Highness" or "Your Holiness." We call God, “Abba” which, in Jesus’ day, was a very intimate expression; much like we might say, “Daddy" or "Papa”.

Since God has adopted us as sons and daughters, we can embrace Him as our Father. We can run to Him when we are hurt, ask lots of questions when we are confused, and trust Him when He says everything is going to be OK.

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I've been tagged

I’ve been "tagged" by a friend, Jenetta, from church. I need to answer the following questions:

What was I doing 10 years ago?

Wow, that seems like a decade ago. Fairly new to San Diego we had three kids 7 years old and under. We were still struggling to let go of our oldest son for a full day of school and over sending our daughter to kindergarten … excited about being in a new facility at church … discovering Padres baseball and planning a trip to Hawaii for the first time ever.

Things on my to-do list now: (OK, these are more like my values)

1. Seek to live as a channel of God's GRACE -- lavishly receiving it and lavishly expressing it.

2. Seek to live in the PRESENT tense -- enjoying all God has for me in the moment, and redeeming the time with others.

3. Seek to live by FAITH -- seeing the unseen God in my circumstances and trusting His sovereign control.

4. Seek to live in the SPIRIT -- relying on His power, direction, and joy.

5. Seek to put others before myself -- knowing that as I LOVE them I am loving myself and God.


Things on my to-do list for my lifetime: (in no particular order)

1.Travel to Europe with my whole family (scheduled this summer)
2. Celebrate 50 years of a great marriage (2037)
3. Own a VW bus again
4. Have croissants and strong coffee in a Paris sidewalk cafe (I don’t even like coffee)
5.Swim with dolphins
6.Visit Israel again
7.Successfully spend my whole career as a lead pastor at the same church
8.Have a role in one of my great grandchildren's weddings (that puts me at about 95 years old)
9. Coach a team for one of my grandkids
10. Own a vacation home
11. Continue to take our kids to Disneyland often even when they are adults
12. Continue to go to Yosemite at least once every year for the rest of my life
13. Celebrate 25 years of marriage with Cindy at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite
14. See a game at every professional baseball park in California, Washington, and Arizona. Also visit Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Wrigley Field
15. Have a bit part in a stage play that people pay money to see and have it run for at least a month
16. Retire where I can hear the ocean waves crash at night
17. Put the SHAPE Seminar online and have an international impact
18. When I retire, hand off a thriving, healthy, influential local church to a pastor to take it into the next season

Bad Habits:

1. Worry
2. People pleasing
3. Watching too much Padres baseball on TV

Places I've lived: (All time favorites in bold)

1. Lancaster, CA
2. Nottingham, ENGLAND
3. Milwaukee, WI
4. Sherman Oaks, CA
5. Lynwood, CA
6. Fountain Valley, CA
7. Santa Barbara, CA
8. San Francisco, CA
9. Pasadena, CA
10. London, ENGLAND
11. Laguna Beach, CA
12. Mission Viejo, CA
13. San Diego, CA

Things most people probably don't know about me:

1. I’ve never eaten a Churro
2. I love loose leaf tea
3. I am a big Jesus Christ Superstar the Rock Opera fan
4. I have a doctorate in Christian ministry and leadership
5. I can toss a pizza from a batch of homemade dough

Ok- so I need to tag some people now. Check their blogs in a few days to see if they did it :)

Jon
Daveed
Deyl
Paige
Ted
Josh
Ryan & Melissa
Kevin & Didi

Making news

Check out the article about our recent Kingdom Assiggnments at by clicking here.


Thanks, Lisa Ligouri

The Guilt Spoon

Honestly we didn't mean to do it. A few years ago we rented a mountain cabin for a few days. When we got home we discovered that we had inadvertently taken one of their spoons from its kitchen. To this day we keep it in our silverware drawer at home in case we ever go back to that cabin.

Our youngest son has nicknamed that spoon. He calls it the guilt spoon. Every time we see it, it reminds us of our unintentional theft.

A lot of people carry around a guilt spoon – something that triggers a reminder of failures, weakness, and sin. And deep down we know that God is so holy that even a teaspoon of sin is enough to separate us from Him.

And that is what makes Romans 8:1 is so revolutionary. It says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..."

The Bible does not say that there is nothing in us that deserves condemnation, because there is. Nor does it say that God has just randomly decided to overlook it, because He has not. What it says is that, because Jesus Christ took God’s condemnation for sin upon himself, we are no longer guilty.

So you know what I’m going to do with that guilt spoon from now on? Eat ice cream! I’m turning my guilt spoon into a grace spoon.

The Curse of Comparison

“Why do I have to go through this and they don’t?”
“Why are they immune; while I am not?”
“Why do they get all the breaks?
“What did I do so wrong … or they do so right?”

It is the curse of comparison. Has anyone ever been there? Peter was. In the Bible, Jesus predicted that there would be some difficult days ahead for Peter. And Peter’s response is so relatable. He motioned to John, who seemed to always coast through life, and asked, "Lord, what about him?" (John 21:21).

Have you been there? Maybe you're there now? A little ticked at God? As if He plays favorites? Especially when we face difficult things, it is easy to compare ourselves with those with whom life has blazed an easier path. It’s the curse of comparison.

Jesus’ answer to Peter is amazing. He offers Peter the only way to break the curse.

Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." (John 21:22) Basically Jesus says, “Peter, what I do with John is My business. My plan. But you, Peter, you, follow me.”

God has a unique plan for you that has been choreographed to the script of your life, and it is different from all others. And the liberating truth is that you don’t need to compare yourself with anyone else. You have a God given assignment and it has very little, if anything, to do with the assignments He gives other people. Therefore, it is a waste of time comparing ourselves to others, or wondering why we didn't get their part in the play. All we have to worry about is following Jesus call for us.

Kingdom Assignments!

This past Sunday we heard the stories of 30 people who were given a $100 Kingdom Assignment. Our theme came from Amos 5:24 - But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

It will be one of my favorite Sundays ever! Watch for the article about it in the RB Journal, Poway Chieftain, and CMR Corridor. Here's some highlights.

In 6 short weeks, $3000 became over $12,000 invested in Kingdom causes. 2 hours one Sunday (explaining the assignment) became over 600 hours invested in service (And this is only so far - many volunteer hours continue).

And God used the people of GVC to reach places like:

• Tanzania
  
• Slovakia
  
• Russia
  
• Mali
  
• Building wells for fresh water in Africa
  
• A San Diego inner city Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club
  
• Families in need within our church
  
• Couples' Conference Scholarship
  
• Rancho Penasquitos Food Bank
  
• Moms in Touch
  
• Operation Christmas Child
  
• Christian College Tuition
  
• San Diego Youth Crisis Center
  
• American Cancer Society
  
• World Vision Famine Relief
  
• Iraqi Children's Clinic
  
• St. Jude's
  
• Life Choices
  
• World Hunger
  
• Famine Relief
  
• Creation Care
  
• A 9 yr. old girl with cancer
  
• etc.

Well done...

hope...

So radical, so profound, so revolutionary were these words that Jewish scholars said they must be a prediction of the Messiah to come. Theses scholars, who lived before Christ, were referring to God’s promised through Amos, "In that day I will restore David's fallen tent." Amos 9:11.

If you’ve ever been camping, you're probably familiar with the classic prank of pulling up the poles while your friends are sleeping in their tent (of course, I wouldn’t know I’ve just heard it’s comical to watch as these lumps of people try to find the tent door zipper in the dark).

God says David’s kingly dynasty had collapse and the people were groping in the dark. Nevertheless, God would restore it. One day, God would place a Forever King on the throne (see 2 Sam 7:16).

As we approach Palm Sunday, and Easter, remember God is in the business of restoration. The hope of David’s restored tent, much more Jesus’ Risen Life, is the hope that Jesus is our Forever King. He restores our fallen, lumpy lives. That's hope.

The blank page in your Bible

Have you ever noticed that page in your Bible between the Old and the New Testament? The blank one? The page without words?

What would you do if you opened your Bible one day and all the pages were blank? How would you feel if you couldn’t get a Bible? If you had no access to God’s Word?

In the Book of Amos, God gave this sobering prediction:

AM 8:11 "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine through the land--
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

God predicted that His people would experience a famine of His Word. And it happened. For 400 years, Israel experienced the awful silence of God. (It has come to be known as “The Silent Years,” and I picture it in my mind with that blank page at the end of the Old Testament in my Bible.)

For four centuries there was this huge gap in revelatory expression. But thankfully all of that would change with the birth of Jesus. After years of waiting, God was no longer mute. Ultimately, God turned the volume all the way up with Jesus, the Word made flesh!

Now, because of Jesus, there is no longer a famine of God’s Word. Which means that, these days, if we find ourselves spiritually famished, the problem is not on God's side; it is on ours. The problem is not on the sending end, but the receiving end.

The pages of our Bible are filled with life-giving words. Let’s not take them for granted.

Tipping God

Some people have strange ideas about the offerings we take in church. Many people see them sort of like Tipping God.

The plate comes around and they give God a tip for “good service.” Maybe even 10% if His service has been really good (even waiters and waitresses get more than that).

But Jesus told a parable that turns this kind of thinking on its head.

A master gave different amounts of money to three of his servants. One was given 5 bags of gold; one received 2 bags; while one received 1 bag. Then the master went away with the promise to return.

Two of the servants were productive with their God-given resources. They received the master’s commendation, “Well done!” But remember what happened to the man with the one bag of gold? He hid it in the ground. The master reprimanded him saying, “What!? You could have at least put it in bank and earned interest! Give it to the faithful guy.”

There are several action points for me:
1. Our money is not ours; it’s God’s.
2. We are simply managers of that money. We have been asked to use it wisely for God’s kingdom.
3. God will hold us accountable for how we do that.

It is a whole different way to look at money. When we give 10% to God as an offering (and we should), we let go of our management of it, trusting the church to use it wisely.

But the rest – the 90% – is still God’s. And that is the treasure He has given to us. That is the portion we are managers of. That is the part He will hold us accountable for.

Unless we see all of our resources as belonging to God, and as money we have been asked to use generously, wise, and graciously for his kingdom – all we are doing is giving God a tip.

Growing pains

Most of us don’t like discipline.

And we certainly hope we never have to experience God’s discipline. But then we read something in the Hebrews that is so instructive. It says, Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. Heb 12:7

Suddenly I realized that I had a very limited understanding of God’s discipline. Often when we speak of discipline we mean punishment. But biblically, discipline is much more than that. It certainly can also be used of God’s chastisement. But it is more commonly used for His teaching, training, and guidance. In other words, it encompasses all that God does to develop us as godly people.

And notice it says, God is treating you as his children.

Every hardship you might face is always metered through our Father’s loving hand. Always it something through which He wants us to grow. No matter what.

Ultimately the best question we ask is this: “Lord, how does God want me to respond?”

Today, why not ask God to give you the faith to trust his Father love as He develops you into the person you were meant to be?

A prayer you will need in 2008

I can hardly think of a better prayer than the one found in 2 Chronicles 20:12.

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

There will be many times in 2008 that you will need these words.

There are, of course, times when God gives us great clarity about the future. At such times we can pray, “Lord, I know what you want me to do; still my eyes are on You.” But most of the time a more realistic prayer is, “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.”

Many people, if they are honest, don’t really like this prayer. They don’t like the insecurity it represents. They don’t like how dependent it makes them feel. Many people prefer to operate by this motto: “Lord, I know exactly what to I plan to do, so my eyes are not on you.” Others live by this creed, “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on myself.”

How much better to admit our weakness when it comes to predicting the future, and put our confidence in the One who has already been there?

A Clean Slate for the New Year

In some traditions, the New Year begins with people asking forgiveness from each other. Not a bad idea. In keeping with this theme, I have a small confession to those of you who follow this blog.

During December I ran a survey regarding our family dessert on Christmas Eve. I promised we would have the winning vote-getter and that I would post a photo to prove it. The choices were

• Chocolate Yule log


• Figgy Pudding


• Bread Pudding with Custard


• Mince Meat Pie


• English Trifle


• Gingerbread Men.

The winner was English Trifle. So we had .... Cheesecake! We planned to have English Trifle and then some nice neighbors gave us a beautiful cheesecake for Christmas. Forgive me.

As a way to make amends, Cindy did make a wonderful English Trifle yesterday and we had it for New Year's Eve (see photo as proof).