Fort Worth First Seventh-day Adventist Church
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The other day as I was driving into church I noticed an interesting sight. There was this beautiful hawk flying right above the road I was traveling on, coasting on the air currents. I've always been a fan of these kinds of birds so I risked driving into a ditch to stare up at its white-with-speckles underside.
As I skillfully navigated a bend in the road with only one eye half focued on where I was going I saw a little tiny bird divebomb the hawk. I have no idea what kind of bird he was but he was fast and he was angry. He kept darting up and down and around the larger bird, pecking and poking at every opportunity.
It seemed like an incredible thing to me. On the one hand we have a bird of prey that is specially tailored to kill and eat other animals. On the other hand is a little sparrow type bird (who I assume eats seeds and worms) chasing and harrassing its more dangerous cousin.
What was truly amazing was that the hawk was trying to run away! Why didn't he turn around and give that little bird what-for?
It occured to me that we sometimes find ourselves in the same situation. Through Christ we are majestic and powerful, much like that hawk I saw. In comparison, the devil is small and flighty, certainly nothing that should concern us. But for some reason we let him divebomb us all the time. We let him harrass us and take cheap shots. We let insensitive words that people say sink in and ruin our days. Or maybe we keep replaying the negative tape that the devil has given us to play through our minds.
Sometimes I think we just need to turn around and give the devil what-for. Just like that hawk should have done. The Bible says that Jesus has given his people authority over the devil and his fallen angels. They can't resist the power of Christ, neither can they resist us if we have Christ living inside.
Like the hawk we are far more powerful than our enemy if only we would stop running and start fighting. One of the keys to spiritual success is remembering that the one who is in us is more powerful than the one who is in the world. If Jesus is living in your heart, your victory against Satan is already secured. You just need to remember to fight back.
Ephesians 6:12-13
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood , but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
"Every organization is perfectly designed to continue getting the results it is already getting."
I became acquainted with this phrase about a year ago at some pastor's meetings and I only had to hear it once for it to sink deep into my memory. It makes perfect sense and the conclusion is obvious. If you like the results you are getting, keep doing what your doing. If your dissatisfied with your results, something needs to change.
As I think about it, this axiom applies equally well to organizations, churches, and even individuals. If the church is growing and visitors are constantly coming in contact with God in meaningful ways, then the church leadership should probably just keep doing what they are doing. On the other hand, if the baptismal tank hasn't been filled in years (or decades - yikes) then it's time to shake things up a bit and try something new.
I think the real problem with trying things new is that it's not very comfortable. It stretches us in ways we're not accustomed to being stretched and forces us to think in new and creative ways. Sometimes just trying new things isn't even enough. Sometimes we need to have a paradigm shift, which quite frankly, is terrifying. But no matter how frightening the idea of change may be we always return to the truism above, every organization is perfectly designed to continue getting the results it's already getting. If we don't like the results we're getting, something has to change.
Let's take a minute now and apply this principle to our everyday lives. Are you feeling stressed? Or maybe your devotional life is fizzled? Perhaps you find you never have time for church, or family, or God? Many of us are unhappy with our lifestyle, wishing we had more time for exercise or learning or playing with our kids. Here's the thing we all need to realize, it's never going to get better, it's never going to be any different, unless we do something different.
It's so obvious it's almost embarrassing to have to point it out. And yet, how many of us continue in the same routine day after day after day after day wondering when things are going to change/get better/ease up? The truth is, they will never change, get better, or ease up until we take a hard look at our lives (and our priorities) and purposefully change things up a bit.
This is a lesson that I need to learn just like everyone else. I really enjoy cycling and have used it as my primary means of exercise for the last few years. Lately however I just haven't felt like I had the time to get out and ride. I keep wondering when things are going to slow down so that I'll be able to hit the road again. I've realized though, that if I want my health to be a priority, I have to make it one. I have to change my schedule a bit. I have to say "no" to a few things. I have to make exercise a non-negotiable. In other words, I have to change what I'm doing so that I can see different results.
So there it is. If your 100% happy with everything that is happening in your world, then keep doing what your doing (and yes this includes your spiritual walk as well). But if something is missing and there are some areas that need attention then it's time to change things up a bit.
So what change are you going to make?
As for me, I'm going to hit the roads and peddle my heart out.________________________
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Pastor's Blog
The other day as I was driving into church I noticed an interesting sight. There was this beautiful hawk flying right above the road I was traveling on, coasting on the air currents. I've always been a fan of these kinds of birds so I risked driving into a ditch to stare up at its white-with-speckles underside.
As I skillfully navigated a bend in the road with only one eye half focued on where I was going I saw a little tiny bird divebomb the hawk. I have no idea what kind of bird he was but he was fast and he was angry. He kept darting up and down and around the larger bird, pecking and poking at every opportunity.
It seemed like an incredible thing to me. On the one hand we have a bird of prey that is specially tailored to kill and eat other animals. On the other hand is a little sparrow type bird (who I assume eats seeds and worms) chasing and harrassing its more dangerous cousin.
What was truly amazing was that the hawk was trying to run away! Why didn't he turn around and give that little bird what-for?
It occured to me that we sometimes find ourselves in the same situation. Through Christ we are majestic and powerful, much like that hawk I saw. In comparison, the devil is small and flighty, certainly nothing that should concern us. But for some reason we let him divebomb us all the time. We let him harrass us and take cheap shots. We let insensitive words that people say sink in and ruin our days. Or maybe we keep replaying the negative tape that the devil has given us to play through our minds.
Sometimes I think we just need to turn around and give the devil what-for. Just like that hawk should have done. The Bible says that Jesus has given his people authority over the devil and his fallen angels. They can't resist the power of Christ, neither can they resist us if we have Christ living inside.
Like the hawk we are far more powerful than our enemy if only we would stop running and start fighting. One of the keys to spiritual success is remembering that the one who is in us is more powerful than the one who is in the world. If Jesus is living in your heart, your victory against Satan is already secured. You just need to remember to fight back.
Ephesians 6:12-13
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood , but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
"Every organization is perfectly designed to continue getting the results it is already getting."
I became acquainted with this phrase about a year ago at some pastor's meetings and I only had to hear it once for it to sink deep into my memory. It makes perfect sense and the conclusion is obvious. If you like the results you are getting, keep doing what your doing. If your dissatisfied with your results, something needs to change.
As I think about it, this axiom applies equally well to organizations, churches, and even individuals. If the church is growing and visitors are constantly coming in contact with God in meaningful ways, then the church leadership should probably just keep doing what they are doing. On the other hand, if the baptismal tank hasn't been filled in years (or decades - yikes) then it's time to shake things up a bit and try something new.
I think the real problem with trying things new is that it's not very comfortable. It stretches us in ways we're not accustomed to being stretched and forces us to think in new and creative ways. Sometimes just trying new things isn't even enough. Sometimes we need to have a paradigm shift, which quite frankly, is terrifying. But no matter how frightening the idea of change may be we always return to the truism above, every organization is perfectly designed to continue getting the results it's already getting. If we don't like the results we're getting, something has to change.
Let's take a minute now and apply this principle to our everyday lives. Are you feeling stressed? Or maybe your devotional life is fizzled? Perhaps you find you never have time for church, or family, or God? Many of us are unhappy with our lifestyle, wishing we had more time for exercise or learning or playing with our kids. Here's the thing we all need to realize, it's never going to get better, it's never going to be any different, unless we do something different.
It's so obvious it's almost embarrassing to have to point it out. And yet, how many of us continue in the same routine day after day after day after day wondering when things are going to change/get better/ease up? The truth is, they will never change, get better, or ease up until we take a hard look at our lives (and our priorities) and purposefully change things up a bit.
This is a lesson that I need to learn just like everyone else. I really enjoy cycling and have used it as my primary means of exercise for the last few years. Lately however I just haven't felt like I had the time to get out and ride. I keep wondering when things are going to slow down so that I'll be able to hit the road again. I've realized though, that if I want my health to be a priority, I have to make it one. I have to change my schedule a bit. I have to say "no" to a few things. I have to make exercise a non-negotiable. In other words, I have to change what I'm doing so that I can see different results.
So there it is. If your 100% happy with everything that is happening in your world, then keep doing what your doing (and yes this includes your spiritual walk as well). But if something is missing and there are some areas that need attention then it's time to change things up a bit.
So what change are you going to make?
As for me, I'm going to hit the roads and peddle my heart out.________________________
Additional links on this topic:
| Big Bird, Little Bird |
