I've been watching the president's state of the union address. While talking about trade agreements he made mention of the "purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere." What in the world did that mean?
I'm not totally ignorant, even though I am an ignoramus, but that phrase baffled me. I know I could look up each of the words, put them together and make some sense out of his statement. But gaining the understanding of that phrase isn't what I wanted to write about.
It got me thinking just how we as Christians have the tendency of using words and phrases that the unchurched probably say, "what in the world did that mean?" While teaching Grove 101 this weekend I was aware of the many things we talk about and take for granted that everyone else talks the same way. I hope to get more real in the future and not assume anybody knows all the Christianese that I have picked up over the years.
I would challenge you to also look at your conversations with seekers (assuming you are having them) and make sure you are not talking over their heads.
I just finished placing the order for our invitations for our Big Day" on February 10th and I think they are slick. I think they are attractive enough that you will want to send a bunch out to family and friends. I hope you're compiling a list of those you want to invite - this could be the biggest Sunday in our young history.
I also hope you are excited to hear Dave Wible this Sunday share about Voice of the Martyrs. You can prepare yourself by looking at their website at www.persecution.com.
Please pray for Cindy and I as we go to Founders Week at Moody Bible Institute Friday night. We are looking forward to a few days away and sitting under the teaching of some great speakers.
Finally, if anyone knows what "purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere" means - keep it to yourself - it's over my head!
In His Grip,
Jeff
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Are You Under Attack?
Reading an article in a magazine I subscribe to and the author is really challenging me.
He is talking about people who are Christians but really not seeking to live a righteous lifestyle. He says you can tell by the fact that they have no opposition in their life. He maintains that a true sign of pursuing Christ with your whole heart is that you will experience attacks from Satan. If you aren't pursuing God then there's no reason for him to come after you - he's already got influence over you.
So I'm thinking - am I under attack? Enough attack to be a sign that I'm really headlong seeking after God? A few years back I sang a song in a group I belonged to called The Common Bond that was called "Evidence". Our kids were little and they used to think we were singing about M & M's - but I digress. The song said something like, Evidence, evidence, does your life show enough evidence. Evidence, evidence, what does your life say? Then the verse goes "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If they put you in front of a panel of judges, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
It was a fun song - with some pretty serious lyrics. How about you - any evidence lately?
This Sunday I'll be ending our series on Work Matters with a message entitled, "How Do I Leave A Legacy". Hope you can join us!
In His Grip, (I hope tightly too)
Jeff
He is talking about people who are Christians but really not seeking to live a righteous lifestyle. He says you can tell by the fact that they have no opposition in their life. He maintains that a true sign of pursuing Christ with your whole heart is that you will experience attacks from Satan. If you aren't pursuing God then there's no reason for him to come after you - he's already got influence over you.
So I'm thinking - am I under attack? Enough attack to be a sign that I'm really headlong seeking after God? A few years back I sang a song in a group I belonged to called The Common Bond that was called "Evidence". Our kids were little and they used to think we were singing about M & M's - but I digress. The song said something like, Evidence, evidence, does your life show enough evidence. Evidence, evidence, what does your life say? Then the verse goes "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If they put you in front of a panel of judges, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
It was a fun song - with some pretty serious lyrics. How about you - any evidence lately?
This Sunday I'll be ending our series on Work Matters with a message entitled, "How Do I Leave A Legacy". Hope you can join us!
In His Grip, (I hope tightly too)
Jeff
Friday, January 11, 2008
It's In The Dash
Sitting in Seekers having a decaf and thinking about the events of the last week.
It's been several years since the passing of my parents and quite honestly I never thought Cindy's mom would die. She's always been so healthy (92 years old) and up til just a few short months ago was pretty with it.
But suddenly we get the call that she's having trouble breathing, the doctor's been called for an assessment. Within an hour the news is that she's fading quickly and it might be a couple hours or couple of days. We pile in the car and make last minute arrangements for the puppies and we're off to Detroit. One hour on the road and Cindy's sister calls and tells us she's gone.
Immediately I am recalling our first meeting - flashing through many birthdays and Christmas'- awesome dinners - and then I'm brought to tears when I think of how much joy it gave her to make me my sour cream frosted chocolate cake.
A more unselfish woman I'll never meet (unless of course you know my wife Cindy).
We get to mom's house and wait for Cindy's sisters to return from lunch with all of mom's stuff from the nursing home. More tears and a lot of stories. The rest of New Years Eve is a blur - we're exhausted and retire by 10pm.
Back to Cleveland after shoveling the wet snow out of the drive, finish my sermon, my funeral message, pack and thank the Ricci's for going above and beyond by taking our terrors, I mean terriers, back to their house for a few days.
Jenny makes the long trek with a 6 month old from Tennessee, Jason and Amy come to Cleveland from Chicago, drop their dogs with Carol and then ride back to Detroit with us. A lot of talking about mom, and more tears. Cindy knits patiently as mile after mile passes and I see where she got such a gift - that was one of Wyvonna's passions.
The whole family is now back at moms for a pizza party - the pictures come out and we pick enough for a slide show. Jason puts it together for the funeral. I uploaded the movie we made for mom at the following link. http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=jsivyer01
Viewing hours are short on Friday, just 3 hours - other than my family, an old friend, 90 year old May comes to pay respects.
The funeral is Saturday - we call Gene (Cindy's brother) in San Diego on the speaker phone (he was too sick to travel) and he shares some beautiful thoughts about mom. So do the rest of the children and grand kids. Then we're off to the cemetery, my brothers blessed me by singing with me "This World Is Not My Home" and we say our final goodbyes.
Next thing you know we re dashing back to Cleveland. And that's my key point I want to make. It's not about the day we are born or the day we die - it's in the dash. How are you doing during your dash? Leaving a legacy? What kind?
On Sunday, January 27th I'll be speaking about this thing called a legacy - I hope you'll do some thinking about it and come prepared to hear what God puts on my heart.
Finally, your calls, cards, and beautiful flowers have all added to the healing. I hope you enjoy the movie. Wish you could have met her.
It's been several years since the passing of my parents and quite honestly I never thought Cindy's mom would die. She's always been so healthy (92 years old) and up til just a few short months ago was pretty with it.
But suddenly we get the call that she's having trouble breathing, the doctor's been called for an assessment. Within an hour the news is that she's fading quickly and it might be a couple hours or couple of days. We pile in the car and make last minute arrangements for the puppies and we're off to Detroit. One hour on the road and Cindy's sister calls and tells us she's gone.
Immediately I am recalling our first meeting - flashing through many birthdays and Christmas'- awesome dinners - and then I'm brought to tears when I think of how much joy it gave her to make me my sour cream frosted chocolate cake.
A more unselfish woman I'll never meet (unless of course you know my wife Cindy).
We get to mom's house and wait for Cindy's sisters to return from lunch with all of mom's stuff from the nursing home. More tears and a lot of stories. The rest of New Years Eve is a blur - we're exhausted and retire by 10pm.
Back to Cleveland after shoveling the wet snow out of the drive, finish my sermon, my funeral message, pack and thank the Ricci's for going above and beyond by taking our terrors, I mean terriers, back to their house for a few days.
Jenny makes the long trek with a 6 month old from Tennessee, Jason and Amy come to Cleveland from Chicago, drop their dogs with Carol and then ride back to Detroit with us. A lot of talking about mom, and more tears. Cindy knits patiently as mile after mile passes and I see where she got such a gift - that was one of Wyvonna's passions.
The whole family is now back at moms for a pizza party - the pictures come out and we pick enough for a slide show. Jason puts it together for the funeral. I uploaded the movie we made for mom at the following link. http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=jsivyer01
Viewing hours are short on Friday, just 3 hours - other than my family, an old friend, 90 year old May comes to pay respects.
The funeral is Saturday - we call Gene (Cindy's brother) in San Diego on the speaker phone (he was too sick to travel) and he shares some beautiful thoughts about mom. So do the rest of the children and grand kids. Then we're off to the cemetery, my brothers blessed me by singing with me "This World Is Not My Home" and we say our final goodbyes.
Next thing you know we re dashing back to Cleveland. And that's my key point I want to make. It's not about the day we are born or the day we die - it's in the dash. How are you doing during your dash? Leaving a legacy? What kind?
On Sunday, January 27th I'll be speaking about this thing called a legacy - I hope you'll do some thinking about it and come prepared to hear what God puts on my heart.
Finally, your calls, cards, and beautiful flowers have all added to the healing. I hope you enjoy the movie. Wish you could have met her.
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