Pushing through the Tough Times

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you now that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  – James 1:2-4

I am in the midst of training for the half marathon that I run on an annual basis.  I try to stay in decent shape throughout the year, participating in some smaller runs here and there, as well even testing myself with obstacle course races and the like.  This morning was the longest run I have been on in some time, six miles.  Unfortunately, the humidity was over 90% and the run just sort of went south after the first few miles.  There were times during the run I just considered cutting it to a four mile run and coming back another day to try again.

When my runs go south, like this one did, I tend to talk to myself.  I talk to myself about quitting.  I talk to myself about why in the world I am even out there, I’m 43 years old.  I try to remind myself of the benefits of grinding it out and even encourage myself with the fact that most people just opt to take it easy and not even try.  When I get past all of the whining, I try and remind myself of this, even though I wanted to keep my pace under ten minute miles and I am now pushing eleven minute miles, even though my legs are screaming and my lungs are burning, even though I just about need gills to breath in the over saturated air, it is these tough runs where the difference is really made.  The cool, brisk, dry mornings are great, but it is here in these tough runs, that the real difference is made.

I know that in life things are much the same.  Tough times are never fun.  There are times that everything within us is screaming quit.  It is hard for us to see how we can possible keep on pressing.  But I am reminded that scripture tells me to count it all joy when I meet trials of various kinds.  I am reminded that these seasons of testing are working out something in me.  I am also reminded that as things are being worked out in me, I am moving toward the man God would have me be.

I finished the run this morning, it was slow.  My average mile pace was 10:50, about a minute slower than I hoped.  But, I got it done.  I got some hill work in and I will definitely be running my half marathon in much better conditions, as it is in November.  How do you finish such a run?  Keep moving.  Without a doubt some are going through some difficult trials.  How do you make it through?  Keep moving, talk to yourself, but most importantly talk to the Lord.

Insincerity Veiled as Sincerity

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”  - Matthew 7:12

Yesterday I received an email from a major Hotel and Resort company.  The greeting line of the email said, “Dear Valued Guest.”  And do you know what the email said?  Yeah, me neither, because I didn’t read it.  Their greeting line was an insincere effort to make me feel of value and special.  If I really mattered to them, then maybe they could at least come up with some software that would merge my name with the bulk email; then at least I could have read “Dear Darrell.”

The email was not a total loss however.  It did get me to wondering how many things we do that are insincere but garbed in a veil of sincerity.  We need to be careful of such things in our churches, our business, and our interactions with others.  When we ask how someone is doing, we need to make sure that we actually care.  When we say we are glad to see someone, we need to mean it.  When we say let me know if I can do anything for you, then we need to be committed to doing whatever we possible can.

Ultimately, I think the solution is in simply slowing down.  Make time for others.  Walk a little more slowly.  Make yourself available.  Listen.  Learn to genuinely care about what is going on around you.  In short, “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”

WW2P - Wednesday's Word to Pastors: Sermon Preparation

As a pastor, I am always looking for fresh and innovated ways to prepare and present sermons.  One of my greatest fears in life is getting stuck in a rut.  When it comes to preaching, such a rut would not be beneficial to the pastor or the congregation.

A while back I was having breakfast with one of my members.  He commented that he appreciated the way I approached my preaching.  He then went on to say he recognized that I started by trying to make a connection with the congregations and then presented the text that we were going to look at for the day.  From there he noted that I tried to draw application and then ended with some sort of a challenge.

Now, I spend a lot of time trying to put sermons together in a compelling way.  However, I had never intentionally done what he observed.  The rest of our breakfast, I was only half engaged because I thought, this guy just gave me the perfect sermon preparation approach. 

When I got back to the office, I took the four areas that he gave me and assigned each a word that started with “C” so that it would be easier to remember.

Connect – Share a common feeling, story, conflict, or concern.  Be creative; use personal stories, videos, visual aids, or props.  As part of connecting, pose a compelling question.

Consider – Invite the congregation to take a look at what scripture has to say about the issue at hand.

Counsel – Counsel the people as to how they can apply God’s word to their circumstance.  This is where we will want to draw application.

Close – Do not simple conclude the sermon.  Make a closing argument.  Work for the decision.  Do your best to convince the listener that they need to embrace God’s plan for their lives.

Hopefully my fateful breakfast with my friend will be of help to you too.  It is an incredible honor to stand in the pulpit each Sunday and expound the Word of God.  May we strive to be ever more effective in our efforts.