So here’s the offer: due to a generous gift from a Life Church dude who cares about men of Life Church, the first ten guys who respond to this we will give you ten bucks for trying it out. That covers your $9 fee with an extra buck to spare. Check out their website and then go here to see the details of how we are working this promotion. Fight the good fight - or it will kill you.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Gentlemen: An Offer For You
Hey guys, In talking about “moral margin,” one great way to keep yourself from really screwing up is to download a program called “Covenant Eyes”. This software program is not a filter. Rather, for $9 bucks a month it simply monitors your Internet activity and sends a report to your predetermined “accountability partner.” This always leads to exciting and helpful conversations. This software will help in your fight for masculine honor, purity and wholeness. I highly recommend it. I use this software along with many other leading guys at Life Church.
So here’s the offer: due to a generous gift from a Life Church dude who cares about men of Life Church, the first ten guys who respond to this we will give you ten bucks for trying it out. That covers your $9 fee with an extra buck to spare. Check out their website and then go here to see the details of how we are working this promotion. Fight the good fight - or it will kill you.
So here’s the offer: due to a generous gift from a Life Church dude who cares about men of Life Church, the first ten guys who respond to this we will give you ten bucks for trying it out. That covers your $9 fee with an extra buck to spare. Check out their website and then go here to see the details of how we are working this promotion. Fight the good fight - or it will kill you.
No More Margin
Our MARGIN teaching series is over but I hope a life with margin is just beginning for each of you. So many of you responded positively to this series. Many of you are working hard to make room in your life for the most important things and I am excited to see the results of your determined effort. So in order to be most helpful to you all, I wanted to pass on to you a few resources I have found which helped me learn about margin.
The best book I found on the topic as a whole is called “MARGIN: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives” by Richard A. Swenson, M.D. As a Christian medical doctor, Swenson brings a good perspective to this topic.
Time Margin
I highly recommend the small book “Choosing the Cheat: Who Wins When Family and Work Collide” by Andy Stanley. Andy says this is the most important book he has ever written. Andy’s chapter on “Watch Out For Falling Rocks” alone is worth the price of the book. Its a quick read but its message could change your life.
Financial Margin
The best resources I have found on gaining financial margin are Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace” material or his “Total Money Makeover” book. I am hoping in the future we will be able to host a Financial Peace University course at Life Church. Many of you have already been through this helpful course.
Spiritual & Emotional Margin
I recommend the book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” by Peter Scazzero. I listened to a podcast of Pastor Scazzero from Denver Seminary and found his thoughts very helpful. His major premise is that we can not be ‘spiritually mature’ and still be ‘emotionally immature.’
These authors and resources have been helpful to me and I hope they will be to you too.
The best book I found on the topic as a whole is called “MARGIN: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives” by Richard A. Swenson, M.D. As a Christian medical doctor, Swenson brings a good perspective to this topic.
Time Margin
I highly recommend the small book “Choosing the Cheat: Who Wins When Family and Work Collide” by Andy Stanley. Andy says this is the most important book he has ever written. Andy’s chapter on “Watch Out For Falling Rocks” alone is worth the price of the book. Its a quick read but its message could change your life.
Financial Margin
The best resources I have found on gaining financial margin are Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace” material or his “Total Money Makeover” book. I am hoping in the future we will be able to host a Financial Peace University course at Life Church. Many of you have already been through this helpful course.
Spiritual & Emotional Margin
I recommend the book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” by Peter Scazzero. I listened to a podcast of Pastor Scazzero from Denver Seminary and found his thoughts very helpful. His major premise is that we can not be ‘spiritually mature’ and still be ‘emotionally immature.’
These authors and resources have been helpful to me and I hope they will be to you too.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Financial Margin
Last Sunday we talked about the importance of gaining financial margin. I explained the first step in getting financial margin is finding contentment in your relationship with Jesus (Heb. 13:5). Here I will share with you some practical steps that will help lead you to a place of financial margin.
1. Learn Contentment.
This contentment can only come from Jesus. If you do not learn to be content with what you have - you will never have margin. Focus on Him. Think about what He has given you. Remember & believe that ‘He became poor so we could be come rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9)
2. Give Generously
This is counter-intuitive. Most of us think “once I have margin, then I will start to give generously.” The reverse is true. The more money people make, the less generous we become. Americans were much more generous during the great depression than we were in the booming economy of the 90’s. The more you make, the more you want, the less you give. Give generously now. Give sacrificially now. Then you will begin to experience the joys of generous giving. Additionally, as you give, the firm grip which ‘desire-for-more’ has on our hearts will slowly loosen its hold.
3. Distinguish Between Your NEEDS And Your WANTS
We have convinced ourselves that we need way more than we really do. You don’t need a brand new car, you don’t need 1800 square feet of living space, you don’t need a full data plan, you don’t need to pay $80 bucks for a pair of jeans, you don’t need to eat out, you don’t need to go to the theater, you don’t need to buy the jumbo value pack with a one gallon soda and drywall bucket of popcorn, you don’t need the full cable package... you don’t really need cable at all.
We tell ourselves we need these things (and many more) or we are convinced we deserve them. “I work hard” you say. That’s good. We should all work hard to earn a living - but no one deserves to live beyond their means. Remember Prov. 21:20? “the foolish man devours all he has.” Ouch!
Getting margin in any area of life means putting first things first. To gain financial margin follow this order - Find contentment in Jesus, Give generously, Save, Pay your bills (needs) - then with the remainder enjoy the good things God gives you (wants).
This contentment can only come from Jesus. If you do not learn to be content with what you have - you will never have margin. Focus on Him. Think about what He has given you. Remember & believe that ‘He became poor so we could be come rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9)
2. Give Generously
This is counter-intuitive. Most of us think “once I have margin, then I will start to give generously.” The reverse is true. The more money people make, the less generous we become. Americans were much more generous during the great depression than we were in the booming economy of the 90’s. The more you make, the more you want, the less you give. Give generously now. Give sacrificially now. Then you will begin to experience the joys of generous giving. Additionally, as you give, the firm grip which ‘desire-for-more’ has on our hearts will slowly loosen its hold.
3. Distinguish Between Your NEEDS And Your WANTS
We have convinced ourselves that we need way more than we really do. You don’t need a brand new car, you don’t need 1800 square feet of living space, you don’t need a full data plan, you don’t need to pay $80 bucks for a pair of jeans, you don’t need to eat out, you don’t need to go to the theater, you don’t need to buy the jumbo value pack with a one gallon soda and drywall bucket of popcorn, you don’t need the full cable package... you don’t really need cable at all.
We tell ourselves we need these things (and many more) or we are convinced we deserve them. “I work hard” you say. That’s good. We should all work hard to earn a living - but no one deserves to live beyond their means. Remember Prov. 21:20? “the foolish man devours all he has.” Ouch!
Getting margin in any area of life means putting first things first. To gain financial margin follow this order - Find contentment in Jesus, Give generously, Save, Pay your bills (needs) - then with the remainder enjoy the good things God gives you (wants).
Thursday, January 26, 2012
How Big Is Your Plate?
“I can’t schedule margin! I’m already not doing as much as my friend is.”
Many of us have this fear. We see others being productive. We see them accomplishing tasks and taking responsibilities. We are convinced we need to keep up with them. I need to do more because THEY are doing more.
Here is my advice: Stop comparing your self to others and figure out how big YOUR plate is. God has given each of us varying plate sizes - or capacity to get things done. Some people seem to juggle several major responsibilities and still have margin while others are overloaded with one or two things. Know how big YOUR plate is.
Based on your own core values, how much can you effectively handle and still have margin in your life? Once you know your limits (and we all have them), then you can prioritize what you do - making sure the most important things in life are on your plate.
Many of us have this fear. We see others being productive. We see them accomplishing tasks and taking responsibilities. We are convinced we need to keep up with them. I need to do more because THEY are doing more.
Here is my advice: Stop comparing your self to others and figure out how big YOUR plate is. God has given each of us varying plate sizes - or capacity to get things done. Some people seem to juggle several major responsibilities and still have margin while others are overloaded with one or two things. Know how big YOUR plate is.
Based on your own core values, how much can you effectively handle and still have margin in your life? Once you know your limits (and we all have them), then you can prioritize what you do - making sure the most important things in life are on your plate.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Get Margin and Accomplish More
When we start talking about ‘margin,’ one thing we all worry about is if we intentionally place more margin in our schedules won’t we be less productive? But I believe the opposite is true.
Margin Empowers Productivity
When we are always pushing our lives to the limit - we live on the borderline of exhaustion. Our temper is short, sleep is scarce, we’re pissed off for no reason, and we’re usually stressed out. This state of life does not fuel productivity. It may work for a time, but not for the long haul.
Trust Jesus - Slow Down
When we learn to trust Jesus and force ourselves to slow down - we slowly become refreshed. It is during this ‘downtime’ that we often have our most significant thoughts and make life changing decisions.
The Apostle Paul was one of the most productive people in history - But somewhere around 6 years of his ministry life were lived from a prison cell. In prison he wrote 5 books of the bible (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon & 2 Timothy.) The Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation while exiled alone on an island. John Bunyan wrote much of “Pilgrim's Progress” while in prison. I have also heard many modern stories of lives being radically transformed by Jesus in the context of a prison.
What is it about a prison that helps some produce their greatest contribution to society? Maybe its all the time they have to think, pray and talk with Jesus.
Don’t make Jesus throw you in the slammer to get you to slow down. Trust Jesus. Slow down. Then watch how productive He will make you.
Margin Empowers Productivity
When we are always pushing our lives to the limit - we live on the borderline of exhaustion. Our temper is short, sleep is scarce, we’re pissed off for no reason, and we’re usually stressed out. This state of life does not fuel productivity. It may work for a time, but not for the long haul.
Trust Jesus - Slow Down
When we learn to trust Jesus and force ourselves to slow down - we slowly become refreshed. It is during this ‘downtime’ that we often have our most significant thoughts and make life changing decisions.
The Apostle Paul was one of the most productive people in history - But somewhere around 6 years of his ministry life were lived from a prison cell. In prison he wrote 5 books of the bible (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon & 2 Timothy.) The Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation while exiled alone on an island. John Bunyan wrote much of “Pilgrim's Progress” while in prison. I have also heard many modern stories of lives being radically transformed by Jesus in the context of a prison.
What is it about a prison that helps some produce their greatest contribution to society? Maybe its all the time they have to think, pray and talk with Jesus.
Don’t make Jesus throw you in the slammer to get you to slow down. Trust Jesus. Slow down. Then watch how productive He will make you.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Changed For Eternity
Jesus is transforming lives at Life Church. Every week we have first time guests in attendance at church. Every week someone has come to Life Church who has not been to church before - or at least for a very long time. Every week each of you are scattered all over Lancaster learning what it means to be “sent by Jesus.” Every day good deeds are being done and conversations are taking place that help lead people to Jesus for life.
Every day there are many many good ways we can invest the 24 hours God has given to us. But when we invest our time and our energy in the mission of Jesus, the lives of people are changed for eternity. I am excited and humbled to share in this mission with you all.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Fig Leaves or Freedom
When was the last time you royally screwed up? You knew it was wrong but you went and did it anyway. I assure you every single one of us has been there. But then what do we do? Normally our first response is to hide, cover up and hope no one finds out. That’s what Adam and Eve did when they screwed up. They took fig leaves and covered up - they felt guilt and were ashamed. Too many of us live with this same guilt and shame.
Jesus came to bring us freedom (Gal. 5:1, Jn. 8:32). We can enjoy this freedom when we boldly admit to Jesus and to trusted Christian friends (Jms 5:16) that we have screwed up. Jesus said he did not come to judge the world, but to save it (Jn. 3:17). When we bring our screw ups into the Jesus - we are not judged but rather we find grace & freedom and they begin to loose their power over us.
The longer you use the fig leaf to hide your sin, the more power it will exert over you. If you want freedom and growth - step one is to confess it - To Jesus first (He already knows anyway - so be honest) and with a trusted Christian friend or mentor who will support you and pray for you.
Come out of the dark and find life in the Light.
Jesus came to bring us freedom (Gal. 5:1, Jn. 8:32). We can enjoy this freedom when we boldly admit to Jesus and to trusted Christian friends (Jms 5:16) that we have screwed up. Jesus said he did not come to judge the world, but to save it (Jn. 3:17). When we bring our screw ups into the Jesus - we are not judged but rather we find grace & freedom and they begin to loose their power over us.
The longer you use the fig leaf to hide your sin, the more power it will exert over you. If you want freedom and growth - step one is to confess it - To Jesus first (He already knows anyway - so be honest) and with a trusted Christian friend or mentor who will support you and pray for you.
Come out of the dark and find life in the Light.
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