If you missed my message, God's Vision for Your Life, today, it will be available online at http://www.brookwoodchurch.org/mediaplayer on Monday morning.
If you'd like to contribute to Water of Life and provide fresh drinking water to people in West Africa and India: http://www.givefreshwater.org
God bless,
Allen
Sunday, March 13, 2011
The Bible Reveals God’s Vision for Your Life
By Allen White
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21
I love books. Like some people love chocolate, I love books. At any given time, I am in the middle of six or more books. Always. So, you can imagine that over the years, I’ve collected quite a few books.
So many books, in fact, that when we moved into the new offices at Brookwood Church, there wasn’t enough room in my office for all of my books and me. My books are in my office, in my house, in my garage, and in other people's offices.
What do I read? I’m so glad that you asked. I read books on leadership, discipleship, spiritual formation, sales and marketing, reference, theology, commentaries, novels – all kinds of pastor/leader/teacher sorts of things.
Most of my books were written by one author. Sometimes there is a co-author. But, among my sets of biblical commentaries there are many authors and a general editor. Since each book is written by a different scholar, the general editor makes sure that the whole thing makes sense together. You don’t want a legalist interpreting James, and then an antinomian translating Galatians in the same set of books. That would be confusing. The thoughts have to flow.
I have one book that was written by 40 authors over 1,500 years on three continents in three different languages. It has no general author. How could it? The writing took 40 generations to complete. That book is the Bible.
The Bible is a remarkable book. Using the personalities and experiences of the writers, the Holy Spirit led them to compose different elements to reveal God’s vision for our lives.
Both kings and peasants wrote of grace and redemption. A murderer reveals the origins of the universe (Genesis). A tax collector translates Jesus to a Jewish audience (Matthew). A terrorist leads us down the Romans Road of God’s grace.
No one could have planned the Bible. There were no cheat sheets as to what should be written next.
We aren’t told everything that we want to know, but we are given everything that we need to know. Are these the end times? We don’t know that. What we do know is that God has given us His power to win the lost (Acts 1:6-8). But, what about all of this turmoil in the Middle East? Is that a sign?
If it is a sign, it points us to look up from the internet and look across the street to our neighbor who needs Christ. The answers to their problems are found in God’s Word.
God’s Word is alive and active. It’s not a dusty old book. The Bible is the bestselling book of all-time, yet it’s nearly 2,000 years old.
What do you need to hear from God today? The Bible reveals God’s vision for your life.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21
I love books. Like some people love chocolate, I love books. At any given time, I am in the middle of six or more books. Always. So, you can imagine that over the years, I’ve collected quite a few books.
So many books, in fact, that when we moved into the new offices at Brookwood Church, there wasn’t enough room in my office for all of my books and me. My books are in my office, in my house, in my garage, and in other people's offices.
What do I read? I’m so glad that you asked. I read books on leadership, discipleship, spiritual formation, sales and marketing, reference, theology, commentaries, novels – all kinds of pastor/leader/teacher sorts of things.
Most of my books were written by one author. Sometimes there is a co-author. But, among my sets of biblical commentaries there are many authors and a general editor. Since each book is written by a different scholar, the general editor makes sure that the whole thing makes sense together. You don’t want a legalist interpreting James, and then an antinomian translating Galatians in the same set of books. That would be confusing. The thoughts have to flow.
I have one book that was written by 40 authors over 1,500 years on three continents in three different languages. It has no general author. How could it? The writing took 40 generations to complete. That book is the Bible.
The Bible is a remarkable book. Using the personalities and experiences of the writers, the Holy Spirit led them to compose different elements to reveal God’s vision for our lives.
Both kings and peasants wrote of grace and redemption. A murderer reveals the origins of the universe (Genesis). A tax collector translates Jesus to a Jewish audience (Matthew). A terrorist leads us down the Romans Road of God’s grace.
No one could have planned the Bible. There were no cheat sheets as to what should be written next.
We aren’t told everything that we want to know, but we are given everything that we need to know. Are these the end times? We don’t know that. What we do know is that God has given us His power to win the lost (Acts 1:6-8). But, what about all of this turmoil in the Middle East? Is that a sign?
If it is a sign, it points us to look up from the internet and look across the street to our neighbor who needs Christ. The answers to their problems are found in God’s Word.
God’s Word is alive and active. It’s not a dusty old book. The Bible is the bestselling book of all-time, yet it’s nearly 2,000 years old.
What do you need to hear from God today? The Bible reveals God’s vision for your life.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Putting Yourself Forward Only Moves You Backward
By Allen White
Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. Esther 10:3
Mordecai now occupied the spot that Haman once held (Esther 3:1). What Haman scratched and fought to attain, Mordecai was given as a reward for his faithfulness. The last person was now in a high position, the one putting himself first, Haman, was no more. The end of the story is poetic. The good guy finished first. The one who did the right thing got the reward. It was just. It was also Christ-like.
Jesus didn’t come to be served, even though God Almighty deserves our service. Jesus came as a servant to seek and save the lost (Matthew 20:28). When His disciples argued over who deserved what, Jesus very clearly explained that in His kingdom putting yourself forward only moves you backward, but the guy at the end of the line is better positioned to lead (Matthew 19:30).
Mordecai supported Esther and guided her along the way (Esther 2:7). Mordecai reported the plot to assassinate the king (Esther 2:19-23). Mordecai mourned the plight of his people (Esther 4). The humility of sackcloth and ashes brought about the power to save God’s people.
Our temptation is to self-promote and to brag about what we have done and what we can do. This is opposite to Jesus’ attitude:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:3-7).
I don’t add this verse to shame us. God’s way is completely different from how we are wired. This is part of our fallenness. But, God doesn’t leave us there.
Rather than beating ourselves up with Paul’s words about Jesus, ask God to build this kind of character in your life. Granted, God often uses opposite situations to forge our characters. Surrendering to God is a dangerous prayer. But, depending on ourselves is far more dangerous.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. Esther 10:3
Mordecai now occupied the spot that Haman once held (Esther 3:1). What Haman scratched and fought to attain, Mordecai was given as a reward for his faithfulness. The last person was now in a high position, the one putting himself first, Haman, was no more. The end of the story is poetic. The good guy finished first. The one who did the right thing got the reward. It was just. It was also Christ-like.
Jesus didn’t come to be served, even though God Almighty deserves our service. Jesus came as a servant to seek and save the lost (Matthew 20:28). When His disciples argued over who deserved what, Jesus very clearly explained that in His kingdom putting yourself forward only moves you backward, but the guy at the end of the line is better positioned to lead (Matthew 19:30).
Mordecai supported Esther and guided her along the way (Esther 2:7). Mordecai reported the plot to assassinate the king (Esther 2:19-23). Mordecai mourned the plight of his people (Esther 4). The humility of sackcloth and ashes brought about the power to save God’s people.
Our temptation is to self-promote and to brag about what we have done and what we can do. This is opposite to Jesus’ attitude:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:3-7).
I don’t add this verse to shame us. God’s way is completely different from how we are wired. This is part of our fallenness. But, God doesn’t leave us there.
Rather than beating ourselves up with Paul’s words about Jesus, ask God to build this kind of character in your life. Granted, God often uses opposite situations to forge our characters. Surrendering to God is a dangerous prayer. But, depending on ourselves is far more dangerous.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I'm Speaking at Brookwood Church This Sunday
If you live in or around Simpsonville, South Carolina, I will be speaking this Sunday, March 13 at Brookwood Church on "God's Vision for Your Life." Services are at 9, 10:30 & 11:59 am. For directions: brookwoodchurch.org.
Don't forget to "Spring Forward" this weekend. We lose one hour of sleep on Saturday night as we move our clocks forward one hour. Free coffee is available in the concourse.
Don't forget to "Spring Forward" this weekend. We lose one hour of sleep on Saturday night as we move our clocks forward one hour. Free coffee is available in the concourse.
The Beauty of Being Back Into a Corner
By Allen White
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.
The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.
So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. Esther 9:1-5, 14, 16-17, 19, 26
The Jews no longer feared the people. Instead, the people feared the Jews. Rather than the palace officials apprehending Mordecai, they were advocating for him. In fact, many of the people who once despised the Jews, now became Jews (Esther 9:17). The tide had turned. Just days before, a Jewish identity was a death sentence, now it was a badge of courage and strength.
The secret weapon of God’s people has never been their prowess or their military might. Their battles were never won on superior strategy or a show of force. The strength of God’s people has always been their God. No one else could have engineered a scheme to deliver them. In fact, the odds were completely stacked against them.
If not for God’s grace, the courage of a beauty queen, and the encouragement of her cousin, the Jewish people would have perished that day. Instead, God’s intervention brought victory on the scheduled day of their defeat. God was the only explanation for their deliverance. That’s the beauty of being backed into a corner and having no options.
When we are completely stuck and have no answers, when we’ve tried everything that we can think of, when we’re consulted every person that we know, when we’re at a complete loss, then we’re ready for God to work. Now, we could certainly ask God sooner, but many of us are not wired that way.
When God is the only one who can deliver us, then it’s very clear that God is our deliverer. No one else can claim the credit. No one else receives the glory. It all goes to God.
What corner do you find yourself backed into today? Have you exhausted all of your ideas and all of your resources? Don’t despair. You’re in a perfect place for God to help you. Just ask Him.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.
The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.
So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. Esther 9:1-5, 14, 16-17, 19, 26
The Jews no longer feared the people. Instead, the people feared the Jews. Rather than the palace officials apprehending Mordecai, they were advocating for him. In fact, many of the people who once despised the Jews, now became Jews (Esther 9:17). The tide had turned. Just days before, a Jewish identity was a death sentence, now it was a badge of courage and strength.
The secret weapon of God’s people has never been their prowess or their military might. Their battles were never won on superior strategy or a show of force. The strength of God’s people has always been their God. No one else could have engineered a scheme to deliver them. In fact, the odds were completely stacked against them.
If not for God’s grace, the courage of a beauty queen, and the encouragement of her cousin, the Jewish people would have perished that day. Instead, God’s intervention brought victory on the scheduled day of their defeat. God was the only explanation for their deliverance. That’s the beauty of being backed into a corner and having no options.
When we are completely stuck and have no answers, when we’ve tried everything that we can think of, when we’re consulted every person that we know, when we’re at a complete loss, then we’re ready for God to work. Now, we could certainly ask God sooner, but many of us are not wired that way.
When God is the only one who can deliver us, then it’s very clear that God is our deliverer. No one else can claim the credit. No one else receives the glory. It all goes to God.
What corner do you find yourself backed into today? Have you exhausted all of your ideas and all of your resources? Don’t despair. You’re in a perfect place for God to help you. Just ask Him.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thou Shalt Party
By Allen White
For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. Esther 8:16-17
The king’s second edict was cause for a party. The Jewish people celebrated that day, and every year since. Purim, named for the lots cast by Haman to determine the date of the massacre (Esther 3:7), has occurred around the 15th of March every year since (March 20th for 2011).
A careful reading of Scripture will show that God commanded many parties: Passover (Exodus 12), Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25), the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16), and others. Why would God mandate parties? It seems like God’s commands come across more like “Thou Shalt Not…” rather than “Thou Shalt Party…” In God’s eyes, celebrations are just as important as surrender.
How do you celebrate God’s goodness in your life? What has God’s grace accomplished in your life? So often we focus so much on what’s going wrong that we forget about what’s going right.
George Buttrick, author of the book, Prayer, tells this story:
“A lecturer to a group of businessmen displayed a sheet of white paper in which was one blot. He asked what they saw. All answered, “A blot.” The test was unfair; it invited the wrong answer. Nevertheless, there is an ingratitude in human nature by which we notice the black disfigurement and forget the widespread mercy. We need to deliberately call to mind the joys of our journey. Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin: we could never end: there are not pens or paper enough in all the world. The attempt would remind us of our ‘vast treasure of content.’”
Are you focused on the small blot in your life? Take a moment and look at all of the clean, white space around the blot. The white space represents God’s blessings. If the blot seems large and daunting, then take a step back. See it’s smaller now.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. Esther 8:16-17
The king’s second edict was cause for a party. The Jewish people celebrated that day, and every year since. Purim, named for the lots cast by Haman to determine the date of the massacre (Esther 3:7), has occurred around the 15th of March every year since (March 20th for 2011).
A careful reading of Scripture will show that God commanded many parties: Passover (Exodus 12), Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25), the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16), and others. Why would God mandate parties? It seems like God’s commands come across more like “Thou Shalt Not…” rather than “Thou Shalt Party…” In God’s eyes, celebrations are just as important as surrender.
How do you celebrate God’s goodness in your life? What has God’s grace accomplished in your life? So often we focus so much on what’s going wrong that we forget about what’s going right.
George Buttrick, author of the book, Prayer, tells this story:
“A lecturer to a group of businessmen displayed a sheet of white paper in which was one blot. He asked what they saw. All answered, “A blot.” The test was unfair; it invited the wrong answer. Nevertheless, there is an ingratitude in human nature by which we notice the black disfigurement and forget the widespread mercy. We need to deliberately call to mind the joys of our journey. Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin: we could never end: there are not pens or paper enough in all the world. The attempt would remind us of our ‘vast treasure of content.’”
Are you focused on the small blot in your life? Take a moment and look at all of the clean, white space around the blot. The white space represents God’s blessings. If the blot seems large and daunting, then take a step back. See it’s smaller now.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 7, 2011
God Never Wastes a Hurt
By Allen White
The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. Esther 8:11-12
The king’s edict brought about a radical new turn of events. Now instead of the Jewish people fearing their captors and neighbors, they were charged with defending themselves. It was probably wise that the king allowed the Jews to defend themselves. After all, their enemies probably hadn’t had time to check their email or twitter since they were busy preparing for battle. If word hadn’t reached those who were planning to attack, then the edict really made no difference at all.
Now, instead of being sitting ducks on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month according to the first edict (Esther 3:13), the Jews would experience the other side of the coin. The day that was intended for their destruction would now be a day of victory. God turned things around.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes from the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Satan’s plan is to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10), but God has other plans.
Over the years, I have witnessed people who have suffered the pain of divorce reach out to others who are experiencing divorce. I’ve seen drug addicts and ex-cons, deal with their addictions and help others find recovery. Our enemy intends to destroy us. God intends to deliver us, and those around us.
A few years ago, several of our members lost their spouses. We didn’t have a Grief Recovery group in place at our church in California at that time, but I knew that we needed to do something. I ordered the curriculum, but had no idea who would lead the group.
The curriculum arrived on a Monday morning. Later that morning, I received a communication card that someone put in the offering the previous day. The card said, “My husband died in a car accident while I was pregnant with triplets, then I lost one of the triplets. If anyone needs help dealing with their grief, I am available to help. Brandy.” I had never heard of this person before. I was dumbfounded. I looked at the box of grief curriculum, and then I looked at the card in my hand. Then, back at the box, then back at the card. Only God could have put this together.
After a quick check to see who knew Brandy and could vouch for her, I called Brandy and told her the story. She told me about the painful events of her life and how God’s people had come to her aid. A church she didn’t attend supplied three of everything she needed for her new babies. Brandy was ready to bless others out of her tragedy.
Paul writes, “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God certainly enabled Brandy to use the comfort she had received to comfort others.
How has the enemy intended to destroy you? What things have hateful people done to try to do you in physically or emotionally? There is a sweet sense of victory, when we can turn these things around on the enemy and use our painful experiences to glorify God. How can the pain on your life help another person and glorify God today?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. Esther 8:11-12
The king’s edict brought about a radical new turn of events. Now instead of the Jewish people fearing their captors and neighbors, they were charged with defending themselves. It was probably wise that the king allowed the Jews to defend themselves. After all, their enemies probably hadn’t had time to check their email or twitter since they were busy preparing for battle. If word hadn’t reached those who were planning to attack, then the edict really made no difference at all.
Now, instead of being sitting ducks on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month according to the first edict (Esther 3:13), the Jews would experience the other side of the coin. The day that was intended for their destruction would now be a day of victory. God turned things around.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes from the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Satan’s plan is to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10), but God has other plans.
Over the years, I have witnessed people who have suffered the pain of divorce reach out to others who are experiencing divorce. I’ve seen drug addicts and ex-cons, deal with their addictions and help others find recovery. Our enemy intends to destroy us. God intends to deliver us, and those around us.
A few years ago, several of our members lost their spouses. We didn’t have a Grief Recovery group in place at our church in California at that time, but I knew that we needed to do something. I ordered the curriculum, but had no idea who would lead the group.
The curriculum arrived on a Monday morning. Later that morning, I received a communication card that someone put in the offering the previous day. The card said, “My husband died in a car accident while I was pregnant with triplets, then I lost one of the triplets. If anyone needs help dealing with their grief, I am available to help. Brandy.” I had never heard of this person before. I was dumbfounded. I looked at the box of grief curriculum, and then I looked at the card in my hand. Then, back at the box, then back at the card. Only God could have put this together.
After a quick check to see who knew Brandy and could vouch for her, I called Brandy and told her the story. She told me about the painful events of her life and how God’s people had come to her aid. A church she didn’t attend supplied three of everything she needed for her new babies. Brandy was ready to bless others out of her tragedy.
Paul writes, “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God certainly enabled Brandy to use the comfort she had received to comfort others.
How has the enemy intended to destroy you? What things have hateful people done to try to do you in physically or emotionally? There is a sweet sense of victory, when we can turn these things around on the enemy and use our painful experiences to glorify God. How can the pain on your life help another person and glorify God today?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
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