WholeHeartedLife

One more thing about "Physical Life"

I know that we have moved on this week from our "Physical Life" in our LDP study, but Saturday morning, as I was spending time with God I came across this passage:

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
       may they not rule over me.
       Then will I be blameless,
       innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
       be pleasing in your sight,
       O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:13-14)

When dealing with overcoming temptation and victory, it's really important to remember the fact that the choices we make are "willful choices" as it says in v. 13. Remember, we do not want to be "mastered by anything" - don't forget to pray like David prayed in the verse above.

This doesn't just apply to your physical life - it applies to finances, relationships, our relationship with God - It applies to all of it. Everybody ends up somewhere but few people actually end up somewhere on purpose. And...

I'm still praying against the "short commitments"!

Sunday Nite

Great day today - the crowds seemed better than normal "summer" weekends, maybe that's the indication that vacation time is almost over!

Man, I'm tired tonite - after the 3 services this morning and a RESCUE ZONE kickoff tonite, I'm ready to literally, CHILL! Here's a short list of the things I'm thinking tonite...

• is it just me, or is there absolutely NO REASON that a hyde park attendee should not be in the process of developing a plan for the various areas of our life that our pastor has spoken on for the past 5 weeks! If you are doing nothing with the challenges being offered week after week through the Life Development Plan, you need to check yourself. Our job is to challenge, your job is to apply.
• Our band was on fire today - our singers on - the choir rockin' - and i love leading worship in such a free church as hyde park is!
• Pastor Harrell was so "ON" this morning! Great message - make sure you listen to it again tomorrow (you will find it here).
• We're taking our First Impression Team to NewSpring on Sunday, August 19th for a little "team building" - if you are on the FIT team, here's your pre-warning/invitation - MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDARS, MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US FOR THIS AFTERNOON TRIP!
• Remember, we have VBS classes for everybody tonite, especially adults!

I am just not really creative tonite - really just wanna "check out" - check back tomorrow! See you tonite at Vacation Bible School!

Fat or Fit?

I found this over on lifechurch.tv 's blog, the swerve on Monday - I thought, in light of what we're dealing with this week and the overall implication that our choices are more about surrender than anything, I wanted you to read it. Here it is:

Guest Blog: Anna Meadows

Published by Craig Groeschel July 30th, 2007 in guest.

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Fat or Fit?

Recently I’ve lost around 60 pounds. With a loss of this magnitude it’s inevitable that one gains a new way of thinking. Since dropping the weight, I’ve become less inwardly-focused, and less concerned about what others think, because I am no longer insecure with the way I look. It’s freed me to be who I am, freed me to focus on others, freed me to engage in activities I would never have considered before.

During this time of transformation, I realized a parallel to ministry. Before LifeChurch.tv came into my life, I had a consumerist mindset. I would have called myself a “fat” Christian. I thought the church was here for me, looked to ministries to fill my needs, complained if the worship didn’t move me, or if the message wasn’t deep enough. Since becoming a part of LifeChurch.tv, I’ve learned the difference between being a “fat” Christian and a “fit” Christian.

Fat Christians say…
“Why don’t you have this ministry at your church?”

Fit Christians say…
“Can I start a group that does this kind of ministry? Maybe there are other people who would like to join…”

Fat Christians…
…sit in the same pew each week, and rarely venture out of their circle of friends.

Fit Christians…
…find opportunities to change things up, and try to involve those on the outskirts.

Fat Christians focus…
…on how to better themselves.

Fit Christians focus…
…on those who don’t know Jesus.

Fat Christians do…
…what’s easy and safe.

Fit Christians do…
…what’s difficult and counterintuitive.

Fat Christians think…
…it’s all about them.

Fit Christians know…
…it’s all about HIM.

I’m working every day to be a fit Christian, and to inspire those around me to this way of thinking. What are your thoughts?

My Personal Discovery

The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "...When i am weak, He is strong." in reference to dealing with the difficulties that He encountered in life.

All weak (pun intended) we have been dealing with the inward struggle of having a strong "Physical Life". Yesterday, after I shared my confession, I told you I would share my personal discovery in the area of finding victory in Glorifying God with our body. Here's what I've found, at least for me: the biggest part of my battle is not one of wanting to eat, wanting to be lazy, wanting to sleep or whatever other "wants" that you place in there - my problem is that I'm NOT in control. I've found that...

When my "flesh" (the desire to do the opposite of God's will) gets too strong it masters me - i do what it wants because i like the way it makes me feel; but...

When i do the opposite of that, I begin to see a little victory. For example, when i work out, i literally do things i don't want to in a sacrificial mode for the purpose of being submissive to God. I've found that as I do this, my (His) Spirit grows stronger in me, it begins to be the dominating leader. As the Spirit becomes stronger, my flesh (or desire for ME) gets weaker. As my fleshly desire gets weaker my desire for prayer gets deeper - my understanding of scripture gets stronger - my dreams become bigger and clearer and my ability to understand God's will for me incidently becomes better

This is me - I don't know how this will play out in your life; I certainly don't have all the answers, just my personal experience. How about you? In what area have you begun to "see the light" of victory in the area of overcoming? In what could I pray for you?

My Confession

We continue our discussion of our Physical Life today and i have a confession to make; i don't want to, but i think i should...

i HAVE AN ADDICTION. It's not a joke, i'm not trying to shock you to get your attention; there are 2 things that i honestly battle constantly...

i am an addict to pleasure and desire.

Most of my failures have to do with wanting one thing more than i should - wanting something WORSE than i want the right thing.

most of the time we aren't talking about stuff that you would even think bad - truth is, you might be too - but if i'm honest with me (as well as you) i still desire to do it more than i desire to do what God wants. Often i would rather ...

• watch tv than read scripture
• lay in bed than workout
• do what i want than play with my kidz...
• keep my thoughts to me rather than share them with the world
• be more private, even though my transparency shows others there's no such thing as "SUPER-CHRISTIAN!"
• do something "churchy" than pray - then i can try to use serving God as an excuse
• eat peanut M&M's than raisins
• drink anything than bottled water
• be served than serve
• play video games than do something productive spiritual-wise or family-wise

...but my life is not my life - it belongs to God - and His plan for me literally involves the opposite of everyone of those that I've mentioned. I found a way that I could at least see some victory in the areas i struggle. Tomorrow I will share the "discovery" that became my turning point in my life.

QUESTION: What are you addicted to? (And let's try to keep it "kind-of" generic - Confession is great but there are some things that should be discussed that the whole world doesn't have access to damage you personally. We will actually be dealing with Secret Sin next month in an unbelievable way.)

LDP Intro Video - Physical Life

Here's the roll-in video from Sunday...

Physical Accountability

This week, as an extension of Sunday's message, (link will be posted later) we continue talking about taking care of our physical body.

One of the things that can really help you to stay committed to your decisions is accountability. Regardless of what you have committed you need someone that can ask the question, "hey, what about ___________?" This is never more necessary than in the area of consistent exercise.

My workout time of choice is early AM for a number of reasons, biggest of which is it is the only time that I can consistently KEEP in my schedule (and if you can't be consistent, what's the point?). Consistency is key in developing good habits so find something that really works for you.

(side note: I HATE getting up in the 5am range during the school year to work out - I JUST HATE IT! However, there is no other time that fits into the busy schedule that I keep. Any other time, at least in this period of my life, cuts into something that is more important to me; ie: my family, you, my ministry, etc...)

Because of the time that I have to work out, I have a hard time finding (and then keeping) workout partners. Most people don't have to work out that early and thus, when it gets real hard to continue, will quit on me (for a variety of reasons) which makes attending EVEN HARDER. I like having a partner for the purpose of accountability; On those mornings that I am having a hard time rolling out of bed, it makes it easier to make it happen when I know that I am standing someone up.  But even though I can't seem to find a consistent partner I continue, because as I said Sunday, I DO have a plan for my body. It's important to me so I sacrifice time that I would rather be in bed to do what I know is beneficial for me both physically AND (in many ways to me, most importantly) spiritually.

This is part of my plan along with trying to make better eating choices daily - QUESTION: Do you have a plan designed yet for you? What does your plan look like?

Sunday Nite

WOW! Tonite i feel as if I have spoken 100,000 words (literally!). 3 services back 2 back can be brutal - I feel it tonite! However, I'm pumped because...

• I believe 6 people received Christ as Savior today in our services! I think it is AWESOME that we can speak a message about a persons plan for their "Physical Life" and people hear the message of the Gospel, are convicted of their sin and decide to do something about it.
• The music was tremendous today - Rhonda does a great job leading worship. It was pretty wild to "just sing" this morning while she led (i enjoyed it).
• I thought Brandon was great on the video today - our Creative Communication Team gets better by the week! (I'll try to get the copy for you to see on YouTube today)
• We are only 1 week from our biggest VBS ever.

Before I close, here's some stuff that i'm thinking about:

• On Father's Day weekend, Paige Strackman shared with me that caffeine dries out our vocal chords - this was seconded to me this week SO I decided that today I would not drink the amount of coffee that I normally do on Sunday (i drink A LOT of coffee *SOMEBODY OPEN A STARBUCKS - PLEASE!!!!*).
• it didn't help - if anything, my voice felt worse than normal... go figure?
• Did you do my "workout test" today after church?
• We're probably gonna take a group of people from our First Impression team to NewSpring Church on Sunday afternoon, August 12th - that should be awesome to let them experience what NewSpring does so excellently.
• We're looking for help in the Audio/Visual ministry - Interested in doing one of the coolest  & most important "behind the scenes" jobs at hyde park?
• I'm also looking for a really friendly people person who is sold-out to the vision of hyde park to handle some 1st time Guest follow up on Mondays (probably evenings - call from home) - does this sound like you?

Who's your Master?

if I ask you that question, how would you answer? Most everyone who reads me is a follower of Christ, so naturally they will answer with the "stock" answer, "Jesus is my master". Of course - I would expect you to say that.

"where there is no vision the people perish" Proverbs 29. You know, I can honestly say that when it comes to my body and health, the word vision has never entered into my thinking prior to Life Development Plan. Do you have a vision for your health?

But really, who's pulling the strings in your life - you or JESUS? In your physical life, who is in control of your body - have you allowed it to become a spiritual issue yet? What if I told you that, if you struggle with doing the right things with your body, neither JESUS or you are in control?

"Then who do you think is, mike p?" Thanks for asking; most people are slaves to their desires. There's a word that brings up pictures, huh? Most of us are slaves to our pleasure - our likes and habits - living a life that constantly craves to fulfill our wants. Many people would rather do "what they feel like doing" than to do WHAT THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD and will make conscious decisions to do the wrong thing to fulfill that desire.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:12, "Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial… I will not be mastered by anything." To be mastered by something refers to you being a slave to something - in other words, you have no control over what ever you are mastered by - almost as if you have NO say-so in the matter. What is it you just can't get a grip on?

• maybe it's saying no to that late night snack (you know, the small one I gave in to last night - I was "STARVING"!)
• maybe it's turning off that tv and deciding to read your bible for a while...
• maybe it's pushing away that last little bit on your plate ("but I'm not "stuffed", I could eat that!" Yeah, you could OR you can be in control of your body, telling your desire, "I'm in control here, and I feel fine.") An exercise in self-control.
• maybe it's praying instead of surfing the net or playing that video game...
• maybe it's talking to your spouse and/or your kidz INSTEAD of checking out the game.

Honestly, Who would you say is your master? Surrender your desire to JESUS - it IS a spiritual issue - if you do this in your power you will get YOUR results; do it in God's power and you can get more than results - you'll get power, strength, mercy, love, forgiveness and a better direction for your life. Most importantly, you can find His vision for your body.

Like a City...

...whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. (Proverbs 25:28)

How's the Life Development Plan actually coming for you? Are you doing something? Followin' through on the suggestions made? Gradually making changes that are going to impact your life? Are you praying your way through this, keeping it a spiritual issue and not an issue of "will-power"?

Today, we're talking about you - well, your body to be exact; here's my question for you today:

Where do you think God wants you to be physically?

For me, this is an issue that I really struggle with. Many years of bad choices with my body have me personally feeling like I'm fighting an uphill battle. It seems that, in many areas of life, I just don't know when to stop and you know the old saying, "too much of even a good thing can be bad." Although today I'm talking about our physical body, truth is, this is really an issue of self-control.

We have to realize that the way we take care of our body IS a spiritual issue - I have noticed a direct correlation between my management of my body and the depth of my prayer and bible reading schedule - ie. when I'm consistently working out, my spiritual life is better. Why?

I think it's because I'm making myself do something that I don't wanna do, and as I do it I purposely make it a spiritual issue, praying to God and saying something to the effect of, "Lord, I'm doing this to take care of Your body; I know that I have allowed ME (the spiritual word is my flesh) to be too strong, often allowing the ME side of me to be dominant over You and Your Spirit in me. I pray that You will increase in me, that I will decrease..." Self-Control IS a fruit of the spirit - He gives it to us as a tool; the problem is that we have to actually use it. According to the scripture above, the person who lacks self-control has no protection; self-control is the wall that keeps "bad things" out. Think about that...

Question: HOW MIGHT YOUR LIFE BE AFFECTED IF YOU MADE THE CARE OF YOUR BODY MORE OF A SPIRITUAL ISSUE THAN A VANITY/SELF-ESTEEM ISSUE? HOW MIGHT YOUR LIFE BE CHANGED, BEGINNING TODAY, IF GOD WAS INVITED TO HELP YOU IN THIS AREA? I look forward to hearing from you.