Almost everybody admires a giant-killer; almost nobody wants to fight a giant.
How you look at something makes all the difference in how you act. What you focus on also influences what you do.
Joshua & Caleb looked at the abundant life God wanted to give them. The other ten men were nearsighted. They saw the giants who stood in the way and those ten men never saw God’s promises or realized their potential.
Giants often block our view. They stand in front of us, full of bluster and bravado, and shout epithets about God, our churches, friends, and families. They talk trash about us. They remind us of our past and predict our future failure.
But what if they’re wrong? What if rather than looking at the negative and believing bad reports, we choose to look at the positive and believe what God promises rather than what others say?
When David faced Goliath, he had two choices: believe the one shouting across the valley or trust the one who’d walked through the valley with him.
Goliath wasn’t the first seemingly insurmountable problem David faced. He killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands and God’s help. Instead of worrying about defeat, David considered the possibility of victory.
We should do the same. What if God hasn’t changed? What if he still heals? What if he still forgives? What if it’s not too late? What if God restored your marriage, your dignity, your integrity? What if God gave you a second chance for the umpteenth time?
You can rest assured he can, he has, he does, and he will. But he won’t kill your giant. That’s your task. He will help you. He’ll remind you of past victories. He’ll strengthen your abilities. He’ll sharpen your aim. But you’ll have to pick up the stones he provides; you’ll have to use the weapons he makes available. When you do, you may only need one shot.
Regardless of how many times you try to kill your giant or how many giants you have to kill, with God on your side success is certain. When you see others who are enjoying the fruit of God’s promises, consider how many giants they fought. And when you defeat your enemy, you should celebrate. Carve another notch in your gun. Take time to tell others what God did. Mark the time and place in your memory. Then, when the next giant threatens you, ask yourself one question. What if God gives me the victory—again?
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Receiving Thanks
Maybe giving thanks isn’t the problem. Perhaps receiving the gratitude of others is more difficult.
After all, we’re supposed to be humble. And accepting accolades from others isn’t easy to do without appearing prideful. When someone expresses their appreciation of what you do for them it’s easy to slip into false humility. We cloak our fear so others won’t see who we are.
We know who we are and frankly many of us don’t like ourselves very much. Especially when we sin. And we do—all of us. That should be comforting, but it isn’t because in such moments when we recognize our failures and weaknesses we feel naked and, like Adam and Eve, ashamed.
We’re not supposed to sin. We know that. And so when we do, we feel guilty. That’s good. But our emotions don’t stop there. Even though God forgives us, we remember what we’ve done. In turn that produces in us a sense of unworthiness. And everyone knows that if you’re unworthy then you shouldn’t accept praise.
The truth is we all get it wrong sometimes, and other days we get it right. We fail in some areas and excel in others. The fact that we do should make accepting the gratitude of others easier.
When someone gives you a gift, writes a thank you note, recognizes your contribution publicly, calls you, or takes time to express their gratitude in person, you don’t have to say anything except, “Thank you.”
I’ve learned to accept the thanks of others for what I write. At first it was hard. But now, I can look someone in the eye and be genuinely grateful that what I write touched that person’s heart.
Whatever you do, this season, give yourself permission to open the gifts people want to give you.
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
After all, we’re supposed to be humble. And accepting accolades from others isn’t easy to do without appearing prideful. When someone expresses their appreciation of what you do for them it’s easy to slip into false humility. We cloak our fear so others won’t see who we are.
We know who we are and frankly many of us don’t like ourselves very much. Especially when we sin. And we do—all of us. That should be comforting, but it isn’t because in such moments when we recognize our failures and weaknesses we feel naked and, like Adam and Eve, ashamed.
We’re not supposed to sin. We know that. And so when we do, we feel guilty. That’s good. But our emotions don’t stop there. Even though God forgives us, we remember what we’ve done. In turn that produces in us a sense of unworthiness. And everyone knows that if you’re unworthy then you shouldn’t accept praise.
The truth is we all get it wrong sometimes, and other days we get it right. We fail in some areas and excel in others. The fact that we do should make accepting the gratitude of others easier.
When someone gives you a gift, writes a thank you note, recognizes your contribution publicly, calls you, or takes time to express their gratitude in person, you don’t have to say anything except, “Thank you.”
I’ve learned to accept the thanks of others for what I write. At first it was hard. But now, I can look someone in the eye and be genuinely grateful that what I write touched that person’s heart.
Whatever you do, this season, give yourself permission to open the gifts people want to give you.
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
Monday, November 20, 2006
A Foundation for the Future
Most of us want to belong to a church that is thriving. We want relevant preaching and teaching that will help us apply God’s truths to our everyday lives. But not so many of us are willing to contribute to create the atmosphere we want to be part of.
Most people today are busy. Many us are too busy. But busyness isn’t the key to a successful church. It’s not a question of how much can a few people do or if some can do more. The issue is our awareness and contribution in the little things.
In almost any church or any other organization there is an endless need for people to do what they can. And that doesn’t take organization or planning or meetings or permission. In a church it simply means we are Christians 24/7. That's less about what we do and more about who we are.
The fact is “Together we can do what we could never do alone.” But the truth goes beyond our theme for 2006. Together we can be what God intends us to be. We can build the church we want to be part of. Especially if we live out our beliefs.
In the days of Nehemiah in the Old Testament, the people realized they hadn’t been doing all that they should have done. Convicted, they were on the verge of deep sorrow. Instead of beating themselves up emotionally, the prophet offered another course of action.
He suggested that they go to their homes and throw parties. He explained that they should be thankful because they got the message, accepted responsibility, and decided to change.
That's sound advice for us today. This week and the rest of this year right into 2007 we should rejoice. The choice is ours. We can be bummed out or we can enjoy a sacred celebration.
Now, to many people sacred is synonymous with stodgy, stuffy old religion. But it doesn’t have to be. We can enjoy all the traditions and music and pageantry of the holidays and yet keep our joy fresh. Because joy doesn’t really come from what we do or how much we have or who we are with. Those things add to our happiness. But joy comes from God.
Furthermore, God’s joy strengthens us year round. And that should be cause for us to encourage one another. Such encouragement is needed at all times; everyone could use a little now and then.
So the next time you see someone who is struggling because they’ve not done what they know they should have or because they’ve done what they know they shouldn’t, why not do the unexpected?
Rather than tell them how short they fall from God’s standard of perfection, show them the same compassion Jesus shows you. Like you, they’re probably aware of their shortcomings. Like King David, they probably remember their weaknesses every time they look in the mirror. Like the adulterous woman brought before Jesus to be stoned they need what they don't expect.
And so do we. And when we get what we don’t deserve—grace—it changes our attitude and our actions. We want to do better rather than quit. Instead of condemning ourselves, we can get up and purpose to change.
And if we fail again, hopefully someone will encourage us again. And again. And again. And again.
We condemn ourselves enough without getting hit by the rocks others throw. What we need—and what we need to do for one another—is speak words of encouragement. That’s the fuel that propels us to excellence. That’s the foundation for a culture—a church—that people will want to be a part of.
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
Most people today are busy. Many us are too busy. But busyness isn’t the key to a successful church. It’s not a question of how much can a few people do or if some can do more. The issue is our awareness and contribution in the little things.
In almost any church or any other organization there is an endless need for people to do what they can. And that doesn’t take organization or planning or meetings or permission. In a church it simply means we are Christians 24/7. That's less about what we do and more about who we are.
The fact is “Together we can do what we could never do alone.” But the truth goes beyond our theme for 2006. Together we can be what God intends us to be. We can build the church we want to be part of. Especially if we live out our beliefs.
In the days of Nehemiah in the Old Testament, the people realized they hadn’t been doing all that they should have done. Convicted, they were on the verge of deep sorrow. Instead of beating themselves up emotionally, the prophet offered another course of action.
He suggested that they go to their homes and throw parties. He explained that they should be thankful because they got the message, accepted responsibility, and decided to change.
That's sound advice for us today. This week and the rest of this year right into 2007 we should rejoice. The choice is ours. We can be bummed out or we can enjoy a sacred celebration.
Now, to many people sacred is synonymous with stodgy, stuffy old religion. But it doesn’t have to be. We can enjoy all the traditions and music and pageantry of the holidays and yet keep our joy fresh. Because joy doesn’t really come from what we do or how much we have or who we are with. Those things add to our happiness. But joy comes from God.
Furthermore, God’s joy strengthens us year round. And that should be cause for us to encourage one another. Such encouragement is needed at all times; everyone could use a little now and then.
So the next time you see someone who is struggling because they’ve not done what they know they should have or because they’ve done what they know they shouldn’t, why not do the unexpected?
Rather than tell them how short they fall from God’s standard of perfection, show them the same compassion Jesus shows you. Like you, they’re probably aware of their shortcomings. Like King David, they probably remember their weaknesses every time they look in the mirror. Like the adulterous woman brought before Jesus to be stoned they need what they don't expect.
And so do we. And when we get what we don’t deserve—grace—it changes our attitude and our actions. We want to do better rather than quit. Instead of condemning ourselves, we can get up and purpose to change.
And if we fail again, hopefully someone will encourage us again. And again. And again. And again.
We condemn ourselves enough without getting hit by the rocks others throw. What we need—and what we need to do for one another—is speak words of encouragement. That’s the fuel that propels us to excellence. That’s the foundation for a culture—a church—that people will want to be a part of.
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Heaven on Earth
What if you could have a little heaven on earth?
Life would be different, better. No arguing with your teenagers. No misunderstandings with your partner. No miscommunications at work, church, home, or elsewhere. Store clerks would be cheerful all year, especially at Christmas. No one would forget to say hi to you. Your boss would praise you. Your spouse would keep you in mind when deciding where to have dinner and what movie to see.
But at times life is more complicated than easy. Today we are more harried and hurried than ever before. And too often we’re swept along by popular opinion and conventional wisdom regarding what is important.
Culture encompasses all that we do; it also includes the how and why of our decisions. Culture is a way of living, a way of thinking, which may be good or bad. For most of us, much of the time, life is a mixture. Some days we live well, others we settle for mediocrity.
We build what we want to live in and be a part of. Our relationships with others bear a striking resemblance to us. We imprint our likeness on all we touch. And again, that can be bad or good.
Just as a physical structure bears the image of its architect, a society, a church, or a family reflects the image of its members.
But how do we become who and what we are? Too often we draw our identity and values from the world around us. We are influenced rather than influencing others. But that’s not what God intends.
He expects us to emigrate into the culture of his kingdom. We are to leave what we’ve known so we can learn what we don’t know so we can become what we aren’t.
When we immigrate into God’s way of thinking and living—his culture—we change. We don’t lose our individuality, our personality, but rather we gain our identity. When we’re born-again we become citizens of heaven, foreigners to the world. We think and act less and less like we once did and more like God does.
When we change we change others. Our sphere of influence expands and enlarges as we do in order to embrace new people and new ideas. It’s not that we become tolerant or politically correct in our views. We should never lose our sense of direction, of right and wrong. But we ought to be willing to examine what we think we know and be willing to learn what we thought we did.
The problem is we want to live in communities that are kind, but we don’t always want to be kind. We want others to love us, even on our worst days, but we aren’t always quick to love others on their best days. We all have ideas of how others should act, but we generally aren’t nearly as interested in hearing what others might say regarding our behavior.
If we want to be part of a friendly church, we ought to befriend those who have no friends. It’s not enough to love those who love us. We need to love the unlovely. After all, that’s what God did when he saved us.
To have a little bit of heaven on earth, we must act like what we are—citizens of another culture. We should be inclusive not exclusive. Generous not stingy. Compassionate not cruel. Forgiving not judgmental. We should serve others and not ourselves.
What would life be like if you could offer someone a little heaven on earth?
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
Life would be different, better. No arguing with your teenagers. No misunderstandings with your partner. No miscommunications at work, church, home, or elsewhere. Store clerks would be cheerful all year, especially at Christmas. No one would forget to say hi to you. Your boss would praise you. Your spouse would keep you in mind when deciding where to have dinner and what movie to see.
But at times life is more complicated than easy. Today we are more harried and hurried than ever before. And too often we’re swept along by popular opinion and conventional wisdom regarding what is important.
Culture encompasses all that we do; it also includes the how and why of our decisions. Culture is a way of living, a way of thinking, which may be good or bad. For most of us, much of the time, life is a mixture. Some days we live well, others we settle for mediocrity.
We build what we want to live in and be a part of. Our relationships with others bear a striking resemblance to us. We imprint our likeness on all we touch. And again, that can be bad or good.
Just as a physical structure bears the image of its architect, a society, a church, or a family reflects the image of its members.
But how do we become who and what we are? Too often we draw our identity and values from the world around us. We are influenced rather than influencing others. But that’s not what God intends.
He expects us to emigrate into the culture of his kingdom. We are to leave what we’ve known so we can learn what we don’t know so we can become what we aren’t.
When we immigrate into God’s way of thinking and living—his culture—we change. We don’t lose our individuality, our personality, but rather we gain our identity. When we’re born-again we become citizens of heaven, foreigners to the world. We think and act less and less like we once did and more like God does.
When we change we change others. Our sphere of influence expands and enlarges as we do in order to embrace new people and new ideas. It’s not that we become tolerant or politically correct in our views. We should never lose our sense of direction, of right and wrong. But we ought to be willing to examine what we think we know and be willing to learn what we thought we did.
The problem is we want to live in communities that are kind, but we don’t always want to be kind. We want others to love us, even on our worst days, but we aren’t always quick to love others on their best days. We all have ideas of how others should act, but we generally aren’t nearly as interested in hearing what others might say regarding our behavior.
If we want to be part of a friendly church, we ought to befriend those who have no friends. It’s not enough to love those who love us. We need to love the unlovely. After all, that’s what God did when he saved us.
To have a little bit of heaven on earth, we must act like what we are—citizens of another culture. We should be inclusive not exclusive. Generous not stingy. Compassionate not cruel. Forgiving not judgmental. We should serve others and not ourselves.
What would life be like if you could offer someone a little heaven on earth?
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
The Absolute Truth
Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
Jesus said, “I am the truth.” He also said that if we know the truth the truth would set us free. Yet many of us are bound to lie if necessary.
We’ll withhold the whole truth if part of it serves our purposes. We’ll add to the truth. We’ll stretch it. Twist it. Bend it. Do anything but speak it—plain and simple. Pure and unadulterated. Unvarnished. Nothing but the truth? Not on our lives.
Self-preservation drove one politician to insist he didn’t inhale and he didn’t have sex with that woman. The same force drove a minister to claim he bought drugs, but didn’t use them, and paid for a massage from a man, but didn’t have sex with him.
Hard to believe? Yes. Harder to forgive? Absolutely. And we don’t quickly or easily forget either.
Because we live with the constraints of time, we tend to remember. How many of us will ever forget these names? Jimmy Swaggart. Jim Baker. Bill Clinton. Ted Haggard.
It doesn’t matter which side of the political fence we sit on or which side of the church aisle. The truth is we’re human. That’s not an excuse; it’s an explanation.
The good news is God knows that. The bad news is we can’t change it. But that leads us back to the good news. God can. He’s offered to. He made provision for such a transformation.
You only have to answer one question: Do you want to change?
If you do, tell the truth. I lied to myself for almost three decades. When I stopped lying, I not only took responsibility for my actions, I admitted who I was. I realized it wasn’t enough to say I was sorry for what I did wrong. I had to tell the whole truth. I sinned because I was a sinner.
Now, have things changed? Yes. And no. I don’t do most of the things that I used to do, but I still struggle with some old habits. Yes, I’m a better person. No, I’m not perfect. Yes, I could give in to temptation. No, by God’s grace I won’t be what I once was.
The truth of the matter for me—and you—is this. We’re weak, flawed. We’ll never measure up to God’s standard: absolute perfection. We’ll never be sinless. But we can sin less.
Whether we do or not isn’t the point. The fall of a high profile leader changes nothing. Like it or not, the truth remains. God never changes. He tells us the rules. We break them. He loves us anyway. And when we ask him, he forgives us.
Will he restore us? Sometimes. Will we forfeit everything? Sometimes. Will we lose what he gives? Never. And that’s the absolute truth.
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
Jesus said, “I am the truth.” He also said that if we know the truth the truth would set us free. Yet many of us are bound to lie if necessary.
We’ll withhold the whole truth if part of it serves our purposes. We’ll add to the truth. We’ll stretch it. Twist it. Bend it. Do anything but speak it—plain and simple. Pure and unadulterated. Unvarnished. Nothing but the truth? Not on our lives.
Self-preservation drove one politician to insist he didn’t inhale and he didn’t have sex with that woman. The same force drove a minister to claim he bought drugs, but didn’t use them, and paid for a massage from a man, but didn’t have sex with him.
Hard to believe? Yes. Harder to forgive? Absolutely. And we don’t quickly or easily forget either.
Because we live with the constraints of time, we tend to remember. How many of us will ever forget these names? Jimmy Swaggart. Jim Baker. Bill Clinton. Ted Haggard.
It doesn’t matter which side of the political fence we sit on or which side of the church aisle. The truth is we’re human. That’s not an excuse; it’s an explanation.
The good news is God knows that. The bad news is we can’t change it. But that leads us back to the good news. God can. He’s offered to. He made provision for such a transformation.
You only have to answer one question: Do you want to change?
If you do, tell the truth. I lied to myself for almost three decades. When I stopped lying, I not only took responsibility for my actions, I admitted who I was. I realized it wasn’t enough to say I was sorry for what I did wrong. I had to tell the whole truth. I sinned because I was a sinner.
Now, have things changed? Yes. And no. I don’t do most of the things that I used to do, but I still struggle with some old habits. Yes, I’m a better person. No, I’m not perfect. Yes, I could give in to temptation. No, by God’s grace I won’t be what I once was.
The truth of the matter for me—and you—is this. We’re weak, flawed. We’ll never measure up to God’s standard: absolute perfection. We’ll never be sinless. But we can sin less.
Whether we do or not isn’t the point. The fall of a high profile leader changes nothing. Like it or not, the truth remains. God never changes. He tells us the rules. We break them. He loves us anyway. And when we ask him, he forgives us.
Will he restore us? Sometimes. Will we forfeit everything? Sometimes. Will we lose what he gives? Never. And that’s the absolute truth.
Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.
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