This Is Me Living

Ravi Zacharias on David Livingstone

A Man Fell Into a Pit

A man fell into a pit and he couldn’t get himself out.

A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there in the pit.”

An objective person came along and said, “It is illogical that someone would fall down into that pit.”

A Christian Scientist came along and said, “You only think you are in a pit.”

A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into the pit.”

A newspaper reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.

A fundamentalist said, “You deserve your pit.”

Confucius said, “If you had listened to me, you would not be in the pit.”

Buddha said, “A pit is only your state of mind.”

A realist said, “That is a pit!”

A scientist calculated the pressure necessary to get him out of the pit.

A geologist taught him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit.

A taxman asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit.

The city inspector asked him if he had a permit to dig a pit.

An evasive person came and avoided the person in the pit all together.

A self-pitying person said, “You have not seen anything until you have seen my pit.”

A charismatic said, “Just confess, you are not in the pit.”

An optimist said, “Things could get worse.”

A pessimist said, “Things will get worse.”

Jesus, seeing the man, knelt down and lifted him out of the pit.

- Author Unknown

Day 10 of 21 - PRAY FOR HOPE

Promises for those who pray

Psalm 6:9 The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.

Pray today that God will continue to build up your faith and answer your petitions on behalf of the poor and suffering. 

Sometimes we feel like our prayers are ineffective and missing the mark -- like we're lobbing up bricks that are not reaching the ear of God. 

10 Principles of Prayer that can revolutionize your prayer life:

1. Prayer is your highest appeal, not your last resort. 

• Pray proactively
  

2. When we seek the Lord together, it multiplies our power.

• God certainly responds to a lone person's prayer.
• BUT, God does something special when we pray together. (Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 2:1-4)
  

3. Prayer is a conversation in the court of the King.

• Don't forget that it's GOD who you're addressing. Respect is in order.
  

4. Build prayer on the solid foundation of God's sovereignty.

• God is in charge, and is the final authority.
  

5. Don’t build your case to God based on what you deserve.

• God is not impressed by OUR holiness, and doesn't OWE us anything in response to what we've done.
• He hasn't dealt with us as severely as we deserve.
  

6. Build a case on God's agenda not your own.

• “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
  

7. Remind God of what He has done for others, and what He has promised to do for you.

• Reminding God reminds US. If He has done it before, He can do it again.
  

8. Don't always pray for God to make things better; pray for him to make you bolder.

• After being forbidden to speak in the name of Jesus, the apostles prayed, "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:29-31)

9. Expect God to move in response to your prayer.

• "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8)

10. If you're going to ask, be prepared to act.

• The answer to your prayer is often the action God prompts you to take.
• Listen for God to lead you and prepare for Him to enable you to act with wisdom and boldness.

Does Starbucks Do Ministry Better than the Church?

In preparing for the November 2009 "Church on a Mission" series for Bell Road Church, I have surveyed various companies to get a glimpse at their corporate mission statements. Without a doubt, Starbucks sets a standard of excellence when it comes to creating an experience for their customers, facilitating ambiance, and creating a feeling of belonging for their patrons, most of whom will tell you that, to them, it's about SO much more than coffee.

It should come as no surprise that they've gone to great lengths to intentionally provide the "Starbucks experience", but are you aware of HOW FAR they've taken it? As you read the following, borrowed from their website, wrap your mind around what Church would look like if we were this intentional in our ministry efforts. In fact, we should be.

Mission Statement: "To inspire and nurture the human spirit — one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time."

Our Coffee
It has always been, and will always be, about quality. We’re passionate about ethically sourcing the finest coffee beans, roasting them with great care, and improving the lives of people who grow them. We care deeply about all of this; our work is never done.

Our Partners
We’re called partners, because it’s not just a job, it’s our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves. We always treat each other with respect and dignity. And we hold each other to that standard.

Our Customers
When we are fully engaged, we connect with, laugh with, and uplift the lives of our customers— even if just for a few moments. Sure, it starts with the promise of a perfectly made beverage, but our work goes far beyond that. It’s really about human connection.

Our Stores
When our customers feel this sense of belonging, our stores become a haven, a break from the worries outside, a place where you can meet with friends. It’s about enjoyment at the speed of life—sometimes slow and savored, sometimes faster. Always full of humanity.

Our Neighborhood
Every store is part of a community, and we take our responsibility to be good neighbors seriously. We want to be invited in wherever we do business. We can be a force for positive action— bringing together our partners, customers, and the community to contribute every day. Now we see that our responsibility—and our potential for good—is even larger. The world is looking to Starbucks to set the new standard, yet again. We will lead.

Our Shareholders
We know that as we deliver in each of these areas, we enjoy the kind of success that rewards our shareholders. We are fully accountable to get each of these elements right so that Starbucks—and everyone it touches—can endure and thrive.

Onward

The bottom line: We always figured that putting people before products just made good common sense. So far, it’s been working out for us. Our relationships with farmers yield the highest quality coffees. The connections we make in communities create a loyal following. And the support we provide our baristas pays off everyday.

The Authentic Christian

In his book Too Busy Not to Pray, Bill Hybels writes:

Authentic Christianity is not learning a set of doctrines and then stepping in cadence with people all marching the same way.  It is also not simply humanitarian service to the less fortunate.  It is a walk -- a supernatural walk with a living, dynamic, and communicating God.  The heart and soul of the Christian life is learning to hear God's voice and then developing the courage to do what he asks us to do.

Authentic Christians are persons who stand apart from others, even other Christians, as though listening to the beat of a different drummer.  Their character seems deeper, their ideas fresher, their spirit softer, their courage greater, their leadership stronger, their concerns wider, their compassion more genuine and their convictions more concrete.  They are joyful in spite of difficult circumstances and show wisdom beyond their years.

That's because authentic Christians have strong relationships with the Lord -- relationships that are renewed every day.  As the psalmist said of godly people, "Their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.  They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither" (Psalm 1:2-3 NRSV).

Embarrassingly few Christians ever reach this level of authenticity because most Christians allow busyness to rule the day.  Which, if you ask me, is the unrivaled archenemy of spiritual authenticity.  Busyness is akin to something the Bible calls worldliness -- getting caught up with society's agenda, objectives and activities to the neglect of walking with God.  And any way you slice it, a key ingredient in authentic Christianity is time.  Not leftover time, not throwaway time, but quality time.  Time for contemplation, meditation and reflection.  Unhurried, uninterrupted time.

Third Edition, (c) 2008, Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 119-120.