Integrity in the Underdog Church-wake Up!

Underdog
Why does the church keep acting like the underdog? I'm wondering why since we have God on our side we don't just go for it? Old, established churches, gather (and sometimes don't) and they are completely sold on hearing what the pastor has to say (and sometimes they aren't.) They take it with them but sometimes seem to reach a point where it isn't relevant (the teaching) through out the rest of the week. How can this be?

Compartmenalization:

Segmenting your life is dangerous. It seems almost necessary in this day. We want to believe that much of what we do does not change who we are. We don't know who we are in many cases and we are deathly afraid of finding out. Non-Christians probably should be. In some way who you are will reflect where you are headed and when Hell is the destination, the reflection isn't pretty.

Doubt equals fearing your reflection

Maybe Christians have the same problem. Christians are going to heaven. That was settled at Calvary. However, all it takes it doubt (and there seems to be plenty of that) and we could start fearing the reflection.

Cat:

I used to have a cat that would bat the cat in the mirror. It was cute. Not so much so in humans who are afraid of the reflection and try to preemptive strike it by not looking. Take a long look at who you are. It is who God made you to be-or at least it is how far you have come...

Self-exmination:

Anyway, all this seems to lead people to avoid self-examination. Probably because they are afraid of what they will find. Avoiding self-examination naturally leads to segmenting your life. See, I was getting back to it all the while...

We segment our life because we don't want to admit that that crap we are taking in is affecting us. We watch criminals perpetrate horrid crimes (fictitious or real) on TV and think-that is not real and its not me so I am fine...But what you watch is you. Not that you are criminal or even "like them." However, you have chosen to put that stuff in your head.

Recycling Bin:

On the computer, whatever you put in the "recycling bin" remains on your computer. The idea is that some people make mistakes and then want to un-delete something that they have sent to the recycling bin. It works. I have done it. In the mean time your hard drive is still partially filled with the junk that you have plans to be rid of. It still affects your hard drive-say if it has viruses in it.

The only way to stop this is to quarantine any infected files. I am not a computer person per se. I do not need any more details than what I have on how this works. However, the point is, that what's still there is still there.

The only way to get rid of it is to delete it-"actual and whole."

The same is true with our lives. When we put junk in our heads which it's really easy to do...Then the only way to be rid of the evil influence of it is to delete it "actual and whole." Problem-This is not within our ability. We can delete the source-we stop watching. However, forgetting is only questionably under our control.

Born again:

God can, However. He can help you erase the junk you've put in. So, repent. Turn from the junk that you are putting in and pray to God that you know you need healing from it. Stop watching evil and pretending that it doesn't effect you. Stop trying to compartmentalize it. This same principle applies to the mundane. Mundane is not inherently evil but is essentially uselessness compared to usefulness and so can be evil to those who are supposed to be useful.

God initiated an invasion and we are supposed to be part of it. The scheming enemy is focused in purpose to keep us from our potential. He wants to distract even divide. He seems to be succeeding since the church is acting like the underdog.

Wake up!

But we are not the underdog. You can actually do whatever you choose to do for God! You can change the wold for the better or for the worse now that you have Christ. You do not have to allow age, sex, race, nationality, economic status, or anything else to get in the way. Do not be divided against yourself. Decide now that nothing and no one will stand in your way from passionately living a life of purpose and love for the God who loved you that much to give his self for you-"actual and whole."

Integrity:

Integrity is being actual and whole. While division within yourself may seem useful now to allow you to dabble in things you should not-It is ultimately draining and weakening to the point of uselessness and the enemy knows this. So, stop. Be one person, know yourself, and your destination. Let that be the purpose of your life. Reaching new Heights in Christ!

You are not the underdog here! You have already triumphed (in Christ) over everyone of these distractions and hardships. They will one day all be permanently deleted. How can you do for Christ what you have never done before? Are you old and tired? Giving, working, and especially loving are energizing! Get alive and then live alive until it's time to go home...

God Bless you as you pursue Christ.

Pastor Dan Stevenson
www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Flying for Jesus

Flags have to held down or they can not fly accept away. To do their duty they must be attached. The force of the wind then strains at their point of attachment. This reminds me of us. We are supposed to represent Christ, to display Him for all the world to see.

The connection point between you and the foundation is the rub. It's the place in which you will experience all your struggles. I'm thinking faith is the place...

incidentally, Grease is the word, was a musical that's been remade expressing something less than Christian values. yeah, it's cure but like a lot of things that isn't enough. The classics aren't so classic sometimes when you look at what they are representing.

Anyway, If faith is the connecting point and the foundation is Christ then whenever the "wind' blows hard your faith may be stretched. Now the foundation is Christ and there can be no other, but if you have doubt as your connection point instead of faith then when the wind blows and your doubt is tested you will likely begin to wonder whether the foundation will hold or if it is actually there at all.

It is. That is how you begin to feel the pressures rather than to fly away. In other words, when things start to get tough for you in acting on Christ's principles that's when you know you have what you have but if doubt is the connection point then you shouldn't bother to think you have anything-cause when the tough gets tough enough you'll just let go and fly.

I like flags. The American flag has 50 stars which is a nice round number and probably an irritation to the people of Puerto Rico who could get the 51st spot, theoretically. It has thirteen stripes-That's not an even number. But, if there's one thing that's for certain it's that you can't go back in time and be "the original" as with the thirteen colonies which I think is what the stripes represent, right?

Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah. So, what to do. Here it is. Get Jesus-the only foundation-fortunately he is more than willing to give life to any who will accept Him. Then, get stress-stand against the prevailing trends when they are not Godly and cling to the foundation. Third, have faith not doubt as your connecting point. Then, let the wind blow and wave like crazy-but don't let go! be a flying-High flag for Jesus. Formula looks something like this: More wind, More faith, more flying. Don't worry, the wind comes and goes-that's about all that's certain in life in general. The foundation is real and lasts and is able to keep hold of that which I have entrusted to it (HIM.)

Pastor Dan
www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org