Freedom

2 Peter 2:19 For you are a slave to whatever controls you. NLT People are enslaved to whatever defeats them HCSB

We often immediately think of enslaving things like drugs , alcohol, and gambling. But the truth is, we can also controlled by a variety of other things as well - anger, fear, hurt feelings, offense, bitterness, habits, and the desire to be accepted. Even 'good things' like exercise can become 'controlling' if we let it become a dominating force in our lives - something that makes our choices 'unbalanced.'

The good news is - we can live free from being dominated by anything! John 8:32 - You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. HCSB, 8:36 If the Son sets you free, you really will be free. Galatians 5:1 Christ has liberated us unto freedom HCSB We can live totally, 100% free today!

To deal with 'controlling issues' in our lives we need to 'recognize' and confess what tends to control us. If it is not immediately obvious to us, we can gain revelation as we pray and read the Word, seek wise counsel, and just through 'common sense.' Anything that is causing us to live in ways that we don't want to live, or causing us to ignore things that should be priorities is 'controlling' us. When we recognize the controlling issue, we can thank God for his power that has set us free, and stand on the 'freedom' promises. Another 'liberator' is to find and stand on the promises that relate to the issue (for example 2 Tim 1;7 if fear is controlling us), until we actually walk out that freedom that is already ours. Every time we come to the place of being tempted to let the issue 'control' us, we can simply invite Christ (and trust he will do it) to live his overcoming, victorious, life of freedom, out through us - and he will!

Through Christ's work in our lives, through the word working in us, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we are able to conquer every 'controling' issue that could dominate us. We can live in freedom. These things only have the power to control us, if we let them have authority over us. Jesus has given us the authority to live free!

Life principle 2

We are not called to 'run a church' but to be His people in the context of our culture.

This is a radical shift in thinking for me. For a long time I have thougth my 'job' was to 'run a church' ie. provide an organization (programs, etc) for people to come to faith, grow, and live as Christians. But I have come to believe that our first and foremost calling is simply to enable people to become part of his kingdom and practice his ways. The church is simply a tool to help us do that, not the goal or end product. The focus shifts from 'keeping the church going' to 'keeping people going.

This means that when we are looking at what the 'church' should be doing, the question to ask is, 'What do we need to have, or do, corporately to enable us to live as Christians in our culture today?' For example we often set up a 'kids program' to attract adults to come to our 'church' (I know on the surface we say it's because the kids need to learn about Jesus, etc. but lets be honest, often it's because we know parents will go to the church down the street if they have a better 'kid's ministry' than ours.)

Jesus spent all of his time calling people to 'sign up' to live out his principles, and helping them learn how to do that. He spend no time setting up an organization. Nor did he call or conscript or commission people to run an organization. This must say something to us when we spend so much of our time and energy building buildings and running programs. And running committees to run the building programs and running committess to run the programs etc .... It seems there is little time for the average church goer to actually 'live out the kingdom principles.' Most of their energy is spent just keeping the 'church' running.

If our main focus becomes 'being the people of God [a kingdom of heaven people]' in our culture, what do you think would change in the average church? Opinions? Ideas?

Life principle - God's desire for me

Something I have come to firmly believe is that God desires me to prosper (do well, live well) in this life. This is in great contrast to what we have often believed - that God is stern, desires to make life hard (for our good of course), and is very difficult to please or earn favor from. But the word says ..

Isaiah 30:18 the Lord longs to be gracious to you. NASB

Deut 5:33 Stay on the path that the Lord you God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives. NLT2

Deut 6:24 The LORD commanded us to follow all these statutes and to fear the LORD our God for our prosperity always and for our preservation, as it is today. (HCSB)

What a wonderful difference it makes to believe he really wants me to do well, have a good life, be significant, and be blessed in all I do. It makes coming to him a delight. It makes following his paths and ways a joy.

We need to get this truth fixed deep in our hearts. The enemy will try to make it look like the opposite, but we can fully trust that God desires all the best for us, just like any father wants the best for his own family.

Bible Translations

There is life in the Word!

I am very thankful for all the wonderful translations we have available to us these days. I love having a number of bibles (my wife calls it an addiction!). I justify it by saying, 'If the Word is central to my life it only makes sense to invest in a variey of versions and translations.

So ... what are my favorites?

For serious study - NASB update with translation notes in the margin. I love it because it is very literal - not very open to the translators particular 'interpretation' of a phrase or sentence. The downside of the NASB is that it can sometimes be a bit awkward in it's English and takes some time to dig out what it is saying.

For clear reading - English Standard Version , Holman Christian Standard. Both of these are accurate and quite literal, but written in 'easier to read and understand' English. Still good for memorization, study, and public use. I also would place the NIV here, but find I am not using it nearly as much as I used to.

Easy to understand - Right now I am really enjoying the New Living Translation - second edition. I find it much improved over the original NLT. Less 'chatty' and more accurate. It is very easy to read and understand, and great for public reading when there are younger listeners, or those who are not immersed in 'church culture.'

'Devotional' - The Message falls into this category for me. It is more like a 'commentary' than a real translation. But it is fresh and alive and makes me think and laugh, and grabs my attention. My only advise here is to make sure you have a good reliable, accurate, more literal, tranlsation close at hand for reference.

So there you have it .. my favorite bibles ...