IF JOHN WROTE A LETTER TO THE CHURCH TODAY…

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Smyrna: ‘The One Who is First and Last, the One Who died and came to life again, says this…’”  (Revelation 2:8 NLV)

In the book of Revelation, John includes a lengthy passage addressed to seven churches, commending some and correcting others. The letter affirms service, patient endurance, courage, faithfulness, aliveness, sacrifice, and passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The letter also tells the truth about lukewarm commitment, poverty of spirit, waning love, lost focus, conflict, and division. The churches are invited and encouraged to come back, turn around, and return to their former passion and mission. Each of the seven churches is addressed personally in ways that are contextual, authentic, and tailored to its own circumstances. The tone is both pastoral and prophetic, positive and critical, encouraging and honest, building up communities while also holding them accountable. 

…Suppose your congregation received such a letter. What would the letter say? What characteristics, spiritual qualities, practices, and ministries would be commended, worthy of praise, affirmed, and celebrated? And what characteristics, spiritual qualities, practices, and ministries of your congregation would be prophetically challenged, called into account, pierced by the spirit of truth? What truth would you be asked to confront? How would your congregation be invited to change? 

-- Bishop Robert Schnase, excerpted from his “Five Practices Blog”

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LOOKING FOR LOVE

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16 NLT)

You’ve known someone who looked for love “in all the wrong places,” in the worst places. Desperate to feel wanted, that man or woman jumped from love interest to love interest, but the results were rarely good.

But all of us, if we were honest, could admit we desperately need love. This harsh world attacks us if we have no one to love and be loved by. Our empty hearts begin to despair when love seems to pass us by.

What many hurting people -- even some Christians -- fail to recognize is that human love only goes so far. Exciting romance feels good, but it doesn’t solve every problem; in fact, it can be the beginning of even bigger troubles, if you’re not careful. Then the hurt of love gone wrong can dry out your soul. It’s not the love this world is founded on, so it can never give us all we need.

But there’s one love that every person -- weak or strong, rich or poor, single or married -- can enjoy. It won’t lead to a bad place or break a heart. It doesn’t die out, as so many romances do, and no one feels used at the end of it. God’s love is perfect, so no baggage ties it down or ruins it. Not only that, God’s love never ends. He plans to bring us into eternity through His Son, Jesus Christ. So the love that buoys us up today never disappears.

The love of the Savior, it’s the best of both worlds. 

-- Adapted from “Daily Wisdom to Satisfy the Soul” by Pamela McQuade, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission. 

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FUMBLING THE BALL

“Live [compassionately], friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.”  (Galatians 6:1-3 MSG)                   

Churches that focus on compassion and love, that are rooted in the spiritual dimension, over time enhance their ability to offer creative and life-giving ministries and mission, but churches that focus solely on ministry and mission can lose their souls if they forget to love people involved in them. A major component, then, of spiritual leadership is being a compassionate leader…

There’s a comment made in many churches that I’ve always hated: “So-and-so dropped the ball on that one.” What this means is that a person agreed to do something, but then failed, for whatever reason, to accomplish it. What bothers me about the phrase is that it shows a lack of compassion. The phrase has its origins in football: a player fumbles and “drops the ball,” which messes up the offense. The reality is that in football, people fumble. They don’t fumble intentionally. It’s always a mistake. Sometimes they fumble because they are trying too hard to do too much. Sometimes they fumble because they lose sight of the ball. Sometimes they fumble because they are anxious or afraid. Nobody fumbles on purpose. But on good teams, when players fumble, it is up to the rest of the team either to get the ball back or to prevent the other team from capitalizing on the fumble. Good team leaders tell the rest, “Don’t worry about the fumble. Just focus on what we need to do, and eventually we’ll get another opportunity. And if we fumble again, we all have to get the ball back.”

Compassionate leaders recognize that people don’t fail on purpose. They fail for a variety of reasons, including not knowing how to do something, trying to do too much, losing sight of the goal, or lacking confidence. Good leaders have compassion and let people know that it is OK to make mistakes or fail, that a new opportunity will eventually present itself, and that the person is still valued and important. 

-- N. Graham Standish in “Becoming a Blessed Church: Forming a Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence, and Power”

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A FRESH START WITH GOD

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)

Monday mornings often bring a long list of responsibilities, challenges, and expectations. It is easy to begin the week focused on what lies ahead and forget the One who goes before us. Yet God's Word reminds us that today is not an accident. It is a gift from the Lord, carefully prepared by His loving hand.

Before rushing into the demands of the day, take a moment to thank God for the opportunity of a new beginning. His mercies are new every morning, and His strength is available for every task you face. You do not have to carry the weight of the week alone. The same God who guided you yesterday is already present in your tomorrow.

As you start this week, choose faith over fear, gratitude over complaint, and trust over worry. Walk confidently, knowing that God is at work in every circumstance and that He will provide the wisdom and strength you need for each day. May the peace of Christ be with you. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

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WHAT’S IN YOUR WARDROBE? – Part 5 of 5

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

PATIENCE

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”  (Psalm 27:14 NLT)

In our fast-paced world, waiting feels like an interruption. We rush to plan the next season, secure the next outcome, and outrun uncertainty, often operating under the anxious assumption that if we aren’t pushing forward, we are falling behind. Yet, spiritual growth rarely happens in the rush. It happens in the stillness -- when we stop trying to outpace God's calendar and learn to anchor our souls in the present.

To get ahead of God’s timing is to rely on our own strength rather than His wisdom. It is driven by the fear that if we don't force a door open, it will remain closed forever. But the posture of faith invites us to exhale, lay down our timelines, and trust the One who holds eternity.

Henri J.M. Nouwen beautifully captured the transformative power of patient waiting when he wrote: "A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us... Patient people dare to stay where they are. Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there... nurturing the moment."

Nouwen reminds us that patience is not passive resignation; it is an active, courageous choice. To wait well is to stay fully present in whatever season we find ourselves -- even an uncomfortable or quiet one -- believing that God is working beneath the surface. When we rush ahead, we risk missing the exact lessons, character-building, and quiet blessings He has planted right where we are. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

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WHAT’S IN YOUR WARDROBE? – Part 4 of 5

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

GENTLENESS

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."  (Philippians 4:5 NIV)

We call it gentleness, but the Greeks called it praotes. Aristotle said that praotes was the perfect mean between too little anger and too much anger.

You thought anger was always bad?

Not at all.  No reform movement would ever have happened if someone hadn't gotten angry about the state of things as they found them.  It was when people grew angry about slavery that its death knell was sounded.  So, too, with child labor.

But the problem is to harness that anger.  That's where praotes -- gentleness -- comes in.  Anger destroys even in the name of great causes; without restraint, anger will defeat the very matters it endorses.  And our usual brand of self-control won't make it.  As William Barclay used to say, we need to be God-controlled.  That’s gentleness.  Because gentleness is power under purposeful direction.

-- J. Ellsworth Kalas (1923-2015) in “New Testament Stories from the Back Side”

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WHAT’S IN YOUR WARDROBE? – Part 3 of 5

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

HUMILITY

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’” (Matthew 18:1 ESV)

Who is the greatest? It evokes the very essence of ego. I heard an apt acronym the other day for E.G.O. -- Edging God Out. "Greatest" language activates the cancerous plague of all human cultures (especially internet culture): comparison. It creates a universe of competition where there can be only one winner and an infinity of losers.

Jesus blows up the question and destroys the category.

“And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’"  (Matthew 18:2–5 ESV)

In lifting up the child as the example, Jesus is not driving at child-like whimsy with rainbows and unicorns. He's exalting extreme humility. He's crushing status barriers, destroying prestige markers, and otherwise eviscerating any shred of human qualification anyone might bring to the table. And let's be clear, He's not handing out participation trophies to mediocre people. He's passing out divine commendations, and they are in endless supply. With a mere thirty-four words He reinterprets the way to greatness from measuring up to measuring down.

Humility is not self-abnegation; it is God-exaltation. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is not lowering yourself; it is lifting up others.

True humility is becoming so enraptured with Jesus you've taken on His likeness. His mindset has become your mentality.

-- Excerpted from “Wake-Up Call” with J. D. Walt 

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WHAT’S IN YOUR WARDROBE? – Part 2 of 5

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

KINDNESS

Every morning, we make a conscious choice about what to wear. We look at the schedule ahead, check the weather, and select clothes that fit the day. In Colossians, Paul reminds us that our spiritual lives require a similar daily intention. Before we step out into the world, we are called to dress our hearts.

Notice the foundation Paul sets before giving this instruction: you are chosen, holy, and dearly loved. Kindness isn't something we manufacture on our own to earn God’s favor; it is the natural outflow of realizing how deeply loved we already are. When your own heart is secure in God's grace, extending grace to others becomes second nature.

Kindness in action is rarely about grand, dramatic gestures. More often, it lives in the quiet moments -- choosing a gentle answer when a quick, sharp retort feels justified; offering patience to someone who is having a difficult day; reaching out to check on a friend simply to let them know they are seen.

When we put on kindness, we reflect the very character of Christ to a world that is often harsh and hurried. Today, as you prepare for whatever lies ahead, take a moment to intentionally "clothe" yourself with kindness and let God’s love be seen through your everyday interactions. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™ 

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WHAT’S IN YOUR WARDROBE? – Part 1 of 5

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

INTRODUCTION: Colossians 3:12 marks a turning point in Paul's letter where he moves from doctrine to daily living. After reminding believers that they have been raised with Christ and given a new identity in Him, Paul calls them to live in a manner that reflects their new nature. Because they are God's chosen, holy, and beloved people, they are to clothe themselves with Christlike qualities that demonstrate His character to the world.

COMPASSION

Frederick Buechner wrote, "Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy for you, too."

What is compassion? It is Jesus coming to earth to be like us, to identify with our human experience. One of His greatest desires is that we show the same compassion to others, that we show mercy and ease suffering…

Compassion doesn't come naturally to us. We are by nature self-centered. It takes time and a work of God's grace to develop compassion…

We learn compassion either by going through certain circumstances or by trying to imagine what other people are going through…

When we go through the death of a friend or family member, an illness, or a trying time, we often discover that the people who come alongside us and help the most are people who either have experienced the same difficulties or try to understand what we are going through without feeling a need to fix or make judgments.

Compassion reaches into hearts and lives, past barriers, past judgments, and brings the touch of God. 

-- William and Nancie Carmichael in “Lord Bless My Child” 

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THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF GOD AS A PERSON

Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’”  (Matthew 6:7-10 ESV)

The Bible does not simply speak of God as 'one.' It speaks of God as a person. God is not like an abstract mathematical unit which is singular and stands by itself alone. We do not speak of God as an "it." We use a personal pronoun and speak of God as "He." The reason for this is that the Bible always speaks of God as a personal subject, as one who is in relation to another. God keeps His promises (Deuteronomy 4:31). He is merciful. He sees and hears His people (Exodus 3:7-8). He speaks and teaches (Genesis1:1; Deuteronomy 6:1). He loves (John 3:16). God can be angry (Deuteronomy 6:15). God can be long-suffering and patient (1 Peter 3:20). "It's" are none of those things. 

-- Dr. Bill Weinrich, excerpted from an article entitled “One God in Three Persons,” published in “GOD WORDS: Intro to Classic Christian Theology”

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THE IMMANENCE AND TRANSCENDENCE OF GOD

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them?”  (Psalm 8:3-4 NIV)

“How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me.”  (Psalm 13:1-6 NIV)

The psalmists approached their friendship with God with... awe and wonder, and often turned their words into insistent witness. The sense of wonder is always there for the psalmist. He may complain about his life and even about the way he thinks God is treating him, yet the sense of wonder is never lost. I know of no literature that so recklessly brings together the immanence of God and the transcendence of God. The psalmist feels God is so approachable that he dares to raise questions about God's very character; then, suddenly, God is so eternal that the poet struggles for words to express his awe. 

-- J. Ellsworth Kalas in “Longing to Pray: How the Psalms Teach Us to Talk with God“

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OUR IMAGE OF GOD

What comes into your mind when you think about God?  The great preacher A.W. Tozer wrote that "we tend, by a secret law of the soul, to move toward our mental image of God."  So it's crucial that our idea of God correspond as nearly as is possible to the true being of God.

Certainly, in our limited human condition, we cannot think of God as He really is.  But if we are drawing our image of God from the wrong sources, then He'll be too small.

Today, since "spirituality" is so big in our culture, celebrities and people of influence often talk about their relationship with God... but for many, God seems to be a vague deity they've made up, a personalized edition of a spiritual force who exists to make people feel good about themselves.

We need to take care not to be squeezed into the mindset of the culture around us.  In every situation of each day, we have a choice.  We can fix our attention on ourselves, and recast God in our own image.  Or we can fix our attention on God, as the Scriptures really reveal Him to be. 

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6)

-- Ellen Vaughn in “Daily Seeds from Women Who Walk in Faith” 

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THE GAME OF LIFE – Part 2 of 2

Monopoly often rewards aggressive acquisition, but in real life, unchecked greed can destroy relationships and peace. Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). The game can be a playful reminder of how easily our hearts can be drawn toward “more” instead of “enough.”

Monopoly may be a game of strategy and competition, but it can also be a mirror for our spiritual lives. The real “victory” isn’t measured in property deeds or stacks of cash, but in a life lived with open hands, a generous heart, and an eternal perspective.

In Monopoly, one player’s gain is often another’s loss. But the Kingdom of God operates differently -- it’s not a zero-sum game. In Christ, we are called to generosity, lifting others up rather than bankrupting them. Imagine if we played life more like that -- offering mercy, forgiveness, and help instead of just trying to “win.” 

-- Mark A. Brady, from his blog

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 THE GAME OF LIFE – Part 1 of 2

At first glance, Monopoly might seem like nothing more than a competitive scramble for cash, property, and power. But if we look closer, this classic board game can actually serve as a thought-provoking metaphor for biblical truths about life, stewardship, and eternity.

In Monopoly, no matter how many hotels you own or how much cash you’ve stacked, the game eventually ends. When it’s over, everything goes back in the box. The Bible reminds us of the same reality: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). Our earthly possessions are temporary; what truly matters is how we use them for God’s purposes. And at the end of your life, you, too, will go into a box.

In the game, you never truly “own” the board -- you’re just managing resources for a time. Likewise, scripture teaches that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are stewards, entrusted with time, talents, and treasures to manage wisely. Winning in God’s eyes isn’t about accumulation, but about faithfulness.

-- Mark A. Brady, from his blog

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VULGAR GRACE

The Apostle Paul wrote, “The Lord said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’”  (2 Corinthians 12:9a)

In my office at the church, I have the following quotation hanging on my wall, 4 foot by 3 foot. It has become a sort of life mantra for me. I made it so large because I tend to forget this simple yet profound message about my being going before my doing. It’s a quote from Brennan Manning’s book “All Is Grace.” This ragamuffin follower of Jesus penned this weighty reminder for hard-headed, performance-addicted people like me:

“My life is a witness of vulgar grace – a grace that amazes as it offends. A grace that pays the eager beaver who worked all day long the same wages as the grinning drunk who shows up at ten til five. A grace that hikes up the robe and runs breakneck toward the prodigal reeking in sin and wraps him up and decides to throw a party no ifs, ands, or buts. A grace that raises bloodshot eyes to a dying thief’s request – “Please, remember me” – and assures him, “You bet!” A grace that is the pleasure of the Father, fleshed out in the carpenter Messiah, Jesus Christ, who left His Father’s side not for heaven’s sake but for our sakes, yours and mine. This vulgar grace is indiscriminate compassion. It works without asking anything of us. It’s not cheap. It’s free, and as such will always be a banana peel for the orthodox foot and a fairy tale for the grown-up sensibility. Grace is sufficient even though we huff and puff with all our might to try to find something or someone it cannot cover. Grace is enough. He is enough. Jesus is enough.” 

-- Jorge Acevedo in “Everybody Needs Some Cave Time: Meeting God in Dark Places”

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MENDING A BROKEN HEART

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.”  (Psalm 34:18; 147:3)

Let me suggest to you how we can deal with our woundedness and allow God to bind our wounds and heal our broken hearts. God will mend a broken heart, if we will give Him all the pieces.

Frist of all, we need to accept the reality of our wounds. Because God is with us, we can be realistic about our life. God empowers us to accept and face whatever it is that has wounded our life. Real wounds do not go away because we ignore them or suppress them; they only surface in more destructive and dangerous ways later.

Second, we lean on God’s power and strength. One of the things Paul learned in his struggles with his thorn in the flesh was that this wound and weakness made him rely more upon God. He said, “Whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Third, we can hold on to hope. Hope is a necessity for real living, but especially in a wounded [or broken] moment. As Christians, we can have the hope and expectation that life will be good again. It may not be the same, but it can be good again. Hope is belief in possibility. It is not unrealistic optimism that everything will work out and things will be like they were before. It is confidence and faith that however things turnout, God will be with us, will see us through, and will bring healing.

Fourth, we can get in or stay in a healing community. The church is God’s healing community. We are not created to be alone; we were made for community and family. The Bible speaks of the power and strength of community, especially holy community. We give and draw strength from one another.

Finally, we can give ourselves to a cause greater than ourselves and become wounded healers. There comes a time, if we are to be healed, that we turn our attention away from our wounds and focus on something greater than ourselves. Many wounds do not heal because we continuously irritate them by constant examination. If we want to be healed, it helps to forget about ourselves and our wounds for a while and lose ourselves in helping, serving, and caring for others. 

-- Excerpted from “Lord, Give Me Patience!... And Give It to Me Right Now!” by James W. Moore and Bob J. Moore

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