Proverbs 12:1 - To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.

On Sunday, I began a series of talks regarding spiritual discipline.  The very word discipline makes most of us shudder.  It has all sorts of negative connotations.  In most of our minds, it is a very negative word.  And in fact, if you look it up online in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first definition is “punishment”.  ‘Nuff said, right?

Wrong!  The word and concept of discipline has been hijacked and distorted from it’s highest and purest meaning.  Check out this entry from Wikipedia:

In its most general sense, discipline refers to systematic instruction given to a disciple. This sense also preserves the origin of the word, which is Latin disciplina “instruction”, from the root discere “to learn,” and from which discipulus “disciple, pupil” also derives.^[1]

To discipline thus means to instruct a person or animal to follow a particular code of conduct, or to adhere to a certain “order.” Consequently, “in the field of child development, discipline refers to methods of modeling character and of teaching self-control and acceptable behavior.”^[2] So for example, to discipline a child to wash its hands before meals. Here, ‘washing hands before meals’ is a particular pattern of behaviour, and the child is being disciplined to adopt that pattern. ‘To disciple’ also gives rise to the word disciplinarian, which denotes a person who enforces order. An ideal disciplinarian is one who can enforce order without coercion for “family specialists agree that using physical force, threats and put-downs can interfere with a child’s healthy development.”^[3] Usually however, the phrase ‘to discipline’ carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order - that is, ensuring instructions are carried out - is often regulated through punishment.^{cf. [4]}

To be disciplined is then, subject to context, either a virtue (the ability to follow instructions well) or a euphemism for punishment (which may also be referred to as disciplinary procedure).

DISCIPLE

That’s the first and highest meaning of the word.  A disciple is a learner (that sounds a lot like “a leader is a learner”… which means that leading and being a disciple may go hand-in-hand), and a learner is studying the “discipline” of the master/teacher.  You cannot be a disciple without discipline.  And we are called to be “disciples of Jesus Christ”.   Jesus told his disciples to go make more disciples.  All of that requires discipline.

OLYMPIC DISCIPLINE

It amazes me how much discipline it takes for the Olympians to achieve what they have achieved.  And they do it for a reward that will one day tarnish and lose its’ luster.  Why can’t we invest the same commitment to being the best disciple of Christ we can be?  We know the rewards are far greater.

I’ll continue to speak over the next few weeks on spiritual discipline.  And I’ll add some more thoughts on Bible Study tomorrow to follow up on that topic.

I’ll close this with a quote from William Penn - “No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.“

I began blogging at the start of the year. Shortly after that, I discovered a website/service called Twitter. My initial understanding of Twitter was to use it as a sort of “mini-blog” to give short thoughts and updates on the blog about things I didn’t really want to write about. It took me a few more months to realize that it can be so much more than that. I have been encouraging people in our church for a couple of months now to join Twitter. The initial reaction was sort of like I had lost my mind. “Why in the world would I want to do that?” was kind of the unspoken thought process that invitation generated in people’s minds. But more and more, our folks are discovering that there is great value in “twittering”. Here are a few of the benefits we have discovered –

• We feel more connected with our friends
• We have been able to generate immediate prayer support for needs
• We have been able to encourage & challenge each other
• We have shared “out loud” laughs
• We have been able to create almost instant unplanned gatherings.

Now, my insistence or people joining has been validated by USA Today.  I just discovered that the newspaper has created a feature article on Twitter in the ”Money/Tech” section.  It is sweeping the country.  The incredible variety of uses has created a frequent problem on twitter, which is that it keeps going down.  But this article addresses that.  There is also a pretty helpful video in the left hand column of the article on their website.  Make sure you watch that.

If you’re not signed up for Twitter yet… you’re missing out on the fun.  AND….. it’s FREE!  You don’t have to use text messaging to enjoy Twitter (although it makes it more mobile and immediate).  You can simply check it out when you’re online and catch up with what your friends are doing.  Don’t wait…. do it now…

• Sign Up for Twitter - Click here
• Follow me on Twitter - Click here (or click on a “tweet” in the right hand column of this blog)

Now go… what are you hanging around here for? Fly Away!

VS 3-11, LOVE YOU, MEAN IT - I’m not sure where I first heard that phrase, but it’s always been something you say with a bit of a chuckle.  But for Paul, that’s exactly what he was expressing here… but in a very deep and real way.  He describes specific ways that he is thankful for them and has been praying for them.  It would serve us all well to be specific with each other when we encourage each other.  Paul goes on here to describe how our spiritual growth will lead us to feel a growing concern for people in need.  As we share the message of hope with others, we should also make prayer for their progress a part of our service to them.  Our commitment to pray for for other people struggling with sin will have a significant impact on their spiritual growth as well as our own.

VS 12-18, THE POWER OF PURPOSE - Paul could have been excused here if he wanted to take a little break from ministry while sitting in prison.  It’s not exactly the Presidential Suite of the Ritz.  But he used even this situation to lead and minister.  He never drifted from his mission.  That’s the power of purpose.  Each one of us has purpose.  Most of us search for it in the secular arena.  But God’s purposes for us are much higher than that.  Our purpose may very well play itself out in a secular environment, but the purpose will be something that serves God’s kingdom.  When we lay hold to that, here’s what we’ll find:

1. A purpose will motivate you.
2. A purpose will keep your priorities straight.
3. A purpose will develop your potential.
4. A purpose will give you power to live in the present.
5. A purpose will help you evaluate your progress.

A personal sense of purpose works in two ways —- First we work on it —- Then it works on us. Once Paul had determined his life mission, that purpose daily improved his attitude.  In prisons, in shipwrecks, beatings, trials and debates, Paul kept on smiling because of his strong sense of purpose.  On the other hand, when we surrender to our circumstances rather than our purpose, we have good days and bad days.  We are at the mercy of what happnes to us.  When we surrender to our purpose, we have good days wherever we go because the purpose never dies.

VS 12-18, MOTIVES VERSES FALSE GOSPELS - In these verses, Paul explains that he knows that there are people who have taken up preaching the gospel out of selfish or impure motives, but he is not critical.  In fact, he says he rejoices.  This stands in stark contrast to his harsh condemnations in Galatians.  What gives?  I believe the bottom line with Paul was this.. if someone preaches the true gospel, even if their motives are out of whack, Paul will let it stand because God will use his Word to win the lost.  The power is in the message, not the messenger.  However, when teachers begin to alter the gospel to something other than the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, then Paul will spare no effort to expose their error.  That’s a tough line to discern at times, but I will let Paul’s example be my guide.

VS 20-24, DO I STAY OR DO I GO - There used to be a song by that title.  Paul wrestled with the same question about his physical life.  But if we belong to God, we cannot lose.  Whether we live or die, we know wil will win in the end.  But while we live, we need to persevere in our faith so that we can make spiritual gains.  Paul’s primary motivation for persevering was his deep concern for others who still needed to hear the Good news of God’s loving power.  There is always a reason to live….. God still wants to use us to save the lives of others.

VS 27, DUAL CITIZENSHIP - I’ve often thought it must be really interesting to enjoy citizenship in two countries.  As a dual citizen you get the benefits of both countries.  Paul here advises us that we actually do have dual citizenship - here and in heaven. But only our heavenly citizenship will last forever.  He calls us to make that our higher calling, our higher priority.  To live as citizens of heaven, to see our role there as the motivater for our actions.  But as dual citizens, we will live that out here.  And in that way, we can win others to the kingdom of heaven and have them join us there.

YOUR TURN…..

This Saturday, we will be sponsoring a drive to collect new shoes for orphans around the world.  What started as a small push to benefit children who have virtually nothing has become a full-blown big event.  First I’ll give the where and when, and then I’ll give some of the cool stuff that’s happening.

WHERE - 3300 W Willow Knolls Dr @ the old Second Chance nightclub and soon to be Second Chance Church.

WHEN - 9:00 - 4:00

THE DETAILS:

• WPEO will be broadcasting from the parking lot
• WHOI will be coming to do a news story
• Julius Adams will be providing music (He’s really, really good)
• For every pair of new shoes somoene drops off, they will receive…
  • A free burger or hot dog, compliments of Alwan Brothers
  • Grilled on Traeger Grills compliments of Country Hearth & Home
  • Pop corn
  • One entry for a $100 gas card
  • One entry for the following:
    • Car Wash from Hucks
    • Passes to Wildlife Prairie Park
    • Passes to Kartville
    • Passes to Glen Oak Park Zoo
    • Passes to Wee Tee Mini Golf
    • Passes to Splashdown
    • Tix to Peoria Chiefs
  • A great sense of satisfaction for helping the poorest of the poor.

I can hardly believe what this has become.  Please do yourself and a needy orphan a favor.  Bring a pair of new shoes, grab a burger and feel the joy of helping others.

According to a new report in USA Today the consumption of coffee actually reduces the risk of dying due to heart disease. Yet another testimony to the goodness of coffee. Remember all the reports that came out years ago about all the dangers of drinking coffee? Well they were just wrong. As long-term studies begin to come to their conclusions, it is more and more evident that the regular consumption of coffee is actually beneficial for your health. Check out this quote from the article:

The results show that as coffee consumption increases, the overall risk of death decreases. The association is explained mostly by a decrease in CVD deaths, Lopez-Garcia says. Women who drank two to three cups of coffee a day, for instance, had a 25% lower risk of dying from heart disease than non-drinkers.

Can I get a big YEEEE HAWWWW! from all the coffee drinkers out there? How many times have you heard, “You’re drinking too much coffee”, (not that I am speaking from experience on this, :-0 ) or had someone tell you that you need to cut back? Now you can acknowledge the life-prolonging benefits of the wonderful thing we call java. And for all you folks who are resisting….. give it up. Join the party….drink coffee!

One of the great things about being here is being inspired and challenged by so much fresh vision. There is something contagious about people who are on the cusp of embarking on their dream. They are highly motivated… and it motivates me.

Please continue to pray for both those being assessed and those of us who are assessing their potential. It is a major responsibility to reach a decision about what we believe God is speaking to these potential planters.

Imagine having a dream… having a passion… having a vision for what could be, and having to place the future of that in the hands of a goup of people you do not know. That is the essence of a church planter’s situation when going through an assessment. That was certainly our situation several years ago.

As I look back on it today, I’m still amazed that what happened actually happened. I had no real pastoral experience. I was already in my 40s (not exactly prime church planting age). We had no pre-existing relationships with assessors that were “pulling” for us. All we had was each other and God and a desire to follow him into whatever he had for us.

To my never-ending thankfulness, that week was full of godly men and women who deeply desired to release those into ministry that they believed were particularly well-suited and gifted for it by God. It was not their desire to withhold that which God had already given, only to affirm it. By the same token, there are always people that need the insight of others to steer them in a different direction.

GOD TOLD ME…..

What do you do with that? How many times have we all heard someone doing something that made no sense, and when questioned, their answer was, “God told me”. Really? I will admit that there are times in the Bible where God moved men and women to attempt some pretty crazy things, but mostly when they were trained or gifted to do it. I think there are a lot of times that people say, “God told me” and all they really heard was rumblings inside from a bad burrito. God had nothing to do with it. But when someone says they heard from God, how do you argue that? Is that even reasonable? The short answer is YES! Everything…I mean everything can and should be evaluated by God’s word. Is a person gifted for it? Trained for it? God-suited for it? Does it line up with the clear teaching of scripture? What is the motivation? (You do realize that our motivations matter significantly to God, don’t you?) Is there a plan? Is it consistent with previous undertakings?

Proverbs tells us that there is wisdom in the “counsel of many”. I, for one, do not particularly enjoy submitting my plans to others for their approval. But God designed us in such a way that others see what we don’t. And when a group of godly people come together to hear from him and to make wise decisions, he will make things clear.

That is what we have come together to do here at the assessment this week. We are joining with others to hear from God and to speak into the lives and dreams of people who are willing to risk it all for the cause of Christ. It will be an exciting week. Please pray for us and these potential planters.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This was written on Monday morning, prior to the beginning of Day 1, but could not be posted due to connectivity problems.

So what’s the reason for excitement tonight? Well tomorrow, we kick off ONE PRAYER with over 1300 churches. It’s absolutely amazing to have this many churches partnered together for ANY reason. Much less to devote an entire month to focus on the same subject and challenge each other to bigger and better things. Plus, we are going to share some potentially major news in the service tomorrow. It all adds up to a HUGE day.

THEN…. Lesley and I will be headed off to Green Lake Conference Center in WI to assist with a church planters assessment week. It was roughly 4 years ago that we went through the same process. It is a frightening thing to place your potential future in the hands of a group of other people. But that’s what we did. We went through psychological evaluations, personality profiling, and a wide-range of church-planting scenarios that planters will typically have to navigate.

Throughout the process, there are a group of assessors that are watching, observing, interacting with you, and comparing notes with other assessors as to the potential of the candidate as a church-planter. It is extremely intense and scary. But in the end it is a thrilling and wonderful experience. The energy among those who are dreaming about impacting the world for Christ is incredible.