The Spirit of Competition

Another excellent devotional from one of my favorite writers.

The Spirit of Competition
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. - John 17:23

A story is told about F.B. Meyer, the great Bible teacher and pastor who lived a century ago. He was pastoring a church and began to notice that attendance was suffering. This continued until he finally asked some members of his congregation one Sunday morning why they thought attendance was down.

A member volunteered, "It is because of this new church down the road. The young preacher has everyone talking and many are going to hear him speak."

His name was Charles Spurgeon. Meyer, rather than seeking to discourage this, exhorted the entire congregation to join him and go participate in seeing this "move of God" as he described it to his congregation.

"If this be happening, then God must be at work."

Meyer, even though he was an accomplished preacher and teacher, recognized where God was at work and joined Him in it. [The author heard this on a radio show from Key Life Ministries with Steve Brown, based in Orlando, Florida.]

Can you imagine this story taking place in our competitive world today? Competition has penetrated the Church so much that many churches and Christian organizations approach ministry like a sports event. They view their mission as a business that seeks to gain market share among Christians - donors, members, influence - all under the name of God. I am sure God looks down at us and asks, "Whatever happened to John 17:23?" Sometimes we must remind our fellow servants that we are all on the same team! We should be seeking to impact the Kingdom of God, not increase our own market share.

When Jesus made this statement about unity in John 17:23, it represented the key to bringing salvation to many. He was saying that when His Body is unified, the non-Christian would be able to see who Jesus really is - the Son of God. Are you contributing to unity in the Body of Christ? Or are you contributing to a spirit of competition? Ask God where you can be an instrument of unity in His Body.

Dances with Trains

I am amazed at how many friends I have that have given up the search for significance. They are no longer deer panting for water... or souls longing after God. Instead they are bitter hardened ground that no longer expects rain much less water. Survival, not significance, is their new search. Dusty dreamers who don't even look up to see if the light at the end of the tunnel is a train. They've been ran over too many times and just expect trains.

I understand. I expect trains too! Why? Because, I have been in those tunnels. I have seen those trains.

But one day, something occurred to me. That train had to come from somewhere, and it's going somewhere else. Call me an optimist, but I think of myself as a realist. If I keep seeing trains come and go, then there's hope. I remember hearing the whistle once and realizing, that if I just got off the track, I wouldn't keep getting ran over. In fact, if I could reach out and snag the train somehow, it might carry me out of this place. And it did.

And I found that, in life there are patches of light and patches of darkness. And there are trains that lead you into and out of each. Sometimes I have to know when to jump off and sometimes, I have to hang on through the darkness. Sometimes I let go too soon and end up walking until I find another tunnel, hear another whistle, reach out and head off on another journey.

Like right now. I hear a whistle. I have to go.

Fare Thee Well

A song from PFR. Why? I'm working on that. It's one of my favorites and one of the best written songs I've ever heard. Somehow, right now, it just seems fitting.


Fare Thee Well
by PFR, from the album The Late Great PFR

Look who's coming 'round the bend...
It's you friend. Brothers in our mischief and the mystery.
Seven years and one we shared together.
Fared the storms and days of better weather
Now it seems our ship has found the shore.
The flag still flies, but she won't sail no more.

Uh uh oh... Fare thee well
Only time will tell what will be come of all that we've begun
La la la... Life goes on.
We laughed and sang our songs, but songs come to an end
So goodbye my friend.
Fare thee well.

Some say go back and start anew
Ooo you can't return to times meant for the past.
Believe me only one thing stays the same.
Faith, hope and love... and love remains.
And love has placed us right here where we are.
Time has brought some changes, but not a change of heart.

Uh uh oh... Fare thee well.
Some one ring the bell and gather in all
One more time again
Ooo ooo ooo here's to you.
One more little tune. A way to reminisce
A goodbye kiss. Fare the well.

Uh uh oh... Fare thee well
Only time will tell what will be come of all that He's begun
La la la... Life goes on.
We laughed and sang our songs, but songs come to an end
So goodbye my friend.
Fare thee well.

One more time...
One more time again...

Still Around

So I am sitting here thinking. I'm still around...

I'm still around the size I was at the beginning of the year.

I'm still around my family. They still like having me around.

I'm still around my church and around my friends.

I'm still around. And I'm thankful.

I should start blogging again. I guess I will.

Watch for stuff!

Drawing Near To Darkness - Os Hillman

I think Os Hillman is hiding in my house. Why? Because he always seems to be reading my mail. Each daily devotional seems to hit me where I live. This one more so than others. So rather than blog today, I think I'll just share with you the incredible writings of Mr. Hillman.



Drawing Near to Darkness by Os Hillman 

The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. - Exodus 20:21

Like the nation of Israel, we are each called to the mountain of God, but few are willing to pass through the darkness to get there. God wanted to reveal His glory to the children of Israel, but they were afraid to enter into His presence. They only wanted to know about God, rather than know him personally like Moses did. This grieved the heart of God.

Why wouldn't the people of Israel risk entering the darkness if it meant being in the presence of God? What did the people fear? Perhaps they had fears like each of us. The fear of the unknown. The fear of what might happen. The fear that God might not like what He sees. Or, perhaps even the greatest fear: the fear of darkness itself and what lies behind that darkness.

Many of us have been satisfied to hear about God from God's messengers. But there is a greater calling for each of us-a calling to enter into His presence. Sometimes entering into His presence means we enter through an unexpected door-a door that appears to have nothing good behind it.

We do not need to fear entering the presence of God even if it means entering through a period of darkness. Above all else we must believe that God is a God of love. If He calls us into darkness in order to enter His presence, then that darkness will become an entry to new levels of relationship with a God who longs for fellowship with you and me.

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I have really enjoyed receiving this daily email devotional called Prime Time With God. It encourages me to bring my relationship with God into my daily work. I thought you might find today’s message of interest. You can also signup to receive it each day by email at no charge.

Link To Read Today's Devotional--
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God bless you!
Brad Irons
www.bradirons.com