One of the books I'm reading right now is titled, "The Dark Side of Leadership." It is a very thought provoking book. Basically, it works on the premise that all of us have a dark side to us. Past experiences, our childhood, the way we were raised by our parents, and our inherit personality all contribute to this darker side of our personality. After reading several chapters I thought to myself, "I'm one messed up individual." It's enough to send someone straight to therapy!
After coming in off the ledge (just kidding), I realized how true it is. All of us do have a darker side. Now, I don't mean we are Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type people. However, if we are honest with ourselves, we have a side to us we don't want most people to see. It's the side of us perhaps only our kids and spouse see. The side we would be embarrassed and ashamed of if people caught a glimpse of it.
The good news is our dark sides can be redeemed. The way we do this is by bringing those dark components of our personality into the light of Jesus so they can be healed, restored, and redeemed. This leads to a healthy, whole individually instead of a fragmented one.
Jesus Himself said essentially the same thing in John 3:19-21:
"This, then is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God."
So, bring yourself into the light of Christ and allow Him to expose those things in your heart and mind that need to be healed and redeemed. Don't allow yourself to be divided anymore. Let Christ make you whole.
Expecting Great Things,
Bryan
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Pain Versus Discomfort
Yesterday was a great day at New Hope. We had one person come over from death to life and recieve Jesus Christ as thier Savior! That never gets old.
I said last night that what happened Sunday morning should be the norm in the church and not the exception!
If we really believe Jesus is coming back for His Church then we should be telling everybody we can about Jesus!
Sometimes we can fall into the trap of not expecting anything to happen in our services. We can get lulled into a sense of "normalcy" and complancecy. We live with the pain of not seeing God move for so long we get numb to it.
Let me illustrate this. I had been having neck pain for quite some time. I had learned to live with that pain and the limitations that it placed on me. It wasn't until I got tired of living with the pain that I decided to take the step and see a doctor. After a series of examinations, the doctor saw the problem-my neck was jacked up! He said, "Bryan, if we don't get this fixed, you won't have funcitonal movement in your neck in a few years." Talk about scaring me straight!
Well, I have been going to the doctor three times a week for the past few weeks getting adjustments and phyiscal therpay on my neck and back. I'm not going to lie-the first few times it hurt! I thought, "If this is what its going to be, forget this!" But, the doctor told me something that has stuck with me. He said, "Bryan, your neck has been messed up for so long that when I put the bones back where they should be it is going to cause discomfort. Discomfort is part of the healing process."
When the prospect of pain is greater than the discomfort of healing transformation takes place.
God wants more for us and the church than we can ever imagine! Read Acts chapter 2. God wants to use His church to expand the kingdom. Let's be a part of it!
Expecting Great Things,
Pastor Bryan
I said last night that what happened Sunday morning should be the norm in the church and not the exception!
If we really believe Jesus is coming back for His Church then we should be telling everybody we can about Jesus!
Sometimes we can fall into the trap of not expecting anything to happen in our services. We can get lulled into a sense of "normalcy" and complancecy. We live with the pain of not seeing God move for so long we get numb to it.
Let me illustrate this. I had been having neck pain for quite some time. I had learned to live with that pain and the limitations that it placed on me. It wasn't until I got tired of living with the pain that I decided to take the step and see a doctor. After a series of examinations, the doctor saw the problem-my neck was jacked up! He said, "Bryan, if we don't get this fixed, you won't have funcitonal movement in your neck in a few years." Talk about scaring me straight!
Well, I have been going to the doctor three times a week for the past few weeks getting adjustments and phyiscal therpay on my neck and back. I'm not going to lie-the first few times it hurt! I thought, "If this is what its going to be, forget this!" But, the doctor told me something that has stuck with me. He said, "Bryan, your neck has been messed up for so long that when I put the bones back where they should be it is going to cause discomfort. Discomfort is part of the healing process."
When the prospect of pain is greater than the discomfort of healing transformation takes place.
God wants more for us and the church than we can ever imagine! Read Acts chapter 2. God wants to use His church to expand the kingdom. Let's be a part of it!
Expecting Great Things,
Pastor Bryan
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