Many Christian leaders are “losing altitude” in ways that most of us do not see or understand.  When we “suddenly” hear of a respected executive in our church whose marriage has disintegrated, or a well-known pastor caught in moral indiscretion, we should remember these “crashes” are usually the result of numerous bad decisions made during a long, downward emotional, mental, and spiritual spiral.  Sometimes the leader was seeking help during his descent toward disaster.  Often it was concealed to everyone.

Biblical Leaders in Downward Drift

The Old Testament does not disguise the emotional struggles of Israel’s great leaders.  We read about Moses losing altitude when he became overwhelmed with the monumental task of leading God’s complaining people.  He asked God to kill him and put him out of his misery (Numbers 11:15).

The first king of Israel, the strong and impressive King Saul, lost altitude when he became jealous toward the young and popular David (1 Samuel 18:9–12).

More than once, David, the anointed future king, lost altitude from weariness over running from Saul.  On one occasion, he fled to a Philistine city.  Afraid for his life, he pretended to be insane, slobbering on himself and scratching the walls in a ploy to survive.  On another occasion, he fled again to a Philistine city where he made an alliance with these enemy armies, which led to deeper complexity and disaster (1 Samuel 27:1).  Leaders losing altitude can behave strangely and irrationally.

Even the prophet Elijah, the recipient of God’s direct revelation, lost altitude after an intense confrontation with the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel.  Alone in the wilderness, deeply fatigued and coping with the threats on his life by Queen Jezebel, he prayed that God would let him just die (1 Kings 19:4).

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul at one point gave up hope of survival in the face of the severe trials in the province of Asia (2 Corinthians 1:8).  Similarly, the young leader Timothy lost altitude when he was overtaken by fear amid the spiritual challenges of leading the church at Ephesus (2 Timothy 1:7).  Demas, a trusted associate of the apostle Paul, lost altitude when he began to fall in love with the things of the world.  Eventually he completely self-destructed, abandoning his ministry (2 Timothy 4:10).

These are just a few of the many stories that remind us of the vulnerability great leaders can experience during the storms of ministry and the pressures of responsibility.  This kind of spiritual vertigo is nothing new to human leadership.  Everyone in leadership, modern and ancient, proves faulty and susceptible to the downward spiral.

Trained to Trust

When pilots are preparing for their instrument rating, instructors go to great lengths to train them to thoroughly understand and trust the instruments.  Textbooks for flight students and aspiring pilots address the physical challenges of flight with great detail and candor.  They call these the “human factors” of flight and note that human factors account for over 80 percent of all accidents.  One textbook published by the Federal Aviation Administration warns that flying in poor conditions can “result in sensations that are misleading to the body’s sensory system. A safe pilot needs to understand these sensations and effectively counteract them."

Textbooks on flying typically address three of the body’s sensory systems: the visual (eyes), the vestibular (ears), and the postural (nerves).  The effectiveness and complexity of these systems are a testament to God’s profound creative work.  Each is essential to safe flight.  Yet the three systems are fallible.  This unreliability leads to disaster if a pilot is not keenly aware of aviation physiology and resolute in managing each physical system with great care.

Disorientation That Can Lead to Disaster

During flight in “visual meteorological conditions” (clear visibility), the pilot’s eyes are a primary orientation source that usually provide accurate and reliable input.  As one training manual states, “When these visual cues are taken away, false sensations can cause the pilot to become disoriented."

The pilot’s inner ear and nerves can send confusing signals.  When the sense of balance is off, it is called vestibular disorientation.  When the nervous system becomes confused, it is known as spatial disorientation.  This disorientation can cause a pilot to overcompensate for perceived plane-control problems in ways that can endanger the pilot and passengers.

The worst of these confused attempts leads to “graveyard spiral,” where the plane dives rapidly in a circular pattern.  The pilot is usually completely confused about what is going on prior to the resulting crash.

Pilots actually practice controlled maneuvers during their flight training to gain a comprehensive understanding of this danger of disorientation.  They must learn through these training experiences about their own susceptibility to disorientation – and that their subjective judgments about the direction, pitch, and turn of their aircraft based on bodily sensations are frequently false.  All of this leads to a greater confidence in relying on the flight instruments rather than their own subjective sensations.

In What Do We Trust?

The task of leadership has several fascinating parallels to the task of flying a plane.  Just as a pilot’s vision can be restricted by poor weather or unusual conditions, so a leader’s perception of a given situation can be limited and flawed.  Just as the physiology of the inner ear can become confused, so a leader’s inner voice can give input that is confusing and erroneous.  And just as a pilot’s nervous system can misinterpret the environment, so a leader’s emotions can create subjective scenarios that lead to bad decisions.

Trusting our flawed perceptions, our confused internal conversations, and our wide range of emotions feels natural, but is ultimately perilous.

Choosing to Trust the Instruments

One popular textbook for pilots tells of the early airmail planes with limited navigation equipment, flown during an era when weather information often was unavailable.  Of the first forty aviators hired to fly the mail, thirty-one were killed while flying.  The reason:  Their planes were not equipped with the proper instruments and navigation equipment to allow pilots to safely fly in the clouds or in low visibility conditions.

So what instruments do we need to lift off and climb above the storms when they come? In my book, Defying Gravity – How to Survive the Storms of Pastoral Ministry, I describe a “leadership instrument panel” that presents nine vital areas of concern for the enduring leader.

1.  Applied Truth

2. Spiritual Intimacy

3. Personal Integrity

4. Biblical Identity

5. Genuine Accountability

6. Eternal Significance

7. Healthy Family Life

8. Indispensable Pain

9. A Captivating Call

Your gauges may be different – but I pray you identify them and trust them as you look intently into the unchanging and life-giving Word of God.  Proverbs 3:5 reminds us, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.” (AMP)

In life and leadership, storms are inevitable.  Survival is optional.  Victory and endurance are possible – and promised – as we trust the things we know to be true, available to us in the person, presence, and promises of Jesus Christ.

As president of a national renewal organization, I visit and interact with hundreds of leaders each year, the vast majority of whom are faithful and skilled servants of God. Yet many of these leaders open up to me about their personal and private challenges. The pain is deep. The struggles are real.  They are called to leadership, and want to remain faithful, but many are losing their way and hanging on for dear life. One of my great desires is helping leaders who are “losing altitude."

Leaders Taking Flight

I am a self-professing “leadership-aholic.” I love leading. I love reading about leadership and studying other leaders.

When Paul wrote his final letter to his “son in the faith” Timothy, he used three analogies to help his disciple understand the task of leadership.  He spoke of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer (2 Timothy 2:3-7).  In similar fashion, in my most recent book, I liken the leadership assignment to a flight assignment; leaders and coleaders as pilots and copilots.  The similarities are fascinating.

The metaphor fits for most pastors and business leaders: Most of our lives are composed of numerous leadership flights.  Some business executives may stay with the same company for decades; others have numerous shorter leadership assignments in various locations and settings.  An experienced educator, civic leader, government official, or business manager may piece together an array of leadership flights that have made up a career.

For pastors, the average tenure in Protestant churches has declined to just four years, according to George Barna.  So most pastors will have numerous leadership flights in their ministry career.  Some have fewer, longer flights.  I followed one pastor in Sacramento, California whose leadership flight in one church lasted forty years.

Flight and Leadership

In brief, I see numerous parallels between flying and leading:

Training and Qualification – Just as pilots must be trained, be equipped, and earn a license and certification, so leaders must be equipped and qualified to lead effectively. Formal education can be a part of this preparation, though not always.  Mentoring, proven service, and faithful character are essential for the growing leader.  We find these biblical specifics in 1 Timothy 3:1–8 and Titus 1, given for those who take on the primary leadership roles in the church.  These traits are good qualifiers for Christian leaders in any realm of service.

Passion and Perseverance – Most pilots learn to fly because of a passion for the skies.  Experienced pilots have persevered, logging hours and increasing their certification in order to excel in the skills of flying larger and more sophisticated aircraft.  Leaders also have a God-given desire for influencing other people and making a significant difference in the world.  Great leaders remain faithful, develop their understanding of leadership principles, and maintain noble character and winning habits.

Risk and Reward – At times flying can be risky.  Although commercial flights are statistically the safest way to travel, we all know that the consequences of a mechanical failure or pilot error can be disastrous.  Quite literally, lives hang in the balance.  Yet the effectiveness and exhilaration of flight makes it worth it.  For commercial pilots, helping people travel efficiently, whether to conduct vital business, share holidays with family, or enjoy a much-needed vacation, has to be fulfilling.

Leadership is also risky.  Decisions affect many people.  And like pilots, pastors can affect the lives of those in their care.  Setbacks, even failure, are possible.  Yet, the thrill of leading people to the achievement of a great cause, especially one of eternal significance, is a joy beyond human expression.

Responsibility and Accountability – Of course, experienced pilots carry a serious responsibility for human lives.  The bigger the plane, the greater the volume of precious human cargo.  As a result, pilots are accountable to strict standards of flight protocol, personal discipline, and compliance with regulations.  Pastors are accountable also.  Spiritual leaders influence people and, according to James 3:1, have a greater accountability for how they lead and what they teach.  There are no solo flights in leadership.

Objectivity and Trust – The best pilots learn to trust their instruments, the information from ground control, and the proven technology necessary for safe and trouble-free flight.  Good leaders must also learn to trust objective indicators, including God’s authoritative, holy Word, for their leadership flight.  When self-trust and emotional justifications outweigh the proven realities for effective leadership, destructive behavior and disaster happen.  Leaders lose altitude.  People are at risk.

Staying in Flight: Keeping Perspective

Too often, a crash occurs and the human casualties are devastating.  Using the flight analogy, I’ve written my book to help pastors and other leaders maintain their leadership altitude in a world that wants to bring us down.  I believe the biggest challenges to an effective and enduring leadership flight are our own flawed perceptions, subjective emotions, and misjudgments that can put us in real danger.

Paul’s final words of advice to Timothy reflected this same concern.  He wrote in 2 Timothy 4:5, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  The Amplified version says it this way: “As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry."

God wants us to soar through the storms of life and has provided an indispensable instrument panel of biblical truth for our success and endurance as leaders.  It’s time, with God’s help and our commitment, to defy gravity.

Pray for the pastoral leaders in your life today, asking God to give them the grace to keep perspective and soar in their leadership assignments, for the glory of Christ.  Much is at stake.

Copyright © 2010 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

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These tumultuous times are pushing many believers toward a necessary redefinition of the meaning of life.  Things we counted on in previous years (a home, a job, a vacation, a retirement) are threatened by a very uncertain economy.  Others may be skating thorough these storms of financial insecurity but might be facing a battle with terminal illness or family breakup.  Whatever the nature of life’s problems, they clearly provide an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the nature of the Christian life.

In part one of this devotion (which you can read below), we considered the meaning of Colossians 3:4, where we read of “Christ, who is our life.”  In an effort to embrace this truth, we looked at two key commitments:

Remember Your Status - We are “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1) and must fully embrace the implications of this truth.

Refocus Your Pursuit - We must “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Three additional commitments, found in Colossians chapter three, are vital to a core redefinition of our life.

Recalibrate Your Thoughts - When a computer fails to function properly, the user is commonly instructed to reboot, or restart, the computer.  Our cluttered and distracted minds often need a similar intervention – usually many times throughout each day.

Colossians 3:2 states, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Literally, this is the idea of a continual commitment to “fix the attention” or “give serious consideration” to something.  “Things above” speaks of matters of eternal significance.  These should become the dominating focus of our mind and its considerations.

Our thoughts determine our behavior and future.  In light of the constant bombardment of needless information, tempting images, and carnal input from people around us, we must re-engage our disciplines of thought on a daily basis.

Our minds naturally drift to temporal and worldly concerns.  They become polluted by the influence of the media and culture.  We must embrace a proactive and purposeful pursuit of things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

Reaffirm Your Death - Dead people do not respond to any external stimuli, no matter how enticing it may be.  Colossians 3:3 tells us, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  As Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ.”  In writing to the Christians in Rome Paul reiterates that believers are dead to sin (6:2, 7 & 11).  Previously in Colossians, Paul has told these Christians that they are not subject to religious regulations because they died to the power of rules and legalisms (2:20).

Every day, because Christ is my life, I must reaffirm that I do not have to respond to the values, demands, and expectations of a fallen world.  I can live as one “dead” to these allurements and one fully alive and defined by Christ.

Relish Your Destiny - Ultimately, we must keep our hearts fixed on the hope that “Christ who is our life” will appear, and that we will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4).  Eternity, along with its reward and ultimate worship, is just around the corner.  Any definition of life, other than Christ, is going to evaporate into irrelevance.  All that we currently see with our physical eyes will be gone.  The real scoreboard of life will triumph and we will receive everlasting reward for a life dedicated to the Lordship and centrality of Christ.  It will be worth it all – and that will be glory for us.

Copyright © 2010 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

What defines your life?  Good Christians know the “right” answer – but what is our real answer?  In truth, the things that dominate our thinking and consistently spark our interests are what define our life.  The real definition of our life can often be reduced to those things that we rely on for security, acceptance, and hope in this life.

The bad news for many people in today’s unsteady world is that their core definition is being threatened by the stripping away of possessions, position, and pleasures.  Like a dead bouquet of flowers, no life remains in what used to be a colorful and carefree existence.

For the true Christ-follower, these present days force a decision upon us.  Will we redefine our brief appearance on this planet in the terms of biblical truth, leading to a fresh discovery of true meaning and fulfillment?  Conversely, will we prolong the pain by clinging unnecessarily to those phantom trappings that cannot be preserved and will not provide purpose?

The Truth about Life

Colossians 3:4 speaks of “Christ who is our life.”  Christ is the definition of life itself.  The Scriptures affirm this powerful truth.  For example:

• John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
• John 14:6 – "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.'"
• John 20:31 –  “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
• 1 John 5:12 – “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

When we actually embrace this powerful truth of Christ as our very life, we can enjoy the freedom of a redefined existence.  Practically, we experience a transition in focus and a transformation in heart:

• From a life obsessed with accumulation to a life embracing simplicity
  
• From a life controlled by busyness to a life that cherishes relationships
  
• From a life worried about reputation to a life pursuing integrity
  
• From a life consumed by ambition to a life discovering contentment
  
• From a life sustained by success to a life resting in significance
  
• From a life ruled by competition to a life rejoicing in brokenness
  
• From a life enamored with status to a life in pursuit of humility
  
• From a life marked by drivenness to a life existing in peace
  
• From a life concerned about winning to a life poured out in love
  
• From a life preoccupied with earthly recognition to a life pursuing eternal reward
  
• From a life fearing earthly loss to a life delighting in eternal gain
  
• From a life of frenzied effort to a life of fulfilling purpose
  
• From a life of debilitating insecurity to a life of mature identity

Yes, But How?

So how do we embrace this core definition? This necessarily involves a daily redefinition in our thoughts and affections because our flesh constantly seeks to glom on to the false realities of this temporal world.  From the first four verses of Colossians chapter three, let me offer a few practical steps.

Remember Your Status!

Because I fly so much these days, I enjoy “elite” status on several airlines.  This simply means that I get to board early, avoid luggage fees, and enjoy occasional first-class upgrades at no charge.  I earned this status by the number of miles I have accumulated in flight.  I only maintain this status by continuing to fly in excessive amounts.

Because of Christ, every believer has a supernatural status.  Yet, we did not earn it nor do we need to maintain it.

Colossians 3:1 says, “If then you were raised with Christ.”  This is a bedrock truth for a redefined life.  Ephesians 2:5-6 describes our status: “Even when we were dead in trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  We are literally “co-resurrected” with Christ.  This is our status, because of His death and resurrection.

I remember the old Gospel song that said, “This world is not my home.  I am just passing through.“ Hebrews 11:13 describes people of faith as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  Paul reminds us that our “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). After saving us by His grace, God left us here “on assignment” to share His life with others.  Yet, our actual status is already Heaven – and we should live accordingly.

We do not move our living room furniture into the Holiday Inn when we check in for a one-night stay.  We do not install an expensive stereo in a rental car.  Neither should we pretend that this world is a permanent reality for us.  Because of grace, our status is secure and settled in Heaven.

Refocus Your Pursuit!

Living in the reality of this truth requires a daily commitment to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).  Literally, this means to “keep seeking.” It is a continual choice and commitment.

Most of us go where we look.  When we drive, we gaze at the road ahead – and tend to go there.  When we walk, we focus on the things in front of us and usually move ahead safely.  Conversely, when we get distracted and focus on something other than our desired destination, havoc occurs.  We wreck.  We trip.  We get hurt – and often hurt others.

Therefore, we must presently and actively seek the things of eternity.  Literally, this is a command to “desire”, to “set the heart” – even to ”worship”.  In spite of the many enticing distractions of the lusts and attractions of this world, we can refocus our passion moment-by-moment on the greatest reality of Christ, at the throne of God – calling us to Himself in worship and reinforcing us with holy passions for the best life possible.

Today, let us remember our status and intentionally refocus our pursuit.  A better definition of life will burn within our souls and we will find the strength we need to live righteously and godly in this present age.

Copyright © 2010 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

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As you read these words today, you surely have some ”unanswered” prayers.  I do.  Perhaps you have begged the Lord for the healing of a sick friend, the restoration of a relationship, the alleviation of a heavy personal burden, or clarity about His direction for your life.

Our Sympathetic Savior

Christ understands.  Of course, He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin.  As a result, He can sympathize with our weaknesses, struggles, and perplexity (Hebrews 4:14-15).  He does not reject our cries for relief because He also cried out prior to the cross.  He “offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death.” (Hebrews 5:7).  He was fully God, and knew the Father’s plan for His glory through the atoning sacrifice.  Christ was also fully man, and knew the incredible agony of the cross.  His prayers for deliverance from the cup of suffering went unanswered, but His ultimate desire for the Father’s glory and redemption of man were fulfilled.

Our Good Father

The Bible tells us that “our Heavenly Father gives good things to His children who ask” (Matthew 7:11). Yet, His will, not our desires, determines what is ultimately good for us because He is ultimately good.  Our prayers are never ignored or unheeded.  Our temporal longings may not be satisfied, but His eternal designs will be accomplished.  We soon learn that God’s answer to a particular plea may be “no”, yet with the sure promise of something greater.

Paul’s Example

Yet our perplexity remains as we live with the pain of the burden and the questions about the road ahead.  The Apostle Paul writes transparently about this very kind of journey.  In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, he tells of his experience with his thorn in the flesh.  We can only speculate of the specific nature of the thorn, but can firmly deduce its severity.  It was like a “stake” that impaled him.  Paul felt “buffeted” (beat with a fist) by this messenger of Satan.

As we often do, Paul repeatedly begged the Lord to take it away.  Yet, God did not remove the pain.  Instead, our wise and sovereign Lord responded, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).   While Paul’s problem apparently did not change, his perspective changed dramatically.   He went from being problem-conscious to power-conscious.  Paul embraced the weakness he felt and, thus, experienced the great power of Christ’s sufficiency.

No Unanswered Prayers

In reality, the Christ follower's prayers never go unanswered.  Our sympathetic Savior, the goodness of our Father, and the example of Paul assure us that God hears and responds.  His answers may not always be in accordance with our immediate desires but fulfill God’s ultimate design for our lives.  To help us respond properly and endure honorably, Christ gives us sufficient grace.  Truly, He has tailor-made grace for everything we face.  He lavishes grace on our unique pain and strengthens our inner being to make us thrive, even in the midst of our prolonged perplexities.

The Lessons of Grace and Glory

In the same book where Paul wrote about his thorn, he gives us powerful insight about the change in thinking that occurs in the heart of true disciples, even when our trials threaten to undermine our well-being.  Paul writes, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).  Paul learned that his difficult external circumstances and his plaguing physical frailties unleashed a greater power at work in and through him, bringing glory to God.  This is the power of the grace of the Gospel.

Paul gets more specific as he continues to write, “we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).

Then, he reflects on one more benefit of this journey of grace, marked by pain and perplexity.  He writes, “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).  Through his trials, Paul tasted deeply of grace and was given a vision of God’s ultimate glory in his life, and through his life in fruitful ministry to others.

Perspective for Today

Today, many of us face pain and perplexity that will not go away.  It may be physical, emotional, relational, or financial.  God may answer our prayers in a way that removes the pain and solves the immediate problem.  He may answer our prayers by unleashing new grace in and through the pain.

Either way, we can embrace the right perspective.  Read these words carefully, remembering they came from the heart of a man whose “thorn” never went away.  May God give us all grace to live with these truths always in mind.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Among all of our American celebrations and festivities, there is nothing like Christmastime.  It is a time for all-out decorating, family gatherings, mouth-watering feasts, thoughtful generosity, evocative worship, and much-needed vacation.

Two Kinds of Christmastime

The New Testament speaks of “time” in two primary ways.  The first is chronos, from which we get the word “chronology.” This is the idea of continuous time that we measure in hours, minutes, or seconds.  The second word for time is kairos, which is the idea of a fixed moment or a season of opportunity.  The difference between these two words is the difference between a minute and a moment.  A minute is measured by seconds on a clock.  A moment is measured by an experience or an opportunity.

In my book The Seven Most Important Questions You’ll Ever Answer, I speak of this issue extensively.* One conclusion I draw is that we must learn to find kairos in the chaos of our chronos.  This is especially true when it comes to Christmas.  We experience a lot of chaos in the rush and bustle of the season.  Yet, wisdom dictates that we look for and focus on kairos in the midst of the commotion.  This is the secret to a truly meaningful Christmas.

Looking for Christmas Kairos in all the Right Places

Practically speaking, how do we seize the moments, not just spend the minutes, as we celebrate the birth of the Savior and seek to enjoy the time we share with others?

Discovery, not just a date – This year our family celebrated Christmas on the weekend prior to December 25th, rather than the weekend of December 25th.  Our second son and his wife have to be back in Texas for Christmas, where he serves as a worship pastor.  Therefore, we made December 19th & 20th our Christmas celebration.   This reminded me that the focus is not on a number on the calendar but on the joy of what God has for us around this season.  It was a discovery of the moments of being together, not just a date that we rigidly have to clench.

Generosity, not just gifts – This Christmas, economic realities have changed the way many people manage their gift-giving budgets.  While the gifts may be smaller, they are more sacrificial.  This is a good reminder that Christmas is not about the presents, but the purpose of giving.  In many ways, more sacrificial and meaningful gifts are more Christ-honoring than just piling presents under a tree because it is the thing to do in a materialistic culture.

Trust, not just traditions – Families love to create and capture Christmas traditions.  Good as these may be, they inevitably change.  Children move away, family members pass away, and the “good old days” fade away.  However, Christmas is deeper than even our cherished traditions.  Christmas is the “mass of Christ” – the worship of a Savior.  He is not just a figure in history but also a living Lord, present and powerful in December 2009.  You may have lost many of your holiday traditions through the changes of time – but you can trust the living Christ with every thought, emotion, and concern of your life.

Intimacy, not just activity – Ultimately, the most wise and considerate way to experience Christmas kairos is to focus on issues of eternal significance, even though all the trappings and activities can be so captivating.  Ultimately, we must give our best energies to those eternal moments with our eternal God – and eternal moments for eternal souls.  Time spent in intimacy with Christ brings us back to the reality of the true meaning of Christmas.  Time spent focusing on eternal souls for the sake of Christ represents the heart of the Christ of Christmas.

Last year, on Christmas day, we experienced the first Christmas when not all of our children were home.  Justin and Christa were in Minnesota enjoying family in their first holiday as a married couple.   Rather than bemoan the change, the rest of us decided to go to a local nursing home – sing Christmas carols, give gifts, and pray for those less fortunate.  It was a different way to spend the day – but so meaningful.  We remembered that Christmas could have eternal significance even when the temporal trappings change.

Biblical Insight for an Ideal Christmas

God’s Word gives us solid reminders about what we do with our time this Christmas. Paul wrote, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15–17).

Paul reminds us to be wise, not foolish, in how we manage our moments and live our lives.  Good advice for the Christmas holiday.  He tells us to “redeem” or make the most of our time, because the days are evil.  The idea here focuses on purchasing something, buying something back.  Paul is saying, “Redeem the time.” It is not yours automatically.  You have to seize it, reach for it, and grasp it.  Why? Because the days are evil.

With similar insight, Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Christmas is a moment when we must be wise to rise above the ever-present and growing evil of this world in order to grasp the meaning of life and the real treasures of this journey.  Let us seize these kairos moments – for the glory of Christ and the good of our souls.

On behalf of our family and ministry, I pray for Christ’s provision and presence in all of your Christmas moments.  Thank you for your friendship and partnership.

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* This book is available here at www.strategicrenewal.com and is a very relevant resource for the beginning of a new year.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

A few days ago I received an e-mail from a pastor in Florida, following a recent renewal weekend held in Titusville.  He wrote:

“I just heard a lady on our local Christian radio station speaking about the Prayer Summit so I thought I would drop you a line and pass on her comments. She said she had never experienced anything like it before in her life. This is the first time that she actually experienced the presence of God and it was powerful. She said she would never be the same as a result.”

Of course, I was deeply encouraged by the testimony of this unnamed caller.  I am sure she also blessed others as she shared her experience with listeners.

On the other hand, I find it quite interesting that so many believers, like this lady, have a genuine void in their sense of experiencing the presence of Christ in their lives.  It is so easy for all of us to go through our days with a dutiful commitment to Christian doctrine and behavior, yet not enjoy a powerful sense of His presence.

The Christmas Promise for Those who Believe

At this Christmas season, we must embrace the message delivered to Joseph in the days before the birth of Christ.  Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the angel declared, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’“ (Matthew 1:22-23).  Jesus is the manifestation of God’s fullness (Colossians 1:19 & 2:9) and His finished work on the cross made it possible for His presence to live in and among us in a personal and permanent fashion.  We have become His temple, individually (1 Corinthians 6:19) and collectively (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:21) as the church.  Truly God is “with us” because of Jesus.

The Compelling Reality of God’s People

To better understand the issue of God’s presence among men, let’s make a quick review of this doctrine.  First, there is the fact of God’s GENERAL presence.  The Bible speaks of His omnipresence in passages like Psalm 139, where the writer affirms that he cannot go anywhere in the universe apart from God’s presence (Psalm 139:7-10).  Second, there is the truth of God’s PERSONAL presence, revealed to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, made possible through the finished work of Christ, our Immanuel.  Third, there is the reality of God’s MANIFEST presence, when God’s glory is revealed in an unusual way.  This was seen in the Old Testament through the “shekinah” of God in the cloud by day, the fire by night, and the holy manifestation of God’s presence in the temple.

In a New Testament sense, this is this idea of Christ living in the fullness of His power in the believer and among His people.  The doctrine of “glory” really represents this idea.   I define the New Testament doctrine of glory as “the magnification of the person of Christ by His people and the manifestation of the presence of Christ among His people."

When presenting the Gospel message to the crowd in Acts 3, Peter described this good news as “times of refreshing” that would come from “the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).  Christ wants to fill the church with His glory (Ephesians 3:20).  We are all invited to experience His presence “with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord” so that we will be “transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  When this occurs in a context of biblical worship, unbelievers in our midst are captivated and exclaim, “God is truly among you” (1 Corinthians 14:25).

The Call to Draw Near

While our sense of the presence of Christ cannot be reduced to some occasional feeling, we must truly experience this presence in real and powerful ways.  Otherwise, we have reduced “Immanuel” to a theological principle and a historical religious figure.  Like the Florida caller, many of us do not experience His presence as we should.  Why was her experience so powerful during our Prayer Summit?  How can you understand and sense the power of Immanuel this Christmas?

Psalm 145:18 says, “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”  James 4:8 elaborates: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  Hebrews 10:19-22 speaks of the boldness with which we can “enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,” inviting us to “draw near with full assurance of faith."

The call to Christmas is a call to “draw near.”  I often say, “The Lord is always glad to oblige when we give Him our undivided attention.”  Jim Cymbala notes, “The main thing God asks for is our attention.”  The Florida group drew near to Christ over several days – worshiping earnestly, reading His Word, and calling out to Him in extended, focused fashion.  They sought Christ with sincerity, repentance, faith, and passionate love.  He drew near with His gracious, transforming, and holy presence.

The Present of Presence

This Christmas we do not want to miss the best present of His manifest presence.  We do not want to be like the religious people of the Old and New Testaments who drew near with their mouths but whose hearts were far from God (Matthew 15:8).  Busyness, distraction, and apathy will keep us from the fullness of Immanuel.

Take time to give Him your time and attention – beyond the common presentations and church services of the season.  Carve out quality time to really draw near to Immanuel.

Remember, “it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).  Enjoy the gift of His presence as you seek the face of the Christ of Christmas.

Thanksgiving requires a cultivated memory.  Forgetfulness is the fuel for ingratitude.  Remembering the ways and works of God in our lives excites profound gratitude and authentic faith.  Genuine gratitude spans beyond the immediate sight of food on the table or even the review of a decent year of life.  A thankful heart is captured by the active goodness of God in the entire course of one’s life – and throughout the history of the generations.

When Adults Forget – Children Suffer

Recently I meditated on Psalm 78, which tells the story of Israel’s history with the express purpose of counteracting spiritual rebellion and ingratitude.  The Psalmist reviews the profound punctuation of God’s patience, mercy, and goodness to a fickle and disobedient people.  The Psalmist writes, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done” (v. 4).  The passion of the Psalm is to stimulate a good memory of God’s works so that many generations to come would be grateful and faithful to God.

As the writer goes on to recount the detailed history of God’s goodness, he describes his purpose in these words: 

"That the generation to come might know them; the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children; That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.“ (Psalm 78:6-8)

Later in the Psalm, the writer describes these ungrateful ancestors by noting that they "forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them" (v. 11) and "they did not remember His power" (v. 42).

Forgetfulness Fosters a Faithless Heart

Clearly, forgetfulness fosters a faithless heart.  Psalm 106 presents a similar account of Israel’s history and the perils of forgetfulness.  Psalm 106:3 notes, "They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel," while v. 21 reiterates, "They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt."

I have often wondered about the ten lepers Jesus healed as described in Luke 17:11-19.  Only one Samaritan returned and fell down on his face at the feet of Jesus to give thanks.  What happened to the other nine?  Were they completely ungrateful for the miracle Jesus accomplished in their bodies?  On the other hand, were they just forgetful in the midst of the excitement of their newly endowed health?  I suppose they were both forgetful and ungrateful.  The two tend to go together.  Jesus said of the one who returned, “Your faith has made you well.” What could be said of the other nine?  We might conclude that in the midst of their miracle – forgetfulness resulted in faithlessness.

Cultivating Thanksgiving Memories

Every Thanksgiving we go around the table and do a fun exercise called “Alphabet Thanks.” We each take a successive letter of the alphabet and name something that starts with that letter, expressing thanks for that person or blessing.  Sometimes the expressions are very thoughtful, often a bit silly – depending on the letter.  This Thanksgiving, I would like to work harder on a more meaningful exercise of real remembrance of God’s goodness.

Here are some conversation starters for this year’s Thanksgiving gatherings as we reflect beyond the turkey, parades, and football games:

• What stories have you heard about God’s goodness to your parents and grandparents?
• Early in your life, how did you see God’s goodness and faithfulness to you?
• In the last ten years, what highlights do you recall as you think about God’s faithfulness to you?
• In the past year, what has God done to demonstrate His care and provision?
• When you think about other family members or friends, what stories come to mind about God’s goodness?

Keep Remembering

Psalm 103:2 tells us, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”  All His benefits.  That exercise will cultivate a lot of gratitude.  This Thanksgiving, ask the Lord for a healthy, holy sense of memory.  Let that commitment spark rich gratitude for all that the Lord has done.

Imagine visiting your local zoo.  As you approach the camel pen you see a big sign: “Don’t eat the camels!”  You’d likely laugh out loud.  Who would ever try to eat a camel?  Yet, Jesus posts just such a sign on the Christian pathway to spiritual maturity.  It seems an odd warning – but let’s take a look at its indispensable message.

Imagine the absurdity of someone trying to swallow a camel in one big gulp.  Clearly, not smart.  Certainly impossible.  Probably deadly.  Yet often attempted by stalwart religious people, according to Jesus, who described the ultimate theologians of His day as those who “who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24)

His comment was probably a brief humorous illustration in the context of the most scathing sermon of His earthly ministry.  If you are feeling like you have some thick skin today, you can read the entire message in Matthew 23:13-36.  The common sermon title is “Eight Woes to the Religious Leaders.”  Our Lord preached it among a large crowd in the temple as He pronounced His judgment on the Jewish religious elite.  Some say it is in contrast to the eight blessings found in the Sermon on the Mount.  Preacher Jesus didn’t make any friends that day with his “woeful” sermon.

The sermon targets those who take great care to strain the small bugs out of their drinking water then turn around to gulp down a camel without even realizing the contradiction and hypocrisy of the experience.  We might call it a very bad case of spiritual myopia, packed with contradiction and leading to destruction.

Modern-Day Camel Swallowers

We’ve all seen camel swallowers in the church.  Maybe it’s an attendee who did not like a particular song in the service, then goes around slandering the music pastor and creating massive disharmony.  I’ve known people who want to go “deep” into the Scriptures and are critical of any teacher whose delivery doesn’t adequately meet their preferences.  Yet, in their own lives they tolerate sinful habits and consistently exhibit a caustic and unrestrained tongue.  I’ve heard stories of church leaders who create significant disunity within the leadership team over an issue of personal preference.  The examples could go on for miles.  The “Hall of Shame for Christian Camel-Eaters” is packed with ignoble examples.

Avoiding the Camel Choke

So how do we avoid choking our personal, family, and congregational vitality through camel swallowing?  As a pastor, I am responsible to encourage people to watch their dietary habits when it comes to gnats and camels.  As one who has a burden for the body of Christ in our nation, I hope we can have a diet revolution and learn to stay away from the camels.  As a follower of Christ, I pray for the personal wisdom to know and discern my own ways in order to please Christ and honor His character.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Learn to discern. There is a difference between a legalistic approach (creating false standards of spirituality, and then judging others by your preferential standard) and a truly biblical approach of personal discussion (vs. open criticism) with a loving attitude.  The only way to do this is to know the Scriptures enough to discern between myopia and maturity.

2. Check your motives.  Is your heart motivated by grace, coupled with a passion to edify others and build up the body?  Or is your approach simply a desire to control others (or even the direction of the church) through complaining and criticism?

3. Look in the mirror first.  It’s been said that the critic who begins with himself will have little time to take on outside contracts.  Are you careful to first evaluate your own heart, life, and words before launching your campaign against another brother or sister?

4. Invite accountability.  We can often get so caught up in the subjectivity of our thoughts and feelings that we can’t even see the camels we are feeding on.  Ask a truly godly, discerning, and courageous brother or sister to give you honest feedback about your behavior and words.  Then, be ready to humbly listen and accept responsibility for whatever they tell you.

5. Keep a clear conscience.  If you find out you’ve been gulping camels and have hurt other believers or a group of believers, demonstrate the sincerity of your self-evaluation and repentance by confessing it to the Lord and humbly seeking forgiveness from those you’ve hurt.

6. Remember eternity.  All camel-eaters will ultimately be exposed.  Eternity is a long time to live with the regret of a silly camel diet.

Let’s keep Jesus‘ warning about hypocrisy and myopia always in mind.  It helps underscore our own desire for spiritual authenticity.  It’s a great idea for parents raising their children in a spiritually confused world.  It is an essential principle for our dealings with one another.  It is crucial for church leaders. 

When asked, “How do you eat a camel?” I hope our answer will always be, “We don’t. It is no longer on the menu.” 

Some months ago I had the joy of preaching at an installation service for a dear friend of mine.  He is a young, up-and-coming pastor with great potential.  I spoke from 2 Timothy 4:5.  The message still captures my heart as follower of Christ and leader of His people.

This verse is Paul’s final admonition to Timothy, and the final advice of his life. (The remainder of this chapter involves a personal commentary of Paul’s faith and various reflections about a wide array of people.)  Shortly after he wrote this last section of his letter to Timothy, he was martyred and his earthly ministry was terminated.

We are all aware of the potency of a person’s “famous last words.”  We should be particularly attuned to the final words of unambiguous challenge from Paul to his “son in the faith” – and to each of us.

Paul wrote, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.“  Four ultimate concerns mark this passage and need to move our hearts.

Be Watchful

First, Paul says, “Be watchful in all things.” Other translations read, “Keep your head in all situations,” “Be sober in all things,” and “Keep control of yourself in all circumstances.”  It is the idea of keeping a clear mind in order to properly control your behavior.  Satan targets our minds with lies, doubts, condemnation, and temptation.  The world targets our minds with distorted values, lusts, and false gods.  Our flesh battles against a clear mind when we succumb to discouragement, fear, self-reliance, and pride.  The list goes on.  Paul learned, and so must we, that our primary concern is ourselves, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Endure

The second challenge says, “Endure afflictions.”  The Message says, “Accept the hard times along with the good,” while the New Living charges, “Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.”  Those who live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution.  At the end of Galatians, Paul’s ultimate mark of credibility resounded in these words: “Let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus Christ."

The Bible places great value on “those who endure to the end” as a mark of real salvation.  We do not find “three easy steps” to avoiding affliction.  Instead, we are called to walk in His steps as we bear up under the pressure of suffering, with the result of becoming more like Christ, deeper in our character, and more fruitful in our lives of service.

Stay on Mission

Third, Paul calls Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.”  We say it so often: the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  Cultivating a constant burden for the lost and striving toward consistent witness keeps the heart in touch with the heart and mission of Jesus, who came to “seek and to save those who are lost.”  It is easy to get so absorbed in keeping the aquarium that we lose our passion to fish for men.

Finish!

Finally, Paul says, “Fulfill your ministry.”  We are told to perform our whole duty – to complete the ministry God has given us.  Someday when we get to Heaven we will be asked, “Did you fulfill the unique ministry I gave to YOU?”  We will not be responsible for living life in the pattern of some other person, or imitating another individual.  Rather, we will want to stand before the Savior and say, “I completed the special and unique ministry You entrusted just to me.”  What joy that will be!

So today, my friend, it comes down to these vital questions: Are you thinking clearly and biblically right now?  Are you keeping your eyes on Christ as you endure the disappointments and attacks of life?  Are you cultivating a burden and consistent witness to the lost?  Are you dialed in to what God has called YOU to do and seeking to stay focused on your specific race?  If so, Paul’s famous last words will bear fruit in your life for the good of others and the glory of Jesus.  When it is all said and done, this is what really matters.