GLENN'S PODCASTS!

FRESH CONTENT

Anyone who studies the internet and site-building, etc., knows that fresh content is the thing that brings people back to one's pages again and again.

I try to not post anything unless I truly believe in it and think it's worth reading/seeing/listening to rather than to simply attract people to my site. Still it's true that new articles, photos, podcasts and info. keep the "stream moving" and are fun to consider.

How much fresh content are we allowing the Holy Spirit to plant in our lives? Perhaps there are some similarities between our website or blogpage and our life.

Nothing fresh means something is stagnant.

I've been in a number of places outdoors where I've come upon a stagnant pond. The thick, green algae can actually be slightly pretty depending on your point of view, but it's no place to swim!

Like a stream, those that are spring-fed contain the most life and in the end, are the most productive and beneficial to humanity.

Interesting that Jesus talks about "living water" welling up inside us, and of course He is referring to the Holy Spirit.

We must not be afraid nor numb to the true moving of the Spirit in our lives, because without Him moving and at work in us there is nothing but deadness and stagnancy. We cannot move forward when we're at full stop. You may be comfortable but you may also be stalled.

The place of freshness in a pool has everything to do with how close you are to the spring... it's source...

I encourage you as I encourage myself: seek God and consider whether you've any "fresh content" as a follower of Jesus. If the answer is "not lately", perhaps your prayer life, Bible study, accountability, service to the poor and/or witness is in need of a fresh infusion of the Holy
Spirit. Ask Him to stir the waters. Ask, seek, knock! In His time and His way God will bring fresh content. Watch and pray!

THANKSGIVING & PERSPECTIVES

It comes in the U.S. and Canada each year in the autumn, a time to remember the grace and provision of God, family gatherings, great food, and in North America, NFL football.

I like it.

But it strikes me that like all else in life, it's a matter of perspective.

Wendi and I were just chatting about how different a day, a place, an event or a gathering of people is simply on the basis of two or more people not automatically sharing the exact same perspective.

For example, the glass is "half-full" or "half-empty", all depending on your perspective.

While this is certainly true, what I have been brought back to a great deal is this: God has more than "a perspective" on anything and everything. He has a will, He is a perfect and all-knowing Judge who alone is worthy to make the ultimate judgment about each and all of us and our involvement.

At the end of the day, it's not what I think, how I feel or what I like. It's not a matter of my perspective- but God's Own view.

More often than not, what He thinks, feels and considers right is found right in His very Word.

Let's give thanks that God has more than a perspective- He's Truth Incarnate and brings us the daily opportunity to read, pray, listen, learn and grow into the people He created us to be.

Thank God for His daily grace!

TED HAGGARD, YOU & ME

In a nutshell, I'm praying for this man, his wife, kids and church. There but for the grace of God go I, you and all of us!

I think my friend Jon Trott has summed up exactly what and how I think about this sad state of affairs just now hitting the media outlets and would ask those concerned to have a good, slow read at his site:

http://bluechristian.blogspot.com

If ever anyone wonders why I harp so constantly about the biblical, practical need and advantages of willful, voluntary accountability to other local leadership for -all- believers and Christian leaders (myself included) here it is!

God help us to REGULARLY pray, study God's Word, apply His Word and will to our choices and talk straight with accountability partners about our temptations and struggles BEFORE we have to confess- or worse, be found out regarding- our sin.

A quick but relevant Bible study that comes to my mind on this would include:

Eph. 5.21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ".

James 5.16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed".

1 John 1.8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives".

To be blunt (who... me?!)- the issue is not IF we Christians sin, but in what areas, how often and what we're doing to stop and grow up in Christ?

What are we doing about growing in the (Gal. 5) fruit of the Holy Spirit, especially with regard to "self control"? This is where accountability in my own life has not entirely eradicated but certianly has greatly helped me gain real victory over sin in my life.

I recently returned from an overseas tour which was one of the best in terms of keeping my mind, attitude and life clear of sin. The next morning I had a meeting with two of our pastors here at JPUSA to share how things went for me, with myself and Wendi and specified the areas I'm often tempted in. It's a voluntary thing I do regularly and they expect it of me- not because we require it of one another but because we are all clear about my own weakness and need to walk in holiness. I WANT to please God and I expect most reading this do to. But how?

Holiness is not only where we stand in Christ, but a daily walk! This is where genuine accountability keeps me sane and a lot closer to living out the Word of God than simply believing, preaching and singing it.

I have no righteousness in myself. My righteousness is STILL as "filthy rags" compared to that of my Lord Jesus. I'm not even thinking in terms of salvation as I write this- I'm talking about relationships of love and trust and risk that HELP to KEEP me walking in His grace, choosing His ways rather than those of my old nature.

Ahhh but I know how much the help comes via my brothers in Christ.

May Ted, you and I be brutally honest, confess and repent when/where needed and walk in such light WITH our accountability people so as to "fight the good fight" together. Alone don't cut it, period. To not do this eventually brings one to surrendering to the lust of eyes, flesh and pride of life. These in the end cause nothing but more shame, pain and misery, not only for the individual but for all others who love them and worst of all, for the Lord Himself Who died that we might be free.