If I’m honest, brutally honest, I’ve spent much of my life trying to “work my way” to heaven. Through much of my own strength and my own ability, I have…

Worked harder than anyone I know to build the best company I could build.

Worked on my marriage and relationships and strives to be the best parent I can be.

Worked on my spiritual life so that I can have enough of God to give to other people.

Work. Work. Work. Much of my life. Much like one of the seven dwarfs every day, “Hi ho. Hi ho. It’s off to work I go.” Except with out the whistling and joy and Snow White part.

What is quite ironic is the fact that while trying my whole life to work my way to heaven, I’ve realized the brutal truth:

Working your way to heaven is the fastest way to hell on earth!

When we try to work our way to heaven through our own strengths and our own abilities, we are essentially doing nothing more than working our way to hell.

That “hell on earth” can be the consequences of trying to attain something that can never be attained. It’s dealing with the collateral damage of lost opportunities and precious time.

Working our way to the approval of God is like trying to make it rain by running around frantically in circles and dancing and jumping and chanting all day.

It’s like a child trying to create water when all they have to do is ask their parent for a drink.

It is trying to do something only God can do.

It makes me laugh when I read in the Bible where God says even our best efforts are like refuge to him (dung).

It’s like imagining all our works, our efforts, our struggles that we think will earn us God’s love, all these things that we work so hard for. It’s like imagining ourselves lifting these things up to heaven for God’s approval. All the while, what does he see?

A big stinky pile of excrement.

Basically he is saying that this type of living is sin, and in the end will lead to death.

“Here you go God, isn’t this awesome what I have created?”

I think God looks back and laughs and says, “No you are the awesome thing I have created and because of Christ alone you are made perfect and whole.”

It’s like he is saying, “What I really want is just you.”

It’s not that he doesn’t want us to do loving things with our lives. It’s just that he wants us to live this way only out of a response of what he has already done in us through Christ.

He waits for us to put our faith and our trust not in our own works or efforts but in him alone.

He is serious about this and sometimes he will take away all the things in our lives that we lean on so that we can depend more on him and less on ourselves.

So we are often praying the wrong prayer when we say, ” God help me this so I can be more comfortable.”

Instead, maybe we should be praying, “God help me trust in you so that I can be more faithful.”

The problem is when we have been working our whole lives. Working our way to hell.

How about you? Love to hear- Chad

Rewind: God does not care about our timing.

I am not so sure our five year plans impress Him too much. I’m not certain our sense of timing is too high on His list of concerns.

We want it today. “Today” for him is this century.

We tell him our game plan and sometimes imagine him thinking, “Wow, that is as BIG as you can dream.”

We look at things from our measly little perspective and think we can see it all. We can’t even see the tiniest sliver.

He on the other hand snickers. Sometimes I think he may even be saddened by our lack of trust in his timing.

Meanwhile, we go nuts worrying and fretting, point to our watch and looking up to the sky with open arms asking, “Where are you God?”

All the while he is saying, “I am right here,” but we are too busy to hear. Sure, he gave us brains and yes he wants us to set goals, but does this make Him our puppet when it comes to the when and how?

Paul spend three years in Arabia after a powerful encounter with God before his ministry would begin. Moses? How would you like forty years as a goat roper? Even Jesus spent thirty years “learning obedience” before beginning his public ministry. Our sense of timing is not that always as big of a deal to him. He cares way more about who we are becoming that what “work” we can provide.

And here we sit with our calendars and five year plans, pretending to tell the Creator of the Earth when to do things. Craziness.

Church leaders, take note, your church’s moment will come. Entrepreneurs, be patient and work hard. Parents, don’t be discouraged.
He knows what he is doing and has just a few years in us in the area of timing. Young people, do not fret!

So don’t you think it might be time to give up control? It is that time for me.

Love to hear your thoughts- why is it so difficult to trust in God’s timing?

Rewind: Maybe you feel comfortable knowing you are in full control of your life. Many of us struggle with giving up control of our life to God. We want to know the next day, call all the shots and in the end maintain control. However, are we really in control like we think we are? Is control a myth? Think about it.

And as you think about whether or not we are really in control anyway, think about this…

Our planet spins on it’s axis at around 1,000 miles per hour. That is pretty smoking fast. But we don’t feel it so much because of this great thing called the atmosphere. Not out of control enough for you?

We are orbiting around the sun at approximately 67,000 mph. How do you like that? Think you are still in control? Our solar system is in an arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, rotating at around 490,000 mph. How is that for being in control??

Ahhh. The Myth of Control! Even if we think we are ultimately still in control, it is just a myth!

So maybe it is time to give up control, since we really aren’t anyway.

Your thoughts? Why do you think we try to maintain control in life instead of letting go?

If you are going through trials or
difficult circumstances, I wrote this for you.

These trials are tiny! Here is a great practice when you are going through trials or hardship. Are you ready? It looks a little something like this:

Current struggle < Eternity with a loving God
Take whatever current struggle you are facing.

And compare it to spending now and forever in eternity with the Creator of the universe and sustainer of life.
And then think about how that trial or circumstance pales in comparison.

Here are some examples:

Hard day at work < Eternity with a loving God (way greater)
Working through a difficult relationship < Eternity with a loving God
Overcoming a financial crisis < Eternity with a loving God

The hard day at work compared to God seems….smaller. The crazy difficult relationship or situation we are working through seems…less. The crazy financial situation we find ourselves in seems…small.

I mean think about it.
Forever.
With God.
You know how long that is?
It is forever.
A day compared to forever is like the clap of the hands or like half a breath.
Your bad day will long be forgotten when you get to spend forever with God.
A year is but the snap of the fingers.
Your “off” year compared to forever is not much.
It is tiny.

Take that hardship and hold it in your hand.Your trials do not define you, but your response to them will shape your destiny!

Forever with God.
It is greater and it is worth it.
And he will see you through.
Despite your lack of understanding.
Put your faith in him alone.

Hey folks, first blog post in awhile.
Looks like the world has still managed to spin.
I hope today finds you well.
I think you’ll like this story.

Molly is 2.
Last night she was really upset.
Dad was the typical dad.
I could not figure out what she wanted.
Me: Do you want a snack baby?
Molly: No.
Me: Do you want to play toys?
Molly: No.
Me: Do you want to watch tv?
Molly: No.
Me: Well baby, what do you want:
And this is where it got me….
She looks deep into my eyes.
She said as clear as anything I’ve ver heard…
“I just want you daddy.”
That is all.
Not toys.
Not food.
Not entertainment.
Just her daddy.
She just wanted to be close to her daddy.
So it made me think a lot.
About being their for our kids.
About being there for our family.
About trying to give them all the world has to offer.
When it is not really what they are looking for at all.
I thought about my relationship with God.
Do we want his provisions?
The toys he gives?
Food on the table?
Conditions and restrictions?
Or…
Do we just.
Want.
Him.
?

How about you?
Why is it so easy for us to want to give all the other things?
Why is it so easy for us to want to receive all the other things?
Love to hear your thoughts…

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Rewind Post: I’m a husband, a father, a pastor at a well known church, a leader. But there is one thing I’ll never be…..a Super-Christian! Here are a few reasons...

I mess up a lot. Like all the time. I am on staff at a church and a lot of people think pastors are super-Christians. I’m not! While my life is not controlled by sin anymore, I do mess up daily.

I’m not a “good Christian.” I have a hard time praying regularly and usually pray short sentences while going about my day. I don’t know
the Bible like the back of my hand (I dropped out of cemetary…I mean seminary).

I’m impatient. Like all the time. Driving, with other people, as a father, as a leader. I want things to happen instantly. Like the clapper, remember
the Clapper? (Clap on. Clap. Clap. Clap off. Clap. Clap. The Clapper!) I can be so impatient, I think I should have a Clapper for people.

I lose faith. There are days where I have a hard time trusting God. With little things, big things, all things.

I have a bad past. There are probably some people that read this blog that know my past is far, far from clean.
I’m selfish (notice the word “I” in the title of the post). I often think things should go MY way on MY time.

I’m often insecure. I too often seek out the approval of men before I find approval from God. I look outward instead of inward. I look laterally
instead of vertically. This is the root of insecurity- finding your validation in other people. I’ve come a LONG way, but still have lots
of room to grow in this area. This is my number one area for growth in 2010!

I’m judgemental. I try not to be. but I often judge people before I get a chance to know them. This is especially easy online!

I guess the point of this post is to be a little vulnerable and a little honest with you, the reader. It seems like a lot of people look up to those in leadership, particularly in a prominent church like LifeChurch.tv. I wanted you to see that leaders and pastors aren’t perfect, and that you do have to be either. I wanted you to see that in your weakness you are made especially strong, that in your incompleteness you are made complete. I wanted you to see that your worth is based not on your performance or your works, but on who our Creator has made us to be.

I hope this helps! Why do we feel like we have to be Super-Christians? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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Who do you truly listen to?
Those who say
“You must not”
“You should not”?

I ran across this poem
from Shel Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends”
I goes like this…

Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

Why is it easier to listen to the SHOULDN’TS?
Parents, are you bigger on the DON’TS than empowering your kids to dream?
Leaders, do you emphasis the SHOULDN’TS more than empowering others to create?
Husbands and wives, do you believe things are IMPOSSIBLE or do you believe that ANYTHING can be?

TheWayItCouldBe.com is a site promoting cultural impact through personal and spiritual transformation. Post topics include family, faith, leadership and other stuff. Feel free to browse around by category. If you dig the site, you can subscribe for free email updates by simply entering your email address in the sidebar out to the right.

Rewind… This is a video I posted this past spring that had a big response. Enjoy!

The Aftermath…

Why is it so hard to do what I talk about in the video? I’d love to hear your feedback…

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Other posts you may like: First On the Scene at a Bad Wreck, 25 Ways to Become a Christian Atheist, 49 Practical Ways to Make Someone’s Day, Life Is Fragile Today, How Will You Use It?

Re-post: Few people take a day off in today’s culture to rest. The ones that actually do commit to resting are seen as oddballs. Case in point: when mentioning online recently that I did nothing all day, a friend commented, “Just don’t make a habit of it.” Whah? It’s sort of counter-cultural to stop for a day. It’s always been tough for me.

One of my commitments is to take a day of rest every week to re-focus. I made this decision while creating a spiritual growth plan for my life this past year. It has been the toughest, yet most rewarding decision of my life when I’m able to keep the commitment. If you are a performer like me or have a bunch of little ones, it may be extremely tough for you to rest! Still, you need to take care of yourself. Here are some reasons you should take a day of rest every week to focus on God (Even if you are not a believer, there are plenty of benefits to resting one day a week). Get Busy Resting! 7 Reasons You should Rest Today:

1. You have permission to rest. In the Old Testament, the Bible called the day of rest and focus a Sabbath. In the Jewish nation, it was the most defining practice for that day. It is what set them apart from everyone else. The Sabbath commandment was the longest of the ten commandments. If you don’t believe in the Bible, I give you permission to rest!

2. Jesus made the Sabbath even better. Jesus was hammered for occasionally breaking the Sabbath laws, but he told the Jews they were missing the point. He said, “I didn’t come to break the law, but to fulfill it.” So, instead of making the Sabbath day a legalistic practice (which is what it had become for many of the Jews), we are called instead to focus on the real reason of the Sabbath- to focus on God.

3. The early church helped set the stage for us. For Christians, this one day of the week became Sunday during the first centuries of the church. It was a day for honoring God. Ignatius, one of the church fathers spoke of early Christians as “no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in observance of the Lord’s Day.” (Letter to the Magnesians, 9) It became a day not just for rest, but for spiritual focus.

4. It reminds us that we are not in charge. A day of focus on God reminds us that we are ultimately not in control, even though we often believe otherwise. When we force ourselves to be still to contemplate and honor God, we are sort of put back in our right state.

5. It reminds us that God is provider. During the ancient exodus from Egypt, Jews were commanded to gather twice as much food on the day before the Sabbath, so that they could rest on the day that was set aside for Him. It instilled a huge trust in God. Today, when we stop and reflect, we are reminded that He is the ultimate provider, not us.

6. It reminds us that we are set aside for God, to be different. When we take a day all the way off, our minds are rested and focused again on God. Our bodies are rested and renewed. We are reminded that we are to be different than the world. We are reminded again to change the world.

7. Even creation rests. In biblical times, Israelites were commanded to let the land rest (fallow) every seven years so that the soil could be replenished. This ancient practice set the stage for much of the modern crop rotations that still live today. We are no different than the soil when it comes to resting. Without a weekly day of rest and re-focus, we become like stressed soil: depleted of the nutrients and health that yield a productive life. If all of creation needs rest, why wouldn’t you?

So what do you do on a day of re-focus and rest? What other observations do you have that I didn’t talk about? We’d love to hear. Come back next weekend for more thoughts on resting!

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You may also like: What’s Your Addiction? No Plans This Weekend? Here’s an Idea For You, Lone Ranger Christianity, 6 Questions to Ask if You Are ALWAYS Worn Out

Rewind Post: Lone Ranger Christianity- when a person tries to be a follower of Christ all on their own, without any authority, relationships or accountability.

I used to be a Lone Ranger Christian- set my own rules, played my own game. Yeehaaw! Sounds like fun, but even the Lone Ranger had Tonto by his side, watching his back, helping him out and kicking some serious tail! Before too long as a Lone Ranger Christian, I got my tail seriously kicked, over and over again. Sadly, I see a lot of people go through the same thing every day. Lone Ranger Christianity breeds all kinds of forms of faith, with no real limit or constraint other than one’s personal belief or opinion. It is a reality of the world we live in and a struggle for many of us.

What is the opposite of Lone Ranger Christianity? A phrase we hear alot of: Biblical community. I asked the question last week, “What is Biblical community?” & received great responses, thanks guys!

@MarcyMcConnell authenticity, growth, fruit/results

@NoStonesThrown the way the church is responding to Haiti and other needs. That’s biblical community.

@CFlemmingVisual A Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered network of interdependent nurturing relationships…

Josh Snead A living, thriving and selfless body of believers governed by The Word and seeking relationship with Him.

Hallie Arnold A Biblical Community is not just Reading and studying the Word together, but seeking it’s relevance in one another’s lives and holding each other accountable in doing as it commands!

It is interesting to see these truths evidenced through the Scriptures in the early church: “They committed themselves to the apostle’s teaching (Word/Christ-centered), the life together, the common meal (accountability & relationships), and prayer (receiving the Spirit). Acts 2:42. In verse 45, the writer says “they sold whatever they owned and pooled together their resources to meet needs.” (much like Haiti). In verse 47, he goes on to say that “Every day their number grew.” (growth, fruit, results)

Here is a great set of questions you can ask yourself to tell if you are a Lone Ranger Christian or not:

1. Do you have the Word of God in your life regularly, centering your life on who you believe has authority on your life (Christ as revealed through the Word) not your own opinions?

2. Do you have accountability, living life close enough with others to help you live the way you say you believe?

3. Do you have prayer in your life? This is the way God will empower your belief and help you to be who He has called you to be, through His Spirit.

4. Are you helping meet other’s needs because of your belief? This includes trusting God with your resources as you help meet these needs.

5. Are you seeing growth or “fruit” in your life as a result of what you believe? What is different in your life because of your relationship with Christ? Who is different in your life, because of Christ living through you? The Bible uses the example of trees without fruit, claiming fairly harsh consequences of trees without fruit.

If the answer to any of these is no, you may be some version of a Lone Ranger Christian! Without his Word, you have no authority in your life. Without relationships, you have no accountability. Without prayer, no have no source of connection or power. Without serving others or meeting other’s needs you have real love for others (yeah, I said it). Without others in your life helping you grow, you have no legs to your faith.

Don’t Be a Lone Ranger Christian! Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto! Ask God to give you the wisdom to see what you need to to do to leave the prairies and step into community. What can you do to take a step in the right direction? Who can you seek out? Please share your ideas in the comments.

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