Hunkering down...

I'm really struggling to keep focused this week. The holidays always makes that tough...and then the whole moving thing...

I'm preaching this weekend and need to finish the message today and tomorrow. I'm narrowing in on it, but, man, it's a challenge.

I'm working to bring home a passage from 2 Peter that speaks to our personal spiritual formation and growth. It's a great time of year to talk about that - the first weekend of the year, when all our New Years resolutions are still intact...mostly.

How do you want to grow this next year. Whether you're a Christ-follower or not, I'm sure there are some areas that you'd like to see change in the next 360+ days...what are they?

As a follower of Jesus, I have the plan laid out in front of me...to become more like Jesus. No, that doesn't mean walking around in bare feet and a robe -- though I've already got the beard part taken care of. It's not a matter of looking like Jesus -- or really even a matter of doing what Jesus would do. It's about getting rid of enough Matt so that the spirit of Jesus that is within me can show more...a transformation of my basic character.

What does that look like? Here are some character qualities that I think come with the deal...

- hope in a future beyond this life...it carries me above circumstances, no matter how trying they are.
- peace
- joy
- love...real love, not the kind that gets what I want in the end and even feels good...but true love that puts self aside and is self-less.
- gentleness...ding, ding, ding...I think we have a winner. I'm not the most gentle person in the world. I'm growing here, but look for more growth in the future.
- kindness...no comment. Getting there...
- humility...I'm perfect on this one...oh, crap...oh, well...
- self-control...why is that idiot driving so slowly...never mind. I guess this one should stay on my list for this year, too...

Think about it, if I really were to have these attributes come alive in me increasingly as I get older, you can't beat that! It's going to play out first in my family and then spread to my other relationships. You can't go wrong.

Sometimes Jesus appears to be weak. Don't mistake weak for meek. Jesus was the strongest man I've ever known. His strength was a strength of character. There were no weak spots in his soul. That's incredible! That's what I want.

As I look back, I'm encouraged. Not because I've become perfect. And it hasn't been all my own effort. God has been at work in my soul. I've been working with him by getting out of the way. The results...don't ask me...ask Heidi; if it doesn't make a difference at home, then it's not real.

Anyway...thost are some of the thoughts I'm having in preparation for my final weekend message in Hamburg.

Take a moment and pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down by the tsunami in Asia. Pray also for the millions whose lives are ravaged every year by the "tsunami" of AIDS throughout the world. Don't let the urgent take your eye off the on-going opportunities we have to love others.

Peace,

Matt