Christian Living

Be Not Conformed

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“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

If we’re not intentional, we will let the world conform us into its image. Instead of being rooted and grounded in Christ, we’ll start to look like the world, think like the world, talk like the world. We might even start to “smell” like the world.

Several years ago, I was driving along and spotted a table on the side of the road. It was available to anyone, free for the taking. I decided I could save these people a trip to the dump and put it in my backyard as a gardening table. So I pulled over, loaded it up into the van, and drove it home.

What I soon discovered is that the previous owners must have been heavy smokers. Even though the table was outside, I could smell it like 20 feet away — especially at first. It was no big deal, since it was going to stay outside and be used mainly for bags of dirt and flower pots. It served its purpose. But it taught an important lesson. The years of smoke left a residual effect that lasted long after the table had been moved. If we’re not careful, the same can be true of us as Christians. We will soak in what we see on TV, social media, movies, music, friends, etc. and keep smelling like the world.

Several months ago, around VBS time, I preached on this text at Calvary Church West Hills. We looked deeper into the passage and I shared some particular ways we might be inclined to be conformed into the world today. You can listen here…

In what ways do you think Christians are easily conformed into the world around us? Leave a note in the comments section below…

Journal

Flying to Israel

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My beautiful fiancee Natalie came down to LAX to see our team off. These months apart will be difficult, but I know they will force us to grow as well.

January 23, 2000. At this moment, I’m flying high over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s very hard to see as I write, because the main cabin lights are off, but a few reading lights are turned on throughout the plane. I don’t have my light on because it doesn’t even really shed light in my direction; it shines on the back of my neighbor’s head! That’s not a very useful spot.

The condition of the reading lights is quite representative of this entire airplane. The seats are falling apart, lights throughout the cabin sporadically flash off and on for seemingly no reason, the food leaves much to be desired. The flight attendants are a little gruff, and the leg-room is almost non-existent! I can’t even sit up straight, with my feet flat on the floor, without jamming my knees into the seat in front of me. Needless to say, I’ll be glad to get off this plane.

Andy, Tim, Allison, Leah, and Steve in the Paris airport.

The first rays of daybreak are peering over the eastern horizon, painting the sky with a soft reddish hue. It is a beautiful sight. California time, it’s only 12:40am right now, but it’s probably 5 or 6am below us. My body feels really messed up right now because I want to sleep, but I know that in these conditions, it’s impossible. In a couple hours, we’ll be arriving in Paris for a short layover, and I’m looking forward to that.

25 years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel for a semester through the Master’s College IBEX program. To celebrate the anniversary, I’ll be sharing highlights of my time over the next few months.

Journal

Israel…25 Years Later

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In January 2000, I had the opportunity to study and travel in Israel with a group of students from The Master’s College in the IBEX program. We lived at Moshav Yad Hashmonah just west of Jerusalem, and took regular field trips throughout the holy land. It was an incredible, life-transforming trip that still shapes my thinking and my understanding of the Bible. I thought maybe some of you would enjoy reliving the experience with me.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of Spring 2000 (how is that possible?), I plan to post some of my journal entries and emails on this blog, and will include a few pictures we took along the way. If you’ve never been to Israel, or want to reminisce about your own time here, you might want to follow along. Stay tuned, because tomorrow, we take off for Israel!

Suffering

Trust the Lord at All Times

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Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

I took this photo this afternoon from a hilltop in West Hills, looking southeast toward the Palisades fire. This is the same fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades a few days ago. Now it has crested the mountain, and like a hungry beast, is heading toward the communities of Brentwood and Encino along the 101 and 405.

It’s hard to believe these wildfires just started on Tuesday. Our hearts go out to the people of Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and others who have been completely devastated. Other areas face heavy losses and evacuations, and many are still on high alert. Those of us in the San Fernando Valley are literally in a “ring of fire” with various fires burning nearly all directions. Thankfully, several have been contained and mitigated, but others continue to be a threat, and there is still more wind in the forecast.

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We all have suspicions of how these fires started. We all have frustrations with the mismanagement and poor planning by city and state officials. These leaders need to be held accountable. Meanwhile, we continue to pray for those in harm’s way and thank God for the incredible skill and courage of first responders.

Our prayer is not only that God would provide physical safety, but that he would use this tragedy to turn hearts toward him. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a disaster to get our attention and help us think about eternal things. It would be wonderful to see a genuine spiritual revival in Los Angeles. So many have lost so much. Early estimates say this will be the costliest wildfire event in US history, and it’s not even done yet. People have lost not only homes, businesses, schools, and church buildings, but tragically, some lost their lives.

One of the most jarring scenes this week was seeing a street full of luxury cars, all empty, as people had run for their lives to escape the flames. Firefighters had to send in bulldozers to push the cars out of the way so they could get emergency vehicles to the front lines of the fire. In just a matter of hours, these people’s lives were turned upside down. How quickly we can lose everything!

Jesus says it this way: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19–21)

Earlier in the week, I wrote a prayer and shared it on social media. Please join me in praying this over our city.

Father in Heaven, you control the wind and the waves. In times of disaster, we remember how frail we are. We pray your protection for the firefighters, and for the tens of thousands in evacuation zones. Please cause the winds to die down. In times of chaos and panic, cause people to consider the frailty of life and look to you for strength. This life so quickly passes by along with all its treasures. Set eternity on people’s hearts, and be glorified today even through this tragedy. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Gospel

Paid in Full

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Does your family have a baby book? My mom made one for me, and I would sometimes pull it off the shelf and enjoy reading stories about my birth and early childhood. Along with pictures, my mom wrote out what day and time I was born, how tall I was, how much I weighed, the name of the hospital, the nurses on duty, even what movies were popular at the time.

Eventually, other details and mementoes were added. There was the little wrist band from the day I was discharged from the hospital. There was a snip of blond hair from my first haircut. Early school projects were added as well. I loved flipping through the book because I could honestly say, “this is my story!” I was there when it happened of course, but was too young to understand. By looking through this scrapbook, I could learn more about myself and others God used in my life.

In a similar way, Colossians 2:8-15 is like a spiritual baby book, chronicling the details of your rebirth. It explains where you came from, what life was like before you were saved, and the transformation that occurred when God saved you.

For some, the event happened like a lightning bolt. Bam! God got your attention, you believed and surrendered to him, and immediately you felt different. For others, you may not have fully understood right away what was going on. Maybe you can’t put your finger on the particular day God saved you. It took time as God softened and changed your heart. But you can honestly say, “Now I believe.” For some, it was a radical moment when you were “circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands.” For others, it may have felt like a process, even though technically conversion does happen at a point in time.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I?” “Where did I come from?” This passage gives the answer. It’s wonderful to go back and be reminded of how it all began to get you to where you are today. And if you haven’t yet surrendered to Christ or repented of your sins, this passage explains who you could be, and who you should be.

I preached this passage back in July at Calvary Church and recently uploaded it to my podcast. You can now watch or listen to the sermon below…

Thanks for listening! For a complete list of sermons and Bible studies, please visit the Sermon Page on my blog.

Other links:
Calvary Church Youtube channel
Calvary Church sermon podcast
Calvary Church website
Feed My Sheep podcast

Thoughts on Life and Leadership