Monday Blog: The Presence of the Ghost

Have you ever heard the phrase, "You look like you've seen a ghost?"  

It often follows a situation where someone looks disheveled from a tragedy or maybe they run into someone from their past.  As we approach the end of this year and look for ways to reach our cities and communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I want folks who encounter Christians to leave the presence of Christians, thinking, "Did I just see a ghost?"  I'm really saying, "be his presence."  Let the Holy "Ghost" in you live in such a way that people see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.  I want our love and mercy to beg more questions from your community and when appropriate, give an account of the hope that you have.   

I really boils down to 3 things just as it did with Jesus that showed 

and proved he was the Messiah and show and prove we are his followers:

Life - Jesus lived in such a way as to explain and usher in a great redemption of Israel and ultimately the world.  Jesus' life stood in opposition to the world view employed by both the church of his day and the government.  He went to real, people with real needs, living in oppression and learning the status quo from their leaders and challenged them to be better, be redeemed, and ultimately be his church.   (See John chapters 3 & 4).

Death - Substitutionary atonement teaches that Christ became our substitute.  Sin, must die and so instead of us, it was Christ, who didn't know sin, became sin for the world.   (See Galatians 3:13, Romans 3:23-26).  When Jesus asks us to die, he is asking us to empty ourselves of everything representing the worldview of the broken system.  In order to follow Jesus and ask others to do the same, we have to die to the system of this world and receive Christ and as we are emptied, we are filled with him.  In the same way, we are the hands and feet of Jesus by emptying and giving of ourselves to this world. (See Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:1-5).

Resurrection -  N.T. Wright wrote in Surprised by Hope (page 128-129), "The resurrection is the sign that death is defeated (I Corinthians 15).  Many Christians talk about death in a way that suggests it isn’t actually so bad after all.  But if Christians allow death to rule in the realm of physicality, then ultimately the doctrine of creation is in jeopardy -- the doctrine that God remains the good creator who loves the world that God has made and who is not going to abandon it.  WOW!  This is the resurrection, and when the world sees the resurrection in us, they are seeing the faith of people that have been resurrected from the old life to a new one (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) but they are also seeing that God hasn't abandoned them.  

What a beautiful existence the Christian life is.  

The life of Christ teaches us everything we need, to be his hands and feet for this world.  What a gift, what grace and what promise from God that drives us everyday to his ask for his filling in our life.  Once we die to self and receive Christ, this presence is the parousia right before us.  We realize the most important truth of all; we can't do it, without his presence in our lives.  Once we have this presence, there is nothing we can't do.  We can't love outsiders or those who reject us, but he can.  Don't pray that God would teach you to love as he loves.  Pray that he would fill you so full of himself that his love would be your love, in and through you.  Don't pray for peace.  Pray that his peace would infill you.  Don't imitate him in your own strength, otherwise we are nothing more than a miserable replica.  But if it is his presence than it is him imitating himself and he is very good at being God.

A Couple Questions for further discussion:
1.  Where in your life did the presence of the Holy Spirit actually frighten you (good or bad)? 
2.  Where have you seen the presence of God at work in your life these last 30 days? 
3.  Where has God used you to be the hands and feet of Jesus?  How did your sacrifice and/or service teach you about the presence of God?  

Further Reading:
Surprised by Hope, by N.T. Wright
Simply Jesus, by N.T. Wright
Resurrection Faith, article by N.T. Wright, The Christian Century, 12/18/02 pp. 28-31

Tuesday Text: Doubt in the Dark/Promise in the light

"Don't doubt in the dark, what God promised you in the light."  - Pastor Lesley Byrd's quote from Sunday's worship close.

How have you seen this in your own life?  What tragedy or struggle have you faced where you doubted God, and how did you see victory?

Saturday Sneak Peak: Live in the Moment

Looking forward to sharing what God has placed on our hearts. After a tough week for our church fsmily and undoubtably the Hill family, We're going to push pause on the current series and instead Bill is going to share a talk called, "When Life Gets Rocky".

When life drop kicks you , what becomes  our motivation, what's our plan? Could it be, that to build the type of church God is calling us to be means this is all part of the plan?  That it's all part of the motivation to continue to empty ourselves so God increases to the fullest?  

Come check out the talk tomorrow and invest in your community.  Now more than ever 100 days of Intentional Community really means something.  

Love you all,
Nomadis Dante

Friday Final Word: Bringing Hearts Together

Today's Final Word came comes from Jim Caple, Pastor of Church for the Beach.   Jim is a long time friend of Bill Stanley and they served together several years ago in Indialantic.  Jim along with his wife Beth and their 3 kids live and serve their church in Indian Harbor Beach and meet weekly at Doubles Beachside.  

Bringing Hearts Together

God used a tragic situation this past weekend to bring the hearts of at least two local churches together.  Last Friday morning, while out of town to speak at a Men’s Retreat, I received a phone call from Bill at Nomad Community Church, with an urgent prayer request about his friends and fellow Nomader's. After praying, I immediately sent out a mass text message to our church family.  Others in our church family were also made aware of the situation from other personal connections between our two churches. Prayers were prayed, groans were made, and tears were shed in the homes and prayer closets throughout that day and coming weekend.  As we gathered as local church bodies on Sunday morning, we prayed corporately for baby Jackson and his family.  Over those three days, God drew our hearts together, as the Church, in prayer.  We knew it would take a miracle for baby Jackson to recover here on earth and we knew God was able to accomplish this miraculous intervention.  

Unfortunately, that was not His will. Little baby Jackson went to be in the presence of Jesus on Monday morning instead.  As I reflected on the miracle that Jesus’ Church - His Bride - His Body asked of Him, I saw another miracle at work through this event.  The hearts of two local churches came together in unity through prayer for a family in crisis.  In today’s modern church - this is a profound happening, but it shouldn’t be. 1Corinthians 12:24b-26 says that “God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”  So many times, we look at this passage only in regards to the local church and forget that God has a plan for His Church.  His plan is that all who confess Jesus as Savior and Lord have become a part of His Body that is called to function together through the Church.  1 Corinthians 12:27, goes on to say, “now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

It is time for the Church to come together in suffering, in honor, in joy, prayer, in devotion, in love, and in unity so that there is no division in the Body as we all have equal concern for each other - the Church.  Why?  For the sake of those who are not yet a part of the Kingdom.  In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  Let the church love the Church and all its members so that all men will “know" we are His disciples.  

Saturday Sneak Peak: Michael Bartel

Nomad is excited to welcome on Sunday, our friend Michael Bartel, from F.R.E.E. Internationa.  He lwill be speaking from Luke 10, using the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He will also give us some ideas how we can fight human trafficking in our own community.  You won't want to miss this great pastor speak his heart on social action.

Friday Final Word: Love It / Hate It

I love it but I hate it, is the famous line from physical trainer Tony Horton, founder of P90X.  During the video, Ab-Ripper X, Tony can be heard saying that all infamous phrase as he coaches up the crowd, also working out along side them.  Basically he understands the love and passion that comes from working hard to be healthy.  But he also knows how hard it is to achieve and even harder to appreciate as the body enters muscle failure and burns within.  But he loves it because next time he'll be that much more ready for the pain of the workout. 

In a nutshell it describes my week, especially the last 24 hours of ministry.

I LOVE IT / I HATE IT!

 I LOVE IT:  That the talk Sunday motivated many, namely myself to get busy in the city learning and living the truth.  That it got us thinking and talking theology, culture and strategy.   I HATE IT:  That it's really being put to the test the end of this week.  It burns spiritually like that work out.  

I LOVE IT:  That to the best of my knowledge, our pastor team is as tight as I've ever seen.  We are helping each other through sickness, transition, family issues, and most of all, caring for each others souls!  I HATE IT: That there is so many needs that my team has to tire like the end of a P90X session.

I LOVE IT:  That so many are discovering the blessing of serving others and being very successful in doing so.  I HATE IT:  That there are still others who fall away because the assumptions they hold on too are greater than Gods power in their life.  

 I LOVE IT: That I can truly call each of you my best friends.   I HATE IT:  That it sometimes takes sicknesses like Theos (bone marrow transplant 20+ days ago.).  That it takes these things to slow down long enough to whisper, "I love you, you are valued, God is with you,". 

 I LOVE IT: That I get to travel the globe preaching the love of Jesus.   I HATE IT: That I have to leave my friends Todd and Amber as well as Richard and Judy during the most difficult time in their lives.  And that my friend John is at his hearing and I can't be there! 

 I LOVE IT: That the hospital hall way was filled with dozens of loved ones, most of which have dedicated their lives to following the teachings of Christ.  I loved seeing them love on one another.   I HATE IT: That they need answers I can't give.  A touch I can't employ and a power I cannot possess.  

 I LOVE IT:  We have a new baby to celebrate Nomad, little Jackson Hill.   I HATE IT: That I can't hold him or even know his prognosis 14,000 feet above sea level on this flight to Chicago.  Holding my prayer cross, uttering to God my pain as if it was my own son.  Praise you God.  I trust you for this workout. 

 I LOVE IT: That inspite of the pain the voice of God seems the loudest.  His spirit feels like it is on me like a warm blanket, Jesus holding my head up like a trusted friend, the wholly father pushing me back into the center of the ring, to finish the job, while whispering to my heart, "I am with you!  I already finished this!".   I HATE IT:  That I know my humanity will cause me to miss something, a lesson I am sure to receive from another hardship in the future!

In the fear of exhausting you with sorrows, let me encourage us with great fear and trembling.  Like my workouts, I realize the valuable truth of all.  What Satan means to use for harm, God uses for victory.  What the world considers failure, god considers blessed. 

You see, it hits you;  we can't truly have what we love without experiencing what we hate.  We can't conquer what we hate without showing what we love, we really love it.  We can't hate, what we truly hate, until we are willing to give up what we love. When we love we reach a capacity to see how others are loving too and we don't have to be a hero and go it alone.    

 

Is this what the teacher meant?  We lose our lives trying to find it, but find our lives when we first lose it..  Is this what it means to journey without a place to lay our heads?  Are we as a church family experiencing an "Emptying as Christ".  I know!  I'm there too:  I LOVE IT BUT I HATE IT!  

SO, whatever happens today or tomorrow or the next day:  ONE THING I KNOW! Stated plainly in our Credo, "YOU, NEVER WALK ALONE!"

Theo and family, never alone.  Todd, amber and family, never alone!  Jan and Barbara, never alone!  Templetons, Martinezes, Shockeys, never alone!   Vicki Huffman, never alone!  Denise Viscuso, never alone!  Lois, Margaret, Doris , never alone!  Alex, Allison and other college students who are away from us are still never alone!  Seattle Huffmans, Gazdaghs, Holmes, and soon to be Schmitts who've moved far away,  are never ever alone!  Heather, Gene, Dylan,  and Mark and other young adults In that familiar desert place, are never alone. Teens and kids are never alone!  It may feel like it occasionally but if we lean into the hurt and unknown, we realize it's true.  I AM NEVER ALONE!   

 There are so many more I could have named, but time for landing in Chicago permits me to close.   I LOVE IT: That as long as their is breathe in the lungs of just one faithful follower of Christ, you'll never walk alone!    I HATE IT: Because I wish it could last forever.  Wait a minute, it does last for eternity.  I guess I hate it we have to wait so damn long!  In the mean time church,  let's keep loving it, however long it takes, so others will someday love it too!

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.  Then you will overflow with confident honor through the power of the Holy Spirit.".  - Romans 15:13

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." - Romans 16:20

Nomadis Dante,

Pastor B

DISCUSSION POINTS:

1.   How did this post speak to you personally? 

2.  Describe one of your own Love/Hate scenarios.  

Tuesday Text: Surprise!

"To the sinner and the self-righteous, grace comes at an equally great surprise." -  Louie Giglio, Passion City Church

What do you think Louie means by this comment or how have you seen its truth in your own life?

Saturday Sneak Peak: Your Mission - Choose to Accept It

What would it look like for a church to not only release it's people into the world to fulfill their mission but to come beside them to enable their dreams?

Read Philippians 2:1-12

Three Ways God uses the church to save the city:
1.  Truth. - What do we believe and what is the best way to talk about it with our 
     community.
2.  Identity - People are not commodities.  They are relationships.  We are not building
     church Inc.  We learn what it means to be the church.  
3.  Sent - The church is the sent people of God.  Father sends the son, the son sends the
     spirit, the spirit sends the church.  We are not called to stay in our buildings but to go
     into the city and announce the reign of God. 

Sunday at Nomad, I'm looking forward to walking through the first part of Philippians 2 to show us how we can find our ministry every day right where we are, but in order to do that we have to understand that we are sent back into the gospel to recognize our own propensity for evil.  Its about emptying our selves for humility and it makes the 'Mission Possible.'

Friday Word: Prosperity, Contentment & Hope

This week's Final Word comes from our friend and co-founder of generationalive.org,  Mr. Jeremy Affeldt.  Jeremy is also a relief pitcher for the MLB west contending San Francisco Giants and a close personal friend of Pastor Brant.  Jeremy has also donated to the many causes including the Theo fund as well as donating several sports memorabilia for the auction.  Thanks Jeremy!  And thanks for keeping it real in life as well as on the blogosphere!  

Prosperity, Contentment & Hope

I don’t look at someone who makes $30,000 a year and think that they’re a charity case. They’re not! But a lot of wealthy people do think that way. They’ll look at someone in that income bracket and say things like, “Oh, man, you need help,” or, “Good thing I didn’t make choices like that.”

Can you believe that? I know that’s the wrong view. It’s possible to live on $30,000 a year and have everything you need. And if you feel like you have everything you need, or if you feel like you have everything you can imagine needing, then you understand prosperity. You’re content! You know that it’s okay.

I don’t mean to say that everyone making $30,000 a year is prosperous and content. Honestly, if someone asked me, “Could you live off $30,000 a year?” I would have to reply, “No, I couldn’t.” Not with three sons. I really couldn’t. But when I was in Double-A in Wichita, I made $600 a month and I lived just fine. So at that time, I could. I really could. It was okay!

I’m telling you man, you can’t go around looking at people’s incomes and say, poor them. You can’t decide to feel sorry for people based on what they make. Look at them first. Are they happy? Are they smiling? Then they are content! It’s okay!

We’ve got the wrong idea of prosperity. Prosperity is not financial. Prosperity is life. Prosperity is wholeness. Prosperity is joy.

A prosperous life, for me, is to see my kids grow up to be respectful people, honoring their mother and their father. I want my boys to honor their mom. Not fear her. Honor her. I want them to serve her. (That’s partly my job. They’ll learn that by seeing me serve her.) Prosperity, for me, is knowing that my wife loves me. She doesn’t hate me, she loves me. My kids love me. They don’t fear me, they love me. My friends and I have a good time. The bills are paid. These are all reasons why I know I’m a prosperous man.

And there’s just one other thing. There’s the promise of the resurrection. That’s hope. A prosperous life is a hopeful life, and the resurrection is our hope.

It’s just like God to set things up that way. He created our hope. He hasn’t fulfilled His promise yet for a reason, but we are living on that hope. We are always anticipating. We just know that there’s got to be something better. When you ask someone, “How’s your life?” and they say, “Perfect,” they’re not telling the truth. I promise you that. Nobody’s life is perfect, because hope hasn’t arrived.

Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect. Not everything’s going to be perfect, because it’s not meant to be. We’re meant to feel anticipation, because we’re hoping for God. Deep in our souls, we know something isn’t right, not just yet. Deep in our souls, we know He’s coming. I know there are people who suffer depression because they’re not fulfilled, but be comforted. We’re not meant to be fulfilled yet, and that’s okay.

Excerpt taken from, http://jeremyaffeldt.wordpress.com/2012/08/18/prosperity-contentment-and-hope/

Tuesday Text: Extraordinary Love

“Unless it is mad, passionate, extraordinary love, it’s a waste of time. There are too many mediocre things in life. Love should not be one of them.” ~Unknown

Monday Post: Where is your Calcutta?

If you could meet and talk with any 3 people from anytime in history who would it be & why?   

I'd probably have to go with Bono from U2, Martin Luther King Jr, and possibly King Solomon or one of those guys on the near-fated Apollo 13.   The one person I really would have loved to have met is Mother Teresa.  Living and working these almost 20 years in ministry I've had the opportunity to study and witness her work from other side of the world.  Thanks to internet technology and the many biographies written about her life, I almost feel like I did meet her.  I feel like I know her and there is probably little I would be able to ask her that I don't already know from what I've read.  Nonetheless it would have been great to hear her speak to a group of young college students and to hear her say that famous phrase of hers, "find your  Calcutta".  

Mark 9:30-36

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.  33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.

”Finding your "Calcutta" is not always an easy things to do.  It's almost as difficult as figuring out what it means to give humans their due as created by God.  The writer of Mark's Gospel gives a bit of insight that reminds me of how complicated we make the Christian life.  We complicate it by always thinking that the "real" Christian thing is to do some huge mission and make huge sacrifices when it might be as simple as loving a child, helping a neighbor or praying with a friend.  As simple as walking and living the Gospel everyday in your very own Calcutta.  Where is that you ask?  It is where you sleep, where you live, where you work, and where you play.  Mother Teresa said, your Calcutta is to seek and find in your daily life, the sick, the suffering and the lonely right there where you are . . . You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see.  

What would the world look like if we set out to love every person in our own Calcutta.  What is we all did our part, sharing with the needy.  I'm not just talking material possessions.  We can share our smiles, laughs, the Scripture, our time, our belongings, and our expertise in life.  I truly believe the more would come to faith in Christ and the world would be a better picture of restoration to God's image.  

SO WHERE IS YOUR CALCUTTA?  Spend some time this week asking God directly to show you right where you live, work and play what your "Calcutta" looks like.  Ask him to reveal things in your that are keeping you from being the missionary to your circle of influence you need to be.  SPend some time this week reading the Scriptures provided below and meditating on their meanings for your life.  Before you know it, you'll be living and working and ministering to others, and your office won't look like the daily grind, you'll picture it as a hospice center in Calcutta, India.  After all that is the one thing we have in common all over the world - we are all dyeing.  It is so vitally important that we all do our part and follow Jesus in faith into our very own "Calcutta".    

Reflections for Prayer

Who is the one person or group of persons you can serve this week?  Pray earnestly and then intentionally seek them out and serve them.  Serve them big!  Go big or go home as they say!  

What is the one major thing about your job that keeps you from being what Christ is calling you to be? 

Ask God to show you what it would look like to live the Gospel out better at - Home, Work, Church, Community? 

Further Study
Psalm 35
1 Cor 14:1-19
Mark 9:30-41   

Philippians 1:1-30      

                                                                               

No Greater Love, Mother Teresa & Thomas Moore

Generous Justice, Tim Keller

Saturday Sneak Peak; Live in a Worthy Manner

Philippians 1:27-30

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,³⁰ since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

What does it mean or look like to "conduct" ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel?  

More on this at Nomad as the Mission Possible Series continues with a talk, 'How the World Saved Bill Stanley.' 

Tuesday Question: Everything They Had

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.  A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.  And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity."  - Acts 2:42-46 NLT

Taking the material possessions out of the equation what else could be meant by, "shared everything they had." in verse 44?   What else could we possibly share? 

Monday Message: Finding the Body

Today, I got an email from a dear friend that was impressed with a recent blog article that reminded her of the Nomad community.  In spite of a few differences to their format, including meeting on Saturday nights, their were some obvious similarities.  

Here is an excerpt from that blog . . . . 

We live life together during the week, too.  Prayer needs, many times in person, are met.  Gatherings to laugh and be silly are had.  Birthday parties for the kids.  Movie time for the guys.  Chat time for the ladies.  Decision meetups for the parents to decide the faith-path our kids will take.

There are leaders, but there is no hierarchy. We are each there to edify the Body.  Many folks using their gifts to glorify God.  Living life together can be messy.  We are vulnerable and (because we want to be) a bit in each others’ business more than I’m used to but it’s all love. So much love!

We might disagree and then agree, or maybe we didn’t even notice because it was all fine again and smoothed over so quickly. Because the Spirit is so incredibly alive. And powerful. And in charge. And the head of this community we call the church.  

This is the Body of Christ.  I can hardly breathe for the grace.  It’s immeasurable.

What a great story.  Nomad isn't alone.  It is great to see other organic communities like Nomad, walking, studying and living life together.  Know, that when we talk about Mission Possible, Social-Action or Meeting Needs, this is what we are talking about.  Living the Holy Spirit out in our lives in such a way that community is intentionally built.  To pray, talk and tryout various things together that we might, in all things, bring glory to God.  Bringing glory to God together is always a better way.  

As continue to set out and build "Intentional Community", dig deeper because it could change you and your communities life forever.  

Saturday Sneak Peak: Social Action

Saturday Sneak Peak:  Jesus said in Matthew 8:22, let the dead bury the dead.  What might this have to do with serving God in global social-action?  More on this tomorrow at Nomad, 10:15a.m.

Tuesday Quote: Intentional Victory

Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have 

made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."  - Psalm 50:5

"In confession the break-through to community takes place.  Sin demands to have a man by himself.  it withdraws him from the community.  The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation."  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together c. 78


Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was a German Lutheran pastor & theologian, who became 
known for his resistance against Hitler and the Nazi dictatorship.  He was arrested 
in April 1943 by the Gestapo and executed by hanging in April 1945, 23 days 
before the Nazi surrender.  After his martyrdom, Life Together" was published 
which chronicle Bonhoeffer's experience of Christian community including the story of a unique fellowship
in an underground seminary during the Nazi years.  

Monday Message: Victory, Prayer & Witness

Today's Monday Message come from Mike Law, Pastor Team at Nomad.  His post is a reminder of his talk yesterday as well as another Scripture to drive home the focus of being intentional.  Thanks Mike for such a powerful word yesterday.  It might have been the best worship gathering of the summer!     

Victory, Prayer & Witness

In spite of it being a full Monday to start the week, let's take full advantage church of the steps to Intentional Victory, Prayer & Witness.  To many times we live week after week in the illusion that we can't see or experience change.  Jesus Christ has come to give us new lives and thoughts.  We have power because of him.  Let’s embark on paths of change. 

Romans 6

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin…14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Are you trying to meet a need that only Christ can, looking to anything but him?

Have you grown accustomed to your condition and focused on the reasons you won’t get better?

What are the excuses, talking you out of change? 

Capture those false truths and replace them with truth!