Equipping Thoughts

Sleep depravation and improper sleeping habits affect our health - physically, emotionally and spiritually. I’ve been reading up on how to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s been an adventure discovering how I’ve misguided my health because of poor sleeping habits (& other poor habits I have - bummahs!) Check this out…

“The National Sleep Foundation states that “sleep deprivation has been linked to health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure, and negative mood and behavior.” Dr. Cherry writes, “If you haven’t had a good night’s sleep, you’re likely to pay for it. The price may be high: reduced energy, greater difficulty concentrating, diminished mood, and greater risk for accidents, including fall-asleep crashes. Work performance and relationships can suffer too. And pain may be intensified by the physical and mental consequences of lack of sleep.”

The take home for me…”Rod, get adequate rest. Make an appointment with your pillow and bed and don’t violate your health needs!” Psalm 127:2 says He gives His beloved sleep.

OK Lord! Help me to obey!!

Check this email out. I think you’ll get the idea that this friend encounters feelings, attitudes and situations like you & I. My reply is below.

“… why is it so hard to stay enthusiastic, to stay motivated… when others (team and leaders) aren’t….

… struggling with journaling… ….dreading tomorrow’s meeting/wishing it was over…..

but I know not to give up…. but it’s still hard…”

My reply…

We are spiritual beings and the enemy DOES NOT - I mean DOES NOT like who we are in Christ, who we are becoming in Him not to mention the work we do for His Kingdom!

Spiritual work is tiring, draining - exhausting. All of us battle discouragement. (But the battle is the Lords - and all is worth the Kingdom fight. Eternal rewards, fruit - the outcome I don’t see and feel…is ALL WORTH IT! ) Sometimes, partly because we are human, with expectations that are not reasonable of others, too high for ourselves, we encounter hardship, things don’t go the way “WE” want or think they should. If it helps…I’m going through some of what you are too…and we are not alone - everyone has these fights. The devil DOES NOT like us, who we are, stand for and are doing!

But I take responsibility to stay willing, obedient - following the truths in His Word - best I can…moment by moment!

It is hard! There’s no easy answers…but stay disciplined and true to what you know is right! I don’t want to do what is right many times - but I know better! Lord help!!!!

Just some of my thoughts. God bless you, your heart, soul, mind and day!

fighting the good fight alongside of you,
Rod

This years “The Heart behind Doing Church as a Team” conference will give birth to a stronger breed of Christians. I know our New Hope congregation will be moved, touched, filled and changed by God!

With a stronger emphasis on discipleship, our people will grow closer to God through practical, Biblical, Life and Leadership Essentials breakout sessions. Not to mention the new sessions that Pastor Wayne and Paul Risser are preparing to teach - we will be in for stellar growth in Christ!

Making disciples will be an emphasis in and through our conference, through practical teachings on how to better live life for God. As follower’s of Christ in a world that’s flawed, around people (like you and I) who are imperfect, while overcoming our own struggles, we will be transformed as we take time to cultivate our hearts and lives.

What is NOT different is the spirit of excellence, mixed with ingredients of prayer, creative services, great hearted investment in planning and preparation and the heart of love to nurture our people! We will also offer people who have not connected into service, opportunities to be involved in a serving ministry.

As part of the Conference leadership team, it is my hope and prayer that the thousands of people who call New Hope their home church, would seriously invest in their relationship with God, by attending this years conference. I strongly believe that those who take time, make the necessary sacrifices to plan and attend the conference will be eternally affected by God, to become a more effective disciple of Christ.

Make the time to invest in your relationship with Christ. You won’t regret your decision to be a part of this years “The Heart behind Doing Church as a Team” conference!

I’m no health expert - that I want to make clear. I do know that I feel the best I’ve ever felt, have more energy than ever before and more healthy than I’ve ever been (not considering the 5 years of boxing 17-21 years of age - way back when…!)!

My quest for living a better, healthier lifestyle began when chest pains were bothering me in Dec. 2002. I had been back in Hawaii for a year and a half, gained 20 pounds eating all the “local” foods, at all the potlucks, just enjoying being back home with all the rice, mac salad and greasy grinds!

My cardiologists (I’ve never had one before) said to me, “Rod, if you want to live healthier and feel better, take care of your heart - it’s the most important muscle in your body.” There began my quest - NOT to lose weigh - but to live a healthier lifestyle.

My suggestion to you - begin by evaluating your motives and goals for living a healthy lifestyle. Many people I’ve talked to want to lose weight, look good - not bad motives at all. In my opinion, the motive of taking care of myself to be the best I can be for God, my family and the goals of strengthening my heart muscle, improving endurance, living more effectively and having more energy were lifestyle challenging and altering.

Do you live tired? Are you able to give your family or loved ones your best in energy and attitude? Does God see you as living at your best unto Him?

Your God and your loves ones are worth you living a healthier lifestyle!

When I am inspired, I give myself whole heartedly to a goal, activity or cause. I believe every person has inspiration to live a healthier life. That inspiration just gets buried beneath other acute-short term and short lived inspirations.

There are eternal inspirations that must outweigh what inspires the temporal and earthly parts of us. Some Christians have been deceived into thinking that our earthly bodies are temporal so we don’t need to care for them. The reasoning is that we’ll get new bodies in heaven so just do God’s work, not caring for our physical health.

We Christians have “let our health go.” Rather than being inspired, we expire ourselves to apathetic life choices that result in poor health. We don’t eat right, we over eat, we don’t exercise, we get over weight and inspiration to live healthy disintegrates. Yuk, Yuk, Yuk…I know the feeling. In fact, I still battle those feelings but choose to yield to some eternal inspirations. What are those eternal inspirations? For me…

• To give and live my very best to please God. I know - I KNOW that He wants me to take care of my health.
• To be an example to those around me of a man of God who loves God, loves life and people enough to take care of my spirit, soul and body. This love inspires me to want to live longer - as much as it depends on my obedience.
• The fear of the Lord to honor Him through obedience inspires me. I have a conviction to obey the Lord in every area of life, including physical health.

(Proverbs 22:4 True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.)

In partnership with God, I desire to live a healthy, long life that brings pleasure to Him!

Twenty two and a half years of developing an intimate relationship - Thanks Jesus!!!
Intimacy in friendship, communication and OH YES…SEX! Not to embarrass Beckie or myself, but there are few out there willing to be real and honest about this area of intimacy. When spouses hide their weaknesses, problems and feelings regarding their physical intimacy, I’ve seen many “seemingly great marriages” result in loneliness and divorce.

SEX is obviously awesome (for men) and most women when they are romanced with genuine affection. SEX is Fun and Holy…when a husband and wife give of themselves to this physical act of intimacy…BUILT upon a strong spiritual and emotional intimacy in their MARRIAGE! Yes - SEX is Fun and Holy in Marriage!

UnHoly Sex is dangerously sinful and WILL reap long lasting, detrimental side effects in the hearts and minds of those who give themselves to it. Is unholy sex just defined by fornication; 2 people not married engaging in sexual activity? I don’t believe so. To me, sex in marriage can be unholy when it’s not built on true, Godly intimacy in relationship outside of the bedroom. For a wife to be an object of sexual acts can be far from holy intimacy. I’ve known of men who “use”their wives for sex - how unholy is that!!! Marriage is honorable and so must wives be honored!!

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

I think there’s more to come on this subject from the heart of Rod & Beckie To our married friends…have fun, be intimate…often…make intimacy a lifestyle. The benefits for you husbands, are Outstanding!

“A hero is a person that puts himself at risk for the benefit of others.”
Oliver North

Mr. North is describing our wonderful military servants through out the world! They are our heroes!

I also would like to think of our New Hope servants as these kinds of heroes! They are so willing to give up and sacrifice their lives for the sake of presenting the gospel of Jesus in such a way that turns non Christians into converts, converts into disciples and disciples into mature, fruitful leaders who will go into all the world to reach others for Christ!

Many visiting pastors and leaders have asked me, “Describe your church…the people, the staff and volunteers…”

Here’s what I say are the characteristics of our New Hope Heroes: (coming…part 2 and 3 and 4… - It will take volumes to describe our valuable people!)

1. A genuine love for God is alive and living through our servants.

2. A desire to please the Lord and not man. They are not recognition or applause seekers.

3. The “yes hearted willingness” to fulfill our Mission Statement…because everything we are and do is connected to a soul.

4. A gracious kindness that is exemplified through words and deeds.

Romans 5 The Message

7 We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. 8 But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

Matthew 28
7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’

O
The real meaning of Christmas began with a little baby wrapped in cloth among stable animals born by God to a virgin.

The real meaning of Christmas was fulfilled when the news of Jesus being raised from the dead was announced to 2 Mary’s!

The real meaning of Christmas for me is that I’m still able to meet Jesus - still able to see Him - not in Galilee, but within my heart!

A
I’ve met Him! I see Him! He is risen from the dead and I’ve encountered Him! Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead!

My heart can’t seem to contain the joy and excitement of this news. This morning…I’m astounded by Your love and commitment to me Lord! I don’t have to wait till December 25th to celebrate your life!

Today, I commit to living differently by:
1. Renewing my mind with this mornings revelation.
2. To keep meeting You throughout the day in prayerful meditation, worship, thanksgiving, confession of Your presence.
3. Celebrate in attitude, allowing this devotion to live through my face, words, actions.

2 Thessalonians
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.

Would you like to hear God say to you …”Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for people is developing wonderfully?”

Enduring hardship well will be a result of developing a flourishing faith and a growing love for people. It seems to me that my attitude towards how I am growing in love with God (faith) and people affects how i handle hardships. If my faith is strong and my relationships pure and right, the enemy has less to harass me with.

Let’s keep evaluating these 2 areas - our faith in God and our love for people. If we are doing well in these 2 areas, we will endure hardships and sufferings well.

Acts 5
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. — 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Gamaliel…
…was honored by people.
Am I honored by others? Do I lead my life in a way that helps others to respect my leadership?

…”stood up” taking leadership in the situation. He saw the need to gather the men, take control of the situation.
Do I take control of adverse circumstances? Do I step in and stand up to take leadership control in among difficult people or situations?

…”put the men outside” separating the opposition, the accused and accusers.
Do I have the wisdom to separate myself or others when emotions are running wild?

…reminded the elders of instances when other vigilante leaders efforts were thwarted.
Do I have recall capacity to influence others with wise-historical information that helps people to re-think their response and change their mindset? Can I help others think ahead, fast forward their mental “dvr” - so they can think and see objectively.

…knew God’s ways and plans were unstoppable.
Do I believe that God’s ways cannot be overthrown - that God is in ultimate control - in every situation and circumstance?