I think of my life somewhat like a long distance relay.  We as the adults, fathers, men, community leaders, church leaders, business leaders must focus on shepherding this next generation.  That means we must lead, love, mentor, educate, disciple, rebuke, encourage and walk with those that are coming behind us.  They are generally not going to approach us…we must reach out to them.  Engage them as a friend that will listen and not preach all the time.

If you consider the pressures within the marketplace today from competition, financial debt, weariness, uncommitted workforce, lack of customer loyalty, coupled with our own pride, selfishness and greed it’s no wonder that the REAL VALUES we’d like to see present such as integrity, honesty, humbleness, real servant hood, compassion for employees and customers are beginning to fade.  HOWEVER, our shepherding in the workplace should be to enable and encourage the right behavior.  Let’s commit to being better leaders in the workplace and pass the leadership baton to the next generation.  Get as excited about VALUES as you do about profit.

If you consider the values within a city or small town, what makes people really care?  Since moving to Chattanooga from Jacksonville, I can tell you the people here feel like this is their city.  They engage in their work, their civic pride is high, they volunteer with time and financial resources to make this a better place to live for EVERYONE…not just a few.  Having been born and raised in Jacksonville, I think in the 70′s and 80′s it was like that.  Somewhere during the 90′s we experienced a tsunami of people moving to the city that came to work but not necessarily thinking they were staying long term.  These people have a “renters’ mentality and don’t feel any obligation to engage or contribute time and talents.  Having OWNERSHIP in the place you live is powerful and should not be squandered…don’t let it get away.  Very difficult to get back.  Teach civic ownership to those you come in contact with…teach them to CARE.

If you consider the values within a church (community of believers) let’s just start with commitment.  The body of believer’s is a collective pool of talent and resources that God uses to advance the Kingdom.  Just like the human body there are many parts and they all have important functions.  (Not quite sure about the gall bladder and appendix though).  When Christians feel no real obligation to participate or to share their resources / money / time and talent, then they have the wrong perspective.  It’s not all about you!  It is about the body of Christ and advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth and using the gifts he has equipped you with to glorify Him.  This may require discipleship for younger Christians to gain understanding of why.  Don’t be legalistic in your approach to convince others as it will not last.  Bondage never holds up.  Love on the other hand endures forever.   God loved us first and He chose us to be part of his plan.  It’s an incredible thought that he would enable us through the power of the Holy Spirit to engage in eternities work.

When you think of values within a neighborhood, hopefully you think of real community.  Like the 50′s – 70′s where neighbors were real neighbors.  I have some very fond memories of neighbors where I grew up.  It was not uncommon to visit in their homes during the week for no special reason.  We were not on a treadmill, chasing our tails or running to the next event.  We didn’t have cable or cell phones.  We had neighbors to have community with and they needed us and we needed them.  Sadly to say…I have not been a very good neighbor over the past 30 years, but now it is squarely on my mind.  I intentionally need to know my neighborhood and build trust and relationships with people…even the ones that don’t think like me.

Beginning today, don’t miss an opportunity to be a COACH…someone, somewhere needs to be shepherded.  Focus on where God has placed you right now and be INTENTIONAL in the lives of those around you.   To intentionally pass the baton to the next generation is a HUGE task.  Some of us may be lucky enough to see the baton passed yet again to your grandchildren.  Stay engaged, finish strong…may God be glorified in all we say and do.

I will question you, and you make it known to me.  Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Tell me if you have understanding.  Who determined the measurements – surely you know!  Or who stretched the line upon it?  On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and presecribed limits for it and set bars and doors and said, “Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed?

Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?  Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?  Declare, if you know all this.

I am awestruck that God the creator of the universe would choose to have a personal relationship with me and extend his grace and mercy towards me.  One day every knee will bow before him…what a humbling day for those that suppress the truth.  Romans 1: 20 For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Over the last couple of years I have come to realize his position with regards to God’s grace towards those he has called and God’s law.  God didn’t choose me once I got my act together, he loved me before I knew him.  For the majority of us we are quick to judge others by their lack of ability to keep the laws of God as if we do a much better job.  The fact is we break God’s law daily…sometimes hourly.  The fact is although we were created in the image of God and have the capacity to display the fruit of his spirit, we are dirty vessels, selfish, jealous, vengeful and my favorite stiff necked.

The next time someone sins against you, ask God to help you see that person from a perspective of grace and how you may be used to deliver it!

Throughout my Christian life I have understood the idea of not using the name of God, Jesus Christ in any form of conversation that did not exalt these names above all.  Certainly the culture we live in has done everything possible to demean, degrade and blaspheme the name of our LORD Jesus.  Even in the world of texting, it is common to see OMG which for some might be “Oh my gosh”…close enough. 

Is there more to this commandment than just our language?  What about the name “Christian” that is imparted when you become a born again beleiver?  How do we do wearing that label?  That is also taking the LORD’s name.  In other words, the 3rd commandment is much more than our ability to control our language, its our entire being, our attitudes, actions and lifestyle – our ability to repent and extend forgiveness.  We are bought with a price and we bring disgrace to the name of God when we profess much and possess little.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Is there a common thread to all of this?

I recently studied the book with the same title, “Not the Way It’s Suppopsed to Be”, by Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.  and it is well worth the read.  I wante dto share some exerpts as it has certainly helped me gain a new perspective on the world we live in.  We all know that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it.  He created man in his own image and gave him dominion over all the earth.

The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call “shalom”.  Something has gone terribly wrong.

Sin entered the world.

Sin is any act – any thought, desire, emotion, word or deed – or its particular absence, that displeases God and deserves blame.  Let us add that the disposition to commit sins also displeases God and deserves blame, and let us therefore use the word sin to refer to such instances of both act and disposition.  Sin is a culpable and personal affront to God.

Sin distorts our character, the human image of God.  We know that when we sin, we pervert, adulterate and destroy good things.  We create matrices and atmospheres of moral evil and bequeath them to our descendants.  By habitual practice, we let loose a great, rolling momentum of moral and spiritual evil across generations.

Along the generations, human nature itself, with its vast and mysterious amalgam of capcities to think, feel, supervise, love, create, respond and act virtuously – that is with its vast capacities for imaging God – has become the main carrier and exhibit of corruption.

Let that sink in for a while.  More to follow.

• When someone mistreats or opposes us, our instinctive reaction is to justify ourselves and do everything we can to get our way.  This selfish attitude usually leads to impulsive decisions that only make matters worse.
• By your actions you will show either you have a big God or that you have a big self and big problems.
• God’s highest purpose for you is not to make you comfortable, wealthy or happy…he plans to conform you to the likeness of his Son!
• Conflict is one of the many tools that God will use to help you develp a more Christ-like character.
• Having wisdom does not mean that you understand all of God’s ways; it means that you respond to life God’s way.
• When we make peace with those that have wronged or mistreated us, others will often realize that God himself is working in and through us.  (1 Peter 2:12)