The oky’s Podcast

September 8 - Narrow is the gate
 
I got fat. . . 
 
During our time of planning and moving, I didn’t have a gym to go to, and to be honest, we ate out a lot with people who wanted to connect before we left. I don’t think at any point I woke up and said, “I hope I put on a ton of weight.” Yet, as we rolled into Costa Mesa, I was unloading our PODS and felt this overwhelming sense of discomfort. My chest was pounding, my head hurt, I was sweating to death, and I was not feeling good in any way shape or form! 
 
How did I get here? 
 
I looked in the mirror, and understood what a dad-bod really was. And it is rough!!!!!
 
One day I asked Kristi, “Hey are my feet down there? When I look down I don’t see them.” Now I was being a little dramatic, but at the same time, I felt ways I never wanted to feel. And to be sure, I am still working to remedy the results of the past year. It was a time that many describe as “letting my body go.” I just ate what I wanted to eat, and sat around not working to burn off any excess energy I was storing up for winter. . . . 
 
It’s funny isn't it. . . You have to work so hard to get in a physical shape you want, yet it takes literally no effort at all to let your body take off and head a direction you never wanted it to go. Now please hear me. I am not body shaming anyone! IN fact, you know if you feel good in your body or not. What I’m talking about isn’t a state of social acceptance toward how you look. I’m simply talking about feeling healthy and able to do the things you want to do. It takes little to no effort to miss those opportunities. Yet if you want to stay in a shape that allows you the opportunity to pursue your goals, you have to work at it. 
 
Take an athlete for instance. They don’t get the chance to be the way they are on accident. Sure, they have a natural gift that allows them to play the sport they play. But if they didn’t self care in a way that promoted health, they would quickly fall out of shape and be eliminated from the chance to play the sport that they love. They just wouldn’t be able to keep up with everyone else. 
 
I jokingly said to my daughter yesterday, what if it was reverse. What if tacos, pizza and ice cream were what allowed you body to stay in shape and feel healthy. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world? But unfortunately that’s not how it works. We are stewards of our own body. I
 
You can either become a person who is fit and healthy to do the things God calls you to, or you can ignore your health and disqualify yourself from being able to feel healthy and strong enough to fulfill your dreams. 
 
It’s just the way our bodies work. We have other care for them. We can’t just ignore them. 
 
So it is with our spiritual life as well. In fact, I would say it is the same with our mental and emotional life too. But let’s focus on the spiritual for a minute. 
 
If we neglect our growth toward God, do you think it will naturally grow? 
 
It is the same as our physical body in the sense that we are constantly being fed corruption all day long. It doesn’t take much to hear someone talking inappropriately, or to see a billboard or an ad that suggestively leads your mind where it should’t be. Our flesh is fighting against spirit and causing thoughts and emotions that want to cause us pain and frustration. If we choose to do nothing in order to grow and mature, we will decay. It’s the natural progression. We have to take accountability for our health in every form. 
 
Jesus addresses this in the sermon on the mount. 
 
Matthew 7:13-14
 
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 
 
Ok, stop there Pastor Michael. . 
 
Sounds like both you and Jesus are contradicting what you started this whole conversation around the Sermon on the Mount with. You said we don’t have to DO more, we just have to BE who God designed us to be. . . 
 
Don’t worry, I will get to that. The short answer - You just have to focus on Being. That hasn’t changed. But there is work to develop our human BEING. It doesn’t happen on its own. 
 
Atrophy. Do you know what that means/ It is the gradual decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect. 
 
Muscles atrophy. Brain Cells atrophy. Reflexes and nerves atrophy. And your spiritual muscles atrophy as well. 
 
You have to decide to build them. It takes practice. The wide gate - that represents people who are not interested in building the spiritual muscles to become who God designed them to be. These people are obvious by their fruit. They are selfish, mean to others, quick to make sure they get what they want, and care only for themselves. They represent the mentality of the world. They don’t care about what is righteous and only want what makes them feel good in the moment. 
 
Now these people are in contrast with those who are working to build their spiritual muscles. They enter through the narrow gate. Why? Because it takes work. You don’t naturally fall into this gate. It is not easy, it takes discipline, it is counter to everything the flesh desires. It’s why Paul talks about this person in athletic terms. He says they are like an athlete beating their body into submission. They learn to control their desires and pursue the things of God. 
 
How do they do that? 
 
Guess where I am going to point back? 
 
I’ll give you a clue. it’s the beginning verses of the Sermon on the Mount. 
 
They go to the Beatitudes. 
 
They practice being real with their need for a savior. This helps them become poor in spirit, they mourn the brokenness they carry, desiring to be right with God. They are meek and hunger and thirst for righteousness. They practice being merciful and not doing to others what they have already been forgiven for. They practice finding ways to purify their heart and let go of things that are full of darkness. They make peace with others whenever they can. 
 
And you know what happens? 
 
These people are also noticeable by their fruit.  - you know, Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control. . . And just so you know, this isn’t fruitS of the Spirit. This is fruit of the Spirit. They come as a total package. You don’t pick and choose different ones. They are a collective result of becoming who God designed you to be. 
 
So what does your exercise routine look like? 
 
I’m not talking your physical routine. I’m talking about your spiritual routine. 
 
Let me just say this. I love doing this podcast with you. But if this is your spiritual workout. . . You are in trouble friends. This is not the substance you need to maintain a spiritually healthy body. You need much more. 
 
Let me tell you some of my practices I do. 
 
scripture memorization. I am half way done with memorizing Romans 6. I have 1-5 memorized. My goal is to finish Romans by the end of the year and then go bak to Hebrew which I started years ago and gave up on. . . 
Prayer. I have a daily time of prayer and often turn the radio off while I’m driving by myself so that I can pray aloud. Prayer is a vital part of aligning our heart with God. 
Solitude. I need my alone time with the LORD. I ride about 100 miles a week on my bike. And while I am riding, I only listen to worship music while I focus on God. Most days I stop at the beach and sit on some rocks while just being alone with God
Journaling. I journal regularly in order to know what I’m processing and how I am working it out with the LORD. It is an important time to be real with how I feel. 
Serving. I try to find ways to serve others and support them. I look for ways to encourage and help others. It’s a practice that pulls it all into place for me. 
Tithing and offerings. This helps me remember who is in control while honoring my heavenly father. It reminds me that he is LORD of all things in my life, not just my salvation. 
 
Look, my goal, be intentional enough with becoming a man of God, that I don’t have the chance to haphazardly slip through and end up in the wide gate that is easily trapping. 
 
So you have to chose. Will you work at becoming the person God designed you to be? Or will you just allow yourself to slip into the wide gate that everyone falls into without trying. 
 
Maybe, if you don’t do the habits I just listed that I practice, take just one of them and put it into your routine this week. See what God does as you start to build those spiritual muscles. Because as you do, I know you will begin to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. But even more, as you develop those spiritual disciplines and grow closer to the Lord, May God bless you!

September 6 - Judge properly
 
There is a verse in the Old Testament that really sets the tone for today’s conversation. Joshua 24:15 says this, 
 
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. 
 
Joshua was talking to a group of people who were struggling to be consecrated to the Lord. They continually wanted to be like everyone else. They wanted a king, they wanted their cities, and even their wives to be like that of every nation around them. But Joshua laid out a clear line. Choose. . . Who will you be like? 
 
Then the made it clear. You can choose who you want, but as for me and my house. . . We will serve the Lord. 
 
It’s a funny Christian culture that I observe around us today. People tend to think they are good if they are just being better than the people around them. The standard most of Christian culture settles at, is simply to do better than culture. You can hear it when people say things like, “Well at least my kids aren’t. . . . (fill in the blank)” or “Well I might have done such and such, but at least I’m not like so and so. . Did you hear what they did?”
 
We judge our movie choices, our language, the things we promote, and the people we listen to with a simple bar that just gets them to the stage of - good enough. But what happened to choosing to be HOly? What happened to making sure we sought God with all of our heart? So much has crept into Christian culture, that we often have no differing markers in our character than that of the rest of the world. 
 
It’s like we forget that we are called to holiness. 
 
And this isn’t something we can obtain. It’s just something we can pursue. And as we pursue it, we find ourselves becoming more like our heavenly father. But when we fail to pursue him, we end up being pretty similar to the rest of culture. 
 
So Jesus moves on in his sermon on the mount and addresses this notion. Listen to how Matthew 7 starts out. 
 
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 
 
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘let me take the speck out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck form your brother’s eye. 
 
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw away pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 
 
Why do you look that the spec of sawdust in you brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 
When Jesus says this, he is contrasting someone who knows better with someone who has no idea. Your brother has a spec of sawdust in his eye. This is something that he might not notice, and is something that he can’t necessarily identify. You on the other hand, know full well that the plank in your eye is problematic. 
 
So Jesus is saying, you don’t have right to judge others while you continually ignore what is obvious in your own life. And, again, you know better. So for you, it should be so obvious, that you will do things differently. 
 
See, we are called to a level of holiness. And as we pursue the Lord, we should find that level to be ever increasing. As we pursue the Lord, we increase our level of understanding to what it looks like to follow him. So now, what used to be a spec of sawdust because we didn’t know better or understand what it was doing to our relationship with the Lord, Suddenly becomes so noticeable that we can’t continue to go on without changing it. 
 
This is where it gets tricky. It doesn’t mean others will see it the same in their own life. You won’t suddenly have a group of people agree with you that somethign should change in the way they live their life. But for you. . . You know better. You have been convicted. It has now grown into a plank that you should keep from ignoring. 
 
So. . . 
 
What has the Holy Spirit been convicting you of? 
 
If you don’t have an answer to this . . . you should take time and ask the Holy Spirit to search your life. Because if you do, you will hear something that you are being challenged to grow in. And then, what are you going to do about it? 
 
Alright here is today’s challenge. . . 
 
Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you what needs to be stretched, grown, and even removed from your life. It might seem like a spec now. . But as the conviction comes to remove this thing in order to grow closer to the Lord - it will grow into a plank in your eye. Remove it, so that you can be a blessing to others! 
 
So today, wrestle with the Lord. Find out what area of your life he is wanting you to grow in. Then, don’t worry about what others are doing or if they deem it acceptable or not. Go after it with all your heart and allow God to meet you in the middle of the journey!!! I promise you, it will make all the difference in the world. And if no one else chooses to accept this growth and follow you as you follow Christ. . . Say, ok. .  “choose for yourself today who you will follow. But as for me and my house. . .I will serve the Lord. 
 
And as you do this, I pray you will know more of what you believe and why you believe it to be true. Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you allow the Holy Spirit to convict your life, May God bless you! 

September 4 - Treasures in Heaven
 
As I was getting ready to do this podcast, Kristi had left the tv on in our room with Top Gun playing. The original one from way back when I was a teenager. . . . It’s a classic. I can quote about half of the movie. Partly because I love fighter jets. I think the coolest thing on earth would be to fly one. Did you know that out of the 10’s of thousands that actually get chosen to go into flight school in the navy, les than a dozen get chosen from that class to fly a jet. They really are the best of the best. 
 
But what has always baffled me, is this image of an F-18. You have all that weight and power in a machine that is controlled by a small pilot sitting at the nose of the plane. They control everything from right there in the front of the ship. So if you were to picture it, the F-18 hornet is 56 feet long by 40 feet wide. It has between 17K and 22K pounds of thrust. And the pilot sits in front of it all. So all of the power, thrust, and machine, is sitting behind the pilot, and yet a mere 6’ person controls the entire thing. 
 
They move the joystick one direction, the plane follows. They push the thrusters harder, the speed and G force increases. 
 
This reminds me of the body. 
 
There are around 78 different organs in the body, making her 35k decisions a day, the brain is constantly at work. 650 muscles stretch throughout the entire body, making the human frame capable of lifting, siting, walking, running, stretching, jumping, hopping, reaching, pulling, pushing. . . . making hundreds upon hundreds of different motions and actions. There are said to be 6 basic emotions with thousands of variations to these emotions that the human body experiences, causing the body to process about 1 billion chemical reactions a second. The human body is complex!!!!!
 
And yet, there is one organ that seems to control and navigate the entire body. THE EYE. .  . 
 
You see something, and it has a complex reaction throughout the entire processing of your body. It might bring you joy, anxiety, love, fear. . . .You see something you want, and it causes your to yearn, long for, covet, or scheme. . . You see something like a beautiful sunset and it can bring you peace while settling your soul. 
 
Your eye, is a portal into your entire soul. 
 
And while we talked about your heart and how it wants what it wants, and continually pulls you in a direction you don’t even want to go. . . The eye is the thing that lets in the passion that controls the heart in the first place. 
 
For instance, if I didn’t see the Rivian store in the Irvine Spectrum mall, I would never have drooled over it in the first place. But they have the SUV Rivian - known as the R1S in this deep dark forest green with gold handles. . . and the inside is so smooth and nice. . . I can’t stop thinking about it. Had I not seen it, I never would have lost precious time dreaming about something I don’t need and will never own. . But I saw it. . . So now. . . I can’t stop thinking about it. 
 
There is something like this for you too! You’ve seen something that you want, and now you can’t stop thinking about it. 
 
You can let it control you. . . Or you can learn to control your heart. We talked about that. But Jesus brings it to a new level in the Sermon on the Mount. We can say we are trying to control it. But if we don’t put some work into it, there is no proof that we have mastery over it. 
 
Listen to the next part of the sermon on the mount. 
 
6:19-24
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
 
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 
 
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 
 
See how Jesus handles this topic. He starts by talking about how you spend your money, and then ends with the ideas that you can’t serve God and money. And right in the middle of it, he addresses the thing that controls the entire ship - your eye. 
 
When you let things in through your eye, they are feeding your body what you will focus on. So if you - like me - are a person who constantly wants new and shiny. . . you will begin to make that what you are serving. Suddenly, you are spending money and wasting time, chasing after things that eventually just fade away anyway. 
 
So, you have to make a hard decision. . . What will you devote your attention to with what you look at. Here is a better way to understand this.  Because I know you can’t help but see something as you are driving down the road that really excites you. But let’s take it deeper and further. Your eyes can see something, but you have to tell them to look at something. I can see shiny new gadgets, but it is up to me to do the research to look into them. I don’t have to. I just want to. . . 
 
I can make this real deep, but let me gloss over a few subject matters. . . . You can see something no the internet, but not look into it. You can see someone of the opposite sex that isn’t your spouse, but you can control yourself from looking at them. . . You can see a chance to do something un-ethical or even illegal, but you can also control yourself from looking into it. 
 
See what you let into your eyes,. Will also determine what you spend your time and money on. It’s the front line of defense. You have the chance to let health in, or allow darkness to fill you.  And it all happens with what you allow yourself to look for. Let the wrong thing in, eventually you have spent all your time, money, and resources chasing after something you were never meant to have. . . . And now, your life is in shambles.
 
Or look for things that are pure. . .Eventually you have aligned your life to pursue the things that matter. It’s why Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:8 to meditate on things that are right. It’s looking into these things and letting them into your heart and mind so they steer the ship in the right direction. Listen to what he says. . . 
 
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. 
 
Practice looking for these things. Read, watch, and meditate on things that are pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy. . . 
 
If you allow yourself to look for things that are not of this list, you will allow yourself to go somewhere you never thought you would be. It will master you.  . . . 
 
So here is the challenge. . . 
 
First, wrestle with your priorities right now. What have you allowed yourself to look for that has started controlling you in any way? What do you need to do in order to cut it out? 
 
Wrestle with the idea of looking intentionally into things that Paul describes in Philippians. Then practice giving your time, attention, money, and resources to those things. See, Jesus said where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The spending of your resources actually begins to direct your heart. Look for ways to support God’s work. Find things that you can invest in that lead you to the things of God. Intentionally make them priority in your life. If you do, you will begin to shift your heart, and store up treasures in heaven. 
 
Listen friends, I love you. . . as you wrestle with this, I pray that you begin to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. And as you look for the things of God, and align your heart with Him and His plan, May God Bless you! 

September 3 - Prayer and Fasting
 
There is an interesting story in Mark 9. 
 
IN this story, a man brings his son to Jesus and says that his son is demon possessed. He explains that it is so bad, the demon often throws the boy into water or fire trying to kill him. 
 
But then the conversation gets interesting. He says that he brought the boy to the disciples, but they could not help him. 
 
So Jesus ends up casting the evil spirit out of the boy, and he is healed. 
 
But imagine being the disciples and having everyone know that you were unable to do this. They must have been so frustrated that they failed, and this man told everyone their failure. So they run to Jesus and look for answer. Their question, “Jesus, why couldn’t we do this?” 
 
Now most translations have taken part of this out, but I want to read how the original and KJV write what Jesus says. 
 
He said, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (29)
 
So here is the interesting thing. What is he talking about with prayer and fasting? Do they need to fast for a period about the demon and how it will leave the boy, and then pray that it be gone?
If so, why didn’t Jesus take a break, let everyone know it was time to fast, and then tell the evil spirit to be gone? 
 
Jesus wasn’t talking about fasting over the boy and the evil spirit that was in him. The only piece that is immediate to the boy, is the prayer part. How do I know? Well look at Jesus. He didn’t go and fast first. He simply prayed and the spirit left him. 
 
So what is he talking about? 
 
A lifestyle of fasting. 
 
This isn’t a situational fast. This is fast that comes from a desired closeness and fullness of the Heavenly Father. This type of evil spirit is stronger and more stubborn. And the only thing you can do is have a lifestyle of fasting and closeness to God, so that when you pray, there is power. 
 
See, in the Christian world, we often get fasting wrong. We do it for situational answer instead of alignment with the heart of God. When Jesus tells his disciples this, he is making sure they understand that fasting causes a deeper level of connection with the Lord that brings different results. 
 
Now I know I told you God doesn’t want you to DO more, he just wants your to BE! Well this is still in alignment with this. When we fast, it isn’t so that we have the power to do. It is to give us the alignment to BE! Fasting causes us to align with God in a deeper way that gives us spiritual insights. It causes us to desire the heart of God more, so we see through spiritual eyes and are able to function in line with the spiritual realm. 
 
So now, let’s jump into the sermon on the mount again. This is chapter 6:16
 
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their rewards in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secrete, will reward you. 
 
Jesus is saying, fast, for the sake of being in a secret place with our Heavenly Father. Don’t do it for answers, don’t do it so others know how spiritual you are. Do it so that you can find a new level of seen-ness with God. You will see his heart, and he will see your heart in return. 
 
So simple challenge here today. 
 
I bet you can guess what it is. 
 
Push the food to the side, and set up time to fast. Don’t tell anyone, just go for it. And in this space, just let God know that you want more of him! You want to know him and be close to him. And if you do this, he will show you his goodness. 
 
And as that happens, I pray that you know more of what you believe and why you believe it to be true. It will be a challenge to do. But I know you can do it! And know that I love you, and as you grow closer to the LORD through a time of fasting and aloneness with him, May God bless you! 

September 2 - This is how you should pray
 
Our Father in heaven, 
Hallowed be your name, 
Your kingdom come, 
Your will be done, 
On earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, 
As we also have forgiven our debtors. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from the evil one. 
 
I’m sure you have heard this prayer before. It’s called the Lord’s prayer, because it was Jesus who said it. He was showing us how we should pray. There are important things I’ve heard turned into sermon’s from this prayer. Like the fact that Jesus shows us to desire the kingdom of heaven here on earth, or that Jesus is our daily bread just like the mana was in the wilderness. I’ve even heard entire sermon’s around this passage and the effects of sin and temptation on us. 
 
But when I look at this section of the Sermon on the Mount, and when I consider everything Jesus is trying to teach us, I see something different. Let me read the entire section to you. 
 
This is Matthew 6:5-15
 
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 
 
This, then, is how you should pray: 
“Our Father in heaven, 
Hallowed be your name, 
Your kingdom come, 
Your will be done, 
On earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, 
As we also have forgiven our debtors. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from the evil one. 
 
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 
 
Did you hear it? 
 
What is this section really about? 
 
First off, it’s about alignment of heart with God. HIs kingdom coming into our hearts, HIs will being done by us. Relying on him and knowing he will sustain us. Keeping us from sin and evil. But with all the talk about babbling and praying in a way that is about being with God and not looking for attention, the last two sentences are perhaps the most revealing. 
 
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But I you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 
 
Remember, Jesus is showing us what it looks like when we love God and others. This prayer is a moment for us to be right with God, so we can be right with others. This is why Jesus focuses on forgiving others as the final part. We can’t be right with God if we aren’t trying to make things right with others. It’s indicative of who Jesus is. If we are apprenticing him, then we should learn to be like him. The way to the heart of God is through forgiving those around us. This aligns us with the heart of Jesus and makes us like him. The prayer for the will of God and the kingdom of God looks like right relationship with the people around you. 
 
Once again, this is a call to make things right with others. 
 
You need to have a clear heart toward others, and in the heart of others, if you are going to be right with the Lord. 
 
Is there someone you need to make things right with? If so, what steps will you take to reconcile that relationship? If you don’t, you will not be able to see the kingdom of heaven hear on earth the way he intends. You will miss the chance to be forgiven of your debts because you hold out on someone else. 
 
So take time and inventory your relationships. Have you wronged someone? Have you been wronged? 
 
Pray for an alignment of heart with the Lord, that you might forgive properly. 
 
And as you do, I pray that you will understand what you believe and why you believe it to be true. Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you pursue the kingdom of heaven, and the heart of God through right relationships, may God blesses you! 

September 1 - Give to the needy
 
Other Go first. 
 
It’s something we have said as one of our family values for the past 19 years. It started when Ava was a baby and we were trying to decide what our family values would be. It’s how we choose to honor others above ourselves. After all, it is the practices of Jesus. He is the example of what it looks like to put others above yourself. 
 
But think back to how we ended chapter 5. Jesus instructed his followers that they must not only love their neighbor, but also love their enemy. How in the world is this possible? 
 
The more we practice loving others, the easier it gets. The more we put others first, the more it becomes second nature to us. 
 
Jesus starts out this next section by instructing his people how to really put others first. Listen to this section and what he says,
 
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by then. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 
 
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then you Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 
 
You know how you can tell someone who gets what it looks like to put others first? They constantly do things for others without them knowing. They are the ones who will leave gifts, drop off money, pay a meal, without the recipient even knowing who did it. When it’s done in secret, there is absolutely no motivation possible other than honoring the other person. When it’s done in secret, there is nothing to gain for the person performing the act of kindness. They simply do something, and the only other person that knows it was them, is God. 
 
This is true humility and compassion. 
 
And it only comes with practice. 
 
So I’m going to challenge you with a practical exercise today. Do something for someone that only God knows it was you that did it. If you are going out to eat and you see someone sitting by themselves, buy their meal without them knowing. If you see someone who has been struggling financially and you know they need help, find a way to pay a bill for them, or send them an envelope of cash. If there is someone elderly near you and you know they struggle to take care of the house, pay for a maintenance person, or sneak by and cut their grass when they aren’t home. Find a way to do something that will bless them without them knowing it was you. 
 
The more you practice this, the more it becomes second nature! And the more it becomes second nature, the more you are getting the heart of Christ. Practice giving to others and practice often! 
 
And as you do, I pray you know more of what you believe and why you believe it to be true! I hope you have a great and safe labor day! Please know that I love you, and as you practice anonymous acts of kindness, may God bless you! 

August 31 - End Game 
 
What’s your end game? 
 
What do I mean by that? 
 
When it is all said and done, you are laying in your casket, your family and friends are gathered around, and someone gets up to describe your life. . . . What do you want them to say? Because in that moment, it’s too late to give them any cues. What they’ve seen and witnessed, how they have been treated, or heard you talk, it all comes down to those moments when people pull from the memories swirling around in their mind. 
 
A few years ago, our friend Nancy passed away from a sudden brain cancer that literally took days to overcome her. She had headaches at thanksgiving, went to the hospital and was in heaven by the beginning of December. It was one of the most shocking things Kristi and I have ever experienced. 
 
But let me tell you about a life well lived. At her funeral, we heard nothing but love and adoration of her. People shared stories about her goofiness, the way she would say what was on her mind - yet you felt loved when she did it, the way she smiled constantly and made everyone feel like she cared. But the thing that got me - everyone in the room thought they were best friends with Nancy. Not because she lied and told everyone they were her best friend, but because she lived and treated people as if they were her best friend. She loved people so unconditionally, that everyone came to her funeral with stories about how special she was to them. 
 
Nancy lived ready for an endgame. Not only that, she loved Jesus!!!! Or should I say, LOVES Jesus. 
 
I’ve also been at funerals where there was space given for someone to come up and say something about the recently deceased, and no one moved. . . There wasn’t a word spoken. And in the awkward silence, there was a sense of unfinished business, or broken relationships. 
 
We’ve been going through the sermon on the mount, and Jesus is about to give some words that define what the finish line looks like. Listen to Matthew 5:43-48
 
You have hear that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor an hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 
 
See what the goal is here? 
 
Love so well, that even your enemies - or those who would make themselves your enemy - even those people walk away feeling loved by you. Anyone can love the easy to love. But it takes a special person to love everyone. What type of person does it take? One that lives out a life of beatitudes. ONe that is merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker, someone poor in spirit, able to be meek. See, Jesus told you who to be. And now look, he is showing you the result. You become a person who knows how to properly love. 
 
And listen to how he ends this segment. 
 
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 
 
Ok! We can give up there, right? None of us are able to be perfect! So he’s trying to trap us! isn't he? 
 
No! 
 
The word perfect here comes from the Greek word teleios - which means to be brought to an end - a strong finish. Jesus isn’t calling you to keep from making mistakes or sinning. He is calling you to finish! To take all the beatitudes and live them out in a way that he can say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” 
 
So, I encourage you to start this new week, by restudying the beatitudes. Look them over and see what things stick out to you. What is it that you need to continue growing in so that you can finish well? 
 
And as you do, I pray that you learn what you believe and why you believe it to be true! 
 
Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you love everyone around you - even your enemy - May God Bless you!

August 30 - Eye for eye 
 
Michael Grove
630-995-1253
michaelgrove1@icloud.com
 
 
Are you a giving, sacrificially loving person? 
 
Now when we answer this questions most of the time, we tend to think comparatively. 
 
I am more giving than most people my age. 
 
I tend to be more sacrificial than other people in my workplace. 
 
But that’s not quite the measure. 
 
 
I’ve noticed a trend over my years of Christian ministry. The church is always trying to catch up to culture in so many ways. I’ve watched it with digital trends, diversity, humanitarian aid, cultural references, and trends of just about ever single kind. 
 
The problem is, God actually called his people to be so different, that they would be set apart from the rest of culture. 
 
Listen to Paul’s words to the Christians in Philippians 2:14
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without Gault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the world of life. 
 
We weren’t supposed to be trying to fit in with culture and join them, we were made to be so absurdly different, that it would be extremely obvious to everyone around us. 
 
Jesus was talking with his disciples one day, and was setting the tone for what it looked like to lead like he would. He said this to the disciples in Matthew 20:25
 
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 
 
This is something Jesus said later in his ministry, but I want you to see what he was leading up to. He was constantly teaching his followers that if they were going to follow him, they were going to have to put others first. Remember, I told you this was the theme of the Sermon on the Mount. Love God - love others. 
 
And the way Jesus loved, was so countercultural, that it looked different to everyone who witnessed his life, teachings, or actions. 
 
 
 
So we get to this next part of the sermon on the mount where Jesus is going to introduce this idea to the people who were following him. Listen to what he says next. Matthew 5:38-42
 
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away rom the one who wants to borrow from you. 
 
Now Jesus is pulling from Old Testament understanding. There was a code that the Israelites understood on how to find justice inside of being wronged. It was all about making things legally right. But it lead to the pursuit of revenge and justified retribution. Jesus is saying that this isn’t the way of his kingdom.  . . but this isn’t new to you. Because we already talked about the beatitudes. And you can’t be merciful and still want revenge. You can’t mourn and want payback for an attitude you’ve also carried before. 
 
But Jesus says that what you’ve always known and seen, don’t do it! 
 
I don’t care what feels right or seems right to you. . What is actually right - is to love people so sacrificially that their life is transformed forever. 
 
He is going to take this to the next level in tomorrow’s conversation, but you need to understand what he is saying here. When other’s hurt you, the way of Christ is to become so sacrificially giving and loving to them, that they will be blown away by your generosity. 
 
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with this one! 
 
I want justice! 
 
I want people to know that they’ve wronged me! 
 
I can’t even let someone cut in front of me on the road. 
 
How am I going to give to someone who is robbing me? 
 
The answer. . . practice! 
 
Find ways and times to practice sacrificial love. Look for times when someone is overly demanding of you, and find ways to serve them. Look for people who are offensively rude or ignorant, and find ways to show them love. Look for the person who would always want the easy way out, and make them look good. 
 
Practice, practice, practice. 
 
I think it’s part of why I brought flowers to the wife of the man who crashed into our only car last week. I wanted to find a way to practice sacrificially serving someone who wronged me. And can I tell you, it is the best feeling in the world to know I can let go of a wrong in order to love someone beyond my own ability. 
 
So who has wronged you? Who has annoyed you or left you hurt? Find a way to love them. 
 
I’m reminded of King Solomon’s words of wisdom in Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you ill heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. 
 
Is Solomon talking about literal coals that cause damage? NO! He is talking about figurative coals that cause the person to lose their mind. They can’t help but be confronted with the thought of how differing your actions are with theirs. And in this, they will begin to change their ways. 
 
So think of who you can practice this with, or in what situation you might have the chance to practice this concept. And as you do, I pray you being to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true! 
 
Tomorrow we will talk about our enemies. But until then, I love you, and as you learn to sacrificially love those who deserve punishment instead of love, May God Bless you!