tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-359663722024-03-06T22:17:59.895-06:00Daily Build Up"...encourage one another and build each other up..." (1Thessalonians 5:11)Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.comBlogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-81046316344534459292014-01-07T13:35:00.000-06:002014-01-07T13:35:13.460-06:00Loops - Take II (reposted from 6/2/09)<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Jesus says, "Follow me."</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">And often we answer, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;">"Lord, I will follow You, but..." </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">(Luke 9:61)</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Following
Jesus requires submitting our will to God's will. If, when Jesus
calls, we choose to follow our common sense instead, then we find
ourselves in, what I call, a loop. </span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/05/30/devotion.aspx?year=2009" style="font-family: arial;">Oswald Chambers</a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> teaches it this way...</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;">If
you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it
every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer
determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you
will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn
back at the point of testing, until you are determined to abandon
yourself to God in total surrender.</span> <span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><br />When
we fail to follow God's will then He loops us back to face the same
test again. These loops continue until we submit. During these loops
our relationship with God stops growing. However, when we finally pass
the test by surrendering ourselves we (again) move forward in our
relationship with Christ. </span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrl6Vd2RarkhzflG0hDkaxiGglkJmsv-M9A1ZM9wvYLUEFCKnH-EjANjTxR5eF-LgYfIk_q7zTU1hp0Q9bGeMLo7Ycn3-ApuEdxP2pImZwycOPt7KFV4sg1tDqEgA0LJtrhsoqg/s1600-h/slide.001-001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrl6Vd2RarkhzflG0hDkaxiGglkJmsv-M9A1ZM9wvYLUEFCKnH-EjANjTxR5eF-LgYfIk_q7zTU1hp0Q9bGeMLo7Ycn3-ApuEdxP2pImZwycOPt7KFV4sg1tDqEgA0LJtrhsoqg/s320/slide.001-001.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342829647246792722" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 179px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Are you currently caught in a loop? The way forward is to submit to God's will even when it doesn't make sense. </span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Submit,</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Lon Alderman</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><a href="http://www.liftingarms.com/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">www.liftingarms.com</a></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-44042993521428434282011-05-27T14:30:00.000-05:002011-05-27T14:30:37.731-05:00Shifting Energies<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings! I am shifting my blogging energies to a new blog. This new effort is </span><span style="font-size: large;">particularly </span><span style="font-size: large;">focused on encouraging pastors. Through it I am encouraging pastors to build the habits, skills, and attitudes that lead to excellence in ministry over time. The blog is titled, "Enduring Ministry", and you can check it out at this link:</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.enduringministry.com/">http://www.enduringministry.com</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I plan to leave this (Daily Build Up) blog open, but my posting to it will be even more infrequent than it has been recently. Thank you for following this blog and for all of your encouragement.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stay encouraged!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lon</span></div>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-6619314250267515462011-04-21T06:47:00.000-05:002011-04-21T06:47:03.879-05:00Essentials of Enduring Ministry: Balance<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The phrases "balanced lifestyle" and "pastoral ministry" are rarely found in the same paragraph. However, on the rare instance when we find them together they are not linked favorably. Why is that?</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I look at Christ's ministry, it doesn't seem overwrought. Rather, His way seemed cool, collected, and, dare I say it, rested. Instead of being wrung out, Jesus always appears to be the calm in the center of the scene.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have often made the joke that military intelligence is an oxymoron (which I had to look up how to spell, so who's the real "moron"). However, the military outfits its platoon leaders with much less gear than the troops. Why? This way when heat-of-the-battle-decisions need to be made, the officer is not worn out from carrying 60-pounds of gear like the other soldiers. Instead, he is fresher and can make clear, life-saving decision.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pastors need to be similarly prepared for their decision-making, because many of the "battles" they fight are about life and death, too. The significant difference is that pastors deal in things that last eternally.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And maybe, just maybe, could this apply to all the other people that follow Jesus, too?</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Find balance.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lon </span></div>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-52031297743216113172011-03-03T15:33:00.001-06:002011-03-03T16:05:04.915-06:00Why I do Acorn Ministries.<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I tell people about what "I do" at Acorn Ministries, I usually get a response something like "that's nice". The tone is usually the same as if I had just announced that I'm wearing a clean shirt today.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps when you read this excerpt from a blog by <a href="http://michaelhyatt.com/why-i-attend-so-many-conferences.html">Micheal Hyatt</a> you will better understand why "I do" what "I do". </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">According to an August 2, 2010 article in the New York Times, entitled, “<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html">Taking a Break from the Lord’s Work</a>”:<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could.”</span> </blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">In addition, <a href="http://pastorburnout.com/">PastorBurnout.com</a> reports that:<br />
1. 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.<br />
2. 75% report severe stress causing anguish, worry, bewilderment, anger, depression, fear, and alienation.<br />
3. 70% don’t have any close friends (this one about makes me cry).<br />
4. 57% would leave the pastorate if they had somewhere else to go or some other vocation they could do.<br />
5. Clergy have the second highest divorce rate among all professions. </span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">This makes the ministry one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. God never intended for us to go it alone.</span></blockquote></blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Acorn Ministries builds up the body of Christ, the Church, one leader at a time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's what "I do".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lon</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.acornministries.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">www.AcornMinistries.com</span></span></a>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-54455457902257486762011-02-23T10:37:00.000-06:002011-02-23T10:37:25.904-06:00Catching Us Being Good<style>
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</style> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all have a basic understanding that God is “all-knowing”, but do we really think about what that means?<span> </span>Certainly God doesn’t pay attention to <b><i>every</i></b> detail, does He?<span> </span>Surely God overlooks my momentary lapses and my insignificant “no-harm” sins, don’t you think?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought that could be true until I read this:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. </i>(Hebrews 4:13 NIV)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ouch!<span> </span>According to this passage, God is aware of <b><i>everything</i></b>!<span> </span>Well, OK, so God sees what I’m up to, but that’s as far as it goes, right?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 139:1-4 NIV</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> </span>You have searched me, LORD, <br />
and you know me. <br />
<span> </span>You know when I sit and when I rise; <br />
you perceive my thoughts from afar. <br />
<span> </span>You discern my going out and my lying down; <br />
you are familiar with all my ways. <br />
<span> </span>Before a word is on my tongue <br />
you, LORD, know it completely.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Double ouch!<span> </span>You’re telling me that God knows my thoughts, my words?<span> </span>O man, I’m doomed.<span> </span>Why would God want to pay such close attention to me?<span> </span>I’m not a troublemaker.<span> </span>I go to church.<span> </span>Why is He scrutinizing my life?<span> </span>Is He trying to stack up enough “<i>charges</i>” to send me to Hell?<span> </span>Is He trying to get sufficient dirt on me to send me into eternal punishment?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">But wait a minute, God is all about love.<span> </span>Scripture says:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…<span> </span></i>(John 3:16 NIV)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">And…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!<span> </span></i>(1John 3:1 NIV)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">If God loves me so much, it doesn’t make sense that He would search my life to condemn me, does it?<span> </span>What if God’s purpose for paying attention to the details of my life has a different purpose than to punish me?<span> </span>Instead, what if there is a loving purpose for concentrating on every detail of my life?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Parenting experts teach us to “catch our children being good”.<span> </span>That is, as a parent it is good for my children if I look in on them now and then with ”praise” in mind.<span> </span>Instead of looking for something that deserves a punishment, I look for an opportunity to praise their behavior.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if this is what God is doing with us?<span> </span>What if He is paying attention to the details of our lives – even our thoughts – so that He can catch us being good?<span> </span>If that’s the case, then what does “being good” look like for God?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.<span> </span></i>(Mark 12:30 NIV)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then what if God’s purpose in scrutinizing the tiniest details of our life is to catch us loving Him?<span> </span>What if He pays attention to our thoughts to see if we love Him with our hearts and our minds?<span> </span>Do you suppose He watches our every movement to see if we love Him with all our strength?<span> </span>Could it be that God watches every detail of our life to see if we love Him with our whole soul?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…<span> </span></i>(Matthew 6:33 NIV)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you thinking about God?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-52620758490284984552011-01-25T08:36:00.000-06:002011-01-25T08:36:53.453-06:00Vulnerability<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Brene’ Brown studied the essence of human relations from the perspective of a social worker. She discovered, much to her chagrin, that at the heart of relationships in vulnerability. Her research taught her that relationally successful people, labeled “wholehearted” people, have the common trait of being vulnerable to others in their relationship.<br />
<br />
The world we live in teaches us that vulnerability is something to be avoided. We are taught to protect ourselves, don’t take risks, and avoid looking weak. These lessons are learned from infancy, and we learn them well. We avoid the sense of vulnerability like it’s the plague.<br />
<br />
The problem is that deep relationships depend upon two people making themselves vulnerable to each other. This could explain much. Why don’t marriages last? It could be that our relationships are stunted because of our culturally learned unwillingness to allow ourselves to be sufficiently vulnerable with one another.<br />
<br />
Further, this vulnerability issue is a problem for us Christians. Jesus calls us to voluntarily take on the posture of vulnerability. <br />
<br />
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25 NIV)<br />
<br />
Denying ourselves, carrying crosses, and losing our lives are images replete with a sense of vulnerability. Thereby, they are things, acculturated as we are, to be avoided. <br />
<br />
Christ’s command to lose our lives is a command that He was willing to follow Himself. Jesus could have come as a king commanding thousands of troops. Jesus could have demanded the worship of the world. Instead, Jesus showed us the way. He showed us about vulnerability. Jesus laid down his life.<br />
<br />
Jesus commands us to love one another. C.S. Lewis writes, “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.” Jesus commands us to be vulnerable in our relationships with people.<br />
<br />
Please join me in striving to live according to Christ’s command to live counter culturally, to live vulnerably.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
Lon Alderman<br />
@leaderlifter<br />
www.AcornMinistries.com<br />
<br />
</span></div>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-35884173218519616862010-09-23T11:21:00.001-05:002010-09-23T14:09:28.712-05:00Walking with Jesus is no “happily ever after”!<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, if you’ve bothered to read on then you are either mad at me for this title or curious as to what I’ve been drinking with my coffee this morning. Let me first assure you that I love Jesus and that I count every moment in His presence as a blessing, because I have found joy there, in His presence, which cannot compare with any joy found on this earth. And, believe me, I have searched, and nothing this side of Heaven can compare. So, what’s my point?<br />
<br />
We have this idea in our minds, which was planted in our infancy, about “happily ever after”. The stories we read (and viewed) all demonstrated a common conclusion. That is, at the end of the drama, when the villain has received his just desserts, then the story ends with, say it with me, “and they lived happily ever after”. Now, in our young minds we accept this to be true. We believe that the rest of their lives will be lived without conflict. After all, the villain has been vanquished; and all of the issues experienced by sub-characters have been resolved. Therefore, we conclude that the bad stuff is over, done, never to be seen again.<br />
<br />
But that’s not how life is, is it? If you’ve lived more than 10 years on this planet, you already know that that understanding of “happily ever after” doesn’t exist. Or do we? My experience is that many people who follow Jesus actually expect a “happily ever after”. I’ll make this personal in an attempt to keep my offenses to a minimum. When I accepted Christ’s gift of salvation I FULLY expected that there would be no more difficulty in my life. Can you imagine my shock then when trouble arose? It knocked me off my pegs!<br />
<br />
The truth about life is that it is full of trouble. There is no “happily ever after” that whisks us off carefree beyond the reach of pain and suffering.<br />
<br />
1Peter 4:12-16<i> </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.</i><br />
<br />
When we walk with Jesus we must expect trials and sufferings, but they are not to be feared. On the contrary, if we suffer because of our walking with Jesus, then we can celebrate. We celebrate because we are “blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on [us]”. Our response is not “poor me”, but rather “praise be to God for allowing me to bear Christ’s name and to share in His suffering”.<br />
<br />
I understand that it is very easy for me to type such a statement, but it is a huge challenge to live it out. O but when we do live it out, what a magnificent witness it is to this world. What a tremendous story we make when we praise God in our suffering. But beyond our witness to the world there’s something else that comes with walking with Christ during our trials.<br />
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Even though our walk with Jesus is no “happily ever after” we actually experience something even better. Yes, we experience something BETTER than “happily ever after”. If we walk with Christ, even though we go through times of suffering, we will find peace. The peace of Christ is like nothing else on earth. And as for me, I’ll take Christ’s peace over “happily ever after” any day of the week.<br />
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If you are suffering, please turn your eyes to Jesus. Lay down your burden of pain before Him. Ask Jesus into your heart. Let Him carry you for a while. And you will find peace even in the face of suffering. For that matter you can find Christ’s peace in every circumstance.<br />
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Philippians 4:4-7<i> </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</i><br />
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Find peace,<br />
Lon Alderman<br />
@leaderlifter<br />
</span></div>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-12590958966716399642010-06-21T16:20:00.000-05:002010-06-21T16:20:46.874-05:00Stay Your Mind<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You will keep him in perfect peace, </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whose mind is stayed on You, </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Because he trusts in You. </span></i><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I watched a great skit once by two talented comics titled, “Distract and Confuse”. The story line was that these men were presenting a new product for capturing souls to a convention of devils. Their new product was touted as a sure-fire method. They taught that all one needs to do is to simply distract their intended victims attention away from God and then confuse them while they are distracted. The salesmen promoted this procedure as the best thing to hit their business since the “Apple Incident” back in the Garden of Eden.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Setting the humor aside, there is a scary and powerful point to this skit. The devil is out to get us and we are prone to distraction and confusion.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.</span></i><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The way to defend against the attacks of the devil is to focus our attention on God constantly. When we focus on God there is no distraction. And, when we concentrate on God we are far less susceptible to confusion.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.</span></i><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The result of our constant concentration on God is, in a word, peace.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Isaiah 26:3 (Amplified)</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.</span></i><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">God has designed us with an early warning system regarding our distractions. We can quickly gage our attention on God by the state of our emotions. When confusion, anger, frustration, sadness, etc. present themselves we know that we have allowed ourselves to be distracted. These non-peaceful emotions serve to guide us back to God (the only real source of peace in this world).</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bottom line is this; if you want peace in your life, then turn your full attention on God.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stay your mind!</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lon Alderman</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">@leaderlifter</span></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-63000753785679715712010-04-23T13:42:00.000-05:002010-04-23T13:42:36.772-05:00A Fresh Look at the Golden Rule<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matthew 7:12 (NIV)<br />
<i>So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.</i><br />
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William Barclay calls this passage “the Everest of all ethical teaching”. Not only is Christ’s teaching the paramount lesson in social behavior, it is also unique. Barclay says, “This is something which had never been said before. It is new teaching, and a new view of life and of life’s obligations.” Those are strong statements! I invite you to join me in taking a fresh look at the Golden Rule.<br />
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Unique<br />
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The Golden Rule is unique in Christ’s positive presentation of the command. The negative form of Christ’s command would look something like this: “Don’t do anything to anyone that you wouldn’t want him or her to do to you.” This negative form has been presented throughout history in a variety of forms. But never before had the world heard this positive form of the command.<br />
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Negative -> Inaction<br />
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In the (negative) form of the command adherence is not very challenging. That is, all I have to do is to check my behavior and make sure that it is something I’d be willing to receive. In following the negative form, I will simply avoid certain actions, so they don’t come back and bite me. The natural response to this negative form of the Golden Rule is, in effect, inaction.<br />
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Positive -> Action<br />
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But that’s not the form in which Jesus gives this command. Instead, He taught it in the positive. In doing so Jesus calls, not for inaction, but for action. In order to live out the positive form of Christ’s command I must (first) determine how I would like to be acted upon and then (second) perform that action to others. The guide for my action is my sense of how the world ought to treat me. That part is actually pretty easy. I have a very clear idea of how I want the world to treat me. The challenge comes when I have to actually act that way to others! Christ’s teaching is about action! <br />
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A Note About Reciprocity<br />
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By the way, this isn’t about reciprocity. In other words, I don’t act toward others the way I want to be treated to get something in return. Nope. The command is to act for the other person’s good, and that’s the end of the story. The New Oxford Annotated Bible states it this way, “…the positive form here requires active contribution to the welfare and happiness of others.” No reciprocity there, just my action for the other person’s benefit.<br />
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Application</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
The next time you see someone acting sad and lonely, think about the Golden Rule. Christ directs us to two actions. First, ask yourself this question. “When I am sad and feeling lonely, how do I want to be treated?” Second, Jesus teaches us to treat that person accordingly. Take that action for the other person’s benefit.<br />
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The next time you see someone acting angry and misunderstood, think about the Golden Rule. Then, ask yourself this question. “When I am feeling angry and misunderstood, how do I want to be treated?” Then, Jesus teaches us to treat that person accordingly. Take that action for the other person’s benefit.<br />
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The next time you see someone who is completely wrong, think about the Golden Rule. Then, ask yourself this question. “When I am completely wrong, how do I want to be treated?” Then, Jesus teaches us to treat that person accordingly. Take that action for the other person’s benefit.<br />
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Do you get it? The Golden Rule is a revolutionary teaching! Can you imagine the impact we could have on the world if we lived by this command from Jesus? I don’t think it is an exaggeration to suggest that it would literally change the world!<br />
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Go change the world today; live by the Golden Rule.<br />
<br />
Lon Alderman<br />
@leaderlifter<br />
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</span></div>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-50718472946446248572010-02-24T13:32:00.011-06:002010-02-24T13:44:52.683-06:00Enduring Ministry<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Imagine a pitcher of water slowly being poured out. Now imagine a glass held under the stream of water slowly being filled up. When the cup moves away from the stream the cup stops filling. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This is a great image of the way that God's blessings (the water) flow into our lives (the cup). We "catch" God's blessings when we position ourselves in the right relationship with God. If we move away from God, then His blessings stop filling us. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The problem with many of us is that when we get some of these blessings we rush out into the world and start pouring out the little we have into other people. In and of itself this isn't bad. After all, we're expected to be a blessing to others (Matthew 5:16). The problem is that we can only hold so much and as we pour out (minister) to others we eventually run dry. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">With our cups empty we feel tired, overwhelmed, and spiritually dry. It is then that we run back to God and seek His blessings. We reposition ourselves under the stream by getting ourselves in the right relationship to God. Then, standing under the stream of God's blessings we get refreshed and filled up. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The way to maintain an enduring ministry is to take up a position under the stream of God's blessings and stay there! Eventually God’s blessings will fill us to the point of overflowing. Our ministry is accomplished from what overflows. In this way our ministry will last and last, because God's blessings will not stop flowing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:38) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Minister from the overflow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> Lon Alderman</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">@leaderlifter </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">www.AcornMinistries.com </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The first time I saw this demonstration was by my friend Bill Allison (<a href="http://www.cadreministries.com/">Cadre Ministries</a>). Thanks for the great imagery, Bill!</span><br /><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-36877484325529415322010-01-13T15:13:00.005-06:002010-01-13T16:07:06.456-06:00The Name Game<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Have you ever wondered if Acorn Ministries has anything to do with the A.C.O.R.N. group that's in the news? If so, you're not alone. <br /><br /> The A.C.O.R.N. group found itself in hot water over some very suspect, if not criminal, behaviors. For the record, Acorn Ministries has nothing to do with that group!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> Not surprisingly, I have had many people suggest that I should change the name of my ministry to avoid confusion. The truth is that after seven years (our "birth date" is January 2003) I'm pretty attached to the name. Plus, my office is full of acorn-related knickknacks that people have given as gifts of encouragement. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Romans 8:28 </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> I believe that God is at work even in this, how to put it, inconvenience. Perhaps as I work to clear my name someone will take notice of my work that otherwise would have overlooked me. Who knows how, but I believe even in this, God is at work for my good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> If you'd like to learn how I came up with the Acorn Ministries name, please check out this link for the whole story: </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.acornministries.com/Acorn_Ministries/Our_Name.html">The Acorn Ministries Name</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> Lon</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-58360210256000323392009-11-11T12:45:00.005-06:002009-11-11T12:57:25.209-06:00Heart Starter #3: Tower<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Recently, I introduced a tool called "</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dailybuildup.blogspot.com/2009/10/introducing-heart-starters.html">Heart Starters</a><span style="font-family:arial;">" to use at the beginning of church meetings, youth group, retreats, small group or anywhere else you want to focus a group on God. As I argued in the initial post (</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dailybuildup.blogspot.com/2009/10/introducing-heart-starters.html">Introducing "Heart Starters"</a><span style="font-family:arial;">) I believe that when the church gathers for a meeting it ought to look different than the secular meetings we attend. With this in mind I started creating Heart Starters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Today I am excited to post a third Heart Starter titled "Towers"! This activity will guide your group into a discussion about the need for cooperation between the parts of the body of Christ. Click on this link for a one page PDF that describes the entire activity.<br /><br /><a href="http://files.me.com/lon.alderman/oqfslf">Heart Starter #3: Tower</a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Please let me know if you have any questions. Also, I'd love to hear (and share) how people are using these. And, if you have an idea for a Heart Starter, please let me know so we can share it with everyone!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Enjoy!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Lon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For a complete list of Heart Starters, click on the Heart Starters label below.</span></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-33970387954083362862009-11-05T07:12:00.006-06:002009-11-05T15:17:00.756-06:00Now what?<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last month was Pastor Appreciation Month and people all over the country celebrated their pastors! It was an awesome month for me for two reasons. First, as a part-time pastor myself I felt a great surge of appreciation from the people I serve. Second, as a person devoted to encouraging and equipping pastors, it was great having other people joining me in this work for the whole month</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The cards have been read and the gifts have been received. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Now what?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I can't get this article out of my mind:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-10-28-pastor_suicides_N.htm?csp=usat.me">Suicide: When Pastor's Silent Suffering Turns Tragic</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In my work I interact with many pastors that are suffering silently. The expectations placed upon their work are, in a word, unattainable! Few if any are fully equipped for the tremendous breadth of professional skills and spiritual gifts needed for the job! This reality is exacerbated by the fact that most hurting pastors feel they can't ask for help and resign themselves to keeping silent!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The result is beat up, stressed out, and frustrated pastors. Seems to be a far cry from this scriptural directive:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1Timothy 5:17</span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I love Pastor Appreciation Month, AND there must be more we can do! </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd love to hear your thoughts! And, I'll start rolling out some of my own as well.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">What can we do to change the cultures, systems, and habits that produce these outcomes?</span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Now what?</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lon</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-36390158244065127812009-11-04T15:19:00.003-06:002009-11-04T15:29:49.935-06:00Creative Cooking in the Church<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I travel from church to church, I hear a common lament. The details are different but the refrain is the same.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"If only..."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes the phrase culminates with longings for a younger congregation. Other times it concludes with musings of a different style of worship. Other times it ends with harsh judgments of the people that aren't participating in their church. Still others grieve the loss of generations of their own that have left for greener pastures.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"If only..."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">But what if we took the creative cooking thoughts expressed in an earlier blog (</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dailybuildup.blogspot.com/2009/10/creating-masterpiece.html">Creating a Masterpiece</a><span style="font-family: arial;">) and applied them to the plight of the church? What if the local church looked around the "kitchen" and made a masterpiece out of what they found?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">God has, in His almighty providence, allowed each church to remain open. Therefore, it seems clear that for each church God has a kingdom purpose in mind. And, with God's help the church has within itself all it needs to complete that task.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">However, success requires a fresh assessment of the church's current reality! The church must remove its fixation from what is missing and begin to number its assets. These assets are the ingredients of a masterpiece! Then, the church must take these God-given ingredients and get cooking!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A creative masterpiece is waiting! A masterpiece that will bring wonderful glory to God.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Let's get cooking!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">2Corinthians 12:9-10</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">But [Lord] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.</span><br /><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-79623807486113448612009-10-30T08:00:00.004-05:002009-10-30T08:19:54.688-05:00Heart Starter #2: Treasure<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A couple of days ago I introduced a tool called "</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dailybuildup.blogspot.com/2009/10/introducing-heart-starters.html">Heart Starters</a><span style="font-family: arial;">" to use at the beginning of church meetings, youth group, retreats, small group or anywhere else you want to focus a group on God. As I argued in the initial post (</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dailybuildup.blogspot.com/2009/10/introducing-heart-starters.html">Introducing "Heart Starters"</a><span style="font-family: arial;">) I believe that when the church gathers for a meeting it ought to look different than the secular meetings we attend. With this in mind I started creating Heart Starters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Today I am excited to post a second Heart Starter titled "Treasure"! This activity will guide your group into a discussion of what is God's treasure and what is not. Click on this link for a one page PDF that describes the entire activity.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" target="previewWindow" href="http://files.me.com/lon.alderman/juhgle" class="url shared_url_info">files.me.com/lon.alderman/<wbr>juhgle</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Please let me know if you have any questions. Also, I'd love to hear (and share) how people are using these. And, if you have an idea for a Heart Starter, please let me know so we can share it with everyone!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Enjoy!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">For a complete list of Heart Starters, click on the Heart Starters label below.</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-42974921507315078652009-10-29T08:48:00.008-05:002009-10-29T10:29:28.890-05:00Creating a Masterpiece<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's another odd part of my personality. When I have sufficient time, I really enjoy creating meals out of whatever I can find in the kitchen. I enjoy the creative process of taking what is there and making it into something edible. I jokingly refer to these concoctions as masterpieces! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">goal</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> of my creative endeavor is to make something to eat. The challenge is to make something edible out of the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">ingredients</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> available to me in the house at that time. This isn't about running to the store for groceries or planning the menu in advance. It's simply using what is available to accomplish the goal. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">What if we applied this to our walk as followers of Jesus? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">If we are disciples of Jesus, then we will "bear much fruit" for the purpose of God receiving glory. In other words, the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">goal</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> of our discipleship is to glorify the name of God, the Father, through the "fruit we bear" in Christ.<br /><br />What then are the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">ingredients</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> for achieving this </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">goal</span><span style="font-family: arial;">? I propose that we creatively use whatever we find in the "kitchen". </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Paul wrote, "...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Philippians 4:11) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">ingredients</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> for the masterpieces we are creating are found in every circumstance, person, difficulty, and joy that we face today. Our masterpiece depends upon our willingness to take what we find and do something creatively with it with the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">goal</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> of bringing God glory! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This isn't about wishing things were different. Rather, it's about taking what God places in our path and creating a masterpiece for His glory! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Get creative! </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lon</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-11655198087442076762009-10-28T11:41:00.004-05:002009-10-28T14:37:34.845-05:00Introducing "Heart Starters"<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I attend a LOT of meetings! And, a LOT of the meetings I attend are church meetings! I struggle with the fact that church meetings don't look much different than the secular meetings I attend.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Wouldn't it be great </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">if we could engage in an activity that would change the tone</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> of the meeting? And, wouldn't it be great if these activities focused the meeting on God? And wouldn't it be great if along the way the participants grew together as people, parts of the body of Christ? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I answered "yes" to all three and began developing "Heart Starters: Defibrillation for the Heart of Christian Meetings". Heart Starters are simple activities designed to change the look of our church meetings! And [drum roll please] it is FREE! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's the first one: </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" target="previewWindow" href="http://files.me.com/lon.alderman/b357ja" class="url shared_url_info">files.me.com/lon.alderman/<wbr>b357ja </a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Please let me know if you have any questions.<br /><br />If you like these, please let me know and I'll share more of them!<br /><br />Thanks!<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Lon</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-79552169894867550882009-10-27T18:38:00.005-05:002009-10-27T19:39:00.112-05:00Why We Must Study<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Imagine a child that quits school after completing eighth grade. Wouldn't we feel sorry for the kid? Wouldn't we be deeply concerned about how he will make it in this world with such a limited education.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Funny isn't it? Funny - in the sad ironic use of the word - that we don't think much at all about a child that stops learning about our faith at about that age. We do little beyond wringing our hands about the fact that most kids stop attending Bible study of any kind around eighth grade.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This past weekend I had, yet another, paradigm shift in my theology. I had previously held an understanding related to my faith as sacrosanct. That all changed when I participated in a relatively short and simple Bible study on the subject.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now my understanding of God is expanded! Now my faith is deeper! Now my life is healthier! Now my walk as a man of Jesus is stronger!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There is so much to learn! How can we quit our faith education at such a tender young age? How can we stop studying?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >2Timothy 3:16-17</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Please pick up your Bible and start reading it today! Then join a small group or a Bible study!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We must study so we can be trained for our work in God's kingdom.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Lon</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-38525773916104384782009-10-09T15:22:00.005-05:002009-10-09T16:38:44.035-05:00Pastor Appreciation Month<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I just read Robb McCoy's blog about Pastor Appreciation Month. Robb made a list of the pastors that have influenced his life (</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://fatpastor.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/pastor-appreciation/">Robb's post</a><span style="font-family: arial;">) and I'm inspired to do the same thing!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">My list will include both traditional pastors (those that had a pastoral responsibility for me) and non-traditional "pastors" that also influenced me. I will approach this chronologically.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">David Bultemeier led my confirmation class. I remember his gentle spirit and his intelligent sermons. I also remember he and Joanne (his wife), my parents, and another couple (The Dillows) laughing hysterically in our dining room. He taught me that a pastor is a regular person with a sense of humor and everything! We're still in touch after almost 40 years!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Dan Moran for patiently guiding me to a relationship with Jesus during the summer of 1986 at YMCA Camp High Harbour (GA). Dan was involved with InterVarsity and working as the water front director that summer. I wish I knew where he ended up.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Mike McGowan taught me at Western Illinois University. I know that doesn't make him a pastor, but I credit Mike for putting the first intellectual legs on my faith.<br /><br />Lori Bultemeier is a friend from high school who is an ordained deacon in our conference. I deeply appreciate her friendship and encouragement, because she knows where I've been and how far I've come!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Mark Caldwell is the director of Dickson Valley Camp and Retreat Center (Newark, IL). He is a tremendous influence on my faith walk.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Jason Woolever nursed me back to spiritual health after serving 6.5 years in our conference camp and retreat ministries program. He's incredibly well read and keeps my "books to read" list full! In addition, Jason asks me the toughest questions about my faith walk. Iron does sharpen iron!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Keith Zimmerman is my District Superintendent. He's a tremendous encourager and is responsible for my current appointment, which is going great! He also teaches me regularly that administrators can continue to be pastoral, encouraging, and competent!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Grant Armstrong is the associate pastor at my home church. He has taught me that "excellence" doesn't have to be a dirty word in the Church.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This list could go on and on...but I'll stop (for now).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Please take a few minutes to write your list. More importantly, please tell your "pastors" about the difference they have made in your life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">1Thessalonians 5:12-13 (The Message)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-33966706101606169532009-09-24T07:30:00.003-05:002009-09-24T07:33:47.687-05:00Pancake Recipe - just for fun!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I participated in a 46-hour retreat on September 17-19 with two great friends. Our purpose was to discern God's will for the future of Acorn Ministries (<a href="http://www.acornministries.com/Acorn_Ministries/Welcome.html">www.AcornMinistries.com</a>). It was an awesome experience!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />We ate well during the retreat, too! I've had a request for my family's pancake recipe and thought it'd be fun to share it here:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Grampa's Pancake Recipe</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />* Note: makes "thin and rubbery" pancakes<br /></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Dry ingredients</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1 cup flour</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1/4 teaspoon baking powder</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />3/4 teaspoon baking soda</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1/2 teaspoon salt</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Wet ingredients</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1 cup buttermilk</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />3/4 cup milk</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1 egg</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />2 tablespoon sugar (I realize it's a dry ingredient, but this is where you mix it)</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1 tablespoon melted butter (or vegetable oil)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Instructions</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />- mix "dry" and "wet" ingredients separately</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- then mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />- heat griddle until a sprinkle of water "dances" on the surface</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />- place desired amount of batter on griddle and gently swirl each pancake with laddle</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">- flip when bubbles start to form</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">- when cooked, place pancakes on a plate and cover with a bowl to maintain heat/moisture</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Enjoy!<br />Lon </span></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-84605265152866011062009-09-23T08:03:00.006-05:002009-09-23T08:25:26.546-05:00Ask, and You Will Receive<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A strange pairing of the kid's show "</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/handymanny/index.html">Handy Manny</a><span style="font-family: arial;">" and an </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/08/28/devotion.aspx?year=2009">Oswald Chambers</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> piece inspired this post. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">While waking my children this morning a scene from "Handy Manny" caught my eye. Mr. Lopart had (once again) gotten himself in trouble. You see, he never asks for, or accepts, help from others. This causes him to get in lots of trouble. Today he had gotten his arm stuck in a door he'd installed for his cat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Oswald Chambers teaches that the purpose of prayer is to allow Christ to grow in us. The more we look to Jesus for help, the more Christ grows in us. When we try to do life on our own, we stifle Christ's growth in us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">God wants to be a part of </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">every</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> aspect of our life. It follows that He wants to support us in our difficulties, too! Don't be a Mr. Lopart! Turn over to Jesus all your troubles and God will engage in them. In the meantime, our willingness to seek Christ's help will allow Jesus to grow in us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Ask, and you will receive..." John 16:24</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Don't be a Mr. Lopart!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lon</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-35726120618386881252009-09-01T14:47:00.008-05:002009-09-01T14:57:59.297-05:00Encouragement to Ask, by Grant Armstrong<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I received this post as a comment on my earlier post about fundraising for ministry, called "</span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://dailybuildup.blogspot.com/2009/08/to-ask-or-not_28.html">To Ask, Or Not</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">". It is so encouraging I thought I should share it as today's blog. Thanks, Grant!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209:3-14&version=NIV">1 Corinthians 9:3-14</a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It seems fairly clear. "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />I also notice that in James 4:2 it says, "You do not have because you do not ask God." In Matthew 5:32 Christ says the omniscient Father knows we need those things, and we are still called to ask Him.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">I suppose it's similar to the reason we are called to invite people into the kingdom of God according to Romans 10:14-15. How can people respond unless they are informed? Could it be that the Gospel that turns miserly hearts into generous hearts is by nature relational and invitational - like our Triune God? Could it be that inviting people into a relationship with Jesus Christ AND joyful giving for the sake of His kingdom are part and parcel of the Christian calling?</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />God uses us, earthen vessels though we may be, as instruments of His priceless grace so that He might be glorified. Perhaps God can do everything without our participation. A sovereign God can. In God's grace, we are invited to participate in God's works.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />I also found this interesting:</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://fundraisingcoach.com/articles/fundraising-in-the-bible/">http://fundraisingcoach.com/articles/fundraising-in-the-bible</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This source runs across similar challenges, but lists several examples of people raising funds for God's glory. Typically those funds are used for something like the temple. In your case, Lon, it allows you to build up leaders...people...temples of the Holy Spirit...so that God's redeeming work in this world might multiply. Scripture doesn't say whether the temple or God's people are more valuable to Him, but I know for which of the two Christ offered His very life.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Thanks for building up the Body of Christ, Lon. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Your brother in Christ,</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Grant</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages.</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;">- 1 Timothy 5:17-18</span></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-46599424567868564192009-08-28T15:50:00.003-05:002009-08-28T15:56:27.197-05:00To Ask, Or Not<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I have just completed a very challenging two-month journey. The quest of my journey was to answer this question:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Is it appropriate to ask people to support my family and me as I do God’s work as a missionary?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I have heard MANY opinions. The loudest, and frankly, the harshest, opinions came from people with this view: “If I’m doing God’s work, then God will provide the resources to get it done.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">To this point, I agree with them, but our thoughts quickly diverge on their next statement. They say, “It is wrong to ask people to support ministry, because it isn’t found anywhere in the New Testament.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This makes sense at first blush. I can’t find a single place where someone raises funds for themselves. It just isn’t there! As someone that has been asking people to support his ministry for almost seven years, this fact really rattled my cage!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">However, today I received a great word of encouragement from God through a colleague I’ve met through twitter:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Pastor Martha Spigener (@butterflybeacon) wrote:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Our culture here in America is not the culture of the Bible…the culture of the Bible was one in which it was expected, let me say that again, <span style="font-weight: bold;">expected</span>, that the people would pay to support their priests and Rabbis. Just look at the sacrificial laws and what was for the priest and what was actually burned. It isn’t written in the New Testament because it was an expected norm. Our society does not exist with those expectations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In other words, we don’t hear Jesus asking people to support Him because it was unnecessary to do so. People were already expected to support people in ministry (see <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208:1-3&version=NIV">Luke 8:1-3</a>). People during Christ’s ministry understood that it was their responsibility to support people in ministry. Jesus didn’t have to ask!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, God will provide what is needed for His work. The culture in which we live does not understand its responsibility to care for those in ministry. Therefore, we must ask people to support us as we devote our lives to the ministry God has called us to.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In my case, I encourage and equip church leaders. My services are desperately needed, but church leaders don’t have resources to “pay” for my services. Only through God’s sustaining blessings will I be able to continue to “build up the body of Christ, the Church, one leader at a time”. And the way God provides is through donations from God’s people. And for those donations to happen in this culture I will have to ask!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In Christ,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Lon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If you would like to support <a href="http://www.acornministries.com/Acorn_Ministries/Welcome.html">Acorn Ministries</a>, please send your tax deductible donations to:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.acornministries.com/Acorn_Ministries/Welcome.html">Acorn Ministries</a>/H2H</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">101 West 2nd Street</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">PO Box 237</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Flanagan, IL 61740</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">OR, you can use your credit card or paypal account by clicking the following link: <a href="http://www.acornministries.com/Acorn_Ministries/Join_me%21.html">Donate</a></span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-72330921710743478662009-06-24T09:00:00.007-05:002009-06-24T09:50:12.770-05:00Myth of Impact<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This post is ripe for push back; however, if my premise is sound, then I don't expect any! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I struggle (regularly) with the tension between following Jesus and the felt need to measure the impact of my ministry. As a missionary, this "need" rises from the desire to encourage my supporters with inspiring demonstrations of impact. People want to know that their "investment" in my work is "profitable". </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Frankly, I am making all the impact I am capable of. God uses me at His discretion. Some followers of Jesus are used for making an impact on a large amount of people. Others are used to make a large impact on just a few people. Honestly, I think the latter is more scriptural; however, the world leans toward the former. Our culture values the broader, arguably less deep, impact on more people, because, frankly, it is more financially profitable!<br /><br />Romans 12:2<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/06/19/devotion.aspx?year=2009">Oswald Chambers</a> writes...</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">We consider what we do in the way of Christian work as service, yet Jesus Christ calls service to be what we </span><em style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">are</em><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> to Him, not what we </span><em style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">do</em><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> for Him. Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate . . . , he cannot be My disciple" ( Luke 14:26 ). In this verse, there is no argument and no pressure from Jesus to follow Him; He is simply saying, in effect, "If you want to be My disciple, you must be devoted solely to Me...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">People do not really want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is deeply offensive to the educated minds of today, to those who only want Him to be their Friend, and who are unwilling to accept Him in any other way. Our Lord’s primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people— the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted solely to the cause of humanity, I will soon be exhausted and come to the point where my love will waver and stumble. But if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity, even though people may treat me like a "doormat." The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness. Yet it is like a grain of wheat that "falls into the ground and dies"— it will spring up and change the entire landscape</span> ( </span><a style="font-family: arial;" title="" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12:24">John 12:24</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> ).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Want impact? Devote yourself to Jesus!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lon Alderman</span><br /><a href="http://www.acornministries.com/Acorn_Ministries/Welcome.html"><span style="font-family: arial;">www.AcornMinistries.com</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">@leaderlifter (twitter)</span><br /></span>Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35966372.post-70616899355812478462009-06-19T10:00:00.002-05:002009-06-19T10:05:01.667-05:00Give what you can!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I know this title sounds like a fund raising plea, but that's not the direction I'm heading with this post. Rather, I'm looking at the question, "What can we give to God?" </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/06/13/devotion.aspx?year=2009">Getting There</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, Oswald Chambers writes: <span style="font-style: italic;">We have the idea that we can dedicate our gifts to God. However, you cannot dedicate what is not yours. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In other words, if God is the "owner" of the gifts He gave us, then how can we "give" them back? How can we give what is not ours to give? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Chambers continues: <span style="font-style: italic;">There is actually only one thing you can dedicate to God, and that is your right to yourself. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Romans 12:1</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally from Chambers: <span style="font-style: italic;">If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you— and His experiments always succeed.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Give what you can and watch God succeed!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lon Alderman</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">www.AcornMinistries.com</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Follow me on twitter: @leaderlifter </span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Feedblitz Note</span>: For those of you who receive these posts through Feedblitz, in order to see the Build UPs as I intended them, please click on the title to view the post. Otherwise, you miss out on videos, pictures and some of the formatting. You can also "follow" these posts through NetworkedBlogs. To follow, go to the blog site (click the title) and click on the "follow this blog" button under NetworkedBlogs.Lon Aldermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07749406646397959462noreply@blogger.com0