The Pained Gift of Change

THE PAINING GIFT OF CHANGE

Tiger Woods signed a contract for $20,000,000 before he had ever won a Pro tournament then much to his new sponsor's horror, changed. It was a difficult time for all involved. Not only is change difficult, it is also painful. Painful, that is, if there is a commitment to the change. It is in this phase of change that we must settle a nagging question: "Am I really committed to this change?" To answer "Yes" is to subscribe to frustration and pain. But these subscriptions don't last. And while some subscriptions come with bonus offers, the subscription to changing comes with a bonus that can not be achieved any other way: positive improvement.

2Cor. 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

TIGER WOODS

Before Tiger Woods had even won a professional golf tournament, Nike signed him to a twenty million dollar sponsorship contract and Titlelist signed him for forty million dollars. These companies saw the potential in the young golfer. When Tiger played his first Major, he won it. Actually, he didn't just won it, he won it by an unprecedented 14 strokes! This was a history-making winning margin. Golf writers began speculating that Tiger would go on to become the greatest golfer of all time. But Tiger did something that astounded everyone. After winning his first Major, he went to a golf-coach and asked for help with his swing! Even though he was awarded many accolades he wasn't happy with his game. The coach made some adjustments to Tiger's swings. And unless you're a golfer or tennis player, you're not going to understand what this really means. When a coach adjusts a player's swing it takes many months to fully implement it. And in those many months of change there is huge frustration. Balls that you could hit well with your previous swing and now getting sprayed with new stroke. And this is what happened to Tiger. Golf writers described the next twelve months of Tiger's career as "an off year". As humiliating as that period of change for Tiger was, it eventually paid off. He went on to win all of the Majors - many times - and is now regared as the greatest golfer since Jack Nicklaus.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect..Romans 12:2

The saying goes- GOD LOVES US JUST THE WAY WE ARE, BUT HE LOVES US TOO MUCH TO LEAVE US THE WAY WE ARE. God wants us to change. This begins in our thinking. What they think determines our attitude and our attitude determines whether we will, or won't, change positively. Consider the person who never owns their faults and mistakes. Instead, they live in denial by always blaming others. Their story might sound like a string a broken friendships where they were continually being "hurt" by people. In such a story, there is only one common element: them. And what they call "hurt" may actually be someone trying to correct them. To be sure, some people are the innocent victims of abuse, but that is a different story to the kind of story I'm referring to here. Unless this person changes, this story will probably continue - and even worse, this person will never grow up. They need a renewed attitude, a different way of thinking, a Romans 12:2. Instead of seeing people as being against them, if they can change in their thinking to realise that when people try to correct them, it is to help them, they can begin to 'own' their lives and grow positively.

Dr Henry Cloud tells the story of being at a retreat with a group of Company CEOs. In the group were some very seasoned Executives and one very young and enthusiastic CEO. After they each shared with the group about their work, and in particular after the young CEO had shared about his company and where he was taking it, an older CEO came up to him and offered, "Can I give you a word of advice?" Henry Cloud was watching this exchange. He wondered whether the somewhat brash young CEO would fob the older CEO off. Instead, what he witnessed amazed him. The young CEO replied, "No, not at all. I'd appreciate the gift." The gift. This younger CEO regarded correction as a "gift". Henry Cloud then saw why this young man had risen through the ranks of this company so quickly: He was committed to seeing correction as the means of personal growth. It therefore came as no surprise to Dr Cloud to hear the reports over the next few years of this young CEO's stellar career in business leadership.

¶ Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid. 
Prov. 12:1

We are so conditioned by our sin-natures to blame and not own our mistakes and failings. Afterall, it started in the Garden when Adam blamed God for his sin ("the woman YOU GAVE me made me do it"). But growth comes from owning our mistakes and failings and then changing. Yes, it hurts. Yes, there is pain. But it's pain with gain. By owning mistakes and faults we are then able to ask a growth question: how can I change this? What do I have to do differently to avoid this happening again? Blame doesn't actually fix anything. Change does. To have someone confront us about our bad, childish, behaviour, presents us with two immediate options- firstly, reject their correction and become defensive (that is, excuse ourselves), or secondly, accept what they say as a gift even if it is painful, and positively change as a result.

If you have parents who correct you, especially your attitude, view it as a gift. If you have friends who pull you up for pouting and point out to you that your attitude is childish, view it as a gift. If you have a pastor who challenges you to grow and stretch, view it as a gift. If your spouse has confronted you about your behaviour or attitude and you rejected their gift and became defensive and dismissive by blaming, go to them now and apologise. Humble yourself and ask them for forgiveness and invite them to speak honestly with you about your attitude and behaviour anytime. Their loving correction is a gift. Albeit, a gift that is painful. Receiving the gift of correction though is only the start of change. The pain of change is in the commitment to keep changing.

Highly successful people know that "good" is the enemy of "great". To go from good to great requires change. In the transition period of change it becomes frustrating. Letting go of something before you've fully grasped something else is always unsettling. This is why moving house is so stressful for most people. But without the pained gift of change, we cannot grow. As a church it is comfortable to keep things as they are. We love our small group where we know everyone and are known by everyone. But then our small group becomes too large and we are forced to change. Resisting this change leads to stagnation both individually and for the group. Embracing this painful change leads to challenging growth. The same goes for a marriage gone stale where a wife is trying to tell her husband that she is feeling neglected by him and that she wants him change. He can of course become defensive and tell her that he has to work long hours, that he needs to watch TV silently to unwind, and that his time in workshop is what keeps him sane - or he can own the problem, apologise, and ask for advice on how to fix his problem. (I know which one is more painful.)

How do you need to change? Do you have people who care enough about you that they are trying to tell you something for your own good? Do you only ever become defensive when someone confronts you about your behaviour or attitude? Have you ever asked for someone to speak honestly into your life, even though you knew it would be painful to hear?

The process of being committed to change is frustrating and somewhat painful. If you're like me, changing from using food to only eating food is really painful. Changing from always being instantly defensive to thanking someone for the helpful insight, is a painful process. But the process of change is a means to growth and growing in character means that the kinds of change that used to hurt, don't pain us as much as they once used to.

Father, we need to change and we need Your grace to do it. Our salvation start with a shocking change called repentance and continues through change called sanctification. Please bring people into our lives who can help us to change - not just be critical or demeaning of our faults and mistakes. Help us to become the people You want us to become. And when it hurts too much, give us extra grace to stay committed to the process of change. Lord, we thank You for Your good plan for our lives even when it hurts. Amen.

Eph. 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ps. Andrew

A Hedge of Protection

A HEDGE OF PROTECTION

The current devastating floods that have washed over Australia have ruined the fruit and vegetable industry. I'd like to brag that I could see prophetically that this was going to happen. But I can't, because I didn't. However, a few months ago I planted a vegetable garden. I have a few corn plants, beans, lettuce, chives, and tomatoes growing. So as the Global Food Crisis (GFC) bites harder, we'll continue to be eating well on chives and beans with home-made tomato sauce! But after I planted my vegetables, I discovered that the local birds and wildlife were helping themselves to my fledgling plants. I then had to fence and net my vegetables. While they were grateful for the protection, I discovered that somehow there was one tomato plant seedling (which I hadn't planted) was growing about 4 metres away from my vegetable patch. This prompted me to make a decision.

HEDGED BY THE LORD

I decided to put a wire hedge around this free-range tomato. I still have no idea how this maverick tomato plant got there, but I knew that unless I protected it - it wouldn't remain there much longer. Inside its wire fenced protection it has survived frequent visits by wallabies, rabbits, and various birds. And over the past few weeks this single tomato plant has gone from 3 inches tall to nearly 3 feet tall! It has also meshed somewhat with its wire fence and is now dependent upon it for support. This past week it has gone into horticultural labour. It's amazing what a hedge of protection will enable.

Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.Job 1:10

When Satan came before God back in the days of the Old Covenant, when he still had access to God's Throne-Room, he complained that he was unable to attack Job because God had also been "hedged" or "fenced" by God. Today, God still fences and places people inside a protective hedge. In fact, Jesus told a story of a shepherd who cared for his sheep by placing them within a hedged pen. When they were safely protected he went out and searched for the one missing lamb. The Shepherd of the flock of God still places His sheep within a protective pen. And this leads me to my other tomato plants.

¶ “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
Psalm 91:14

While my maverick tomato plant is flourishing, I forgot to mention that within my vegetable patch I have another dozen tomato plants who spend their days singing, laughing, rejoicing, playing, and having a good time. These tomato plants enjoy living within the fenced and netted vegie patch. They are also much larger and much more pregnant and much further into their horticultural labour than my maverick tomato plant. There is something about being protected within a community that causes tomato plants to thrive. I think people might be like tomato plants. Sure, on their own they can do well - as long they live within strong boundaries - but they can always do better they live out their purpose within a protective community.

Thank God for the Church.

Father, continue to protect Your people as they live within the boundaries of the spiritual hedges You have provided. Amen.

Eph. 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ps. Andrew

Flooding, Rains, And Life Lessons

FLOODING, RAINS, & LIFE LESSONS

This week our nation is reeling over the sheer devastation of the floods now affecting three of our States. There has been much heartbreak and sorrow and our hearts go out prayerfully to those affected by this disaster. Already people are beginning to think how this could have been avoided. There was an interesting article in the Australian Newspaper (12/1/11) written by a resident in the flood affected area of Queensland.

"At the intersections of Victoria, Margaret and Russell streets (in Toowoomba) - where the boiling muddy tsunami was its fiercest and most graphically filmed - the city council had embarked on an ambitious beautification plan to turn the creek into a pleasing urban feature, complete with boardwalks, gardens, illumination and seating. Everyone thought it was wonderful, except for cynics such as my husband and me. In fact, every time we drove past the feature we would say to no one in particular: This little creek is going to make them sorry one day. Tragically, we were right.

Early yesterday morning I went back to the bruised and battered Margaret Street to support any local business that still had the heart to open. My coffee shop was handing out free coffees to the battered owners of the local businesses who had lost so much. When I went to buy my newspaper, the newsagent told me he was devastated, not because of what had happened but because the engineer who had worked on the beautification project told him he couldn't make them listen when he pleaded for bigger pipes - "18-footers" he called them - to let the water through, because it simply didn't suit the aesthetics of the architects and landscapers.

So that's what happened to my city, folks, the same as happened to so much of flooded Queensland. We did stupid and really, really dumb things because we thought we could get away with them. We built the wrong sort of houses and the wrong sort of bridges. We built towns and suburbs on flood plains. And we ignored at our peril the forces of nature and the history of the great floods that have shaped this continent for thousands of years.

In our arrogance, we created towns and cities better suited to the whims of bean-counters and city-bound architects than the natural lie of the land. And for 20 years we cheerfully welcomed new settlers to Queensland with a "beautiful one day, perfect the next".

We didn't tell them what this place was really like when it rained. And we were wrong."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/beautiful-one-day-a-terrible-flood-plain-the-next/story-e6frg6zo-1225985855443

SPIRITUAL LESSONS...

There are some striking spiritual lessons from this account.

...And the rain fell, and the floods came...Matthew 7:25

God has placed the church in the world as a wise word of warning to a daring world on the brink of eternal peril. These warnings are often rejected. Those giving these warnings are frequently seen as prudish, silly, and out-of-touch. While the world builds its lives on the sand of life's riverbanks, they bask in the view and the pleasantness of life on the river. Mockingly they scorn those who chose to build on life's rock-foundations of higher ground who, in doing so, deprived themselves of what the world thougt was scenery too good to miss out on.

¶ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24

Certainly the views are far more dynamic and exciting when you build your life-house in a lush flood-plain. Or are they? The houses built on the rock seem so far away from the 'edge' that they couldn't possibly provide their inhabitants with the excitement of of the sand-founded-life-house. This idea is especially when true when we pretty up the lush flood-plains with magnificent parklands and gardens. People who scorn the higher-ground of living according to the teaching of Jesus often choose the popular and the pretty against the unpopular and the plain. But Christ calls us to resist the lure of man's mis-placed approval and to long for God's approval instead.

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 
Matthew 7:25

Just like the long-term Toowoomba residents who warned their community, and the Council approving new building proposals, that the flood-plain was not the place to build safely, we continue to appeal to the world that building your life-house in the pathway of eternal consequences is not wise or safe. But it often sounds like we are saying that it is only perilous for the life to come - when in fact, we saying that building your life on sand is perilous now and for the life to come!

When the long-term flood-surviving residents of Toowoomba protested that landscaper's small (but elegant) pipes were inadequate to handle the cyclic flooding that inevitably comes, and that they really should follow the advice of the Engineer to install large (but ugly) pipes, they were dismissed as being yesterday's people and out-of-touch. Similarly, we appeal to the world that the Chief Engineer of the Universe has called for people to build their lives on the Rock and to only use material sourced from a Cross, we are dismissed as belonging to a by-gone era and being out of touch by our "Post-Christian" audience.

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45

Sadly, there will probably be some who take the spiritual lessons from this tragic episode too far and claim that this is the judgment of God upon Queensland. This kind of judgmentalism was heard during the disastrous Victorian bushfires of 2009, Hurricane Katrina's destruction of New Orleans in 2005, and the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. But we need not be purveyors of divine judgment at times like this. Tsunamis happen. Fires happen. Floods happen. Life will always have its disasters. These things are not necessarilythe judgment of God. In fact, God has designed that life on earth be sustained by fires, floods, tsunamis, storms, and the like. When mankind dwells with respect for their particular climate and environment they dwell well. It's when, as these Toowoomba residents pointed out, we disregard and disrespect our climatic cycles and environment that we risk paying a high price. Of course the same kind of regard and respect needs to be applied spiritually to life (the Bible refers to this approach as living in the fear of the Lord).

Despite accusations of unjust brutality by the Church down through the ages (Crusades, Inquisition, Witch-Hunts and so on) such calamities as this have historically mustered a very swift and very compassionate response from the Church. Because of our devotion to Christ and the resultant concern for concerns Him, the Church has always been at the forefront of care for the displaced, marginalised, hurting, impoverished, and downtrodden. Beginning with the first Christians setting up leper colonies to care materially for this despised group, to the establishment of hospitals after that, to aid agencies in the modern era, the Church has always attempted to show care for the whole person (body, soul, spirit and mind). Therefore, in drawing lessons from this most recent disaster we are not finger-wagging. Rather we are putting our finger to our chins and saying, didn't Jesus say something about building houses in flood-zones and didn't He draw a spiritual lesson for life and eternity from this?

Let's heed the wise warnings of the aged sages who have seen too many lives ruined by sand-founded living. Let's build our lives on the Rock. Let's warn those attempting to build their lives on the sand. Let's be compassionate toward those discovering that life-sand is no resistance to life-flooding, not just for the physical and temporal well-being of our countrymen, but more importantly for their eternal well-being as well. These floods have wrought severe devastation which has been materially and physically destructive. But it is possible that much good could arise from this. If we can see, and help others to see, the spiritual lessons in such tragedies, it will not only be much good, but great good which can arise.

Father, thank you for Your many blessings. We all too often take them for granted. Thank you for the wonderful gift of life You have given us. Especially thank You for the gift of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please help us to be compassionate and sensitive toward those who are hurting and suffering. Cause us to see Your lessons in the midst of tragedy and give us the grace to endure them. We want to know You better. We want to give You glory even in the midst of life's storms. Amen.

Eph. 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ps. Andrew

Bloomin' GREAT

When Kim and I got married we had very little furniture (actually, we had very little anything). But I did have a few plants. I had been managing a plant nursery for a few years before we married and had accumulated a couple of indoor plants. Amazingly, some of those plants have journeyed with us throughout the course of our marriage. One of those plants is my ribbon plant. But as we moved so much and lived in so many houses (over a dozen in twenty years) these plants were never planted out. My ribbon plant in particular, although it never complained, was kept in a very (very) small set of three matching square pots. Consequently, while it survived the over 20 year journey, it never flourished. Then something miraculous happened...

If you've been to my house, you'll immediately see that we love our gardens. The area in front of our house leading up to the front door is one of my favourites parts of our home. It has some of my favourites plants on display there- man ferns, grevilleas, hebe-veronicas, kangaroo-paws, diosmas. This particular garden bed is one year old now. In another year it will be nicely filled out with the shrubs and ground covers blending together to form a very low-maintenance garden.

Then about six months I looked at my poor, pot-bound, ribbon plants and realised that I could now plant them out of their bonsai pots. Even though it was Winter at the time, I planted them in this garden bed. Initially they struggled. Many of their fronds died. They failed to manage all the extra water they now had to process. It almost looked they were going to die. But they were able to survive the winter. In fact, I looked at them this morning and they are flourishing! It's a miracle!

My ribbon plant is pictured left. The astute plant lover will notice that not only is my ribbon plant flourishing, it is now reproducing profusely. Many plants will reproduce because they are dying and it is their last ditch attempt to pass on their dna. But more positively, like my ribbon plant, when plants are healthy and happy they grow and reproduce. It was planted at just 5cm tall. It is now around 40cm tall!

THE POWER OF PLANTING

As long as my ribbon plant lived in a little pot, it struggled. Oh sure, it survived, but just. Up until 6 months ago, it lived a very disrupted and unsettled life. As long as it was "un-planted" it was small, twisted, unfruitful, and sad. When I planted it, I had force it out of its containers and unmangle its root system. Even though I explained to it what I was doing, it complained vigorously. "What are you doing?" "Leave me alone!I've been here for over 20 years!" "Put me back in my pot." Then when I placed it into the hole I had made for it in the garden bed, continued to complain. "It's cold here!" "I'm wet!" "Why do I have to share my soil with these other plants?" No matter how much I assured it, it wasn't happy. Within days its complaining had only intensified. "Look at my fronds! They're rotting now because of what you've done! It's all your fault! I'm probably going to die here in this place!"

Despite its repeated negative confession, it didn't die. Some time has now passed since. My ribbon plant's whining diminished to silence some weeks ago. As I was giving my plants in this garden bed a drink this morning I heard a strange noise: a horticultural humming. I looked around and discovered that it was my ribbon plant happily humming. I didn't dare interrupt it. I just smiled at it. It kept humming and smiled back at me. I then listened more intently at the tune it was humming and then realised that it was humming a song from Jeremiah 17:7-8~

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

LET GOD PLANT YOU

I'm sure one day that my ribbon plant will thank me. Until that day, there's some lessons to be learned from it for our lives.

1. If we never get planted, we inhibit our growth.

2. Making the move from pot-bound to earth-bound is unsettling.

3. Being 'uprooted' is a journey into the unknown.

4. Unlike living in a pot, being planted involves sharing.

5. Being planted results in more food and drink to process.

6. When you're planted you have to weather the elements.

7. After a while of being planted you wonder how you ever lived in a pot!

In your marriage, are you potted or planted? The best marriages are planted!

Just like ribbon plants and marriages, the best churches are the ones where people are planted. The Psalmist declared that those who are planted in the House of the Lord are the ones who "flourish".

They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 92:13

Just like me taking my ribbon plant out of its little pot, God wants to de-pot us out of the very things that are keeping us from reaching our potential. Being de-potted by God may look like a call to an uncomfortable commitment. It may look like taking on a long-term project that's going to mean increasing sacrifice. It will probably look like learning to forgive someone who offends you rather than running away from or ignoring potential conflicts. It will look like learning to submit rather than only participating if you agree with those you're working with.

But being planted by the Lord comes with some amazing blessings. My ribbon plant discovered that it could grow far bigger far more easily than it ever had. When the Lord plants us we are able to grow far bigger far more easily than we ever imagined previously. My ribbon plant also discovered that it was created to experience the elements of the weather. Far from being harmful to it, the elements of weather - wind, rain, cold, heat - were actually things it needed to be exposed to. As a result, it learned to dig deeper and send its roots down further. As it did, it discovered sweeter nutrients than it had ever tasted. When the Lord plants us, He calls us to endure elements that we were previously sheltered from. But as we experience the trials of life, we send our roots down deeper and discover sweeter food for our soul. And just like my ribbon plant, which is now blooming and reproducing, when we are planted we bloom and become fruitful. In fact, the more people are planted in the House of the Lord, the greater the chance these people have of becoming bloomin' great!

Father, please plant us. If we need uprooting, then please do it. Plant us where we can bloom. Help us to planted where we can help many. Cause us to endure the elements of affliction and offence that batter us. May we grow in our fruitfulness and be used by You to bring more people into Your 'Garden'. Amen.

Eph. 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ps. Andrew

The Value of The Local Church - Lessons From Capernaum

A Cause Worthy of Your Life...In this latest article we explore the importance of the local church to the Cause of Christ. All too often we undermine the place of the local church. The temptation to take the gifts and talents which God has given us and to consider that the local church is too small of a stage for them may well be a devilish plot which entices us down a deadly pathway to fame, popularity, wealth, power, spirituality, and influence. This article will explore the place of the local church in the Cause of Christ and look at how serving God leads to better honour...

By Dr Andrew Corbett
4th January 2011

What is worth giving your life up for? Your family? Your country? Your sporting team? To give your life for something is to live with purpose. It becomes the reason for sacrifice, the defining element in all your goals, and the reason you work/study/train.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24

The Apostle Paul lived for a cause. He gave his life for something. Psychologists tell us that a person will give their life for something if the reward outweighs the cost. The tragedy of this reality is that too many people have fallen for a false Bill of Goods where they have been led to believe that their is a cheaper cost to pay and a greater reward to get if they would give their life for a lie dressed up as attractive truth. This is what Christ faced when He was about to commence His public ministry.

When the Devil tempted Christ he attempted to lure Him with fame, wealth, and power. Do this miracle! I’ll make you famous! I’ll give You the kingdoms of this world! Or, turn these stones to bread (a miracle, or display of 'power'), throw Yourself off the pinnacle of the Temple (fame, or 'popularity'), bow down and worship me (control, or 'influence').

Unlike us, Christ didn’t yield to the Devil’s temptations. We often negotiate with the Devil when he tempts us. We negotiate that if we perform a miracle, people will turn to Christ. We negotiate that if we were to become famous, we would have a greater platform for more people to hear about God. We negotiate that if we made one little compromise we could have more political influence. How many gifted preachers have sold their gift to the highest paying scheme only to end up spiritually divorced from God and His power? How many gifted singers have negotiated their way to stardom only to end up never acknowledging God anymore or using their voice to worship Him? How many aspiring politicians have entered Parliament and negotiated away their way to more power only to end becoming spiritually powerless?

If the Devil offered you a $1,000,000 to never go to church again, would you accept his offer? What if it was a $100,000?

“It’s not surprising that everyone has a price.
What is surprising is how low it is!”Anon.

Christ did not yield to the Devil’s temptations of fame, popularity, or power, in its various forms. He was committed to a greater cause! This greater cause would indeed result in Christ achieving great miracles, popularity, and power. But, He would do it God’s way - not the Devil’s! (Perhaps ironically, the various temptations - miraculously produce food, defy death, and receive kingdoms, would be done by Christ anyway, but for God’s glory not the Devil’s.) [Read the Full Article]