What would you do if you knew someone was trying to cause harm to you or your family and you could do something about it?  Wouldn’t you try?  Isn’t there something inside you that would rise up in response?

I’ve got news for you, if you didn’t already know it, someone is trying to bring harm to you and yours.  Jesus totally identifies this individual and his intentions in John 10:10, where He says, “the thief has come to steal, kill and destroy.”  In other words, there is a thief who is intent on robbing, killing and ultimately destroying you and yours.  So, my question is, “What are you going to do about it?”

Now that you know there is someone intent on brining harm to you and your loved ones, what can you do?  Over these next five weeks we are launching a new sermon series called FIGHT – Winning Life’s Battles over hurts, habits and hang-ups.

The enemy wants to put you down, but Jesus wants to lift you up.  Satan wants to remind you of your past, but Jesus wants to give you hope and a future.  The evil one desires to “steal, kill and destroy”, but Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.”  I believe what Jesus says more than what the devil says – how about you?  Learn how to fight back and live the life Jesus intended for you to live.

Join me for what I believe will be a powerful series of freedom, deliverance, healing, hope and release!

FIGHT begins THIS Sunday, November 2 @Crossroads.

Since my wife is a travel agent in her spare time (besides all the other things she does), we try to get away when we are able.  The strain of ministry can pull on you physically, mentally and spiritually.  Jesus Himself would get away from the crowds and encourage His disciples to do the same.

My problem is this: “I’m too busy to get away!” Ever find yourself saying this?  So, how can you make it happen?

I think you have to decide to make it happen first of all.  Nothing will change until you decide.

You have to plan ahead. If you intend to take time off at spring, then you better start working toward it now.  If I wait until close to the date I want to leave to work ahead, then it won’t happen.

Let everyone know that you will be gone and unreachable.  If you allow urgency to press in, then there will never be a “good time” to go. You have to make this the priority in your life.

Then, unplug, unwind, disengage and relax. Many people tell me that I am on fire when I come back from a break. I think you’ll be amazed at how much more you can get accomplished by taking off quality time to restore, refresh and recharge your internal batteries.

Do I really have to be kind? It’s almost like some people are asking that question.  Really?  Recently I had someone asking me about somebody we both know if I knew why that person is so mad, angry and arrogant acting. The sad thing is, I really didn’t have a good answer.

Here’s why kindness is important:

• Jesus was kind.
• You’re not filled with the Spirit if you’re not kind (see Galatians 5:22)
• People get enough grief just from living life without you being unkind to them.
• When you are kind, it draws people to you.  (you get more friends)
• Unkindness repels people.  They just won’t tell you the real reason they’re too busy to go with you.

Of course, you don’t have to be kind, you just need to like loneliness, being a follower, and being the last one picked.

The recent promotion of the blood moon this week got me focused on the moon, more than usual.  Even last night as it was shining so brightly, I was thinking of how it guides the Sea Turtle hatchlings to the sea.  When we’ve vacationed in Florida, the beach hotel where we stayed asks its boarders to close their windows at night.  The purpose is to avoid distracting the baby Sea Turtles and getting them confused.  You see, the babies crawl toward the brightest light.  On an undeveloped beach, the brightest light is the moon.  On a developed beach, it can be an artificial light source coming from hotel rooms.

When that happens, it leads to a disastrous outcome.  Rather than follow the pure light of the moon to the ocean, they follow the wrong light in the opposite direction.  This is how we human folk do at times.

Rather than follow a path of purpose and destiny designed by God, we too often get distracted by things that move us in the wrong direction.  Peer pressure, excessive time on social media, bad habits, addictions, and meaningless time wasters can provide diversions that get us off course.

So, what about you?  Are you living a purpose-driven life or are you allowing shiny distractions to lead you in a wrong direction?

Unlike sea turtles, we can discern right and wrong, false and true, real and artificial, if we will.  God’s Word is a pure light that can help us find the meaning and purpose that brings about joy and fulfillment.  This is why we need to hear it preached, read it for ourselves and pray for application.

Why is it that when the pressure is on, we notice that some people are reacting to it.  Others are not, they just keep on going, seemingly unaffected by the situation.  Here’s the difference, it’s not the pressure that’s really the issue.  It’s what we do with it.

I like to say it like this; you don’t really know what’s in a tube of toothpaste until you apply the pressure.  People are like toothpaste, don’t you think?

(see James 1:2-3)