September 8, 2008 – 10:15 am by Dale Pilgrim
Voices.
I hear voices all the time.
No, I’m not losing my mind. But the voices sometimes push me to a place where I think I might go crazy.
Voices that say "conform to the norms. Otherwise people will think you’re odd, crazy, cranky." Maybe it’s my age as I’m passing midlife. I’m not interested in saying what pleases people or behaving so that they’re happy. I’m not one to do things because it’s what everyone expects. Their understanding of what I should be doing, and when, does not sit well with me.
It’s been this way forever. It’s not unique to me though. You’re pressured by voices. It’s called peer pressure. School just started up a few days ago and kids are running crazy to get the latest fads and styles, whether clothes, hairstyles or the most recent gagets. God forbid someone should show up with a little originality and decide "I’m going to look this way and behave this way because it works for me and it speaks of who I am." There are a few of you who live like that - YOU ROCK! There are many of us who want to but the pressure is strong and it’s hard…and lonely… I’m not blaming you. My heart goes out to you. I know what it feels like.
Church says we must conform, society says we must conform, organizations demand conformity and on it goes. Speaking of churches, denominations basically look the same, sing the same hymns, emphasize the same priorities, run the same programs and even build their buildings similar to the others of their stream. Rick Warren want-a-bees are everywhere (though Rick Warren would be the first to advise against copying them).
God said something about conformity through his man Paul. He tells me how I am to respond to the pressure to conform. He said, "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:1-2, The Message)
I want to conform to one thing in life - what God wants for me, from me. I know that’s risky. And hard. People won’t like me as well when I won’t do and behave the way they expect me to. I’ll spend more time alone with my ideals and philosophies than I’ll have friends. That’s the hard part. I don’t want that. You don’t either. But the alternative is not exciting - living in a bubble with thousands of others who are working hard trying to make everybody else happy while ignoring the most important One.
Join me in a prayer.
"Lord, this week I want to know what it means to be completely influenced by you and detached from the influence of the world. While in the world, I do not want to be of the world. I know I must be insulated from but not isolated in, the world I live. I also realize that the world has a tendency to even squeeze the church into its way of living, thinking and behaving and sometimes the pressure from the world comes through the church. I resolve to know one priority this week - what you want; to determine that the only thing that matters is what you have to say and where you lead me. Give me courage to follow you."
Pay attention to The Voice - and let’s see where we end up.
Tags:Obedience
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August 28, 2008 – 1:56 pm by Dale Pilgrim
This is my final post for this theme, Beneath the Surface
Bible reading: 2 Samuel chapters 21 - 24
David was facing a serious dilemma.
Famine.
In this case it was the result of misbehaviour (or sin) that angered Holy God. No misbehaviour goes unpunished. Even the law of society recognizes this. How much more the law of Holy God.
The question is easy in our attempt to correct the problem. The real challenge is whether or not we’re up to the challenge of accepting the answer. It is effortless to invite God to be in control and bring me into allignment with His will and purposes. It is deeply painful however to actually allow Him to do what we ask. Yet, surrender and obedience is necessary if the ‘famine’ is to end and we are to experience God again.
When I come near the end of life’s journey, I hope I lived on purpose which will result in worship of God, knowing the unmistakable presence of God in every circumstance and situation. How enriching, exciting and marvelously fulfilling to look back and say, "I see God there — and there — and also there!"
David gave us the key to success. The key is "rule in the fear of God." (23:3)
Tags:Samuel
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August 13, 2008 – 6:02 pm by Dale Pilgrim
Bible reading: 2 Samuel, chapters 19-20
Probably one of the gravest dangers for a leader is self-absorption. A leader can become so engrossed with them self that the people God wants them to lead they neglect. Their followers may even feel responsible for their leader’s condition.
Leaders need to be always clear about what their priorities should be and not allow those priorities to become lost through excessive personal focus. Solomon was wise to write
"There is a time to cry and a time to laugh,
A time to grieve and time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
This was a time for celebration and dancing for David but he chose instead to grieve and as a result he burdened his people unnecessarily.
It is adviseable that I be a strong pillar for the people. When my needs surface and I feel grief, pain or loneliness and I require attention and support, I should gain that from a small closed circle of advisors.
Jesus often drew Peter, James and John aside with him, even from his remaining team. This was a wise leadership step for sure because the leader is supported but not at the expense of being considered weak and incapable of assuming leadership.
Tags:Samuel
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August 9, 2008 – 7:53 am by Dale Pilgrim
Bible reading: 2 Samuel, chapters 14-18
God has been working through all creation and time to reconcile us to himself. Our lives are like a vapor and he desires that we be in relationship with him while we are able to make that choice.
I see in chapter 14 a picture that is so like our relationship with God and his difficulty in bringing us into relationship with himself. We are outside his presence, separated, removed and near eternity’s door. Our corruption is sure. Even when we desire an audience with the King our vile natures would have us seek that audience for wicked, selfish and sinful intent and purposes. Why, it is even possible that our purposes may be moral in nature and worthy of being applauded by society in our given response. Thus, God’s dilemma.
In chapter 15 I realise how we can have very personal motivations for certain behaviours. Apparent moral responses could actually be schemes that are evil and carefully crafted. I question if I would have the courage of David. He left his palace, his rightful leadership and ordained position, to save Jerusalem. He would rather forfeit his own leadership and ordination than bring hurt to God’s holy city and people.
To what extent would I go I wonder, to honor God? What call to sacrifice would prevent me from following so that I would conclude, "I cannot go that far."?
None, I hope and pray.
Tags:Add new tag
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July 31, 2008 – 6:29 am by Dale Pilgrim
Bible reading: 2 Samuel chapters 11 to 13
There is danger of destruction when we are idle.
Idleness is not the same as restfulness. Jesus said, "Come aside and rest awhile." Restfulness is ordered, appropriate and necessary.
Idleness — this one is deadly.
Idleness leads to misbehaviour (some call it sin). One sinful act leads to a host of inappropriate behaviours in an attempt to cover one’s tracks. Each misbehaviour is graver than the last, to cloak what happened before.
As a result, God is dishonored and the person in question is shamed. The blessing of what was meant to be is replaced with a lesser reality. Oh, God forgives. God still loves. He still provides. But something of inestimable value has been stripped away. It is this. WHEN THERE IS AN INTENTIONAL, DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO COVER DISOBEDIENCE AND MISBEHAVIOUR, WE LOSE THE ANOINTING OF GOD’S FAVOR.
It is as if he removes himself somewhat. There is forgiveness and fellowship still, but the former glory has been robbed. Where intimate relationship lived there is now more company - regret and shame.
Irreconcilable regret. It haunts and follows you every day, dragging on your conscience and taunting holy intent, finding fault with the best efforts. In some ways, regret won’t move out. Relying on God’s mercy is the only means of dealing with it.
Call out to God. Ask for his help. He’ll give it. Gladly.
Tags:Samuel
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July 18, 2008 – 7:01 am by Dale Pilgrim
Bible reading: 2 Samuel chapters 8 to 10
Several things happen when I seek to honor God and am constantly aware of his glory, his holiness and his awesome presence.
One, every venture meets with success as a result of making God the object of venture.
Second, every achievement is an opportunity to offer the fruit of the effort, to God. It is never about personal promotion or gain.
Third, a spirit of justice and equality governs my leadership.
Fourth, I fulfill my promises. Honoring vows made are more precious than my life.
Fifth, I will hate injustice and cruelty. I will hate it so deeply that I cannot sit idly by as another is abused or mistreated. Justice must respond, even when it is easier to do nothing.
Tags:Samuel
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July 12, 2008 – 1:06 pm by Dale Pilgrim
It is not a new thought that our world is quite liberal. I heard recently that Canada is very proud to declare itself the first secular country in the world. If this is remotely true then we need to weep before God in repentance and seek him out.
I read an article that might interest you. It challenges that the emerging church may have a form of paganism attached to it. Here’s the link: http://bible.christianity.com/SermonHelps/11560481/page1/ Read it and you decide if there is any weight to this arguement. It got my attention and has challenged me to take another look at where I am and what I’m doing. I would hate at the end of this journey to stand before God and be told I diluted his message, distanced myself from his purpose and digressed from his plan. What a dreadful day that would be.
I wonder if churches that are completely committed to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ will become a minority? Will they be the least attended and attractive in the world of churches and religious hype? It strikes me interesting that Jesus was never very popular. Wasn’t in his ministry and nothing’s changed today either.
Are we ready to stand? Do we have what it takes to stand up and stand out?
Blessings to you in your pursuit of God and determination to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth…so help me God."
Dale_Pilgrim@can.salvationarmy.org
Tags:Character, Guilt
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July 12, 2008 – 12:37 pm by Dale Pilgrim
Bible reading: 2 Samuel chapters 5-7
Focus: Chapter 5, verses 3, 19, 20, and 21
Chapter 6, verses 9 and 21
Chapter 7, verse 11
Effective leaders honour those in leadership with them.
Godly leadership understands that God is at the center of every motivation and plan. This being so, God assures blessing and success in leadership (another time we can talk about what it really means to be successful. I am not referring to the world’s diluted understanding of success).
One of the dangers of anointed leadership is careless glory a leader may offer to God. A leader can make the grave mistake of losing sight of the mystery, the awesome and holy presence of God. There must always be a sense of the mysterious and indescribable presence of Yahweh. To put it another way, there must always be place for holy fear and awe.
The heart that desires to honor God receives honor from God. Of course, this is not to encourage one to honor, for honor. It is a challenge to honor God simply because he is.
I need to bathe in his mysterious, fearful presence while I seek to honor him in every decision and exalt him in every motivation.
Tags:Samuel
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July 5, 2008 – 9:54 pm by Dale Pilgrim
2 Samuel 3-4
God always has a design, a Master plan. The process of achieving this plan is often th epoint where we lose sight of God’s working and intervention. Where we would expect a very quick and decisive act from God to do his finest we actually learn that his actions are usually a methodical plan that takes time and requires a series of events.
There are always people who attempt to ursup God’s plan. A flagrant disregard for a leader has nothing to do with the leader. It is really an effort to thwart the plans of God, although one would not understand this to be the intent of their actions in opposing a leader. This is the result of failing to view one’s actions and motivations from the heavenly, spiritual realities at play. There are good and evil forces warning against each other every moment and we are on one side or the other.
The road to God’s ultimate plan is not without a lot of casualties and gruesome battle. There is a sense where purging is necessary for God to rightfully rule as he should. This is true for moving a church forward, saving a nation or redeeming the world. The Enemy of God fights redemption and deliverance on every front. That is what we can expect if we treat seriously our mission to rise up. And the only thing we can do when we accept the challenge is to recognize our limitations and completely surrender what we cannot control, to the One who can.
"Life in Christ is not all ‘praise the Lord and pass the offering plate.’ This world is inundated with scary news and situations. Our only recourse amid the uncertainty is to hold fast to Jesus’ standard." (Max Lucado)
"…when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19)
Tags:Samuel
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June 29, 2008 – 5:24 pm by Dale Pilgrim
Bible reading: 1 Samuel chapters 28 to 31
Fear has a way of calling us to compromise. When we need to stand strong we will only do so "in the LORD". Compromising only demonstrates our separation from God’s presence and our lack of trust in His leadership and control.
In contrast to that, we also learn what happens when we find our strength "in the LORD". The LORD protects us. We win the battle especially when all the odds are stacked against us. God’s extends his protection to our families and possessions. Of course, every time there is victory for God opposition is never far behind. Never fails. What matters is not that opposition comes, but what we do with it. Obedience to God always ensures success and blessing. The effort however to defend myself opens the door to compromise that condemns and accuses me.
Leadership for David came at a very high price. He had been hunted and hounded by King Saul for years and lived a nomadic existence. Yet, he proved his worth by being loyal to God when he refused to take vengeance on Saul when the opportunity fell in his lap. His respect for the Lord’s anointed had no restrictions or conditions attached — That was that.
In looking for loyalty to his leadership as king, David still faced opposition. Some people always had a different plan that attempted to circumvent God’s design. When this happens the leader’s character shines if they know their place and occupy it with confidence and not be threatened or insecure by opposition. God’s good plan will prevail at the end of the day but sometimes it takes time for us to fully realize his plan.
Trust it. Don’t allow fear to lead to compromise.
Tags:Samuel
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