The primary concern for these corporate leaders was the loss of a trademark aroma. As Starbucks stores continued to multiply and spread into different locations across the globe, they were able to reproduce the taste and feel of the original, but something was missing--they didn't smell like the original. So why does it matter so much? Well, as indicated in the memo, that fresh-coffee aroma was the most powerful nonverbal signal they possessed, a way of communicating that couldn't be replaced by flashy ads and marketing promotions. Even more, it represented a loss of tradition and heritage, a loss of identity for the brand, which was now something less than the original Starbucks experience.

At Starbucks, after the memo circulated throughout the company, they began a time of reflection and discussion on the core identity of their brand. Though there were some obvious advantages to developing systems that would make them more efficient and productive, in the end Starbucks chose to be true to their original brand--their core identity as a company. They humbly analyzed the way they were doing things in their stores and took responsibility for what was, so they could move to what could be. Farther along in that memo we read, "I take full responsibility myself, but we desperately need to look into the mirror and realize it's time to get back to the core and make the changes necessary to evoke the heritage, the tradition, and the passion that we all have for the true Starbucks experience."

Every Church Smellls Like Something

When we shift our focus onto external things or spend too much of our time developing elaborate systems to drive us to be more productive, we risk losing the essence of what matters most. And that essence is a particular odor, a smell that is unmistakably different from the fragrance of the world. It is the aroma of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul writes about this fragrance in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16: "Thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But his fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?"

Our lives are an aroma, a fragrance that rises to God and is sensed by other people, bringing hope to those who are responsive to the grace of Jesus. Our lives reflect the aroma of Christ as we spread the knowledge of him everywhere, seeking to make him known in our families, our communities, our workplaces and schools, and throught the world.

And let's not forget that this fragrance is life-giving. It's the aroma of grace that comes from the gospel of God's forgiveness of our sins. It's the sense of freedom people experience when they walk into our churches and feel welcome and accepted just as they are. And it's a smell that can't be manufactured through a particular program or systematic plan; it's something that arises naturally from hearts and lives filled with the presence of Jesus. Our churches should have an overwhelming stench of Jesus, the scent of his amazing grace.

Adapted from Dangerous Church by John Bishop
*Starbucks illus. from starbucksgossip.typad.com

Romans 6:11  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:39  ...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:5  ...so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

I Corinthians 1:4  I always thankg God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

I Corinthians 1:30  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

II Corinthians 1:20  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

We now are vitally joined to Christ "unto a new walk." This truth is the basis of all the other blessings we receive as we have been seated with Chrsit in the heavenlies and united with Him. In Christ we are complete in Him--we now have access to all that Christ has access to, even God Himself.

"God cannot do much through us until he gets in us. The moment Christ comes in, he then proceeds to chip away the parts which don't look like a Christian." --Zig Ziglar

7)  Acceptable to God
8)  Heavenly citizenship
9)  Of the family and household of God
10)  An heavenly association
11)  Within the "much more" care of God
12)  Glorified
13)  In the fellowship of the saints
14)  On the rock, Christ Jesus
15)  A part in the eternal plan of God
16)  Redeemed - We have been purchased by the shed blood of Christ out of the slave market of sin and now set free to serve the living God. (Galatians 5:1, Romans 3:24)

Webster's dictionary defines redemption as "to buy back and receive something in exchange." In both the Old and New Testament we have many beautiful pictures of God's unfailing love that redeems us from ourselves and our lot in life. Think of the book of Hosea, where God shows us how unfailing His love is towards His Bride.

This gift of redemption from God reminds us also of the picture in the Old Testament of a slave that is earmarked for his master. In Exodus 21:5-6 we read: But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man.' Then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently." This is a beautiful picture of our relationship to the Father God who redeemed us from the position of slave to sin and has set us free. Yet, in gratefulness to God we can become God's permanent slave.

One day in the future we will have the redemption of our bodies and be given a new glorious eternal body.

"God answers prayer on the ground of Redemption and no other ground. Let us never forget that our prayers are heard, not because we are in earnest, not because we suffer, but because Jesus suffered." --Oswald Chambers

17)  A living relationship with God
18)  Free from the law
19)  Adoption
20) Brought near
21)  Delivered from the power of darkness
22)  Entrance into a new kingdom
23)  A gift from God the Father to Christ
24)  Circumcised in Christ
25)  Members of a royal and holy priesthood
26)  A chosen generation, a holy nation, a peculiar people
27)  His inheritance
28)  The inheritance of the saints
29)  Light in the Lord
30)  United to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
31)  Blessed with the first-fruits fo the Spirit
32)  Complete in Him
33)  Possessing every spiritual blessing

Adapted from "Thirty-three things that happen at the moment of salvation," distributed by Sonlife Ministries
www.sonlife.com

Hearing the Word initiates faith.
Speaking the Word activates faith.
Doing the Word demonstrates faith.

Hearing the Word Initiates Faith

Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

There's only one place you can acquire faith: you've got to go to the Word of God. And in the pages of the Scriptures, as God's promises become personal to you, your faith potential is ignited. Hopefully that's what's been happening to you as you've been reading. Each biblical example of audacious faith should cause your own spiritual circuit board to light up. The same thing happens every time you go to church and hear a sermon from the Bible.

So to live by audacious faith, you're going to need to become very familiar with your Bible. You're going to need to saturate your mind with the Word of God. If your faith isn't rooted in God's promises, it's not scriptural faith. It's just wishful thinking.

Remember, Joshua had the right to pray a Sun Stand Still prayer because his prayer was based on a promise God had made to the Israelites. God had promised to fight for them. God had promised to defeat their enemies. Joshua was occupying the Promised Land that God had guaranteed to his people. So Joshua's confidence didn't spring out of the void. It was born out of God's Word, which had been integrated into Joshua's thinking and shpaed his way of seeing the world.

You can't claim God's promises if you don't know God's promises. That's why God specifically commanded Joshua:

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7)

In order to be successful, Joshua had to be obedient. And obedience comes only by hearing and doing the Word of God. Hearing comes before doing.

To really pray with power and trust Jesus radically, you need to consume as much of God's Word as you possibly can. Increase your exposure to teaching and preaching about Jesus. Prioritize the presence of God in your daily life. That's where the power of belief takes hold and the process of true faith begins.

Speaking the Word Activates Faith

This is one of those things that I didn't learn in church growing up. And honestly, the first time I heard about speaking God's Word, the whole concept seemed kooky to me. It conjured up images of monks singing Gregorian chants and televangelists preaching fiery sermons at 2 a.m.

But over the last several years, God has shown me how important it is to speak his Word in my daily life. It's sort of a missing link for a lot of Christians. A lot of people get information from the Word of God, but no real transformation happens as a result.

So if hearing God's Word is like turning the key in the ignition, then speaking God's Word is like putting the car in drive.

Every time you encounter God's Word, the potential for faith is born. And this isn't just a one-time thing. It doesn't just apply to saving faith--the type of faith that initially brings you into a relationship with God. This is also the way faith is introduced into every single area of your life. When you hear the Word of God concerning a particular issue, need, or reality, the possibility to increase your faith is in play.

But then it is your responsibility to activate that faith. And you do that through speaking God's Word. Let's review the details of God's instructions to Joshua again:

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night. (Joshua 1:8)

I think most of us subconsciously translate that command to mean: Do not let this book of the Law depart from your heart. Or from your mind.

But that's not what God said. He specifically told Joshua to keep his Word in his mouth. Before Joshua could make his Sun Stand Still prayer, he had to make the ways and words of God a natural part of his vocabulary--in speaking to others and in speaking to himself.

Some of the best sermons I've ever preached in my life have not been delivered behind the pulpit at my church. Some of the best messages on faith I've spoken weren't written down for the world to read in a book. The best leadership challenges I've issued have not gone forth at conferences all across the nation. Some of the best sermons I've ever preached in my life have been the ones I've preached to myself.

In fact, I preach to myself all the time. I've preached sermons to myself that were so good I wanted to give myself an offering and respond to my own altar call. I have to preach to myself just to keep going sometimes.

Some days I get frustrated with my own inconsistency. I feel like I just keep letting God down over and over again. So I preach to myself from Lamentations 3:22-23:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

And as I speak God's Word to myself, I'm reminded that God's mercy can convert the mistakes of my past into wisdom for my future. It's a new day.

Some days I feel weak and limited. The vision that God has put inside me seems so much bigger than the resources around me. So I preach to myself from 2 Corinthians 9:8:

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

And as I rehearse this guarantee, my faith is reactivated. My perspective is renewed. I recalculate my resources according to what God's Word says instead of what my mind thinks or my emotions feel.

How many times during his leadership tenure do you think Joshua revisited God's words to him about being strong and courageous? I like to imagine that just before he laid it all on the line that day and commanded the sun to stand still, he muttered under his breath, "Be strong and courageous...be strong and courageous...be strong and courageous..."

And let me assure you: this speaking-the-Word thing isn't just for preachers like me and Bible heroes like Joshua. If you want to get really good at walking in audacious faith, you're going to have to get really good at preaching God's Word to yourself too.

You see, there are going to be many points along the way when you're not going to have anyone around to motivate you or encourage you. And in those moments, you'd better be able to open God's Word, look in the mirror, and remind yourslef of the truth. As you incorporate God's Word into your vocabulary, the way you see your circumstances will begin to shift. Your faith will start to rise higher than your feelings and your fears. And it all starts with speaking the Word.

Doing the Word Demonstrates Faith

Before we get too crazy preaching in the mirror, there's a sobering warning in the Bible that we need to look at. The book of James scathingly confronts people who claim to have faith but refuse to do something about it. James sums it up this way:

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (2:17)

So it's possible for us to hear God's Word, take notes, memorize Scripture, and speak God's Word out loud until everybody thinks we're smoking crack, yet never walk in true audacious faith. Becuase it's not really faith until we do it. Authentic faith doesn't end in a positive mental state. It plays out in total obedience based on the sure Word of God.

One time, Jesus told his disciples to get in a boat and head out to the next ministry appointment while he stayed behind to spend some time in prayer. The disciples dutifully complied. Jesus neglected to tell the disciples, however, that they would encounter a storm along the way that would threaten to end their lives. That's where things get interesting. We'll pick up the story in Matthew 14:25-29:

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

In this single, simple biblical account, all three of the stages of faith formation I've been describing are on full display.

It starts with Peter hearing the words of Jesus. This is how his faith is initiated. It's what transforms him from just another terrified disciple in the boat to a potential water walker. He recognizes Jesus' voice. He realizes the potential of the moment. This is the man who could possibly save his life. But at this point, his faith isn't out in the open. It's just starting to rise inside.

As you read this and digest God's Word, your level of belief is lifting. It's initiating your faith and expanding your horizons. But that's not the finish line--it's just the beginning. You're still in the boat. You've simply heard the Word.

The next step is to speak it. To activate the faith that has been initiated. Peter does this when he shouts back to Jesus: "If it's you, tell me to come." What's he doing? He is vocalizing an expressioin of his faith. He's committing verbally. He's taking it public. He's putting this miracle in motioin.

But the deal isn't done at this point. We don't teach this story to our kids in Sunday school because Peter and Jesus carry on an interesting conversation. This story is memorable and fascinating because Peter gets out of the boat and transcends the law of buoyancy. It's not until his foot hits the water that his faith is demonstrated. It's not until he risks failure, embarrassment, and physical harm that the supernatural power of Jesus starts working on his behalf.

Your faith isn't going to magically increase simply because you want to do big things for God or because you'd like to be able to sleep better at night. Your faith can mature only as you methodically develop it through God's faith-formation process:

Hear the Word.
Speak the Word.
Do the Word.

Adapted from "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick

The Creed of a Bold Jesus Follower

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed,
the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line,
the decision has been made--I'm a disciple of Christ!
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense.
my future is secure! I'm finished and done with low living,
sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions,
worldly talk, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.
My face is set, my course is fast, my goal is heaven,
my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few,
my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I won't give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up,
stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.
I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows,
work till he stops me and when he comes for his own;
He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.
With this kind of resolve we will, with God's help,
have the strength to survive against our cultural stream,
or perhaps even reverse it.
Of course, we are a minority, but armed with the promises of God we can
have a spiritual impact that is greater than our numbers might suggest.
It may come down to a simple question: "Are we willing to pay the price?"

Are you prepared to suffer? Are you willing to take the creed of a true Christ follower? Are you willing to daily live your life for Christ, no matter what the cost or consequences?

Adapted from "Covenant of Courage" by Sonlife Ministries

Hebrews 12:1-3
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Tell the truth: Haven't you noticed how weird Christians can be? You know what I'm talking about. That late-night, low-budget, cable-access Christian television weird. Not just big hair (being from Oklahoma, I'm used to that) but also big purple hair. Pronouncing Jesus with the violent inflection of a carnival barker: "Jeee-zuss! Be healed in the name of Jeee-zuss!" Wearing suits in cartoon-character colors and promising God's blessing in exchange for a monthly "contribution."

As I continued to wrestle with the conviction I experienced in reading Jesus' words, I was forced to rethink weird. What if being the Christian kind of weird did not mean the same thing as the bad-weird, freak-show, annoying, carnival-barking, somewhat uncomfortable, weird-for-no-reason weird? What if the Bible is talking about a different-than-what-everyone-else-does, good type of Jesus weird?

I grew to love being the God kind of weird so much that a couple of years later I became a pastor. (Some of you are thinking, "Now, that's really weird!") And during this time, I've seen a lot of normal people––some seemingly working harder at it than others. They're everywhere; even today, when everyone wants to be recognized as an individual, they're still wanting to be accepted for fitting in.

However, nowadays being normal isn't quite as easy and painless as it once seemed to be. In fact, it's more time consuming than ever. There aren't enough hours in the day to buy, sell, drive, cook, clean, call, shop, eat, plan, study, write, review, schedule, and follow through on everything. Overwhelmed, overloaded, and exhausted, everybody talks about wanting more time, but only to "catch up" on what they're already doing––rushing, planning, worrying, and rushing some more. Families suffer. Health wanes. Priorities fade. Joy evaporates. Most people don't know their life's direction because their soul is dizzy from spinning around so much. Uninterrupted time to rest, relax, and enjoy life sounds like a line from a retirement home brochure. Normal is busy and getting busier.

When it comes to finances, it's normal to go into debt so deep that you can't see the way out. Money becomes a dark pit of worry, fear, anxiety, tension, and fighting. Most people I know are living paycheck to paycheck. Most make more money today than they ever have, but it's never enough. Now more than ever, it's expensive to be normal––so much cool stuff to buy and take care of, so many normal experiences you want your family to have. Only it's hard to enjoy any of it when the financial noose tightens with each monthly payment.

Normal relationships require little and provide less. You and your spouse are so busy, so stressed, and so exhausted, there's normally no time for each other. No wonder, then, that affairs are the norm. They provide attention, romance, and sex without the commitment, sacrifice, or intimacy required in marriage. Similarly, you'd love to spend more time with the kids, but there's just not enough time. They're almost as busy and stressed as you are. It would be great to have deep, meaningful conversations and shared experiences that allow you to teach them what you know. Normal families, however, just don't work that way.

And nothing's more normal than sex, right? Premarital sex, extramarital sex, friends-with-benefits type sex. Porn, experimentations, casual hookups––whatever feels good between consenting adults. It's totally normal. Maybe our parents were uptight and repressed about sex, but we're more progressive, more liberated nowadays. In the twenty-first century, why in the world would anyone remain a virgin until marriage? After all, as one of my frat brothers used to say, "You wouldn't buy the car without test driving it first, would you?" Unfortunately, though, normal also carries a hefty price: guilt, shame, confusion, remorse, disease, additions, unwanted children, and divorce.

Normal infects our faith as well, both what we believe and how we live it out. When we consider how people relate to God, it's normal to either reject God altogether or believe in him while living as if he doesn't exist. In churches, normal is lukewarm Christianity, self-centered spiritual consumerism, and shallow, me-driven faith. God has become a means to an end, a tool in our toolbox to accomplish what we want. The majority of people claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.

And all this is normal.

But normal isn't working.

Adapted from "Weird: Because Normal Isn't Working " by Craig Groeschel

With insects most of us know that bees are called swarms, and ants are called colonies. Among ocean life, I was aware that whales are pods, and fish are schools. Cattle are herds, birds are flocks, and if you watch Lion King, you know a tribe of lions is a pride. If you grew up in the country, you might know that crows are murders. Maybe the most unnerving one is an ambush of tigers.

I was surprised to learn that a group of buzzards waiting around together to feast on leftover carnage is called a committee. Just this one insight is worth the price of the whole book. This explains so much of what's going on in churches--a lot of committees waiting around to live off human carnage.

Groups of flamingos are called flamboyants, which for some reason reminds me of TV evangelists. And groups of the less glamorous owls are known as parliaments. They do seem sort of British.

But my favorite of all is the group designation for rhinos. You see, rhinos can run at thirty miles an hour, which is pretty fast when you consider how much weight they're pulling. They're actually faster than squirrels, which can run at up to twenty-six miles an hour. And even then, who's going to live in dread of a charging squirrel? (Sorry--that was a bit off the point.) Running at thirty miles an hour is faster than a used Pinto will go. Just one problem with this phenomenon. Rhinos can see only thirty feet in front of them. Can you imagine something that large moving in concert as a group, plowing ahead at thirty miles an hour with no idea what's at thirty-one feet? You would think that they would be far too timid to pick up full steam, that their inability to see far enough ahead would paralyze them to immobility. But with that horn pointing the way, rhinos run forward full steam ahead without apprehension, which leads us to their name.

Rhinos moving together at full speed are known as a crash. Even when they're just hanging around enjoying the watershed, they're called a crash because of their potential. You've got to love that. I think that's what we're supposed to be. That's what happens when we become barbarians and shake free of domestication and civility. The church becomes a crash. We become an unstoppable force. We don't have to pretend we know the future. Who cares that we can see only thirty feet ahead? Whatever's at thirty-one feet needs to care that we're coming and better get out of the way.

We need to move together as God's people, a barbarian tribe, and become the human version of the rhino crash. The future is uncertain, but we need to move toward it with confidence. There's a future to be created, a humanity to be liberated. We need to stop wasting our time and stop being afraid of what we cannot see and do not know. We need to move forward full force because of what we do know.

Adapted from "The Barbarian Way" by Erwin Raphael McManus

In spite of such drama, we know the story all too well. Two thousand years ago, salvation came to fallen man through the tragic murder of the Lamb of God. Unfortunately, modern society is so inundated with stories of injustice, this one merely seems like another to add to the heap. A relic of injustice, trapped in history, and buried under the dust.

Yet, no greater scandal could exist than the calculated murder of an innocent human life.

However, in the case of Jesus of Nazareth, we are confronted with much more than a scandal. Two thousand years ago, an uprecedented conspiracy of injustice, cruelty, and religious and political interests sentenced a man guilty of no crimes to the most barbaric method of execution ever devised. Worse still, the victim was no mere man. Jesus was God in the flesh. The Creator of life died. The very thought is nearly inconceivable.

 Clearly, real justice has often been elusive in earthly courts. Innocent Joseph languished in a dank prison while his false accuser, Potiphar's wife, lived in Egyptian luxury. Nero set fire to Rome for political purposes and falsely accused Christians of the crime; then he enlisted Roman courts to perpetrate a slaughter against innocent believers, punishing them for an act he himself committed. Medieval clergy lived lives of wanton profligacy while the Church's office of the Inquisition approved the torture and killing of godly people accused of "heresy." With the Supreme Court's sanction, modern abortionists routinely kill infants at birth, while government bureaucrats spend billions to protect snail darters and silverspot butterflies.

Human courts have an uncanny knack for turning justice completely on its head. The wicked frequently prosper while the righteous suffer wrongfully.

Nowhere is this seen more graphically than in the arrest, trials, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. No victim of injustice was ever more innocent than the sinless Son of God. And yet no one ever suffered more agony than He did. He was cruelly executed by men who openly acknowledged His faultlessness. Yet at the same time Barabbas, a murderous, thieving insurrectionist, was summarily set free. It was the greatest travesty of justice the world will ever see.

Consider the facts: Jesus Christ was the only truly sinless individual who ever lived--the most innocent, blameless, virtuous man of all time. He "committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:22). He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Hebrews 7:26). And yet the torment and punishment He suffered in His death was infinitely more heinous than anyone else has ever suffered. He bore the full weight of retribution for human evil. He suffered as if He were guilty of humanity's worst offenses. And yet He was guilty of nothing.

It is easy to look at the cross and conclude that this was the worst miscarriage of human justice in the history of the world. And it was. It was an evil act, perpetrated by the hands of wicked men.

But that is not the full story. The crucifixion of Christ was also the greatest act of divine justice ever carried out. It was done in full accord with "the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23)--and for the highest of purposes: The death of Christ secured the salvation of untold numbers and opened the way for God to forgive sin without compromising His own perfectly holy standard.

Christ was no mere victim of unjust men when He hung on the cross. Though murdered unjustly and illegally by men whose intentions were only evil, Christ died willingly, becoming an atonement for the sins of the very ones who killed Him. It was the greatest sacrifice ever made; the purest act of love ever carried out; and ultimately an infinitely higher act of divine justice than all the human injustice it represented.

Every true Christian knows that Christ died for our sins. That truth is so rich that only eternity will reveal its full profundity. But in the mundane existence of our daily lives, we are too inclined to take the Cross of Christ for granted. We mistakenly think of it as one of the elementary facts of our faith. We therefore neglect to meditate on this truth of all truths, and we miss the real richness of it. If we think of it at all, we tend to dabble too much in the shallow end of the pool, when we ought to be immersing ourselves in its depths daily.

Many wrongly think of Christ as merely a victim of human injustice, a martyr who suffered tragically and unnecessarily. But the truth is that His death was God's plan. In fact, it was the key to God's eternal plan of redemption. Far from being an unnecessary tragedy, the death of Christ was a glorious victory--the most gracious and wonderful act divine benevolence ever rendered on behalf of sinners. It is the consummate expression of God's love for them.

Yet here also we see the wrath of God against sin. What is too often missed in all our songs and sermons about the Cross is that it was the outpouring of divine judgment against the person of Christ--not because He deserved that judgment, but because He bore it on behalf of those whom He would redeem. In the words of Isaac Watts,

        Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
        Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

As we approach Easter, this is a great time to read through the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and see again with fresh perspective what the Living God endured for us.  

Luke 23:44-47  It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

Adapted from "The Murder of Jesus" by John MacArthur

On the surface of it, the narrative is not all that gripping. I believe, however, that if the teaching of Jesus is likened to a lake, this famous Parable of the Prodigal Son would be one of the clearest spots where we can see all the way to the bottom.

I will not use the parable's most common name: the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It is not right to single out only one of the sons as the sole focus of the story. Even Jesus doesn't call it the Parble of the Prodigal Son, but begins the story saying, "a man had two sons." The narrative is as much about the elder brother as the younger, and as much about the father as the sons. And what Jesus says about the older brother is one of the most important messages given to us in the Bible. The parable might be better called the Two Lost Sons.

The word "prodigal" does not mean "wayward" but, according to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, "recklessly spendthrift." It means to spend until you have nothing left. This term is therefore as appropriate for describing the father in the story as his younger son. The father's welcome to the repentant son was literally reckless, because he refused to "reckon" or count his sin against him or demand repayment. This response offended the elder son and most likely the local community.

In this story the father represents the Heavenly Father Jesus knew so well. St. Paul writes: "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses" (2 Corinthians 5:19--American Standard Version). Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, his children. God's reckless grace is our greatest hope, a life-changing experience.

Adapted from "The Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller

The thing that makes David's story so relevant to our discussion is the role his courage played in distinguishing him as a leader. David's leadership was established through his courage--not his talent or even his calling by God. David's talent would never have been discovered apart from his courage. One courageous act thrust him onto the stage of national significance in Israel. His courage to act on what he saw was the catalyst that set in motion a long series of providential events.

The event that established David as a leader in the nation of Israel began as a military stalemate between the army of King Saul and the army of the Philistines. The Philistines had gathered their armies for battle about fifteen miles west of Bethlehem on a hill overlooking the Elah Valley. The army of Israel was camped on the other side of the valley. This was pretty typical military stragegy: Take the high ground and hope your enemy will take the offensive.

What happened next was a bit unusual, though. The Philistine champion, Goliath, stepped out from among his ranks and challenged Saul to send an Israelite warrior into the valley to meet him for a winner-take-all fight to the death.

He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, "Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us." (1 Samuel 17:8-9)

In that day, sending out your best man to do battle with an opposing army's champion was common practice--but for smaller issues like settling border disputes or rights to water. It was unheard of to settle a war between opposing kingdows in such a fashion. Who in their right mind would risk his entire nation on the combat skills of one warrior? Well, nobody, unless your one warrior was Goliath. Needless to say, nobody in the Israelite army was anxious to become a hero.

Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (1 Samuel 17:10-11)

While it was true that Goliath represented a significant threat to the security of Israel, he represented something else as well: an opportunity. Wherever there is fear, there is opportunity. Wherever there is great fear, there is great opportunity.

While Saul and his army of combat-hardened veterans were consumed with fear, a young, unknown shepherd saw and seized upon the opportunity.

David's seemingly conicidental arrival at the scene underscores a theme that is repeated in the life of significant leaders throughout history. David did not show up with the intention of becoming a military hero. He was there for an entirely different reason. He was simply delivering grain and bread to his brothers as his father had instructed him to do. He wasn't looking for an opportunity. He was looking for his brothers. But when he saw Goliath, he summoned the courage to exploit an opportunity that other warriors only dreamed about.

As I listen to leaders tell their stories, I hear very little about strategic planning and goal setting. I hear a lot about identifying and acting on opportunities. Strategies and goals have their place. But they don't define leadership. Leaders see and seize opportunity. And in most cases, the opportunites take them by surprise.

So David pushed his way to the front lines of the army just in time to hear Goliath taunt the army of Israel. But he heard something else as well. Saul, in his desperation, had begun offering a reward to any man who would fight and defeat Goliath. By the time David arrived, the ante was pretty high: wealth, the hand of Saul's daughter in marriage, and tax-free living (see 1 Samuel 17:25). All that for killing one soldier who was coming against the armies of God? That was an opportunity David couldn't resist. After double-checking to make sure he'd heard right, David dropped off his package and went to sign up for duty.

What set David apart from every other soldier in Saul's army? It wasn't talent. It wasn't his ability to lead. It wasn't even the fact that he recognized an incredible opportunity. It was his courage to seize what everyone else merely saw. Courage was the catalyst for his leadership.

The next part of the story is somewhat confusing. Why would King Saul send out an untrained shepherd boy to represent his army? It could be that the nature of the challenge required a response, and Saul had no choice but to send the one person who had volunteered.

Whatever the case, Saul was not about to let David go down into the valley looking like a shepherd. So he offered to loan David his armor. When that didn't work out, David assured the king that he would be fine: "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:37, NIV).

When David left the king's tent, he did something that illustrates a critical distinction often overlooked in discussions related to leadership and courage:

He [David] took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:40)

David was courageous, but he wasn't careless. There is a difference between acting courageously and carelessly. Ask people who work with wild animals, and they will be quick to explain the difference. It takes a great deal of courage to handle a venomous snake. But carelessness could cost you your life.

Leaders worth following are always careful. They are careful because they genuinely care for those who have chosen to follow. A leader who is careless will eventually be considered thoughtless by those who have entrusted their future to him.

David was both courageous and careful. He did not rush down into the valley fueled by adrenaline and the prospects of being a national hero. He wasn't caught up in the moment. He took his time. He took his enemy seriously. And he played to his strengths--namely, a staff and stones.

Leaders understand the unique roles of confidence and caution. Courage requires both.

David's caution did not keep him from the battle, but neither did he allow his confidence to blind him to the need to select his stones with care.

Unfortunately, fear often disguises itself behind the mask of care. Fearful people often excuse their fear as caution.

"I'm not afraid. I'm just being cautious."

"You can't rush these things, you know."

I doubt very seriously that King Saul or most of his army would have admitted that they were afraid to face Goliath. After all, they were soldiers. But behind their talk of calculated risks and discussions about what was best for the nation, they were just plain scared.

As you evaluate your response to the risks involved in leadersip, are you careful or fearful? Every next generation leader must wrestle this question to the ground. What you don't know can hurt you. As a leader, what you don't know can paralyze you.

Saul and his soldiers were fearful. They did nothing. David was careful. He moved forward cautiously. When he was ready, he walked down into the valley alone to face Goliath. And after a brief but intense interchange, David took up his sling and killed the giant.

In that moment two significant things happened. First, there was an instant reversal in the momentum on the battlefield. The army of Israel was suddenly filled with courage and the will to fight. In the contrast, the Philistines, who moments before had been beating their chests in defiance, ran for their lives.

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. (1 Samuel 17:51-52).

David, through his act of bravery, gave an entire army something they severely lacked: courage.

Adapted from "The Next Generation Leader" by Andy Stanley

Most people celebrate Christmas; bus so few men and women understand what and whom it really commemorates. They probably have heard that it marks the birth of a great teacher from centuries ago; that they should emulate Him by promoting peace, good will, and charity during the Christmas season; and that they should strive to make the holiday less materialistic and more family oriented. But so many people, even Christians, never pause to fully consider the One who is at the center of the holiday. And so few ever truly grasp the historical and theological significance of what occurred that first Christmas.

Christmas commemorates a divine event and a divine person - the miraculous birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Unlike most of our holidays, Christmas is not a celebration of an event strictly from human history that commemorates a human achievement or recognizes a national milestone. An authentic celebration of Christmas honors the most wonderful of divine accomplishments. It recognizes that the eternal, sovereign God came to earth as a human being to live a righteous life among His people and then to die as a perfect sacrifice to deliver from the wrath of God all who repent and believe.

With those truths in mind, we dare not trivialize or sentimentalize the persons and events surrounding the birth of Christ. We dare not ignore the significance of who He is and what He accomplished on behalf of sinners. And we must not hurry through the texts of familiar Christmas passages, thinking that just because we've read and heard them many times before, we know all they have to teach us.

Come with the shepherds, angels and Magi. Get a good look at God in the manger.

Adapted from "GOD in the Manger, The Miraculous Birth of Christ" by John MacArthur