Over the last couple of Sundays I’ve had the privilege of speaking on the matter of guarding your heart at the church where I serve, Grace Chapel (to view go to www.gracechapel.net/teaching). I’m finding that for many the matter of ‘opting out of offense’ hit their hearts like an arrow landing in the center of its target. We must realize more than ever that the enemy of our soul desires to ‘bait’ us in to the ‘trap’ of not only being offended but picking up everyone else’s offenses! I’m noticing that some people seem to be ‘offense magnets’ because they are carrying unforgiveness or have experienced a very real injustice – or both. If this describes your inner disposition it is essential that you get free from this ‘trap’.

As godly men and women, we must embrace a ‘warrior mentality’ when you see this in our lives and go after it! Imagine if someone was breaking in to your home in the middle of the night – you’d do everything you possible could to defend your family and your stuff. You must defend your ‘inner life’ with the same intensity and effort. Remember, offense is all about Satan’s attempt to ‘bait’ you in to something – to ‘scandalize’ you so you can be a source of scandal and offense everywhere you go!

Let’s go on the offence together against offense! Deal aggressively with whatever is currently in your heart through repentance (if you’ve picked it up) and/or forgiveness (if you need to forgive someone who has sinned against you). Then, take a stand – get your ‘offense radar’ working and refuse to be ‘baited’ anymore by not ‘picking up’ an offense when one is presented to you. Get with your friends and talk together about your strategy of winning this war against your souls – and go on the offence against offense!

~ Dave Buehring

I don’t think I can ever remember a time when so many of my friends have been walking through so many challenging circumstances. Gut wrenching disappointments, deep discouragement, hope deferred (which makes the heart sick – Proverbs 13:12) and non-expected disasters have saddled a lot of good people in the days we are living. Of course, we have had our own challenges and it has got me to thinking again about ‘how do we guard our hearts in the midst of all of this’? The last thing you want, on top of everything else, is a hard and unresponsive heart to God and others.

In combing the Scriptures, I found myself reminded of the words in Proverbs 4:23, ‘Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life’. Just like blood flows from our physical hearts to the rest of our bodies so the condition of our ‘spiritual hearts’ effects all of our life – our motivations, attitudes, thoughts, actions and words, as well as the way we relate to God and those around us. We either emit life and health or disease and death depending on the state of our heart.

So, how’s the condition of your heart right now? Tempted to become bitter? Wrestling with offenses? Unresponsive due to a numbed-out heart? Can I share two things I’m learning in the midst of our ‘curves of life’? First, God absolutely loves us, is committed to us and is with us – always (Matthew 28:20). And, second, my reactions in turbulent times are ‘windows to my heart’ helping me to see what’s really going on in there – and what God might want to speak to, tenderly touch or align more to His ways and truth.

~ Dave Buehring

Have you noticed how it seems as if God is constantly putting us in places of great dependence? For you, it might be on the relational front, where if God doesn’t come through, wounds, disappointments and divisiveness may soon follow. Or, maybe it is on the career or financial side of things these days, needing to see God open some doors that right now appear to be bolted shut. Could be directionally, waiting for God to show you next steps – and the timing involved in those steps.

Over the years I have become quite convinced that God likes it when we are dependent on Him! Your current circumstances and mine are unique to us yet not unlike what real life people in the Scriptures walked through. Imagine Moses’ intense sense of immediate dependence when trapped between Pharaoh’s oncoming army and the Red Sea. Or, Joshua being told to walk around a walled city six times, shouting the seventh, and trusting that those very walls would tumble down without ever touching them! And then there is Daniel, tossed in to a den of lions as lunch for his obedience to God. And what about Mary who discovered she would become pregnant with the Messiah – BEFORE she was married! Geez-Louise!

So what’s the deal here? First of all, we must remember that God does nothing without our highest good and His glory in mind. He indeed ‘works all things together for good for those that love Him and are called according to His purposes’ (Rom.8:28). Second, God is stretching our ‘trust capacitor’ so He can position us for greater Kingdom purposes in the days ahead – so a right response is more important than we may have initially realized. And third, we must embrace the ride! You have a front row seat – just like Moses, Joshua, Daniel and Mary – to experience Almighty God in action on your behalf!

~ Dave Buehring

The topic of repentance is not always the most popular, even amongst followers of Jesus. However, it is key to true heart change and living in real freedom from the inside out! I have found it something to be embraced over the last three decades versus something to be avoided. I have also discovered that when a group of people – a family, a church, a business, a nation – responds to God together with an attitude of repentance that breakthroughs often immediately accompany it (see the story of Jonah and Nineveh). After all, God’s ways really do work!

When looking at the word itself, repentance means ‘a turning around’ or a ‘heading back home’. In Luke 15, we read the story of a young man who demanded his inheritance from his father and then in a short time squandered it all. While ‘muddling’ with the pigs he comes to his senses and in his heart begins to ‘head back home’ (repents). He is greeted by a Father who was waiting for him and he is restored to his rightful place as ‘son’ with a robe, a ring and a feast!

This story by Jesus also portrays for us other shades of repentance. It also means ‘to exchange’ one’s life for another’s – God’s. The runaway son moved from dwelling in the ‘community of swine’ to belonging once again in family, and exchanging a life mired in mud for one where he was completely forgiven and honored. Furthermore, repentance speaks of our being restored. Our sin and selfishness has led to a disorienting and disfigured life. As we turn towards Jesus, He amazingly restores us to who He has called us to be, repairs our broken relationships and rightly aligns us to our original design and the purposes for which we have been born. Are you ready to ‘head back home’?

~ Dave Buehring

“Repentance is the starting point for all spiritual growth.” – Alexander Solzhenitsyn

As I prepare to preach for several nights in a row among a people hungry to experience God in a deeper way in their lives, my heart is stirred afresh by the message of repentance. I find my own heart longing for the washing of the deep places within that accompanies repentance – and that fresh sense of His Presence which always seems to follow. Acts 3:19-20 reminds us, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”

Have you noticed how subtly our hearts can become hardened to the Lord and His Presence? It’s a condition of the heart of man and we see it play out in the Scriptures over and over again. Maybe like me you think, ‘how could the hearts of the Hebrews become so full of unbelief after they SAW the Red Sea open and manna FALL from heaven right in front of their eyes!’ Or, how could Peter become so ‘disconnected’ so quickly that in one moment in the Upper Room he boldly declares he would never deny Jesus – even if everyone else does – and then just a few hours later he boldly calls curses down on himself to prove to those around him that he doesn’t even know Him?! It’s the condition of our hearts, mine and yours!

How do we keep our hearts ‘tender’ before the Lord and aware of His Presence in our lives? It begins with repentance. To repent means seeing your sin the way God sees it, turning away from it towards Jesus instead while trusting your life in His hands. It’s where spiritual ‘life’ really begins. Where might the Holy Spirit be moving on you even now to repent?

~ Dave Buehring

Over the last number of weeks we have been addressing the matter of our places of service within culture and how each has a ‘touch of God’ on it that we have the privilege of representing and reflecting. This week I want to provide a few thoughts on the domain of arts/entertainment/sports.

Beauty. It is something every one of us appreciates and values. We see in Psalm 27:4, David ‘gazing upon the beauty of the Lord’. Have you ever stopped to consider that all beauty is actually rooted in God Himself? We all know that something created is actually an overflow of the one who created it. So, when we experience breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, a majestic mountain range and deep turquoise ocean waters that contain incredible creatures, we can’t help but realize what an amazingly creative and beautiful God we serve!

We can also see the beauty of the Lord expressed through people in many ways – especially through the domain of arts/entertainment/sports. We’ve all seen a painting or picture that has moved us and remained etched in our minds. Certain songs bring to the surface of our memories meaningful moments of our lives. Scenes from a well written drama or movie have revealed beauty in ways that we might not have seen in any other way. A well executed play on a football field with eleven athletes fulfilling their roles as one, or a little red seamed white ball traveling 400 feet in a high arched curve over a fence while lit up against a darkened sky are also wonderful expressions of beauty.

It’s about revealing His Beauty via one’s God-given craft. It’s Jesus unveiling Himself for us to enjoy and the world to experience – and in the end, for Him to be glorified.

~ Dave Buehring

Over the last month I have been addressing what I refer to as the ‘Dozen Domains’ of culture, twelve broad umbrellas that make up the various arenas of culture where people serve. We’ve looked at a number already (see Archives), and today I want to briefly touch on the need for godly leaders within the Media.

Maybe like me, you’ve found that having correct information significantly aids one’s decision making process. To know and understand my options enables me to make wise choices that ultimately benefit the people I love and the organization I lead, as well as advancing the Kingdom of God around me. I remember a time when news would be reported on television, radio and in print with clarity and correctness. Somehow over the years there’s been a drift by the media from reporting accurate information to slanting that information to reinforce a particular bias, stroke egos or tear people to shreds – thus launching us in to ‘spin zones’ that make our heads spin!

My brother, Tom, a godly man, has been appointed by God to serve within the media. I have watched him lead in this domain over the last two decades and have observed several things. First, his heart’s desire is to glorify God not focus on fame for himself. Second, he treats those he works with honorably – which enables God to entrust to him key opportunities that others may not get. Third, he works hard to make sure a story is truth oriented while putting the best light on the people involved. And fourth, he uses his God-given platform to serve real needs within the community where he lives.

I believe we need more ‘Toms’ in the media. How do we do that? Through deliberately disciple-making and mentoring those who serve in this domain in the ways of God.

~ Dave Buehring

I have been blogging the last month about the ‘Dozen Domains’ – what they are, how they relate to God’s character and what’s in His heart to express through us who serve within them. We have identified them as the domains of family, church/missions, government, education/students, media, arts/entertainment/sports, business, science/technology, health/medicine/wholeness, environment/agriculture, military/nation-security and the non-profit/service organization worlds. As with each of these domains, God desires to be glorified within them and wants to see people honored and served through them.

Education revolves around teachers and administrators, knowledge and skills – and depending on who is imparting it, in can (and should) include wisdom and understanding. It also is made up of learners, or students, aged from 1-99. It speaks of pre-school, elementary, jr. high, high school, home school, college and university, formal and informal, and learning over one’s entire lifetime.

In particular, education shapes the young. During my eleven journeys into Russia from 1991-95 I saw the effects of a deliberate Communist education on children who had become adults. Communist leader and political dictator, Joseph Stalin said, “Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed”. He used this ‘weapon’ in such a way to shape the hearts and minds of generations – 70 years worth – to such an extent that it still impacts the world today.

As disciples of Jesus who are called to be educators, there is a HUGE opportunity to shape children and youth – and men and women of all ages – in the ways of God. Imagine teaching ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’ or business, communication and technology while at the same time revealing the nature and character of God behind them! As an encouragement, take a peek at what some friends of mine have done in launching a school to do just that in Iraq (http://www.csmedes.org).

~ Dave Buehring

I have spent the last several weeks addressing something I refer to as the ‘Dozen Domains’. These domains of culture represent the various broad ‘umbrellas’ that make up our careers, callings and places of service. Each of these arenas are meant to reflect God’s character and glorify Him while at the same time seeing people treated with honor and well served through them. We have already taken a look at Family and Church/Missions (see Archives) and this week I would like to share some thoughts on the domain of Government/Law/Politics.

One of the domains most directly addressed in the Scriptures in that of Government. When referencing the book of Isaiah we see Jesus referred to as the ‘Prince of Peace’ and we are told that the ‘government will rest on His shoulders’. In the Scriptures He is called the ‘King of Kings’ and the ‘Lord of Lords’ – both titles of governmental leadership. When observing God’s attitudes and actions throughout both the Old and New Testaments we see His leadership of people expressed through having the heart of a ‘Father’ and a ‘Shepherd’ while at the same time executing justice and benevolence. Psalm 145 reminds us that He is ‘just and kind in all His ways and doings’.

When examining God’s instructions to those serving in governmental roles, such as Saul, David, Solomon, Esther, Nehemiah and Daniel, we can gain great understanding on what He expects of those that He assigns to this kind of public service. Godly leaders serving within this domain are to reflect God’s heart of integrity, compassion and justice while consistently referencing the ways of God when dealing with motivations of the heart, decision making processes that produce wisdom and how the people they are responsible for are treated.

If you have been appointed by God to serve within this domain, I commend the ways of God revealed in the Scriptures to you as your ‘compass point’ for how you exercise leadership.

~ Dave Buehring

If you are dropping by for the first time I have been writing about something I have dubbed the 'Dozen Domains' - twelve arenas of culture by which we can glorify God and serve others. They include family, church and missions, government/law/politics, education/students, business, media, arts/entertainment/sports, science/technology, health/medicine/wholeness, environment/agriculture, military/nation-security and the non-profit world.

When you consider the role of disciple-making in the church, we must go back to the source of the mandate, Jesus. When we observe His life in the Gospels, it is clear that while He taught the multitudes His primary focus was investing His life within twelve men. He taught them the truth, demonstrated what it 'looked like' and asked them to replicate it in others. In Matthew 28:18-20, He commanded His followers to 'teach others to obey what I have commanded you'. They were to pass on that which had been imparted to them. As we venture through the book of Acts we see the fruit of their disciple-making, and concurrent with it, the advancement of God's Kingdom throughout the earth accompanied by amazing demonstrations of power!

In the New Testament, the church was 'the hub' of disciple-making. It's what disciples did and it enabled the church to grow deep and mature. It kept the truth of Jesus' teaching simple and pure as it was communicated by the mature to the maturing in the context of godly community. It was the source behind the multiplication of the church.

Somehow we have drifted from this mandate of Jesus and this New Testament model. I believe in this new decade, we must actively engage in seeing the church once again become the primary 'hub' of disciple-making. The overflow from there will impact the other 'domains'. My team and I have committed ourselves to this - won't you join us?

~ Dave Buehring

I mentioned a few weeks back about the focus that the organization I have the privilege of leading, the Lionshare Leadership Group, is embarking upon – a decade-long approach to recapturing deliberate disciple-making and mentoring. Our aim is to raise up godly leaders and multipliable models within the ‘dozen domains’ of culture, believing that when someone lives and leads out of the ways of God that He is glorified and people are truly honored and served.

Family was the very first social structure of love, companionship and purpose that God established on earth (see the early chapters of Genesis). The family is God’s idea. It is a reflection of His character. He created a relationship for husband and wife to love and serve one another and to allow that joyful loving expression to spill over to their children where they could be nurtured and equipped in life and godliness. The family structure shares God’s heart of care and His desire for everyone to ‘belong’ to another.

In today’s world the family is often under attack. To counter that, we need to see godly men and women intentionally investing what God has taught them about marriage and family life in to the next generation of couples and parents. Marriage and family have been a bedrock foundational component of community for centuries in cultures all around the world. What have you applied from the Scriptures that have cultivated a healthy marriage? How do you raise up children to walk in the ways of God? How do you tend your relationships with young adult children? How do you grandparent in the ways of God?

We need godly multipliers of marriage and family life. Consider how you might contribute what you’ve learned within this vital aspect of our country’s culture.

~ Dave Buehring

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

We find the above verse written in three of the four gospels, emphasizing the seriousness of the Lord’s call to discipleship. In Matthew, the passage is preceded by the account of Peter’s revelation of Jesus as the Christ, and it’s followed by the rebuke Peter receives for allowing Satan to influence the things of God. Both experiences—the recognition and confession of Jesus as the Son of God, and refusing Satan access to his heart and mind—were only the start of what it would mean to be Jesus’ disciple. Indeed, if anyone would come after Him, it would cost more—it would require their entire lives.

A disciple is someone who places himself under another’s tutelage to learn his way of life and to carry his cause. The disciple-student learns from his master-teacher by listening, watching and participating together with him in the events of daily living. The student is shaped by the teacher’s influence and gleans from his expertise and experiences. Disciples are instructed, corrected, encouraged along in a discipleship journey. In short, the disciple-student becomes a lot like the master-teacher, in character, ways and purpose. This is what Jesus had in mind when He called men and women to follow Him in discipleship. He called them to become like Him and to disciple others to so the same.

Where do you stand? Have you whole-heartedly embraced the discipleship call?

~ Dave Buehring

When I was a young missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), one of the things that we learned about was how God had a desire to impact and be expressed through the various spheres of society. As Winkie Pratney has been recently sharing – each of the ‘domains of culture’ are actually expressions of God Himself. For example, we see God ‘the gardener’ in Eden, the Lord as ‘entertainer’ actively displaying His beauty and splendor in the skies above every night, and Jesus, ‘the advocate’, standing in the gap by going to the cross on our behalf. Numerous other ‘vocations’ are rooted in God as revealed in the Scriptures. Not only is that simply cool, it also gives great weight and credibility to a person’s calling. Martin Luther had this right centuries ago and it’s time for this current generation to rediscover and embrace this afresh!

In 1975, Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM) and Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) compared notes and discovered that the Holy Spirit had been underscoring a similar set of seven ‘mind molders’ of culture. I learned about this two years later when in 1977 I participated in one of YWAM’s Discipleship Training Schools in Kona, Hawaii. Over the last decade I have been pondering the original seven shared – family, church, government, education, business, media and arts/entertainment/sports – and have added five in light of what has transpired since that Cunningham-Bright moment three-and-a-half decades ago. Rounding out my set of the ‘Dozen Domains’ are health/medicine/wholeness, science/technology, environment/agriculture, military/nation-security and the non-profit world that focuses on justice, mercy and hope.

I’d encourage you to consider this as it relates to God’s call on your life and how you pray for our nation.

~ Dave Buehring

I had the privilege of hosting our NetDMC Summit in Dallas/Fort Worth last week. NetDMC is simply our shortened way of referring to our growing national ‘network of disciple-makers, mentors and coaches’. We had godly men and women representing 17 states, Washington D.C., 31 ministries, 15 companies and organizations and 9 denominations present. We gathered for a second time to address a crucial issue in our land and throughout the Body of Christ – the lack of the deliberate passing on of the ways of God via the vehicles of disciple-making, mentoring and coaching. Now, each of these three expressions have their own nuances yet all embrace walking alongside others, guiding and equipping people, demonstrating what they are passing on in their own lives and leadership and the value of multiplication – something is poured in to someone so they can pass it on to others.

While together we heard one another’s hearts – from the need to see local churches become ‘disciple-making hubs’ to godly leaders representing the various ‘domains of culture’ more intentionally modeling and investing godly values, character and principles within the people they lead. How I wish you were there to hear numerous humble, wise and godly black leaders express their hearts about the urgent need to disciple the young black man in America! And, we shared what could happen over the next decade – via a ‘2020 Vision’ – if we teamed together to make an impact.

While there I had the opportunity to meet several ‘war horses’ in this matter of discipleship – people who have been faithfully committed to making disciples even longer than my 33 years! We agreed that this is a matter of utmost importance in the heart of God. It’s time to remove the ‘optional’ label from this command of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 and get to it!

~ Dave Buehring

Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13

As followers of Jesus – meaning those who have yielded to His Lordship and are wholeheartedly pursing His path – we are to lay down our lives for others. A reading of the Scriptures does not portray this as necessarily being easy, but rather often laden with great challenge and sacrifice. We see this very wresting in the life of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as he considered the cross (Luke 22:39-44). Of His original disciples, Judas betrayed Him and only John died a natural death – the rest where all martyred including James who was beheaded, Bartholomew who was beaten to death and Peter who, tradition tells us, was crucified upside down!

It has been a refreshing insight for me recently that these disciples did not lay down their lives first and foremost for a cause, but a person they loved and were committed to! Of course, Jesus was their reference point and modeled ‘laying down your life’ in front of their very eyes! Not only did they experience this in His death but they also would have viewed firsthand what ‘giving your life away’ looked like on a daily basis as they lived life together.

In this world where today so many are looking for ‘the cause’ they can all rally around, I would submit a better use of our seeking would be to rediscover what it means to fall in love afresh with Jesus. My experience has taught me that people who ‘love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength’ (Mark 12:30) are by far the most willing to sacrifice it all and the most full of indescribable joy!

~ Dave Buehring

Looking at the lives of many friends it seems as if most of them are in races of endurance. For some the race revolves around personal matters – dealing with current financial drains, the loss of the love of their life or keeping their spiritual or emotional ‘head above water’. For others, its relationships – and in particular, broken ones – trying to understand where things ‘went south’, what might have been, and how, if at all possible, it might be restored. And, for a number of my friends, their stamina is being severely tested in their callings and careers: is it really worth all that I have invested in this? Does anybody really believe this is as important as I think it is? What are the consequences for me, others and the Kingdom of God if I take some steps back from this? All legitimate considerations. I can relate.

When considering such weighty matters it’s good to reference the ways of God in the Scriptures. I’m reminded of Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

When hitting the hills and curves in our races take strength from the heavenly ‘cloud of witnesses’ that is cheering us on. Deliberately ay aside everything that entangles. Most importantly, let’s keep our eyes locked on Jesus because He is ‘lay down my life’ committed to us. And besides, He knows how to finish the race well!

~ Dave Buehring

When one becomes a follower of Jesus they are ‘enlisted’ as a warrior for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. As a citizen of the Kingdom our battle is always in opposition to the enemy of our souls – the devil – and is never against people, but always for people. Ephesians 6:12 helps us understand this paradigm when it says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (NLT).

Disciples of Jesus don’t ever view people as the enemy but rather as those who may be enslaved. When someone is being ravaged and robbed by sin and selfishness we respond by getting on our knees to intercede for their freedom. When we observe people captured by the consequences of the choices of others we actively look to the Lord to see how we can participate with Him to ‘intervene to redeem’. When belief systems lead to deception and bondage we band together to fast and pray for biblical strategies that will enable liberty to rule and reign.

The enemy’s mission statement to ‘steal, kill and destroy’ (John 10:10) was exposed by Jesus so that we might bring life and light in the midst of darkness. Sometimes it can all feel very overwhelming, however, if each of us tends what’s in front of us we can make an impact together. Consider, how can you spiritually fight for your family and friends? How can you advance God’s Kingdom within your role where you serve in your domain of culture? How about engaging in spiritual warfare on behalf of your church? Who do you know today that you can ‘stand in the gap’ for by praying and obeying?

~ Dave Buehring

Have you ever noticed as a follower of Jesus that sometimes you are ‘at odds’ with the world around you? Might be as a young adult you committed to do something a little different by deciding you weren’t going to kiss someone until you were engaged – or married. Or, instead of going out of town to party with everyone else for the weekend you choose to stash cash and go out of the country for a week to serve the needy. Perhaps, out of the sheer joy of experiencing the inner freedom that comes with forgiveness you shared Jesus with someone you really cared about – only to have them look at you like your eyes and ears switched places!

Because our beliefs and values are based on the Scriptures we don’t always gel with those of the worlds. This doesn’t mean being ‘at odds’ with an attitude but because we simply see things through a different set of lenses. The world’s measure of success has more to do with position, power and pay, while ours has to do with obeying God and giving Him glory. Using people for selfish gain has long been established as a norm within our culture, however, disciples of Jesus are called to selflessly give of themselves for another’s gain. Our quest of purity of heart trumps endless pursuits of pleasure. Words of honor win out over words that ‘steal, kill and destroy’. And, the Fear of the Lord, which produces wisdom (Prov.9:10), becomes our reference point for our decisions and the way we relate to others.

Jesus told us we were the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world’ (Matt.13-16). Remember that the next time you feel like the ‘odd one out’.

~ Dave Buehring

Today I got off the phone with a buddy of 30 years who had experienced his wife entering heaven just moments before. It was not unlike another dear friend of nearly two decades who experienced the same only two weeks prior. Both expressed the ‘bitter-sweetness’ of it all, the sadness of the loss of their best friend yet rejoicing that they were no longer riddled with disease but enjoying the fullness of the presence of the Lord.

Talking with these two friends numerous times over the last couple of weeks has reminded me once more of the biblical reality declared in that old song, ‘this world is not my home, I’m just passing through’. This does not mean we are to despise the world we live in – for its beauty and wonder were created by God Himself for us to enjoy – but rather not to get ‘too attached’. Our hearts and affections are to be set on ‘things above’ (Colossians 3:1-2).

Disciples of Jesus live each day in light of eternity. It’s what allows us to ‘measure’ how important something really is or isn’t. It lets us grasp the immeasurable and eternal value of people – each and every one. It keeps before us that we will give an account of our lives to the Lord – what we’ve done with what He has given us and asked us to do (1Cor.3:11-13).

What are you ‘attached’ to and where have you set your ‘affections’? Where are you investing your time, energy and God-given gifts – in things for here and now or in ‘things above’ for there and then? May God grant us grace to live with more of an eternal perspective – the one my two friends there are now clearly seeing through!

~ Dave Buehring

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

I have heard it said by those who are farther down the road than my 37-years as a follower of Jesus that embracing spiritual disciplines (note how that word relates to ‘disciple’) are one of the key components to a person’s finishing well. There are the familiar and more talked about disciplines, such as spending regular time in the Scriptures, cultivating a consistent prayer life, seasons of fasting with prayer, and generosity expressed through freely giving of one’s time, gifts and resources. In this passage, however, Paul specifically addresses the matter of disciplining his body so it does not betray him, leading to disqualification.

A disciple of Jesus allows the Holy Spirit to ‘tighten up’ areas of their lives where they have become lax, not giving our enemy, the devil, a foothold in our lives (Eph.4:27). Where do you allow your eyes to wander? What kinds of words emerge from your lips? What people and places do you allow your feet to put you in the presence of? How much food and drink do we allow to enter our mouths? What do you put your hands to that would be better left untouched?

Like Paul, we don’t run aimlessly, but rather we carry Christ and His imperishable cause within us. In light of this, let’s take aim at anything and everything that might disqualify us and His message through us.

~ Dave Buehring

Last Sunday a man approached me after our morning gathering with ‘I heard you were a Vikings fan’. After acknowledging that I was indeed a nearly four-decade fan of the purple from Minnesota, he proceeded to share with me how a friend of his who plays for the team is a growing disciple of Jesus. He also said the reason this man had resisted following Jesus over the years was that he ‘stumbled’ over the fact that those who professed to be godly had no difference in standards in the way they lived than those captured by the ways of the world.

In Ephesians 4:17 Paul says, “you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do”. A ‘Gentile’ is someone who does not reference God but rather lives solely to fulfill their own passions and desires. In this passage, Paul exhorts Jesus followers to live according to God’s ways so that we will become an ‘attractive contrast’ to those we influence.

Disciples of Jesus live by different standards, not man-made rules or religious regulations but rather ‘the law of love’ – love of God and the people around them. They live to please God alone. The Scriptures are their roadmap and the Holy Spirit their guide. Repentance is a norm. Humility and honor is the basis of how they relate to others. They’re not captivated by what’s popular because they are enamored with what endures forever. Consumption of stuff pales in light of their heavenly rewards. Obeying God is their joy and the Fear of the Lord the guardian of their soul.

Have we become so focused on identifying with the world that we’ve muted the Light of the One who draws others through us?

~ Dave Buehring

Not since the 1970’s, when I was a teenager committed to following Jesus, have I heard so many speaking so broadly about the biblical mandate of ‘making disciples’. Leaders throughout the Body of Christ and entire denominations are talking about it (I have the honor of addressing two of them within the next few weeks). Publishing houses are recognizing the need and gatherings are emerging with this emphasis – i.e. a theme of the upcoming international assembling of missionary organizations at Tokyo 2010 is ‘Discipling All Peoples’. This is not a new ministry fad or ‘the next great thing to do’ but rather a core component of our Christian journey that has desperately been missing and needs to be rediscovered and revived! It appears the Holy Spirit is fanning this truth afresh within Jesus’ Bride.

Over the last three decades it seems as if we have often drifted from the ‘multiplication by investing the ways of God that you have discovered within others’ directive of Jesus (Mt.28:18-20). Unfortunately, the Church and the world around us have reaped the consequences of our disobedience. While embracing new initiatives and leaning on the Holy Spirit to help us contextualize our message we must also return to our foundations of every follower of Jesus discipled and making disciples. Looking at Jesus’ life and priorities (teaching the multitudes while investing in the 12) this is the primary way the Kingdom is to be advanced!

When you consider where God currently has appointed you to serve and what He has given you to steward, are you looking to raise up godly men and women around you – within your domain of culture and/or areas of strengths and expertise – who will live and lead in the ways of God?

~ Dave Buehring