CULTURAL CHANGE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

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…Romans 12:2 (MSG)

I spent most of the day yesterday in Hillsboro Ohio with a collection of Pastors, worship leaders, recovery leaders and concerned lay-folks. Of course we were talking the opiate crisis and how a simple small group in their church/ministry could be the "catalyst for change" not only in the folks who would attend such a group but their church, their community and “their culture”.

If you have never been to Hillsboro or the southern half of Ohio while beautiful in its terrain, it is a hurting region and town.  Drugs, apathy, pain, and hopelessness infuse and to use a word from Attorney General DeWine “permeate” the culture. 

There is a sense of helplessness. 

The citizenry is “overwhelmed” in the challenges of impoverishment and addiction.  

But this group of passionate leaders weren’t about to allow the “culture” to drag them down to its level.  Rather they were embracing Paul’s challenge. They had come to meet and fix their attention on GOD, see what HE wanted from them and quickly respond to it!

That is why I was so encouraged when the one most vocal about embracing the call to change, the simple opportunity to disciple, was a shaky but determined 73 year old man who currently ministers to the hurting at a place called OHIO’S MISSION BIBLE TRAINING CENTER.  He had served in other capacities for years, but now in his late season of life GOD had pressed Him to FIX his attention on Him and He was still responding!

And GOD WAS bringing out the BEST in him and the BEST in others. This was evidenced by the testimony of a man named Adam who shared this 73 year old's impact on his journey from heroin to Jesus and the amazing power of the WORD of GOD.

I believe far too often we make things a little too complicated.  My bosses will tell you I do.  I am trying to simplify for GOD has made the process for change rather simple. 

Paul shares some of it.

Don’t allow the culture and all of its discouragement, challenges, and “dragging” to cause alarm or frustrate.Make a concerted effort each day to rise above it!

"You may have been born on the rubbish damp. But be careful not to believe that the rubbish damp was born in you! Your environment may try to set conditions that may attempt their fingers on crippling you. But you got to stand and say "With you Lord I am rising against and above my limitations" – Ayivor

Then fix your attention on the FATHER!

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. Psalm 42:5 (MSG)

And then GOD will bring out the BEST in you, your circumstances and the culture!

(GOD) will never leave you; He will lead you in the way that you should go. When you feel dried up and worthless, God will nourish you and give you strength. And you will grow like a garden lovingly tended; you will be like a spring whose water never runs out. Isaiah 58:11 (MSG)

Have a blessed day!

I love you all…

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)