Whether or not you agree or disagree with the New Year's resolution phenomenon is beside the point in this blog post. Let's be honest, we all make 1 or 2 New Year's resolutions at the beginning of the year. My biggest struggle with the phenomenon is that it is usually "flesh-based" instead of "Spirit-based" (see Galatians 5).

We all know that fitness/health/gym clubs make the majority of their money during the month of January. Everyone has good intentions, throws their money at it, and gives it their best shot. Some go a few times. Some go a few weeks or months. Some don't even know where the locker room is. In the end, intentions and new membership cards don't create fitness for anyone. I don't know why I'm using this fitness analogy because I'm one of the most inconsistent gym dudes around, but I didn't buy my membership in January so I'm writing with a clear conscience.

So what will your 2010 New Year's resolution be? Although fitness isn't a bad idea (since I just ate fish and chips at Brazen Head) allow me to challenge you beyond purchasing a new gym membership. Instead of creating a New Year's fleshly-based resolution, what if you implemented a Spirit-filled discipline for your spiritual journey? Followers of Jesus have to lead the way in things that matter most. Among these would be ideas around frugality, solitude, sacrifice, study, prayer, service, and much more. Let's let the world buy up the well-intended gym memberships.

Awhile back I assessed the spiritual disciplines in my life. I examined the things that come naturally. I looked at the things that I really gain life and energy from. I looked at the things that I've done or not done periodically, but would like to do more. My findings on my personal life were very interesting (to me).

Dallas Willard, in his work The Spirit of the Disciplines, defines a spiritual discipline as follows: "A discipline for the spiritual life is an activity undertaken to bring us into more effective cooperation with Christ and his kingdom. These activities give Jesus greater access to the "closed rooms" within our hearts. They make us capable of receiving more of his life and power without harm to others or ourselves."

Willard goes on to explain disciplines of "abstinence" and disciplines of "engagement." This is where it got really interesting to me as I assessed my own life. Check out these lists:


As I used these lists that Willard breaks down, I was challenged to realize that most of my spiritual disciplines are in the engagement category. Most of the things that I naturally do, or like to do, are things that "I go and do." For instance, it is much easier for me to study the Bible than it is to fast from food or drink. It is natural for me to serve and engage in prayer, whereas being silent is pretty tough for me. I was convicted to realize that I don't "stop doing" things well (on the abstienence list). Although I enjoy it when I slide away from the everyday pace of things and escape into solitude, those disciplined moments aren't consistently on my calendar.

So before you go and make some New Year's resolutions, ask yourself - are these flesh-based, or Spirit-based? Also ask, what spiritual discipline(s) should I be implementing into my life as I dive into a new calendar year? Don't sink yourself before you start. Pray. After praying and seeking Jesus, implement only one or two into your current life. Keep in mind, these things won't become habits overnight. They will need more than a swipe or scan of your membership card. If you stay in the love of God, and in the grip of His grace, and walk in the power of the Spirit you will be able to turn a discipline into a lifestyle.

The world is full of good intentions, but as one of my friends says, "people go to hell with good intentions." We (followers of Jesus) MUST live differently and to do so it will take some hard work of both abstinence and engagement.

Bring on 2010,
dusty white

James 1:27 tells us that "the religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I know some widows, and I've been around some orphans, but I know a lot of single moms. I'm not adding to this charging verse in James at all, but practically speaking the church has to respond to the real needs of single motherhood. We have to pastor them well. Lead them. Care for them. Help them shape their children with good theology. Assist them. Let them catch their breath with a real break (and perhaps some sleep).

Today at church, our Lead Pastor, Mark Ashton, allowed some wiggle room in his sermon - room for the Spirit. Although things were on par, planned, and ready to be executed, he folded up his notes and took things in a different direction - the right direction.

After poking and prodding through a sermon on "legacy," influence, the next generation, and so on, Mark took to the Spirit and decided to spend the rest of our worshipful time together CREATING legacy.

After a few moments of personal reflection time, he had all of the single mothers (that were in the service) come forward. After listenting to some personal, "stay in the game," encouraging words from the pulpit, all of the moms turned around so that the rest of the church in that particular service could see them. Then, moved by the Spirit, droves of people came up with cash, gift cards, checks, and whatever else they deemed necessary and blessed them. Kids came. High schoolers came. There were tears, hugs, and lots of selfless givers.

AND THIS is where God really got a hold of me today. Here's what I mean...

Most of my giving is pretty planned out. Occasionally Jaci and I can afford to go up and beyond on "whims of the Spirit" and we find a lot of joy in doing so. But for the most part, our finances are budgeted and our giving is regularly planned. Regardless of how we give of our resources, let me challenge you to consider 2 things: 1) does your life allow promptings from the Spirit and are those promtings welcomed?, and 2) how tightly are you holding onto things you could be giving to people (ie: single moms) in need?

I want to live my life as a good steward of my time, talents, and treasures, but also allow wiggle room for the Spirit . It's also crucial to be "praying in the Spirit on all occasions" (Jude 6). Stewardship and Spirit have to collide to create the kingdom. What does that look like? I think its actually easier than we might think. You have to be willing to fold up your agenda (your sermon notes) and act on whispers from the Spirit. This coming week I'm going to pay attention to the things around me that I typically walk past or ignore. I'm also going to make sure that my family and I come to a conclusion on how to do this as a family. Whether you're 4 years old, 6 years old, or in your 30s - we have to be acting on whispers from the Spirit.

I want to live my life as a sacrificial giver and receiver. God, in Christ Jesus, gave up everything for humanity - me. How then could I hold tightly to anything of earthly value? What does that look like? Well, today, since I was sitting close to the front for my pastoral/stage duties in the Access service, I saw something that I'll never forget. I saw moms overwhelmed with the church BEING the church. The most moving thing however, was not just the Spirit moving in His church, but what happened at the conclusion to the entire movement (and this is the part I'll never forget). One of the receiving mothers had a "wad" of cash and gifts in her hand. Before returning to her seat with the rest of the mothers, she grabbed two of the other moms standing beside her, and split her wad among them. Now THAT is sacrifical receiving...and giving. Oh to live my life like that single mom.

What will you do this Christmas season to give beyond your normal situation - the deep sacrificial giving?

Is there room for the Spirit to prompt you towards the unplanned? Are you willing to respond?

Moved by the church BEING the church,
dwhite