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Today was a trip down memory lane for me. I listened to the very first episode of Excel Still More: Just Get Better. That episode drew a little bit of criticism in the early days for sounding like another way of packaging work based salvation. I filed that away as something to consider but I just wasn't in a place in my life to see it.

I've learned a lot since then. I trust you have as well. So I was ready to go back and listen and be woefully embarrassed. It turns out... it wasn't too bad. And I stand behind the content. But it did omit some needful elements of God's grace driving us and protecting us. And a clearer message that perfect so as to be blessed by God is not the goal, because by our own power, such a thing is unattainable. 

I'd address some of that in the episode today. But also, I want us all to see that our imperfections are always before us. Sometimes we get things right. But often times we may do the right thing with the wrong motives. Other times our motives are pure and we miss the mark on actions. All of us need to grow and change and learn. But, only closeness to God can help. Only His power, His grace, His Spirit, and His wisdom given to us can make us good. Let's grow closer to God. A cool byproduct is that people who thing they will never come together may find each other at His feet. 

- Why is "Excel Still More" a better idea to carry than simply "Just Get Better"?

- How is the pursuit of better sometimes a path to pride and further from God?

- Why is pursuing closeness to God the only way to be saved and grow in faith?

- Why is both "right wrong" and "wrong right" often a part of our path?

- How can we have confidence if "right right" is so hard to attain and keep?

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I chose a thumbnail for this episode after the content was recorded. It isn't actually referenced in the audio today. But I really love it. We need to be transformed. We want changed hearts and minds and lives. That means building everything around the cross of Jesus. Not the resurrection. not the ascension. The cross. The great act of power and kingdom glory was in Jesus lowest, most sacrificial moment on earth.

Being a disciples means being transformed into the image and life of Christ. I fear too many of us feel like maturity in discipleship is the right baptism and the right church and a good moral life. There is so much more. We are to become more like Him. Do you and I value our kingdom growth in terms of how much closer we become like Jesus on the cross?  Is growing in littleness and self sacrifice the metric for strength?

Today we explore all of that and continue to discuss things found in the Ronald Rolheiser book, Sacred Fire. I recommend that read to you. He included three stories from the Gospels that can begin a needful transformation in us all. Certainly me. 

- Why do youth need compassion and justice while building their lives?

- How are we to transition from building a life to giving that life away?

- If we followed the model of Jesus life, what would be our greatest achievement?

- How does our need to understand what Christ is doing sometimes limit our growth?

- How does a narrow view of our mission sometimes a problem in great discipleship?

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I encourage you to give this seven minute speech a listen: The Sixteenth Second.

Kyle Martin, a 2019 high school graduate, gives a powerful commencement address to his fellow graduating class. He put in a ton of work to accomplish being number one, but he reflects honestly on what it cost him. He learned a lesson early that should define his goals and the costs he is willing to pay in his life. Some of us have long past the age of 19, but maybe this is a lesson we need to learn as well.

Before we get to that, I'd love to tell you about a speech I was thankful to give to a group of High School students this past Friday night. God wants them, and you, to be filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with Him, He makes us strong enough to stand the weight of the devil. And we can be prepared to pour the Spirit's goodness into the lives of others. This is God's will for our lives. May nothing else be allowed to rob us of this beautiful work of love and service.

- Why is a strong relationship with the Spirit needful to be strong in the face of trial?

- Why is connection with the Spirit necessary to be a light in the lives of others?

- Do we sometimes devote our lives to things that cost us our greatest mission?

- Are you comfortable with accepting God's great mission for your life?

- How can we live so that we will never regret "the sixteenth second"?

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In 2011 Robert Downey Jr. gave an acceptance speech at an award show. In that speech he spoke of how he had to "hug the cactus," the deep, dark part of his life, in order to remove it. It was hard and painful, but it brought him humility and a changed life. For many of us, we can't just walk by a cactus like that and things be okay.

I think I've often focused on smaller problems in order to justify ignoring bigger ones. But it turns out, the big problem is usually the thing causing the smaller ones! This is a needful, deeply personal process that can lead to a tremendously transformed life.

Are you ready to stare at the cactus in the garden? No more excuses or justification. When we hug it and shake it and wrestle with it, we can, and by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, will shake it loose!

- Why are good friends the ones who challenge us to face our demons?

- Why should forgiveness be extended to everyone who addresses their problems?

- How can you identify the true cactus that might reside in your life?

- Why embrace it? Why not just acknowledge it and move on?

- How do we actually hug this thing? What kind of attention is needed?

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Sam Bennett is a collegiate golfer from Texas A&M. He made an amazing showing at the Masters tournament recently. But his tattoo got as much attention as his golf game. He lost his father two years ago and had his father's last written words identically tattooed on his arm. The message is powerful and needful for us all.

It can be so easy to do nothing. We do nothing out of fear. We do nothing out of a lack of self belief. Often we may do nothing as a result of a weaker faith than we'd like to admit. Jesus didn't teach a "do nothing" Gospel. His message is for disciples to follow Him. He asked them to do something. He challenged them to do hard things, amazing things, and things that would change the world. He is calling you to that same path.

- Why is it so easy to do nothing, even when we know change could help?

- How is "Don't wait to do something" a message we all need every day?

- What is a better version of you in terms of faith or family or even fitness?

- What will happen if you use your gifts, even in small amounts, over time?

Here is an episode list referenced in the podcast today:

1 - Just Get Better
4 - Be Wise Small
11 - Eat That Frog
24 - Try Three Times
26 - Do Hard Things
37 - Be An Encourager
41 - Change Your Geography 
46 - Start From Here
64 - Cast Your Bread!

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Special thanks to my friend, Kam Armstrong, for calling my attention to the book Sacred Fire, by Ronald Rolheiser. He expresses three levels of life, both physically and spiritually: Essential Discipleship (the struggle to get our lives together), Mature Discipleship (the struggle to give our lives away), and Radical Discipleship (the struggle to give our deaths away).

We will be focusing on the first of those today, and particularly how young adults embrace this task of putting their own life together. Younger people face a huge challenge. They are physically and mentally charged up with a grand task before them. How can they build out a life of longing that is a holy longing, a longing that honors.

Ronald Rolheiser wrote an earlier book "The Holy Calling" that will serve as our title today, and it focused more heavily on this first category. I encourage all younger people to listen, teens and young adults. But parents and grandparents need to listen as well. You need to remember what it was like to be young so you can be a compassionate, kind and helpful influence for them.

Here is the list of 7 elements raging and demanding attention in our youth:
1) Eros - the sheer pulse of life
2) Sexuality - it's brute force within us
3) Restlessness - how will this all come together
4) Loneliness - the pursuit of intimacy
5) Insubstantiality - what is my meaning and purpose and worth
6) Moral Fervor - what is worth fighting for and who can I fight with
7) Nostaliga to Come Home - more specifically, how will I build my own home

These things exist for all of us, but the intensity gauge tends to come down throughout the years. This makes older people great mentors. But it doesn't make these things any less potent. So, here are four things you must seed in your heart during these years:

1) Private Prayer and Private Integrity (pursue, know, love and serve Jesus)
2) Charity and Justice (a heart for people, for the poor and hurting, compassion)
3) Involvement with the Church (holy community, intergenerational faith support)
4) Forgiveness and Mellowness of Heart (peace, mercy, optimism, and soft hearts)

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Are you in the body of Christ? That sounds serious. What does it mean? It becomes easy to see a relationship what Jesus as JUST a relationship with Jesus. But we are a part of something more - a group of people who belong to Him. He has added you because of your value in helping His body function and in assisting other Christians. As we explore that today we will look at 5 points by Ralph Walker. I'll list them below. I also got to ask Christian High Schoolers some questions about gifts, and I'll include the for your benefit below as well. Identify your gifts and use them in the body.

Ralph's Points:
- Every member has a function
- The purpose of all spiritual gifts is to serve others and glorify God
- Every gift is important, and every Christian has a gift
- All gifts must be exercised and developed
- There are greater gifts which should motivate us all

Q&A with High School Students:

What do we share in common?
- Love for and belief in Jesus
- Spiritual gifts to help the body
- Hope of heaven
- Common struggles
- Victories and goals in Jesus

How do we share in this fellowship?
- Pray for one another
- Encourage and build up each other
- Participate/get involved in worship
- Talking to one another (even outside of usual friend groups)
- Openness and honesty / transparency with one another to get and give help.

What are some gifts you or others have from the Lord?
- Kindness
- Teaching the Bible
- Organizing events
- Hospitality

Bonus List (from Romans 12:6-8)
- Service
- Teaching
- Exhorting
- Giving
- Leading
- Showing Mercy

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Today we look at Jesus and His disciples. Jesus is perfect. Disciples are not. How is that supposed to work? In fact, in Mark 9, there are at least 5 shortcomings of the disciples. They are not Pharisees. Their hearts are good. But their walk was imperfect. Let's look at that list and appreciate how gracious and kind Jesus is! But there is also a call to growth. He is patient but He also has expectations. I hope you can look at this list today and pick some things you want to grow in out of gratitude to Jesus. 

Asserting instead of Listening with Patience (Mark 9:1-8)

Failing instead of Succeeding through Faith (9:14-29)

Missing instead of Understanding His Plan (9:9-11, 30-32)

Disputing instead of Serving with Humility (9:33-37)

Opposing instead of Receiving in Fellowship (9:38-41)

May we be a people who grow through this to greater faith:

Listening with Patience

Succeeding through Faith

Understanding His Will

Humbly Serving

Receiving in Fellowship

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Today we are comparing the Pharisees (along with some Priests and Rich folks) to true Disciples (even an outside looking in Gentile woman). The Gospels, and Jesus Himself, demand that we come face to face with the difference and choose who we want to be.  In today's episode we look at several stories I'll note and reference here:

Pharisees and Tax Collector - Luke 18:9-14
The Good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-37
The Widow's Mites - Luke 21:1-4
Simon and the Sinful Woman - Luke 7:36-50
Pharisee and the Gentile Woman - Mark 7:1-30

As you read and hear about these stories, ask yourself:

- Do I approach Christ and worship more like the Pharisee or the tax man?

- Am I more like the Priest or the Samaritan when I see people in need?

- Do I submit all of my goods to God's cause or just out of my surplus?

- Would I wash Jesus feet with my tear and hair or sit proudly at the table?

- Do we set aside love of others for our views or let love for all reign?

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Mark's Gospel is powerfully and precisely written. It packs a ton of information into shorter spaces than the other Gospels.  (A great Gospel for ADHD sufferers!). Mark also uses the power of COMPARISON to make his points super strong. In Mark 2, he compares the Pharisees with Jesus by showing the questions they asked Him. We will look at those today, as well as the one question Jesus asked them to start chapter 3.

It is often said of the church, that there are Pharisees and we are sometimes Legalistic, too Judgmental, or Traditionalists to a fault. There may be truth to that at times, but if we can't be specific on what that looks like, we can't fix it. Some of us may just not have the heart to fix it... you know... like the Pharisees. But for those of us who do want to be more like Jesus and less like the Pharisees, we need some guidance. Today's episode may be a good place to start. Be prayer and give it a listen. 

- Why were the Pharisees so doubtful and unkind toward Jesus?

- How was His heart for people nearly nothing like their heart?

- Why was Jesus simple teaching of salvation in Him such a threat to them?

- Should mercy triumph over judgment and what does that look like?

- How can you be more like Jesus and less like the Pharisees?