Live Well, Lead Well

Sometimes you don’t want to be seen or noticed. Especially when you’re in trouble and distress. That’s not a state you wish to be remembered in. You don’t want to be known as the person who is always in distress.

But there are times you wish someone would notice you and your predicament. If someone would look at you with an understanding perspective, that would change everything. Then at least you would feel understood and valued as a person.

But what about grace? Could it be that this demand for obedience might lead to some kind of legalism? Clearly, salvation is received by grace through faith in Jesus. There's no way around that.

But when you consider the plight of the man who built his house on the sand, it is sad. Yet it was his own fault. He knew that he could have built it on the rock. But he ignored it. Informing someone about a good foundation of obedience is not legalism, it is grace at its fullest extent.

The choice between turning left or right might not be so difficult. Turning the page is just a move of your finger. Basic, simple, turns are no big deal.

But turning from mourning to dancing is different. It is clearly the difference between life and death. These are two totally different phases of life that can’t even meet because they are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Sometimes people ask: “What’s that?” They’re curious that I didn’t stick with the denomination that my parents were part of. Then I went to a college that was part of another denomination. I had friends who were part of even another group. But why the Vineyard?

This podcast is my take on "why Vineyard?" 

Is this the end of the world? Will we come out of this worldwide mess we are in? Is this the sign that we all have been waiting for? 

While we are experiencing the difficulty, it may not seem like a time of “mercy.” Rather, it’s full of pain, agony, affliction and a host of other struggles. But God gives us strength. His mercies are new every morning like the dew.

That mercy is what we get to pass onto others. When we see people in pain, show mercy and pray for their healing. When we see people struggling with addictions, show mercy by being patient with them. When we see people in sin, show mercy by being forgiving, and invite them into the kingdom of our Lord.

As in any battle situation, there will be losses and certainly some injury. Acknowledge it as a part of the battle. But keep your focus on our victorious Lord who brings us through each battle. The war has already been won. You’re fighting the small battles to clear off some of the residue. Continue to push through every battle and difficulty with the strength of the Lord.

That’s confidence, knowing that the war has already been won.