This week our nation celebrated its freedom with Independence Day. The people of our country have a tremendous amount of freedom to choose the direction of their lives. As a follower of Jesus, we have a responsibility to pick from our options in a way that honors God.

Let me offer you a few thoughts about our choices.

When given a choice between love or hate: Choose love.

When given a choice between showing kindness or not getting involved: Show compassion.

When given a choice between assuming the best or the worst in people: See the best.

When given a choice to feel happy or sad: Pick happiness.

When you have the options of responding with anger or forbearance: Exercise self-control.

If you ever the opportunity to act like Jesus or satisfy your flesh: Walk the way of Christ.

You have within yourself the power to choose the direction you walk, the attitude you display and the way you will respond to others. Choose wisely.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Independence Day.

Some of my childhood memories include my dad flipping through the radio while we were traveling and landing on the voice of Paul Harvey. Anyone over the age of 40 will remember the exact sound of which I speak. Paul Harvey hosted a radio show called “The Rest of the Story.” If you remember he would take a person or story from history and give you interesting facts about what happened to them.

Once dad, or I, landed on the show we had to listen to the rest of it. You can’t hear the beginning of a story about a World War Two veteran without knowing what happened to him. And with Paul Harvey, you knew the rest of the story was going to be interesting.

I think of these words as I view the future. What will be the rest of the story?

Honestly, I hope you enjoy this day and this week. I also pray you have a wonderful summer full of blessing. May this year be the best year of your life so far. But don’t forget the rest of the story. Many people have experienced beautiful seasons of life to slip into pain and struggle.

This idea caught me recently as I was looking at the lives of two old friends on social media. Once they were champions of the faith, and now both are far from Jesus in their lifestyle and words. Sadly, both people started down this road away from Christ by a series of small, poor decisions. They started skipping Church, put their Bible on the shelf, dropped out of fellowship with believers and they quit serving other people in Jesus name. Inch by inch their lives moved away from God, and now they are miles from him.

One significant question worth asking yourself is, “Where will this decision lead me in 30 years?” Maybe for the Christian, the words are even more specific, “Where will this lead my faith in 30 years?”

I hope you spend this season investing in fun and family but be sure not to neglect the future. The decisions you make today will pave the way for your life tomorrow. Take the time to be sure you are on the right road.

This morning I was refilling the candy dishes in the lobby of our Church with mints, and I began thinking, “Why am I doing this?” Suddenly my mind went back several years in my ministry.

At one of the Church’s I served, I was a part of an elder’s meeting shortly after arriving. Somewhere in the conversation, one of the elders started talking about our guests. He went on to say that we had a man who usually did the greeting of everyone as the came into the building to worship. He then went on to say, “Unfortunately he has horrible breath.”

Silence fell over the room. The cat had been let out of the bag. I assume everyone knew it was a problem, but no one wanted to offend this man by addressing it. The sad result, everyone knew the problem, but no one had a plan to fix it without making things worse.

In all youthful confidence, I said, “I will take care of it.” They smiled as if to reply, “Sure kid. You take care of it. Let’s see what kind of mess you can make.”

That week I went to the store and bought a big bag of peppermint candy. I found two small baskets at the Church. Then I filled them with candy and placed them on the table in the lobby where we set the printed programs and other Church material.

The next Sunday, I watched our friendly greeter walk into the lobby, see the candy, pick one up and pop it in his mouth. That day his breath was fresh, and no one who attended was offended. Problem solved.

Now, here I am many years later and a basket full of mints has filled every Church lobby I have served. Sure, some parents get mad because their child doesn’t need any sugar. They usually tell me this after their kid has stuffed several in their mouth one after another. I still have remained steadfast. The mints have stayed and will stay in the lobby until I give up the ministry.

This week the mints remind me that sometimes the solutions in life are often simple and overlooked. In all my years I have never had another complaint about bad breath in the lobby because there is always a solution waiting. I imagine that one of the problems you are facing this week may seem huge, yet a little creative thought will bring a solution that is as easy as a mint in the lobby.

One of the songs we sing at Adrian Christian Church is called “Thrive.” I originally heard the song in 2014 as performed by the band Casting Crowns. Personally, it is a favorite song of mine. It has become a theme song to my life and ministry through words like “Just to know you and to make you known.” The chorus hits another nerve as it proudly declares, “It’s time for us to more than just survive, we were made to thrive.”

I have now been the preaching minister at ACC for 1,460 days. So far, we have had a good run together as a community of Jesus. We have seen both numerical growth and spiritual growth. We have shared the ups and downs of ministry as we served alongside each other in the name of Jesus. Lives have been changed, and viewpoints have been shaped.

Yet, I still feel like we are standing on the edge of something bigger and better. In my previous ministries, I have seen that this is the time for a minor shift. People begin to view me as part of the community, and their trust in me grows. Everyone has recovered from past hurts and can now focus on the future. New dreams form and God moves as only he can. In the words of the song, “It is time for us to more than just to survive,” now is the time to thrive.

As I stare out my office window, I look forward to the next 1,460 days.

I am praying God will bring 100 people to Jesus in that time. I am asking God about the possibility of multiple campuses. I am hoping to build a connection with areas ministries and ministers. I want us to become an integral part of a worldwide mission. I look forward to watching people grow in their faith as they live for him in new and exciting ways.

The past is done, and I am thankful for everyone who has helped me on this journey. Now is a new day and I believe it is time to thrive.

Recently I noticed a dramatic change in a person I know. I asked a couple of other people if they had seen the difference in this individual too. They confirmed my observation and echoed their joy over this new attitude.

Once we agreed on this transformation, the follow-up question involved what had changed in their life. Out of a list of several possibilities, the one thing everyone could confirm was the impact of another person who was no longer a part of their life. The negative attitude was the result of one dissenting voice which continually spoke into his life.

This story made me think about the impact of the negative voices in all our lives. Here are five negative voices that can drag you down with their words.

1. The Angry Person – Some people are always mad. Their anger is spurred by everything and anything. They spew their rage on other people and expect them to feel the same way.

2. The Complainer – Some people can find something wrong in everything. They see the glass as half empty. The make sure everyone knows they are not happy.

3. The Critic – The critic knows how everything should be done. They see the good, but they can also point out all the flaws in anything. They rarely act but know they could have done it better.

4. The Gossip – The gossip loves to share stories about other people’s lives, especially if they are ones of failure and mistakes. The feed other people stories with a steady diet of poor choices and defeats. They make sure everyone knows that failure is inevitable.

5. The Manipulator – These people have an agenda of their own, and so they begin to undermine anyone who stands in their way. They ask seemingly simple questions that created an environment of mistrust. They are only happy if you are promoting their cause and plan.

Quite often we encounter people who have a negative attitude not just because of their own feelings, but because of the voices that are speaking into their life.

Which leads me to some significant questions: What voices are speaking into your life? Whose words hold the most value to you? Where are you receiving the most information?

Is it possible that your life has a negative tone because of the voices that you listen to each day? One part of Godly wisdom is knowing who has the right to speak into your life.

The best definition of a Christian is a follower of Jesus. It is a person who has claimed Christ as their Lord and Savior and is trying to live in the shadow of the cross.

Lately, I have read numerous posts on all types of media stating that someone is not a Christian if they say or do this particular thing. Judgment runs rampant in the Christian community, and it is tearing us apart.

I want everyone to know; I am still trying to follow Jesus …

1. Even when we disagree. You have heard it said, “We will have to agree to disagree.” There is an element of truth to that statement. In matters of opinion, it is okay to be on the different side of the fence. I think of the 12 disciples. One was a zealot and another a tax collector. Two people on completely different sides of the political spectrum. Even in Christ, we can disagree and still keep the faith.

2. Even when I am wrong. There are moments in my life that I look back on in which I was utterly wrong. Of course, I believed I was right when it was happening. Then I learned the truth and found out I was incorrect in my understanding. At times like that, I can choose to walk the way of Jesus or I can deny him with my words. I can place blame on others, make excuses and offer up half-hearted acceptance of my actions. I believe I have another choice when I find that I am wrong.

3. Even when you are wrong. This might be the most challenging place to remain a follower of Jesus. When I am sure that I am right, and I am also sure that you are wrong, evil finds an open door to my heart. Pride stirs inside me. Anger comes inside me. Hatred and malice are knocking at the door. It is tough to be correct in a godly manner. Jesus is able to find the balance between truth and instruction throughout his life. As a follower of him, I must seek to be a light that does not burn but reveals.

Yes, we need to stand up for Jesus and make sure people are headed in the right direction. Yes, we need to confront evil and be an agent for positive change. Yes, some views are wrong, and people need to be taught.

But the way we disagree is essential. Can we promote the way of Jesus in a way that dishonors him? I think it is possible to have different views without resorting to evil methods of persuasion.

Following Jesus is seen in the way we handle our differences as well as our similarities.

Every person has a unique perspective, knowledge, and experience, including you. God has created you to be a one of a kind masterpiece for his kingdom. You have a story to tell, even if you do not think it is that interesting.

You have a story of adversity. I know your life has overcome its fair share of obstacles. Others might have created the walls you have climbed, or your own hands may have formed them. Either way, you have walked through pain and disappointment with faith. You have failed and made mistakes without them derailing your life.

You have a story of faithfulness. There have been moments you wanted to quit. For reasons you do not entirely understand, God sent a person or an experience into your life that helped you stand firm. You overcame what you once thought would overtake you. You stand here today as a believer in spite of discouragement and many dark nights of the soul.

You have a story of growth. When you look in the mirror, you cannot believe the person you have become today. You were once angry and bitter. You were once far from God. You were once the person whom people thought was most likely to end up in jail. And yet, here you are today, both a believer and happy about it. You have been reading your Bible and listening to Christian teachers. Sometimes you read a Christian book and a little worship music. You attend Church, and you are making decisions you once thought impossible. You are a follower of Jesus, and you would have never thought that possible.

You have a story of prayer. Either you have prayed for something, and it has happened. You can’t explain it, but a quiet little miracle occurred in your life. The other option is that you are the result of prayer. Your mother once knelt quietly and asked God to work in your life. You didn’t know it and probably would have thought she was crazy, but she prayed anyway, and things happened that you didn’t expect. You stand here today as a result of your prayers and the prayers of others.

You have a story of joy. For you, the glass is always half full. Other people might complain or be cynical about their situation, but you see God working. You might have every reason to be angry and mean, but grace has filled your soul to overflowing. When you walk into the room, people smile and are blessed by your presence. There is a testimony about the goodness of God on your lips no matter what is going on in your life.

Each one of us has a unique story that we can share with the world.

Maybe you should write it down, even if it is only for those people closest to you. If you do not write it down, then I encourage you to share it with someone. Tell your children or your grandchildren. Recount the work of God in your life to a small group or Sunday school class. God has given you a unique experience, and you can lock all of that inside of yourself or be a blessing to the community of faith.

I, for one, want to hear your story and I am sure I am not the only one.

The words and behaviors of some Church people disappoint me.

How could they be so shallow and uncaring? Why do they act so little like Jesus? What an embarrassment they are to Christians everywhere.

These are the thoughts I feel after talking to some people on Sunday. Then the week comes, and I read some real trash on social media. Generally, I develop this feeling of shame for my fellow “so-called” believers.

The Bible calls me back to reality.

Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. (8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul writes to the Church at Rome, and he gives three images of the people who Jesus saves. He says we are “ungodly,” not good people, and sinners. Do you see it? If Jesus died for me and my sins that I might have a connection with God and the hope of heaven, then I am the person Paul is describing … and so are you … and so are they.

I need to be continually reminded that Jesus did not come to make good people better. He came to make ungodly, unworthy sinners into his people.

Unfortunately, that process doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it takes years. Other times it takes dozens of years. God wants to change all of us into the image of Jesus, but the timeline does not match mine. I think that if you claim to be a Christian, then you should immediately act like Christ. It just doesn’t happen that way.

The Church, that collection of Jesus followers who call on his name for salvation are a mess. They are the worst ungodly people being transformed over a lifetime of teaching, encounters, and experience.

My encouragement to anyone who is a Christian is simply to be patient with people. Develop a thick skin. Practice grace. Show the love of Christ, especially to Christians who do not act like Jesus yet. God loves people who are far him, and so should his followers, especially if we attend the same Church.

Here are some of the best articles I have read over the last two weeks. Only a couple posts, but I really liked these. Enjoy.

Three Types of People Who Help the Church

Aging in hope!

Lessons From a Prayer Warrior