A married couple was driving down the road. The wife turned to the husband and said, “What’s happened with us?”

“What do you mean?” the husband asked.

She said, “We’re not like we used to be.”

“How did we used to be?” the husband asked.

“We were closer. More connected. We held hands all the time. In fact, here’s a perfect example right now. Remember when we’d get in the car, and we’d sit right next to each other, with me there in the middle.”

The husband turned to her and said, “Who moved?”

This story has a spiritual application. If you’re not as close to God as you used to be, you’re the one who moved. Not him. If you want to get back to where you used to be, you need to move in his direction. And if you want to be closer to God than you’ve ever been, if you want to reach a new level in your relationship with him, all you need to do is move in his direction.

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8 NKJV)

This isn’t  a one-time event. It’s a lifestyle. The first time, and every time, you draw near to God, he draws near to you.

Try it today. Move toward him. Turn off the TV and listen to Christian music. Or stop for a moment to sing a hymn, and make the words a prayer. Spend a few minutes in his Word, a few minutes thanking him for everything. As you take steps in his direction, he takes steps in yours.

If you want to be closer to God, it’s your move.

Here’s an old joke. I love this little story.

A family from from the sticks made their first trip to the big city, and were in awe of the fast cars, the crowded streets, and the sky-scraper buildings. As mom did some window shopping, father and son walked into the lobby of a hotel. Near the front desk they saw something they had never seen before: a pair of sliding doors opening into a “small room.”

As they were standing there gawking at the small room, a short, frail woman in her seventies walked past them, stepped inside, pressed a button and the doors shut. A few moments later, the door opened and out stepped a tall, beautiful woman in her twenties. The man turned to his boy and said, “Son, go get your mother.”

It would be nice if transformation were this simple, just a matter of stepping into a room and pushing a button.

It would be nice if we could instantly swap our weakness and failures for strength and obedience.

It would be nice, but that’s not how it is.

It’s true that there’s no delay in receiving God’s mercy; his grace is both immediate and permanent. But the transformation to holiness is a process. It requires daily persistence. In fact, the willingness to keep trying, even after a failure, is itself a demonstration of holiness.

Solomon said, “For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…” (Proverbs 24:16)

The righteous man falls, like we all do. But notice that he didn’t get righteous at the push of a button or the flip of a switch. He got righteous by doing what we all need to do. He got up and tried again.

Is there an area of your life in which you’ve been tempted to stay down, to give up on ever getting it right? Here’s what leads a person to righteousness: the determination to get up and try again. –SM

There’s a scene in the movie Bonnie and Clyde where the couple is holed up somewhere in a hideout, unable to leave because the cops are on their trail. It has become obvious to them that this life of crime isn’t as glamorous as they had once imagined.

Bonnie Parker is dreaming of a new life somewhere, a clean life, where they could start over and live as other people do. She asks Clyde, “What would you do if some miracle occurred and we were able to walk out here clean, with no record, and nobody after us? What would you do?”

Clyde Barrow thinks for a moment and says something along the lines of, “I guess I’d do things different. First, I wouldn’t live in the same state where I pulled my bank jobs, and when I wanted to rob a bank, I’d go to another state…” Bonnie turns away in disappointment. This isn’t at all what she had in mind, but that’s Clyde Barrow for you.

This is where some people get confused about grace.

The Bible tells us that “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

This means that the slate is clean and we’re free to walk out the door and live a brand new life. But something about the old man prefers life on the run, and we sometimes find ourselves going back to that dreadful, painfully unglamorous existence.

We were saved from the muck, and yet, sometimes we can’t wait get to back in it. This is the Clyde Barrow in each of us, that sinful creature who is always longing to return to the old way of life.

God sets you free. He gives you a fresh start, so that you will never have to go back to a life on the lam. God pours out his grace not so that you can be a better Clyde Barrow, but so that you can experience the dreams of a Bonnie Parker — the dreams of a new life, free from the chains of the past, free from guilt, free to start again.

Bonnie and Clyde were both criminals, both sinners, both condemned. But this (probably fictional) vignette from their lives gives us an insight into ourselves. Your inner Clyde Barrow may want to use this freedom as an excuse to sin more, but God has given you this grace so that that other self inside you — the one with those Bonnie Parker dreams — can experience the full freedom of life in Christ.

It’s a question of whose dreams you will choose follow today. You’ve been set free, pardoned, and released. You can walk out the door. How are you going to live as a free person?

In his book “The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork,” John Maxwell mentions business consultant John Ghegan, who keeps a sign on his desk that says…

“If I had it to do all over again, I’d get help.”

Too often, we try to accomplish alone the things that God intended us to accomplish together. Take a look at your schedule for the next few days. There’s probably one item, maybe two, maybe many, begging for the inclusion of others. The path of least resistance is going it alone. The path of greatest accomplishment is taking on projects with others.

So, do today what you’ll wish later that you did. Get some help.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Clinical neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen says, “Don’t believe everything you hear — even in your own mind.”

Most of the negative things we “hear” in a given day are never spoken audibly. They’re the things we say to ourselves.

Dr. Amen refers to them as ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts. We all have them: “This won’t work. This deadline won’t be met. God isn’t listening. I can’t follow this diet. I can’t get organized.” And on and on.

Dr. Amen tells us that we need to get in the habit of stomping these ANTs, and replacing them with positive, uplifting thoughts. It’s a difficult habit to develop, but the believer has an advantage. You’ve got God on your side. You know that he has plans for you, that he as given you a future and a hope, that he is causing all things to work together for good so that he can finish the work he began in you. (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6)

This means that you can turn an ANT into an ACT — an Automatic Christlike Thought. Instead of telling yourself the worst all day long, remind yourself God is in control, that his arm is not too short to save, and that he will lead you where you need to go.

The result is that this Automatic Christlike Thought really does become an ACT … because what you think ultimately leads to what you do.

That’s why Paul said, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:1)

New thoughts lead to new actions. New actions lead to transformation. So spend the day stomping ants and replacing them with acts.  –SM

As we prepare for Father’s Day, we look for stories about the positive influence a father can have. Sometimes it works the other way around. An example of this is found in Bono, lead singer of U2. Bono’s father was a great influence in his life, supporting him in his ambition to be a musician, encouraging him to pursue his dream.

And, it turns out, Bono was a positive influence in his father’s life. In his book, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas, Bono writes…

“There’s one thing I envy about you,” he said to me one time. But think about it: I was singing, doing all the things he would have loved to have done, had a creative life. He said, “You really do seem to have a relationship with God.”

Sons and daughters need to remember that they also have the power of influence with their parents; we cannot ignore your good example. — SM

About 15 years ago psychologists at Stanford University conducted a study which revealed that happy people and unhappy people tend to have similar life experiences. It’s not that happy people experience one success after another, or that unhappy people experience one failure after another. It turns out that their lives are pretty much the same. The difference, the study concluded, is that unhappy people spend more than twice as much time thinking about unpleasant events, while happy people tend to think about things that will brighten their personal outlook.

This is why the Bible puts so much emphasis on the content of your thought life. It’s why Paul told us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. It’s why he told us to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. What you think about your experiences in life actually carries more weight than the experiences themselves.

Isaiah says that if you keep your mind focused on God, you’ll experience peace. Philippians says the same thing. And Paul says in the book of  Romans that when you condition yourself to think a new way — renewing your mind, he calls it — you experience personal transformation. You become a new person.

Do you want your life to become better, inside and out? Start by saying, “Today I will think only about the goodness of God: his mercy, his forgiveness, his promise of new life. I will give myself a break from all my regrets and worries and fears — and I will keep my mind stayed on him.”

It’s not as easy as it sounds. In fact, it’s hard work. Try doing it all day and you’ll see what I mean. But it’s the most rewarding hard work you’ll ever do. Make him the center of your thoughts all day long. Before long, not only will you feel better, but you’ll get better, and you’ll be better, and you’ll stay better, inside and out. — SM

In 1941, Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda was sent to a small US-occupied island in the Philippines with orders to do all he could to hamper enemy attacks on the island. He linked up with a group of soldiers already stationed there, but within a month, all but four of the men had been killed in battle. Hiroo and the others took the hills.

In 1945 they began seeing pamphlets stating the war had ended, but Onoda dismissed them as propaganda. In the following few years, the others surrendered or died one by one, but Onoda held his position, even continued his guerilla activities … until 1974.

Onoda finally met a college dropout named Suzuki backpacking in the island who explained to him the war had ended. Still, the dedicated soldier was reluctant to believe. Finally, his former commanding officer, long since retired, flew to the island and gave Onoda his orders to lay down his arms.

Many of us, just like Lt. Onoda, are fighting a war that has long since been won.

Before Jesus breathed his final breath, he cried out “It is finished.” Maybe some within the sound of his voice thought he was talking about his own life, or maybe they thought he was talking about the future of his following … but the truth is that he was talking about the power of sin and death.

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:31) And at that moment death was swallowed in victory; the cost of our freedom was paid in full.

Like the pamphlets that arrived on that tiny Philippine island, we have heard about our liberation, but we refuse to believe it. It’s too good to be true. We stubbornly stay in the fight, and we lose battle after battle — the same battles he has already won.

It is finished, he said. Sin. Death. Guilt. Regret. Sin. Despair. Isolation. And did I mention sin? These are all swallowed up in the victory of the cross and his powerful resurrection.

His work is finished, he has rested. And he is inviting us now to rest in him. –SM

When Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida in 1992, Norena’s home was severely damaged. She received an insurance settlement, but it wasn’t enough to finish the work necessary to bring her house back to standard. Her contractor stopped working the money ran out, and the house was left without electricity.

Norena is elderly and of limited means. She had no choice but to accept the situation. For the next 15 years she lived without power: No hot showers, no air-conditioning, no light to read by at night.

Finally someone found out about her living conditions. The city of Miami was notified. The mayor arranged for a electrician to come to the house; it took only a few hours of work for power to be restored.

Afterwards, Norena said, “It’s hard to describe how it feels to have electricity. It’s overwhelming.”

Many believers live a Christian life that is like a half-constructed home. Power is almost within their grasp, but they continue to live in the dark, day after day, year after year.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus made us a promise… “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

If you’re a believer and feel like you’re living in the dark, in a half-finished house, I want you to know that power is within your reach.

That’s why Jesus sent the Hoy Spirit to dwell within us, and it’s why Paul challenges us to be filled with Spirit everyday. He is our source of power. —SM

On July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, he was the focus of attention for the entire planet. Even today, his is the name most associated with the moon voyage. His statement “One small step for man…” will never be forgotten.

What often is forgotten, however, is that the Apollo expedition succeeded because a team of committed individuals sacrificed day and night for years to make it happen. Neil Armstrong was only one of 218,000 people involved. He may have gotten most of the recognition, but he would be the first to tell you that it was a team effort.

There’s a story about a horse-pulling contest held at a county fair. The second place winner pulled a sled of 1000 pounds. The first place winner pulled a sled of 1500 pounds. But when the two horses were teamed up, together they pulled 4000 pounds of weight.

Life is a team sport. God intends for us to work together in order to achieve success. It’s as Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

And as Solomon said…

“Two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Do you want to accomplish more each day? Resist the temptation to go it alone. Look for ways to help those around you pull more weight.

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This memo was adapted from Steve May’s sermon “How To Be A Team Player” © 1999, available at About Sunday.