Saturday, February 27, 2010

Decisions, Decisions . . .

It's Lent already.  That's the 40 days leading up to Easter which really doesn't seem like it should be as close as it is.  I'm beginning some sermons that don't technically qualify as a "sermon series" but there is a common string that winds through the next three Lenten sermons.  That common string is "Decisions."  Life is full of decisions small and large.
"Will I get out of bed today? .... Oatmeal or cereal?" 
"Phone call or email?"
"Should I quit my job?" 

I'm suspicious that, like the guy who opts for junk food instead of something healthy, we fill up on relatively unimportant choices and neglect the truly important and less numerous decisions.  We ponder what TV show we'll watch, whether to buy a new gizmo and fifty other meaningless choices each day, but we don't bother thinking about whether there's any significant purpose to the day we just completed.

The problem with such a pattern of small choices taking precedence over important decisions is obvious:  Life feels meaningless.

What if the solution to this problem is very simple?  Could it be that there are perhaps just two or three decisions that require our focus?  And, once we honestly make these genuine decisions and live daily in concert with what we've chosen, then everything else will fall into place rather well.

Over the next few weeks we'll look at what these two or three decisions might be, and how they impact every other aspect of life.  Check out the weekly question above - I 'd love to read about some of the decisions you have made this week.
- Curtis

8 comments:

  1. I watched the earthquake coverage in Chile and decided that family time was more important then a meeting.

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  2. Three most important decisions:
    To follow Jesus
    To love God more
    to love my neighbor as myself

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  3. I decided to simplify my life.

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  4. #1- A meeting. Hmm, I suspect you mean attending worship? Ouch! If that's all it is - a meeting - then somethings wrong. Worship should be a time of community, sharing, connecting with others and God. Family too. Family time is definitely more important than "a meeting" but I hope that worship is both a family experience and a spiritual experience with God. It also provides a common meaningful experience for families to share, to discuss, to reflect upon the rest of the day. I share your feeling that tragic events like the earthquake in Chile cause us to pause and think about what's most important.

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  5. I have decided to listen for God speaking in my life. Usually, it's something small and easy to overlook unless I'm watching for it to happen. In this case I can follow him in my life.

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  6. i have a blog post about God .. plz be kind to visit my page and read that blog. it might help u. i'll be looking forward for ur comment dear. tc :)

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  7. Wow. I look back on the week and I can't think of any important decisions that I've made... you got me. Very poignant observation that you make, how we fill up our lives these days with meaningless junk, and neglect to confront the decisions on issues that are worth a salt in our lives.

    The three most important things one must do in life (from an objective point of view): 1. Believe in something--don't just subscribe to it, bow to it, or follow the crowd. Believe in something with all your heart, because you feel passionately about it, regardless of what others think. 2. Make an impact--in your home, school, church, community, social network, environment, society... I believe that this is not only noble, but that it is a basic human neccessity. We need to feel that we have contributed in some way; it fulfills us at the deepest levels. 3. Smile. It's contagious.

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  8. 1. You Are A Sinner.
    "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

    2. There Is A Price On Sin.
    "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

    "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Revelation 20:14

    3. Jesus Died To Pay For Your Sins.
    "But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

    4. Salvation Is Not Of Our Works. It Is Through Jesus Christ.
    "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:5

    5. God Wants To Save You If You Will Just Put Your Trust In Him.
    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

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Thanks for posting!