NUMBER SIX, 2019
In this issue 3
Starting Where You Are
6
Joyful Generosity
8
Committing to the Road Less Travelled
11
Buried in Stuff
charles r. swindoll charles r. swindoll
colleen �windoll �hompson robyn roste
Q&A 13
How Concerned Should Christians Be About the Environment?
steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast 15
Some Things Have Gotta Go!
Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bibleteaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 35 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright © 2019 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Tim Schellenberg. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
by charles r. swindoll
Cover & Article Photo: Guille Pozzi on unsplash.com
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What a place to start over! Slopping o start over, you have to know where you are. To get somewhere else, it’s around in the seaweed and juices inside necessary to know where you’re that monster, fishing for a match to find presently standing. That’s true in a depart- his way out, Jonah took a long, honest look ment store or a big church, on a freeway or at his short, dishonest life. For the first a college campus…or in life, for that mat- time in a long time, the prophet brushed ter. Very, very seldom does anybody “just up on his prayer life. He yelled for mercy. happen” to end up on the right road. The He recited psalms. He promised the Lord process involved in redirecting our lives that he would keep his vow and get back is often painful, slow, and even confusing. on target. Only one creature on earth felt sicker than Jonah—the fish, in whose belly Occasionally, it seems unbearable. Take Jonah. (No one else wanted to.) Jonah bellowed. Up came the prophet, who hit the road runHe was prejudiced, If God can take a ning—toward Nineveh. bigoted, stubborn, One of the most openly rebellious, disobedient prophet, encouraging things and spiritually insenturn him around, and set about new years, new sitive. Other prophhim on fire spiritually, weeks, and new days is ets ran to the Lord. He ran from Him. He can do the same with the word new. Webster reveals its meaning: Others declared the you. He is a Specialist “refreshed, different promises of God with at making something from one of the same fervent zeal. Not useful and beautiful out that has existed previJonah. He was about of something broken ously…unfamiliar.” as motivated as a six Best of all, it’s a place hundred-pound grizand confused. to start over. Refresh zly in mid-January. Somewhere down the line, the prophet yourself. Change directions. Begin anew. But that requires knowing where you are. got his inner directions cross-wired. He wound up, of all places, on a ship in the It requires taking time to honestly admit Mediterranean Sea bound for a place your present condition. It means facing named Tarshish. That was due west. God the music, standing alone inside the fish had told him to go to Nineveh. That was and coming to terms with those things that due east. (That’s like flying from Los need attention, fishing in the seaweed for a Angeles to Berlin by way of Honolulu.) match. Before you find your way out, you must But Jonah never got to Tarshish, as you determine where you are. Exactly. Once that may remember. Through a traumatic is accomplished, you’re ready to start over. Just as there are few atheists in foxholes, chain of events, Jonah began to get his head together in the digestive tract of a so there are few rebels in fish stomachs. Perhaps you can identify rather easily gigantic fish.
with Jonah. This hasn’t been your alltime-spiritual-high-plateau year, right? You’ve dodged and ducked, squirmed and squeaked your way through one Tarshish trip after another. But no more. You’re tired. Exhausted says it better. Swallowed alive by your circumstances says it best. You feel oppressed, guilty, overused, and underdeveloped. You’re not that old…but you’ve run a long way. Few moons but many miles. A subtle whisper in your ear says, “You’re through. Finished. Burned out. Used up. You’ve been replaced…forgotten.” That’s a lie! A carefully timed deception by the enemy of your soul. Look at what the prophet Joel wrote to all the Jonahs who may have been reading this book. God was speaking: I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten…. (Joel 2:25)
If God can take a disobedient prophet, turn him around, and set him on fire spiritually, He can do the same with you. He is a Specialist at making something useful and beautiful out of something broken and confused. Where are you? Start there. Openly and freely declare your need to the One who cares deeply. Don’t hide a thing. Show God all those locust bites. He’s ready to heal every one…if you’re ready to run toward that Nineveh called tomorrow. Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
Laughter, Volume 3: Chuck's Formula for Family Fun SINGLE CD MESSAGE
What better place to learn how to laugh at life, than at home! For ordering information visit insightforliving.ca or view enclosed flyer.
by charles r. swindoll
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houghts disentangle themselves...over the lips and through the fingertips. I learned that saying over 30 years ago, and just about every time I put it to the test, it works! Whenever I have difficulty comprehending the complicated or clarifying the complex, I talk it out or write it out. This is especially helpful when it comes to scriptural truth. For some strange reason
the human brain seems reluctant to retain divine information simply by hearing it. Take the importance of joy, for example—or, more specifically, giving joyfully to God. Second Corinthians 9:7 says: “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’”
Image: Keghan Crossland on Unsplash
us from dropping maximum seed. He’s Look again at those final words: “God honoured by such faith. loves a person who gives cheerfully.” The original meaning of the word translated 3. Examine your heart This is something no one else can do for here as “cheerful” is hilarious, and this is you. Nobody knows the combination to the only time it’s found in the New Testayour private vault. Only you can probe ment. It’s the hilarious giver God prizes. its contents by asking the hard quesI can think of a couple more examples tions: Do I really believe God’s promises of hilarious givers in the New Testament: on giving generously? Am I responding a man named Onesiphorus who “often as I do because I care or because I feel refreshed” Paul (2 Timothy 1:16-18 NASB); guilty? Is my giving proportionate to my and a church—the Philippians—who income? Have I prayed, or is my giving contributed generously to Paul’s needs impulsive? Am I a consistent giver or (Philippians 4:14-16). more hot and cold? Now, how does all this translate into daily life? How do these thoughts dis- 4. Glorify God by becoming generous He prizes generosity, entangle themselves to become meaningful Thoughts disentangle especially joyful generosity. Perhaps we need to parts of our lives? I’d themselves...over like to make the follow- the lips and through break the habit of being so conservative, so careing four suggestions for the fingertips. ful. Maybe we even need ways we can bring joy to “scare” ourselves with acts of generosinto our giving. ity...going out on a limb, as it were, and 1. Reflect on God’s gifts to you genuinely trusting God to honour our Hasn’t He been good? He certainly has financial faith. to me. Better than I deserve! My list Well, that’s it. Just a little lips-and-fingerincludes good health, harmonious family, sufficient food, clothing, and shelter. tips clarification. It has helped me to review Friends. Great job. In light of God’s this. I hope it’s helped you, too. Goodness magnificent grace, a cheerful heart and knows, all of us would be wise to address openhanded generosity seem the most our reluctance to sacrifice financially for the cause of Christ. After all, our goal is natural responses. joyful generosity, isn’t it? 2. Remind yourself of His promises regarding generosity Call to mind a few biblical principles that Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “Joyful Generospromise a bountiful harvest to those who ity,” in The Finishing Touch: Becoming God’s Mastersow bountifully. Jesus Himself spoke of piece (Dallas: Word, 1994), 100-101. Copyright © how much more blessed it is to give than 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. to receive. Bumper crops are God’s spe- Used by permission. cialties, so we have nothing to restrain
COMMITTING TO THE
ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
by colleen �windoll �hompson
Image: Steve Halama on Unsplash
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Scott Peck began his book The Road Less Traveled with this truth: “Life is difficult.”¹ Writing this reality or reading it is one thing; accepting it is another. Are you wrestling with the struggles of life today, knowing that changing your circumstances is not one of your options? You’re not alone; the difficulty of accepting life as it is rather than as was expected is the reason few choose the road less travelled—the place where we face life on life’s terms. There’s a ride in the Disneyland parks called Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The character, Mr. Toad, apparently has taken a wrong turn which has hurled him on a journey packed with potholes and pitfalls. Whistles blow, horns honk, and cars turn and whirl all the way to the end. It’s glorious to get OFF the ride! Real life is not like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Yes, sometimes the road appears just as impossible, but it’s never limited to three minutes! The worthwhile roads of life are usually long, and they always require dogged, rugged commitment. How rough has your road been these last few months? Have you hit some major potholes? Does staying the course seem impossible? Have you had days like I have when you’ve felt like saying, “You have no idea!” to the woman complaining because she missed her nail appointment...because her perfect, little cutie-pie had the sniffles? You may be offended by the following candid statement, but it’s the truth: I’ve wanted to run over people who’ve smiled real big at me and stated THEIR belief that “only strong people are given grand hardships.” Says who? The Bible doesn’t say anything like that at all! Actually, it says
just the opposite. When I’ve been at my weakest—not my strongest—is when Jesus Christ has transformed my soul and given me freedom and rest regardless of life’s circumstances (1 Corinthians 1:27). I can choose to resent the apparent easy lives of others, or I can choose to let God transform me on the path I’m on. Committing to the road less travelled has nothing to do with anyone else’s road or what he or she is doing on it. I’m not travelling any road except for the one God has allowed me to take. Committing to the road less travelled doesn’t have anything to do with the good or bad life throws my way either. It has nothing to do with my circumstances, my feelings, my human weakness or strengths, my friends, or my church experiences. It has everything to do with believing that God is who He says He is—the all-good and infinitely wise Master of the universe and Lord of my life. After many years of fighting, looking for an exit, and choosing other roads which have always led to dead ends, I have committed to following the direction of God my Father. My circumstances may still be difficult, but following His lead has become easier as I’ve learned to abide by these rules for the road: 1. Believe that God loves me and allows me to experience difficulties for the purpose of transforming me into Christlikeness (Hebrews 12:11)...and therefore, TRUST Him 2. Believe that God’s ways and thoughts are infinitely superior to mine (Isaiah 55:8–10)...and therefore, SURRENDER to Him
change and believing God will change you 3. Believe that God is faithful to fulfil what as He brings you through them. It means He has promised (Philippians 1:6)...and releasing the bitterness, the doubt, and therefore, REST in Him the anger you have toward God. It means 4. Believe that God’s truth is absolute, admitting to Him (and to yourself) that you without error, and timeless (2 Timothy cannot fix the potholes or anticipate the 3:16)...and therefore, OBEY Him Dear friend, are you like I once was, sharp turns or make it by yourself...and then trusting Him to see wishing for another road I can choose to resent you all the way through. or looking for the exit? Almighty Lord, on the Will you choose now to the apparent easy road of life the mysteries turn around and commit lives of others, or I of Your will and what is to the road less travelled, can choose to let God allowed to come into our the one the Lord knows transform me on the lives can be difficult to well and promises to understand and deal with. guide you down? Will path I’m on. May Your Holy Spirit be you release your will— your whole life—to Him? If not, why not? actively working in our lives, regardless of Please let me hear from you! But before the circumstances we endure. Father, may all praise and glory and honour be given to you write, ask yourself these questions: You today, as we learn to trust, surrender, 1. What am I afraid of? rest, and obey You. Amen. 2. What do I believe about all of this? 3. What am I unwilling to surrender? 4. What are my reasons for refusing to obey? Copyright © 2010 by Insight for Living. All rights Committing to the road less travelled reserved worldwide. doesn’t mean slapping on a smile or having 1 M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled: A New the way all mapped out or being fearless. It Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual doesn’t mean gritting your teeth and saying, Growth (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978), 15. “Well, I guess I’m just stuck here.” It means accepting the circumstances you cannot
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BURIED IN STUFF by robyn roste
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The solution is probably a little different ’m not a minimalist or a neat freak, although I sometimes wish I had those for everyone, but for me it seems to be an tendencies. And while I’m not overly issue of time management. I look at big projattached to objects, I do get stuck with sen- ects and assume I don’t have time for them, timental items. How many keepsakes do so do nothing. By managing my time better you keep? What do you do with them? And and planning ahead, I’m learning how to break my big, intimidating tasks down into where do they go? These days everything ends up in boxes manageable pieces. Part of this means I need to set a few meaand is shoved in my closet. It’s now filled with memories to the point I barely open it surables (like clean out my closet, decide how to deal with sentimental items, and because it is so overwhelming. implement boundaries There are boxes By managing my time so this doesn’t happen filled with photos, letagain) as well as create ters and cards, notes better and planning room in my schedule to from school friends, ahead, I’m learning work on them. and even some old how to break my big, The goal in all of trophies and medals. There is so much stuff. intimidating tasks down this is to get back on I think about ways to into manageable pieces. track. To live how God intends me to. Chuck pare it down without throwing everything out, like scanning or Swindoll says God wants us to live abuncreating mega albums to go on my book- dantly—and challenges us to remember this shelf. But then I calculate how much time every day. We all know this life doesn’t last long (best it would take and I close the door and leave described in James 4:13-17) so my challenge it for another day. This came to mind as I listened to Chuck to myself and to you is to live life to the fullSwindoll’s sermon Life...as God Intended It. est. Let’s take care of our stuff. He says we have so much stuff (literal and figurative) that we end up buried in it to the Robyn Roste is the media and marketing manager point we lose focus. Because our stuff is so at Insight for Living Canada. overwhelming, we deal with what is urgent and leave everything else for another day. So how do we regain control over all of our stuff?
SZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN UND ANTWORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOO UNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS FREAGRAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ пита овіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIY TEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN WORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT T вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH ÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN UND ANTWORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAG WOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS FREAGRAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ння та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPO STIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANS EN UND ANTWORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEA FREAGRAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZ ONG AT MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL O QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN UND ANTWORTEN QUEST OR OCH SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK NSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS by steve johnson CEISTEANNA AGUS FREAGRAÍ 问 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT MGA осы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVAR KÉRD LASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN UND ANTWORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOOR UNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS FREAGRAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ пита овіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIY TEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN WORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT T вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH ÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK
HOW CONCERNED SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?
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alues are at the heart of all we be the best environmentalists because of do. What we value is seen in creation’s relationship to God. We are to our actions and attitudes. This value nature because God made it. “In the includes attitudes and actions toward the beginning God created the heavens and environment, which we also refer to as the earth” (Genesis 1:1). What God made He owns. The Bible says, creation, nature, and the physical world. There are Christians who place a very “The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in low value on the environment and don’t it. The world and all its people belong to concern themselves with it. Some have him” (Psalm 24:1). Creation is His, not ours. What God owns He values and loves. the unbiblical view that the spiritual world contains all that is good, and every- “When you open your hand, you satisfy thing in the physical world is bad. Others the hunger and thirst of every living don’t value creation because they reason thing. The LORD is righteous in everyit is cursed and eventually going to be thing he does; he is filled with kindness” (Psalm 145:16-17). Therefore, we should destroyed anyway. In the world we encounter an opposite value and love creation because God creunbiblical extreme that values nature as ated, owns, and values it. What God made, He sustains. The Son equal or above people. Scripture teaches that God places people, crowned with “sustains everything by the mighty power glory and honour, as the climax of His of his command” (Hebrews 1:3). He made creation (Genesis 1:26-30; Psalm 8:5-8). everything to fit and function together We are to value nature but not worship it in an orderly fashion within interrelated systems. God continues to sustain the (Exodus 20:4-5). I believe Christians should be concerned functioning of nature accomplishing His about the environment—valuing it as intended plans and purposes for all nonmuch or more than others do. We should living and living elements of the creation.
Christians ought to be the best environHumans are His creation too. We have a kinship relationship with other created mentalists because we have responsibility living things because one God made us for it. God made humanity rulers, stewall. In addition, believers are also His new ards, and trustees of His creation. “Then creation in Christ. The creator-God is our God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful heavenly Father and Redeemer. We love and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Him and all that is His. “There is one God, Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds the Father, by whom all things were created, in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground’” (Genesis 1:28). Man and for whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6). Christians should also be the best envi- was put in the garden to take care of it ronmentalists because of the purposes of meaning to make it orderly, productive, creation. One of those ongoing purposes is and beautiful (Genesis 2:15). That mandate to help meet people’s need for things such is a general model for us today and one day we will give an account as food, water, and shelI believe Christians should to God for our stewardter. “All the animals of be concerned about the ship of His creation. the earth, all the birds of Finally, perhaps the the sky, all the small anienvironment—valuing greatest testimony to the mals that scurry along it as much or more than lasting value and importhe ground, and all the others do. tance of the physical fish in the sea…I have given them to you for food, just as I have creation is that Jesus’ physical body was given you grain and vegetables “(Genesis resurrected from the dead and exists today 9:3). That is one of our purposes in our in the unseen spiritual world. Scripture stewardship and management of earth’s teaches that in the new heaven and earth resources. If we do not properly look after that God will someday create, Christians our environment we jeopardize our food, will be given new resurrected bodies and nature will also be renewed. “Then I saw water, and shelter needs. Another major purpose of nature is to a new heaven and a new earth, for the old glorify and reveal God to people everywhere heaven and the old earth had disappeared. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The And the sea was also gone” (Revelation skies display his craftsmanship” (Psalm 21:1; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). 19:1). “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for everything God made, they can clearly see Living Canada. his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature” (Romans 1:20).
Some Things Have Gotta Go!
Meaningful, healthy relationships need the right kind of environment to flourish. Before we can expect to nurture genuine assimilation, some things gotta go! Just as tender plants require special care and the absence of things that assault growth, so do groups of believers who desire to cultivate relationships. Centuries ago, as God led the ancient Hebrews into the Promised Land, He specifically instructed them to clear the territory of the foreign tribes and to rid themselves of the influence of Canaanite civilization. From this example, we can draw an analogy for today. If we truly desire to grow deeper, pull together, and go further than skin-deep superficiality in our relationships, we must remove those things that hinder true community. Existence: Essentials for Physical Survival (1 Corinthians 12:12–18) If we want healthy lives, our physical bodies must stay healthy. When alien
forces attack the body from without or cells of the body rebel from within, disease can take over. The same is true for the church, the body of Christ. Obedience: Key to National Preservation (Joshua 23:1–16; Judges 1:19–28) In order to inspire Israel’s obedience, Joshua recounted God’s faithfulness, God’s commands, and God’s warnings to His people. In order to build biblical fellowship in the church, Christians must get rid of any personal and corporate barriers to unity.
“Some Things Have Gotta Go!” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Dropping Your Guard. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
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