ritchiemiller.org

Today is the last day of the year. For many of you it was a bad year; financially, relationally, health-wise. I have heard many people say that they are looking forward to 2010. The New Year offers a fresh start, a new beginning, a clean slate. Pardon my optimism, but I always think that the New Year is going to be the best one of my life.

Five weeks ago I ran the Atlanta Marathon. My only goal was to finish. Thankfully, I did! I think that our goal in life should be to finish well. We should finish well in all we do; marriage, career, our spiritual life, parenting.

I am looking for your input on what you think is necessary to finish well. Send me your thoughts in a sentence on my blog @ http://www.ritchiemiller.org, my Face Book page @ http://www.facebook.com , or my Twitter account @ http://twitter.com/ritchiemillerGA.

Have a great day!

Ritchie

I am thinking of ways to manage my influence for God’s glory in 2010. Today I want you to send me ideas of how you are going to do that. Send it to my blog @ http://www.ritchiemiller.org, my Face Book page @ www.facebook.com , or my Twitter account @ http://twitter.com/ritchiemillerGA.

Ritchie

Wouldn’t it be nice if traps came with a giant warning across the front so that wise people would not fall into them? The Bible gives us warnings. For that matter so do personal experiences and the experiences of others. But no matter how many times we get warned we seem to fall into the trap of the “same old, same old,” the proverbial treadmill, the rat race, or the spinning hamster wheel. Have you ever felt like your wheel was spinning but your hamster was dead?

That happens in life, does it not? We get so busy making a living that we forget to live. We never stop and smell the roses. We save the fine china, the “good candles,” the fancy towels, and the nice lingerie for occasions that never come. The lingerie comment was meant for the ladies. If you are a dude and you are wearing lingerie stop reading this and call a therapist right now. Seriously, I mean it!

In 2010 I will enjoy beauty. Only God can create beauty. Satan only counterfeits what God creates and his forgeries always lead to pain and disappointment. There is so much beauty in the world. I plan to enjoy it more. I want to get off the treadmill.

In 2010 I will enjoy pleasure. God is the Creator of true pleasure. Ditto all my comments about beauty. Hedonism, the idea that pleasure or happiness is the highest good in life, is simply a rip-off. It is a poor substitution for the Christ-life. Pleasure for pleasure itself is a black hole that is never satisfied. Pleasure in Jesus Christ, however, is pure, honest, and fulfilling. When I am surrendered to Him I can even find pleasure in suffering, as odd as that sounds. Think of all the pleasurable things God has created and then think of how sin has corrupted the enjoyment of those pleasures: sex, food, drink, knowledge, and the list could go on. Can art, education, friendships, music, marriage, money, material things, and all that the mind can conceive bring pleasure to man in its rightful way without becoming idols? Absolutely! The Apostle Paul wrote, “Whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

In 2010 I plan to enjoy the journey a little more. I have big goals but ultimately God is in control of everything. So I refuse to fall into the trap this year.

I plan to stop and smell the coffee…for the glory of God. Speaking of which, somebody gave me a Starbucks card for Christmas. Planning to go there right now and glorify God.

Ritchie

As we close out 2009 I reflect back with a thankful heart on what God has done and I look forward to 2010 with a heart filled with hope and faith. I hope that does not sound to “preacher-like” or too cliché. The more New Years I celebrate the more I understand the need for transparency and integrity, honesty and character. Without these you have no foundation for leadership and positive influence.

At the end of each year I try to take some time and plan out what I would like to accomplish in the next. My tendency, as is yours probably, is to make superficial resolutions that have no real meaning or impact in the grand scheme of things. Seriously, who cares if you reduce your pants size? How does that help the poor, spread the Gospel, benefit your family, or manage your influence? In all the funerals I have ever officiated I have never heard anyone talk about the waist or chest size of the decedent.

In 2010 I want to enjoy more solitude. By solitude I do not mean loneliness. Some people are so afraid of being alone that they can never turn off the TV, the computer, the I-pod, or Face Book long enough to have a thought. Many people are terrified of what they might learn about themselves or God if they actually reduced the white noise for longer than it takes their sleeping pills to kick in. By solitude I simply mean quite time spent with God.

I am pretty good at carving out time on a daily basis for reading the Bible and praying. It is part of my job, you know. I enjoy it so. For those who are not pastors I hope that you will set up a routine for regular Bible reading and prayer. You do not have to spend hours each day to make an impact. Just a regular time with God reading, praying, journaling, or whatever will allow God to mold you and encourage you. Do not be afraid of that. Prayer is talking with God and reading the Bible is God talking to you. If you do not do those things regularly then start with just fifteen minutes a day. It will make a huge difference.

Pastors, we need to take it up a notch. I plan to continue the regular prayer, Bible reading, and study time. Those are vital to the formation of my soul. Without a soul formed by God I cannot lead the church I have been charged with and I definitely can’t live sermons. Anyone can preach a sermon. Only God-called, Spirit-filled, warriors can wrestle with a text until they surrender to it. Surrendered warriors who are armed with a message from God can live a message. This only happens in solitude, however.

So in 2010 I plan to add to my daily routine. I will add a day of solitude each month where I spend it without phones, computers, or distractions. My prayer is that these wrestling matches with the Almighty will lead to a bolder, more surrendered, and better-equipped guide for pointing to The Way.

Ritchie

I hope you will thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ today. Read the Christmas story to your family.

Merry Christmas! I love you.

Ritchie

Luke 2: 1-20 (NLT)
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Through Jesus Christ I have been given the gift of forgiveness. Because of His everlasting mercy I am…

Redeemed,

Guilt-free,

Made new,

Released from my past,

Connected to His future for me,

Loved,

Empowered,

Able to forgive others,

And blessed beyond my wildest imaginations.

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of forgiveness.

Ritchie

The first time I ever went to South Africa I was able to spend about three days at Kruger National Park. If you ever watch Animal Planet or The Discovery Channel you have probably seen footage of animals in Kruger. It is an amazing game reserve that is about the size of the state of New Jersey. While we were there my son, Brandon, and I went on a walking safari. We rode on one of those open safari vehicles to our destination and then we set out on foot with two armed guides.

Not far into our expedition we came upon a lioness and her cubs. We were able to get within about 60-70 yards from this mother lion when she began to roar a warning to us that we were not to come any closer. That scene will be forever etched into my memory. I can still smell the grass. I just have to close my eyes and I can still see the bright, cloudless sky and feel the breeze across my face. I can also remember the feeling of exhilaration as I rubbed my sweaty palms together to keep them from shaking. That experience still gives me chills. It was, in a word that seems insufficient, amazing.

I have been forever ruined now from going to the zoo. When you have been so close to a real lion in the wild that you could almost smell its breath you look at a deposed king of the beasts lying in a cage with a different perspective. One look into those amber eyes strikes pity rather than fear. You know that there is so much more to this royal creature. It was meant to rule the African savannah not grovel for morsels like a pet. Funny thing, perspective.

By the way, when you look into the eyes of a Holy God by reading His Word, when you hear the roar of His provision, and feel the breeze of His Spirit across your soul it changes you. Suddenly your problems are not so big; worry and stress weaken their grip on you. You realize that the Lion of your Salvation is not caged and impotent but that He rules and He reigns in His proper place. He wants you to follow Him and live an un-caged life as well. Unfortunately, too many Christians are content to look at things from inside the cage of their own perspective. They live by what they see and know rather than by what God sees and knows. From their viewpoint God is tame and harmless, not the Lion of Judah unleashed and wild.

I think perspective changes everything. Don’t you?

Ritchie

Of the many gifts I am thankful for the gift of friends has to be near the top of the list. I am quite sure that I am more thankful for salvation, forgiveness, family, and a few other things. But having friends makes everything else better. I imagine trying to go through life without friends is kind of like trying to catch a skunk. You might be able to pull it off but I doubt it would be worth it. God has designed us to need others.

If you need a friend here are a few suggestions…

• Be friendly
• Focus on meeting others needs first
• Smile a lot
• Go to church and get involved in a ministry and a small group
• Ask God to bring the right friends into your life
• Avoid seeming desperate by trying too hard
• Avoid friendships that damage you
• The greatest friend is Jesus Christ

Remember to spend time with your friends at church worshipping God this Sunday. Your friends really are a gift to you.

Ritchie

Solomon has been hailed as the wisest man who ever lived. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he gave us a book of rules (Proverbs), a book of romance (Song of Solomon), and a book of regrets (Ecclesiastes). In the wisdom of Proverbs he challenged our attitude with “a merry heart does us good like a medicine.” Imagine that. Holy Scripture not only allows for merriment, joy, happiness, and laughter but it actually encourages it. I will refrain from writing a treatise on what constitutes godly pleasure. We all know that Satan’s counterfeit pleasures never fulfill and they always leave you filled with regrets.

This Christmas take time to laugh. We have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to be happy about. Laughter will ease your stress and it will even make you feel better. Spend time with family, friends, coworkers, and your small group. Tell funny stories. Recollect those darn things that the kids said. Watch a funny movie. Tell a joke. Enjoy yourself. It will be an elixir for your soul. It is, after all, the best medicine.

Ritchie

Here are a few pictures from last Saturday. Click here to take you to my Face Book page and see lots of pics.