Your Town for Jesus.

Arsonists for Christ UNITE!

We all know what an arsonist is. It's a person who goes around STARTING fires. In the world of the everyday mundane activities of life, quite often we hear the phrase, "I've got too many fires to put out!" Certainly, we are each presented with obstacles as occasionally we find ourselves blind-sided by some unexpected trial that throws us for a loop. Whether it's a car crash on the way to work or a computer crash once we get there, the diagnoses of a life-ending disease or a project-ending computer virus, we are constantly beset upon by things that will either make us or break us, bind us together or tear us apart.

It's been said that there are THREE kinds of people in this world: Those who MAKE things happen, those who WATCH things happen and then there are those who ask "What happened?"

Where are those "Firestarters" among us who will lift their heads from among the ranks and find a better way to do what's always been done?

Where are the Christians on the roster who recognize the need to be a "thermostat" - changing the environment - rather than another one of the many "thermometers" - responding to the temperature - in the crowd?

Where are those "Bold as a Lion" Believers who dare to head west when all others are headed east?

There are Pioneers and there are Settlers. It's your choice.

When I was diagnosed with a spinal disease at age 28, I'll admit that there were times when, just as pitiful Job did, I despaired of life itself. While I was at my sickest, even more personal tragedy came my way. After I renewed my mind by radically changing my personal input, I began to see the opportunities God was placing in front of me each and every day. Now, I'm totally healed and motivated in drastically new directions with my life than I ever imagined.

Where I once saw crowds of people gathering for an event, suddenly I saw opportunities to share my faith with one or two. These days, I'm reaching tens of thousands WEEKLY by email, phone and in-person.

When we are faithful with the small stuff, God gives us MORE stuff.

Where I once saw my own personal tragedies, I began to see opportunities to grow, to better relate to the masses and embrace compassion for those who are hurting.

I could get bitter or get BETTER!

So, how are things in YOUR world? How are things at work? In your relationships? On a deeply personal level? Are you reacting to them or ACTING as Jesus would act?

EACH of us is one radical decision AWAY from drastically changing our world - and subsequently, the world of others.

So, go start a fire today. Jesus started His ministry with the word, "REPENT!" In the original language, He was literally saying, "Change your minds!" Like the jar full of fleas who will only jump as high as the lid will allow, they'll continue to only jump that same height even AFTER the lid is removed. Change your mind! Jump HIGHER! If it's broken, fix it! but it all starts upon that famous battlefield, the human mind.

It's been said that the largest nation on earth is the Imagi-NATION. In my opinion, far too many Christians live there, imagining how bad things are, how they will never improve, how this must be "it" for them...thoughts that simply can NOT be backed up by Scripture. We are encouraged to "be transformed by the RENEWING of our minds."

Hey! There's a GREAT place to start...renewing our minds so that we can CHANGE our minds about how we're going to look at life. Sure, bad things will continue happening to good people. Jesus taught us that "It rains upon the just and the unjust." The difference will always remain in how YOU choose to handle the tough stuff.

Three simple steps to becoming an Arsonist for Christ:

STEP 1: Change your input..garbage in, garbage out. STEP 2: Change your friends...are you going to flock with the turkeys or soar with the eagles? STEP 3: Change your habits...if you want something you don't have, do something you're NOT currently doing. A bible study perhaps? STEP 4: Make something happen. The worst you can do is fail. Dust yourself off and try something else. Quitters never win and winners never quit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR His mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body ofChrist. Since '99, he has broadcast over 600 inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects sure to interest the thinking Christian and accelerate the process of spiritual development. He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries. An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as "Your Town for Jesus" are read around the globe. Subscribe at team1min@aol.com A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is the Workplace Chaplain for a Texas firm, overseeing the Spiritual Development of over 500 employees at ten facilities throughout the state. He is a strong advocate for the House Church Movement, readily available to assist Christians feeling that same inclination. A Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network, he may be available to speak to your church or Christian group.