WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PIVOT - 5/29/19- Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"Every day is different; you never know what to expect, and you have to be ready to pivot on a dime" - Kris Jenner  

 

It's NBA finals season, and any true basketball fan knows what a pivot is in the game. A dribbling player who stops, or a player that is stationary with the ball, can move it in any direction in order to pass to another player, or shoot themselves if one of their feet is still in contact with the floor. As they're pivoting, they are looking for the best opportunity/option that will make the team successful in scoring. To PIVOT means to turn as if on a pivot-the central point on which a mechanism oscillates.

If you're a fan of the TV show "Friends" you probably remember this scene when Ross, Rachel, and Chandler attempt to move Ross' new couch up the stairs into his apartment. He yells Pivot! Pivaaat! Pivaaat! to no avail. Sometimes it's clear that what you're doing is not working. You need to change something, go a different direction, or try something new. Ross wanted that couch so badly that he decided to saw it in half to get it up the stairs, then later tried to return it to the store, LOL! It's a hilarious scene, but his failure to pivot caused him to lose his dignity, his couch and his money. Do you need to pivot or are you being stubborn?

 

I taught a class of entrepreneurs the concept of the PIVOT in business, (video) a term coined by Eric Reis, author of "The Lean Start Up."  He defines a PIVOT as a change in strategy without a change in vision. "The vision is the end you have in mind. When you're driving, GPS guides you to the destination. If you run into an obstacle, you don't just drive your car into the obstacle over and over again in the hopes that it will be fine. You, with the help of your GPS, find a way around. Startups that succeed do that really well. They start up with an idea that sounds good, but ends up being really terrible." Did you know that Youtube started as a dating site? Or that Groupon was at first a site that helped people do protest petitions? Click on the video above and you'll be amazed. Upon reflection, you might find that you don't need to give up on your ultimate vision, just change the way you get there.  

 

In this great article, Glenn Bleakney explains 3 ways God works to move us in another direction: The Disruption of Plans, The Dissipation of Resources, and the Dissolution of Relationships. In Acts 16:6-7, Paul describes the disruption of plans, "They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them." During Israel's famine, Elijah is provided for supernaturally by the Ravens near a brook. Eventually, the brook dries up, his resources are dissipated, and he is directed by the LORD to go to a widow in Zarephath who will provide for him. (1 Kings 17:8-9) Sometimes God will put you in a transitional situation like Joseph in Potiphar's house (Genesis 39). At first everything is great, but eventually something goes awry that drastically changes or even dissolves the relationship. This ultimately pushes you forward in direction. A push that seemed negative at first, led Joseph to his calling and destiny. God orchestrates pivots!

 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - INTERCESSION - 05/22/19

   

"Prayer must be broad in its scope - it must plead for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer. When prayer is confined to self and to the sphere of one's personal needs, it dies by reason of its littleness, narrowness and selfishness." - Edward McKendree Bounds - American Author 

 

This weekend was our 30th class reunion at the University of Pennsylvania. (I know...) On Sunday there was a memorial gathering and a mini reunion concert by our iteration of the PENN Gospel Choir. We sang old songs from our college days. Our former Director, Carl Bright, also taught us a song he'd written entitled, 'Pray for Me,' and asked me to sing one of the leads. The chorus' lyrics say , "Pray for me, Pray for me, Pray that as I go on, I'll be all God wants me to be. And when I do wrong, just remember this song. I need you to pray. I want you to pray. I need you to pray for me." It was simple yet powerful. My verse was, "Don't give up on me. Don't give up on me. No matter what you see, don't give up on me. In the midst of my mistakes, all I want to say is, I need you to pray. I want you to pray. I need you to pray for me." The song's admonition is when you experience bad or uncharacteristic behavior from someone, your first response ought not be criticism, but prayer.

 

We never know what others are going through.That's why Paul instructed Timothy, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men." (1 Timothy 2:1) Supplication is the act of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly. Prayers are solemn requests for help, earnest hopes and wishes. INTERCESSION is the act of intervening on behalf of another AND the action of saying a prayer on their behalf. Thanksgivings are expressions of gratitude to God. I love that action is associated with intercession. So often, we'll post a prayer emoji or just type the words, 'praying' without even doing that much. Intervening is part of intercession. To intervene means to come between so as to prevent or alter the course of events.  You're not just asking God to do something, you're deciding to be a part of seeing a more positive outcome. You will stand in the gap between what is and what God says should be, until you see it.  

 

In Ezekiel 22, the LORD declares judgment on sinful Israel for her idolatry, abuse of power, slander and other wicked practices. God through His prophet laments, "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."  God is looking for intercessors. Sometimes we fail to intercede because we're too busy 'discerning,' criticizing, or judging a person or their situation. We all have something in our lives that others could condemn, but that's not the best use of our time and energy. Corrie Ten Boom shared, "Discernment is God's call to intercession, never to faultfinding." There is power in intercession. "Intercession is the truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed to intercessory prayer: no continent, no nation, no city, no organization, no office. No power on earth can keep intercession out." Richard Halverson 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - AFFLUENCE - 05/15/19 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many with great affluence, are utterly miserable." - Tacitus (Roman Historian)   

 

AFFLUENCE is the state of having a great deal of money; wealth. Wealth includes an abundance of possessions, plentiful supplies of a particular resource, and material prosperity. I've often been in the company of people and organizations of affluence. It happened this past week and is always really interesting to me. I wonder how they feel about their position. Do they see themselves as self-made? What will they choose to do with affluence? For Christians, how is the Kingdom positively affected by God's choice to allow them great means? Paul instructs, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Paul extols the virtues of PHILANTHROPY - the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. You may not believe it, but in the world most Americans are affluent. According to globalrichlist.com, someone in the US making the Median income in Cincinnati $34,000 is in the top 0.88% of the richest people in the world by income. According to a 2015 CNN article, 71% of the world lives on less than $10 a day...or $3,650 per year! That definitely gives some perspective, and hopefully will inspire you to think of ways you can use your affluence to help at least one other person on the globe.   

 

In the US, we compare our lives with each other and generally find ourselves lacking. We too often say that we're 'poor' and 'broke.' Not only is this not true for most of us based on the data, but it's also unwise. Our America-centricity and lack of world view causes us to be ungrateful. We are the rich: that brings with it responsibility. If you still think you're in a bad place, King Solomon issued perspective on how to think about our financial state and our relationship with God. "Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil." (Prov. 15:16) "Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice." (Prov 16:8) "The little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked." (Prov. 37:16)  

 

Solomon's thoughts on the transfer of affluence have always caused me to yearn and look forward with hope to be able to be a conduit of blessing. "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." (Prov 13:22) "Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor." (Proverbs 28:8)  

 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - OVERCOME - 5/8/19 Sadell Bradley New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"My story is a freedom song of struggle. It is about finding one's purpose, how to overcome fear and to stand up for causes bigger than one's self." - Coretta Scott King  

 

This week I had the honor of visiting the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The building has seven floors dedicated to the contributions of African-Americans to our society. As I perused exhibits on our achievements and struggles in education, science and technology, the arts and entertainment, athletics, politics and government, the military, community activism, etc., tears welled up in my eyes at the collective strength and resilience Black people have shown over the centuries in the United States. Against all the odds, the forces of racism, sexism, and classism...we're moving from being owned to owning our own lives and experiences, and leaving a legacy in this Country. The freedom fighters in the Civil Rights Movement sang, "We Shall Overcome, Someday." The song tugs at me because as long as we have to keep singing it, someday will never be today. The Bible refers to today as the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2), if our hearts are not hardened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His love for ALL. To OVERCOME means to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty; to defeat an opponent; or to prevail. I have so much respect for those who have borne stripes, felt heartache, and faced domestic terrorism in order for me to enjoy the freedoms the Founding Fathers proclaimed in their documents were for everyone. Their prophetic statements are not fully realized, by faith they will be. 

It's been less than 60 years since images of children and the elderly being dragged, hosed down by fire departments, and accosted by police and their dogs were seen across the world. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s strategic philosophy of non-violent resistance reflects Paul's instruction to the Christians in Rome who also suffered at a cruel government's hands, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord." 20On the contrary,"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing so, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:14-21)