Chris Maxwell's Newsletter

Another Day Along the Way
Friday, October 27, 2006

Another day,
Tuesday morning, I listened to a friend. She spoke to more of my friends - the students, faculty, and staff at Emmanuel College. At least, I hope she spoke to them. I hope the message wasn't only for me.

Kristi Cain, who works as editor of the new Faith Cafe curriculum I write, titled her topic "Contentment." When she told me the title, I felt content. I knew people needed to hear it without realizing how much I was one of those people.

Kristi said, "Becoming content is not easy, it is not simple. It means to be satisfied with the circumstances of our lives." I took notes as her words took me, taught me, challenged me, reminded me.

She emphasized how we live in a world of negative people who are obsessed with a desire to move up and obtain more, newer, and better things. What a contrast, Kristi said, to the steady calmness and peace God longs to give us on the inside. Rather than the cultural commercial world which teaches dissatisfaction, our hearts and minds can focus on the positive. We can (1) live a conscious life of thanksgiving and (2) learn to deal with the idols in our lives.

Here are a few of my notes as I listened to Kristi: "Live the discipline of thankfulness. I often remind myself by listing five things I should be thankful for. Anything that takes the place of Christ in our lives becomes an idol. We are to love the Lord with all our hearts, and have no other gods. Take inventory. Idolatry is today's drug of choice, even in churches where buildings and success and worship can become idols. There is a real treasure in contentment. Pursue God and find satisfaction in His Kingdom."

See what I mean? See why I knew she spoke truth? See why I needed it?

Still, I don't think the message was only for me. As I listen and notice, as I hear and observe, so many of us need so much more contentment. Pause today and pray for such peace. Avoid the drug of choice and become satisfied in this life God has designed.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:11-13; The Message)

Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

"Is this all there is?"

When he asked me that question, the man was not thinking about the food on his plate, the money in his account, or the people who know his name. Those words came in response to a sermon spoken by a famous preacher. After listening and listening and listening, he asked, "Is this all there is?"

I wanted to debate, confronting him with questions about why such powerful truth did not seem like enough to him. I wanted to argue, proving my case to him with a packed dose of apologetics. I wanted to state doctrine, convincing this man of theology.

But I didn't. I responded to his question with a question. I asked, "What more do you want."

His answer told me much. I asked more questions; he offered more honesty, confessions, confusion, hurt, desire.

Instead of going for more inquiry, I asked a different question: "Is it okay if I pray for you since I still believe God hears and answers? I just want Him to help you grasp truth and I think that is what you want, too."

He answered, "Yes."

What about you? What about those who know you, those who want to know God, and those who know about Sunday morning church services but still crave a relationship with their Maker? What about us all? What more do we want?

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
(1 Peter 3:15, The Message)

Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, October 05, 2006

Another day,
This one long sentence informs you of a weekend in Orlando as we watched our oldest son marry a beautiful lady on Monday while family and friends gathered to sit and stand in the lovely Florida atmosphere of water, sun, a frequent breeze, heat, music, laughter, gifts, tears, and conversations flavoring an environment of joyful pleasure for the couple who voiced their vows, promised their pledges, and kissed the kiss with eyes on them while they were again told of the importance of commitment and truth of marital promises -- truths too often broken, forgotten, ignored, deleted -- that acknowledge life and death, better and worse, gladness and sadness, but also confess a crucial statement of yes, of yes, of yes, for all to hear and for the Listening God to confirm, and I thought about it deeply as I stood on an outdoor stage serving as a pastor and a father, leading a service when the smiles revealed my happiness and the peace proved my confirmation about Taylor and Brittany agreeing to endure and remain true in this new life of marriage which is like a long, long, long sentence merging nouns and verbs and moods and scenes while refusing to end amid those times when a conclusion might appear a tempting method to resolve the confusion, the sentence of promises keeps going and moving and turning while remaining one, just one, only one, long sentence of life and love and hope during weekends and weaknesses, kisses and joyful pleasure as crowds watch the warm atmosphere of true, lasting love.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
(1 Corinthians 13:1, The Message)