Brian Dolleman's Blog

This post is written by Jon Acuff (author of Stuff Christians Like) and can be found on his blog:

http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/struggling-with-new/

At our last trip to Tybee Island, Georgia, I was in charge of building a sea creature corral. We made a shallow hole and filled it with as many interesting animals as we could find. Starfish, hermit crabs, seashells, we made our own mini aquarium next to our chairs. I even caught a big crab by sneaking up on it from behind with my cat like reflexes.

But then it died.

In the midst of watching this oceanic wonderland, the crab stopped moving. I picked it up. It’s little crab eyes were cloudy, it’s legs hung limp and when I placed it upside down on it’s back it stayed there without a flicker of life in it.
We stopped thinking about it and continued playing on the beach, but then something weird happened.
The crab started molting.

What I mistook as death was actually new life. Inch by inch, it’s shell started coming off like a winter coat. The crazy thing was that it didn’t just grow a new shell. I knew they shed that top shell, but the crab actually grew a completely new body. It’s legs, it’s antennae, every part of it come off in one completely empty replica of the crab. It wasn’t just the shell, this whole crab was brand new.

I always thought the big stuff would change, the shell itself, but it surprised me to see how complete and utter the transformation of that crab was. At the end of 30 minutes, it looked like there were two complete crabs on the beach. One soft and new and beating with the blood of fresh life. One a hollow, slightly smaller shell.

Watching this little crab grow completely challenged my understanding of what it means to become new. That crab wasn’t just improved. It wasn’t given a new shell but the same old legs to carry it around with. The whole thing was new. And I think that’s how God works in our lives too.

I’ve talked before about struggling with porn for 18 years or so. In the summer of 2005, I really confronted that issue. I ended up spending three years as part of a men’s group at First Baptist Woodstock that deals with that. And it was an incredible period of renewal and a season where my relationship with God went 3D.

But sometimes, I look back on that and I forget I’m new. I don’t believe the truth about God’s transformative nature. I think in 2009, I’m not “new Jon,” I’m just “old Jon minus porn.” I’m just a better version of the me I’ve always been. But that’s not true.

And it’s not true for you either.

We, as people, are capable of self improvement. We love the idea that the things we do in our lives can make us better. We can learn and grow and change. That’s why self help books sell so well. But God isn’t in the business of self improvement, he’s in the business of new.

That’s why 2 Corinthians 5:17 is a verse I will continue to write about:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

How powerful is that last section? There are two grenades in there. The first is that the old has gone. It’s not just that the old has been replaced or that the old has been shoved into a closet and if things get tense again and you feel stressed you’re going to put it back on and become the person that hurt so many people in the middle of your divorce or got fired or abandoned your kids while you selfishly tried to “reclaim your youth.” That person? That shell? That’s gone. The second grenade is that in it’s place, the new has come! The new, not the better, the new!

You might look dead at some point in your journey just like that crab. I can’t imagine molting is a pleasant experience. The summer of 2005 was the worst season of my entire life as I became new. But new life was on the other side. That’s what’s waiting.

New life.

As I’ve said before, and I’ll say again:

Death to better, long live new.

http://made-new.com/

In every part of life, we get what is possible, what’s expected, what’s deserved.

We live by cause and effect.

We get what we paid for.

We make our bed, and now we have to lie in it.

And then comes the divine interruption…

Because of Him, because of the cross, because of His death, because of His resurrection, because of His victory—anything’s possible!

My friend Shawn Seeley was blown up in Iraq.

His Humvee landed on him.

His heart stopped en route to Germany.

He died.

That’s what is supposed to happen.

When a bomb blows up under you—you’re supposed to be dead.

When an Army Hummer lands on you—you die…

But with Jesus, anything’s possible.

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Ephesians 3.20 MSG)

God can do anything.

Cause and effect, interrupted.

PS – Shawn is alive. He didn’t stay dead. He made it home. He healed. And today he’s a new man. He has a new life, a new career (he’s a pastor on staff at Fairwood Church with me). Anything’s possible.

http://made-new.com/

Made new
A second chance
Alive again

Clouds lifted
Depression gone
Joy rises

Debts paid
Freedom purchased
Stain erased

Life eternal
Destiny secured
Peace reigns

Hurts healed
Addictions broken
Dignity restored

A fresh vision
Purpose known
Strength found
Supply given

Prodigals have come home
We’re all His sons & daughters
The King’s kids

Yes, His grace covers…

Anything’s possible.

http://made-new.com/

I have all the strength and supply I need.

I am well-rested.

I have peace.

I’m headed in the right direction.

Even when the way is clouded-over, dark, threatening, and depressing—I am not afraid of anything.

I am protected.

I am comforted.

I am well-fed.

I am honored and blessed—both in front of my friends and my haters.

Undeserved reward and unconditional love follow me everywhere I go.

I am secure in my place—I am home. This is where I belong.

All of this is not because of me. It’s all because of Him…

My God, my shepherd.

(Paraphrasing Psalm 23)

http://made-new.com/

Be munificent—not penurious.

Be big—not small.

Depend on His strength and supply—not your own.

Live with a “There’s always more where that came from” perspective.

Dream big.

Make a difference.

Do extraordinary things.

You’ve got the strength for it: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4.13 NLT)

You’ve got the supply too: “God will generously provide all you need. You will have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9.8 NLT)

Be munificent.

http://made-new.com/

Every 60 seconds, a new minute.

Every 60 minutes, a new hour.

Every 24 hours, a new day.

Every 7 days, a new week.

Every 30 or so days, a new month.

Every 365 days, a new year.

Life constantly reminds us that there is more…

More life—there’s always more where that came from.

“The One sitting on the throne said, Look, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21.5 NLT)

God renews, refreshes, restores. He gives. He provides.

He is our creator, our source, our supply.

Everything we have comes from Him.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…” (James 1.17 NIV)

We’re not meant to live stale lives.

There’s no reason to live small, to hoard, to keep.

“God is the one who provides…He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” (2 Corinthians 9.10 NLT)

We’re meant to live big, generous lives—because in Him, there’s always more where that came from.

http://made-new.com/

The host of a party cares about their guests and wants the party to be a success.

The pizza delivery guy doesn’t care about the party; he only shows up to get paid.

He’s in a hurry. He’s not staying—he leaves as soon as you give him what he came for.

One of the requirements for church leaders is having the gift of hospitality.

“He must enjoy having guests in his home.” (Titus 1.8)

Church is kinda like a party…

The invitations have been sent out—people are invited.

A lot of planning and preparation is done before the party gets started.

There’s music, celebrating, and of course, food.

Yeah, church is like a party…

And there are hosts and there are pizza delivery guys.

Hosts and hostesses are there to serve, bless, encourage, and give.

Pizza delivery guys are only coming if there’s something in it for them—they come to get.

Be the host, not the pizza delivery guy.

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way.” (Luke 6.38 MSG)

http://made-new.com/

I just read this in a book recently (Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki)…

“There are two kinds of people in the world: eaters and bakers.

Eaters want a bigger slice of an existing pie; bakers want to make a bigger pie.

Eaters think that if they win, you lose, and if you win, they lose.

Bakers think that everyone can win with a bigger pie.”

This reminds me of a Scripture:

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”
(Proverbs 11.24 MSG)

Live big.

Give big.

Be a baker, not an eater.

http://made-new.com/

I know you’ve heard it before.

In fact, you’ve probably said it before.

It goes something like this: “I’m just lazy—that’s who I am.”

Or another version: “I’m just hot-tempered—it’s the Italian in me.”

You can fill in the blanks: “I’m just…” (blah, blah, blah).

There’s a significant problem with this line of reasoning…

It completely ignores the God who makes all things new.

When we say things like: “I’m just… / I’ll never… / I can’t… / I won’t… / I’m always going to be…” we deny God’s power to renew us.

Gotta remember:

“You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you.” (Colossians 3.10 NCV)

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!.” (2 Corinthians 5.17 NLT)

“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” (Ephesians 4.23 NLT)

So, we can’t say things like, “I’m just not the compassionate type.”

Nope. Busted!

Here’s what is true (and what we should be saying)…

I’m living the new life now.

I’m being made new.

I’m becoming like the One who made me.

I’m a new person—the old me is gone—the new me is here!

God’s Holy Spirit is renewing my thoughts and attitudes every day.

Challenge: no more “I’m just…” (blah, blah, blah) because that’s the old you.

It’s time to embrace the new you—the you that’s being made new.

http://made-new.com/

Our attitudes and thoughts shape our actions and reactions.

Jesus was just traveling though Samaria, on his way to Jerusalem—and the people of Samaria rejected him.

When James and John (his disciples) saw what was happening, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

Jesus rebuked them, saying, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9.54-56 NKJV)

The disciples were bent on revenge, judgement and destruction.

They even had a Bible verse to support their idea… biblical precedence—Elijah did it, we should do it too.

Jesus, on the other hand, was bent on grace, mercy and salvation.

He hadn’t come to destroy—but to save.

Jesus was basically telling his disciples: “You guys need to renew your mind and attitude! You might know your Bible but you’re mean and vengeful. It’s time for you to be motivated by what motivates me—I came to save people because I love them. I want you to be bent towards compassion, not judgment.”

I think it’s interesting how the disciples had a Bible verse and were using it to reinforce their wrong bent—their wrong attitude, thought, heart, and response.

It makes me wonder how many times I’ve attempted to use the Bible to reinforce my bent.

Having a good Bible verse to reinforce my position (or my bent) isn’t what I need…

I need Jesus to make me new—to give me a new heart, a new attitude and a new mind.

I need Him to make me bent like He is.

“You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God.
?God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So you should aways clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Bear with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. Even more than all this, clothe yourself in love.” (Colossians 3.10, 12-14 NCV)

http://made-new.com/