Clare De Graaf's Blog, page 9
May 27, 2019
Gen Z and Morality: What U.S. Teens Believe
If you’re a Christian parent or grandparent, you know it’s a dangerous world. So, to understand how dangerous it really is, you need to know the ethical, and spiritual world young “Christians” are growing up in. And you’re kidding yourself if you think, “Oh, my kids don’t believe that!"
The following is a brief summary report from Barna Research, one of the most respected Christian research firms in the world. Please read it thoughtfully and slowly;
The following is a brief summary report from Barna Research, one of the most respected Christian research firms in the world. Please read it thoughtfully and slowly;
May 20, 2019
Dead Men Don’t Give Testimonies
A few months back, I gave my testimony of being diagnosed with terminal cancer almost 40 years ago, then being healed miraculously after years of unsuccessful chemotherapy. Afterward, people came up to me praising God for his healing me and saying things like, “Isn’t God good?”
Yes, God is good. And he was and still is, good to me specifically. But how about those Christians who were not healed and died? Dead men don’t give testimonies!
Non-Christians often ask me about why we say God is good, when obviously he does not rescue or heal everyone – not even all Christians. It’s a variation of the old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” And if they could come back from the dead, would they characterize God as good, or uncaring and even evil?
Bad things do happen to the non-Christian dead.
Yes, God is good. And he was and still is, good to me specifically. But how about those Christians who were not healed and died? Dead men don’t give testimonies!
Non-Christians often ask me about why we say God is good, when obviously he does not rescue or heal everyone – not even all Christians. It’s a variation of the old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” And if they could come back from the dead, would they characterize God as good, or uncaring and even evil?
Bad things do happen to the non-Christian dead.
May 13, 2019
You’re Not Wearing That Are You? (Dealing With Controlling People In Your Life)
I’ve been mentoring men for 35 years now, and I’ve seen the devastation controlling parents have had on their lives. I’ve met with unbelievably successful men who feel like they still don’t measure up to their parents expectations, and many of those parents are dead!
The intent of this blog is to better understand what may have been done to you and to help you recognize the “sins of the fathers” in yourself and how that may be affecting your own children or grandchildren.
The intent of this blog is to better understand what may have been done to you and to help you recognize the “sins of the fathers” in yourself and how that may be affecting your own children or grandchildren.
May 6, 2019
Our Physical Bodies Are the Door to Our Spiritual World
There is an old rabbinical prayer that says, “Bless you oh God, that all the holes in my body work.”
While we might laugh at that observation, the Bible is very clear that our bodies are not only “temples of the Holy Spirit,” (1 Cor. 6:19) but it’s through our bodies that we either contaminate our spirit, or elevate our spirit. Well, how does that work?
While we might laugh at that observation, the Bible is very clear that our bodies are not only “temples of the Holy Spirit,” (1 Cor. 6:19) but it’s through our bodies that we either contaminate our spirit, or elevate our spirit. Well, how does that work?
April 29, 2019
Content With Our Servitude
“Most men will grow up to love their servitude, and will never dream of rebellion.” – Huxley
This amazing quote from A Brave New World stunned me the moment I heard it. My intial reaction was, nobody would be that stupid. Who would ever grow-up loving their servitude?
Me. And maybe you.
So, how is that true in my life and might be in yours as well?
This amazing quote from A Brave New World stunned me the moment I heard it. My intial reaction was, nobody would be that stupid. Who would ever grow-up loving their servitude?
Me. And maybe you.
So, how is that true in my life and might be in yours as well?
April 22, 2019
Insular
Insular [in-suh-ler, ins-yuh-]: Ignorant of, or disinterest in cultures, ideas, or people outside of one’s own experience. –Webster
Humans have always been insular. “Birds of the feather – stick together” is still true. Christians tend to hang out with other Christians. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Except
Humans have always been insular. “Birds of the feather – stick together” is still true. Christians tend to hang out with other Christians. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Except
April 15, 2019
Renewing Your Mind
I’m on the leadership team of the New Canaan Society of Grand Rapids, a national mentoring ministry, www.newcanaansociety.org. Several times a year, three or four of us older Christian men “with mileage,” will invite a dozen young guys over to our house for an informal dinner and discussion. Most of these young men are Christians.
We don’t ever do a teaching. We just sit around two large tables and us older guys will tell a few stories of challenges we’ve had in our personal, spiritual or business lives. Those stories always provoke questions. And the real spiritual mentoring begins.
So last month, I quoted this passage from Romans 12:2.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
One sharp young man asked, “how do you renew your mind?” In my business, that’s what I call a hot lead! So, here’s a brief summary of what I told him.
We don’t ever do a teaching. We just sit around two large tables and us older guys will tell a few stories of challenges we’ve had in our personal, spiritual or business lives. Those stories always provoke questions. And the real spiritual mentoring begins.
So last month, I quoted this passage from Romans 12:2.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
One sharp young man asked, “how do you renew your mind?” In my business, that’s what I call a hot lead! So, here’s a brief summary of what I told him.
April 8, 2019
Spending a Day with God in Solitude and Personal Planning
Last week I wrote about the value of having your own Personal Mission Statement. If you’ve not yet read that blog, I think you’ll want to or this one may not make much sense.
Have you ever spent an entire day all alone with God?
While it’s possible to write a mission statement and set your goals by catching a few hours here and there, but why would you? Why rob yourself of the opportunity to be alone with God and by doing so telling him that you’re giving him your full attention. “Speak to me, Lord. I’m listening.” Hearing from God requires time alone with him to listen for his direction. It is his guidance you’ll need to truly live a life that blesses him and pleases you.
You say you just don’t have the time? Then skip church, take Sunday off, ask your spouse, a friend, or relative to watch the kids. People have reported that when they’ve asked their spouse for a day off to seek God to be a more godly man or woman, and not just to go to a game, fishing, or shopping, they were surprised at how excited they were to help out. Who wouldn’t want a spouse more deeply committed to them, their children and God?
So, what does a day alone with God look like?
Have you ever spent an entire day all alone with God?
While it’s possible to write a mission statement and set your goals by catching a few hours here and there, but why would you? Why rob yourself of the opportunity to be alone with God and by doing so telling him that you’re giving him your full attention. “Speak to me, Lord. I’m listening.” Hearing from God requires time alone with him to listen for his direction. It is his guidance you’ll need to truly live a life that blesses him and pleases you.
You say you just don’t have the time? Then skip church, take Sunday off, ask your spouse, a friend, or relative to watch the kids. People have reported that when they’ve asked their spouse for a day off to seek God to be a more godly man or woman, and not just to go to a game, fishing, or shopping, they were surprised at how excited they were to help out. Who wouldn’t want a spouse more deeply committed to them, their children and God?
So, what does a day alone with God look like?
April 1, 2019
The Value of Having a Personal Mission Statement
Decades ago I felt like my life was out of control. I was busy in ministry, we were raising five children, trying to keep our marriage fresh and I felt like I was not doing any of them well. Life was a blur.
So, I signed up for a time management course. I thought that was how I would find more balance: just be more efficient. The first words out of the seminar presenter’s mouth were two questions and then a quote.
“How many of you have a written Personal Mission Statement?”
So, I signed up for a time management course. I thought that was how I would find more balance: just be more efficient. The first words out of the seminar presenter’s mouth were two questions and then a quote.
“How many of you have a written Personal Mission Statement?”
March 25, 2019
“Church committees are God’s way of slowing up change”
I’ve been an elder on and off for almost 30 years and I’ve assisted the elders at a number of other churches. I’ve made this observation. Very few of the most successful businessmen in our community serve on church boards or on committees. When I’ve polled them as to why, invariably their reason was something like, “Churches and their committees are so inefficient, I just couldn’t take it!”
That’s a true observation but a very unspiritual answer.
I have to confess, when I was first elected to be an elder, there were times I almost wanted a glass of wine, or a Valium. We’d sometimes spend hours talking about stuff that I thought was just a waste of time, or discussing a problem that would have been solved in a business meeting in a few minutes. “Who cares?” I’d silently think to myself. I quickly found out that somebody cares about everything in a church. But why should that concern me?
That’s a true observation but a very unspiritual answer.
I have to confess, when I was first elected to be an elder, there were times I almost wanted a glass of wine, or a Valium. We’d sometimes spend hours talking about stuff that I thought was just a waste of time, or discussing a problem that would have been solved in a business meeting in a few minutes. “Who cares?” I’d silently think to myself. I quickly found out that somebody cares about everything in a church. But why should that concern me?
