23 Sep 90% (Because Life is 10% What Happens to You and 90% How You Respond to It)

Over the course of my life, I’ve had some very “interesting” things happen to me. I’ve been bit by a shark, chased by an alligator, I’ve had two different people pull guns on me at two different times, I have been heavily persecuted and totally lied about, Anne and I went through a miscarriage, and almost 21 years ago I could barely walk and barely talk, and just about died. Of course, worst of all, my favorite college football team lost two national championships!

In each and every one of those things, God delivered me out of them all (see Psalm 34:19)…and my football team is soon to follow (can you say “Urban Meyer”)! I understand something deep in my soul…that life is about 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it!

Over the last several weeks we have shared “13 Aspects of Attitude”:

 1. Attitude is your “advance man”

2. People meet your attitude before they meet you!

3. Attitude roots are inward, but its fruits are outward.

4. Our attitude is either our best friend or our worst enemy.

5. Our attitude is more honest than our words.

6. Attitude draws people to us.

7. Attitude repels people from us.

8. It only takes a moment to make an attitude adjustment.

9. The attitude you presently have is the one you’ve presently chosen.

10. Attitude will take you farther than your IQ.

11. Don’t be rude in your ‘tude’…be renewed in your ‘tude’!

12. Attitude will determine your altitude.

13. We must take personal responsibility for our own attitude.

We also began to discuss “6 Attitude Axioms”:

• Our attitude determines our approach to life (Prov. 23:7).
• Our attitude determines our relationship with people (Rom. 14:19).
• Our attitude can be the difference between success and failure (Phil. 4:13).
• Our attitude will determine how we approach our daily tasks (Ps. 118:24).
• Attitude can give us an uncommonly positive perspective (James 1:2-4).

This week let’s continue…

• Religion makes for a bad attitude, but relationship makes for a good attitude (Luke 15:11-32). 

About seven years ago, we had an outstanding couple and their two beautiful children start coming to Joy Church. Their family loved (and still does) Joy Church. A number of people from the church they left endeavored to get them to return. They called and told them, “I heard you are going to that Joy Church. Don’t you know Christianity is supposed to be hard!” This is how far religion will take people from the Word of God!

The Bible says, “The way of the transgressor is hard” (see Prov. 13:15). Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Christianity will challenge you! Christianity will get you out of your comfort zone! Christianity will inconvenience you! Christianity is not selfish…but Christianity is not hard! I have found that religious people are not happy unless they are miserable. They don’t feel good unless they feel bad!

Next week, we’ll continue our series!