Heartburn Cafe

This is a new series answering the question: how does the Christian life work? How do we work out what God has already worked in? We do a study on the Greek word to define the word work in the New Testament. The Greek word is ergon, which means power, might, vigor, and activity. God dwells within us and has energized us with His power. Consider Philippians 1:6, which says, “He has begun a good work in us.” So, then, how do we take that God-given energy and power and work it out of our lives into every day living? That is the ultimate question we try to answer in this series.

This is the final episode of our series “defining moments in life”. By now, we have learned the difference between Chronos time and Kairos time. We have learned to recognize the Kairos moments or what we call the loop. Once we recognize the moment, we are then able to negotiate the loop. Once we negotiate the loop, we find ourselves back on our spiritual linear line. The challenge is to live the normal Chronos time in 2010 but always be aware of the Kairos moments God will send our way in the coming year.

We continue to work through the Kairos moment or loop in part 2 of this most recent series. Last week, we talked about the right half of the loop, which we called REPENT. We also identified three words that describe how to work through the first half of the loop. These three words are observe, reflect, and discuss. We are calling the second half of the loop, which is the upward side or the left side, BELIEVE. The following three words describe how to work through this side of the loop and move up the a linear line once again: plan, accountability, and act. Following this formula will expedite the amount of time we spend in our Kairos moments.

In this episode, we begin the process of working through the loop of a Kairos moment in life. We focus on the right side of the loop in which we talk about the word repent, which actually means a change of mind. The three key words to help us negotiate through the right half of the loop are observe, reflect and discuss. In our next podcast we will talk about the word believe, which is on the left side of the loop.

In this episode, we take a look at what it means to redeem the time. Redeeming the time simply means to take every opportunity of our Kairos moments God has allowed us to enter. In our last episode, we talked about how we are often chasing time and running right past our Kairos moments, moments that we define as God’s time in which He draws us closer to Him.

After Adam fell into sin in the garden, he found himself for the first time in Chronos time. His life was now measured by a clock and calendar, and was limited. Today, we find ourselves chasing the clock. We have busy schedules. Every hour of the day is taken up as we run to and fro. Sometimes we fall behind time and find ourselves late for an appointment. This chasing the clock causes us to run right past God’s time or what I call Kairos time. Thus, we are often late for God’s appointed time for us – that time in which He intends for us to grow in our spiritual life. Don’t be so busy that you miss God’s appointed time!

In this episode, I list four ways in which we might respond to those Kairos moments in our lives – those Kairos moments that are usually etched into our lives and define us for the rest of our lives. They define who we are. They are events in our lives that will define us as a bitter person or a better person depending on how we respond to these moments. We must look at these moments as being a positive force in our lives to grow us in our spiritual life.

“The defining moments of life” series I pray will be a blessing to you. It is about the Kairos moments that take place in our lives. Moments that actually define our life. Kairos moments of time are not associated with a clock or a calendar, they are simply an event, an occasion, an opportunity.What I want to emphasis is the fact that as painful as they may be they also can be a positive time in our lives drawing us closer to God.

This podcast is to explain why we have been away for a few months and to let you know what our future will be with Heartburn Cafe. Stephen will only be hosting on occasion, and I will be taking over the podcast reigns for now. I will be attempting to post short episodes a few times a week, and we’ll see where this new format goes!

Included are a few words of encouragement that are needed in the culture we are living in today. It was David that said “I encourage myself in the Lord.” Certainly He is the great encourager.

- Al