I find if i am not careful I begin to live in someday land. You know the place, you might live there too. It is a land filled with dreams and hopes, a land filled with I'm gonnas and when things are more together. You know, someday meaning not today. The single biggest difference between someday and today is a nasty four letter word beginning with 'F'... fear. I don't like to talk about fear, I don't even like to admit there are things that I am afraid of, but the truth is unavoidable.
What fears are stopping me from making someday, today?
My biggest fear is not being able to provide for my family. The most common thought which follows someday in my vocabulary is this, someday I will be used by God to be a new church planter. When asked why I don't just go out and do this I have come up with all kinds of noble answers like, well it would not be responsible to the church I am at, or I am not sure if my annual conference or denomination is ready for a new church plant. While one or both of these answers are true, they are really smokescreens for my fear. What is holding me back is not a sense of responsibility, or a sense of needing permission from an earthly organization, it is fear of being able to make it. Making it includes providing for my family, and making it means being able to be successful in beginning a new church. There I said it, now I have to deal with it.
What is the opposite of fear?
The term used by Kerry and Chris Shook is ridiculous faith. This is the faith David had facing Goliath. This is the faith the apostles had as they began the church. This is the faith many who are now mt cloud of witnesses have displayed. It is not a play-it-safe kind of faith. It is the kind of faith that might get you into some sticky situations, but it is exactly the faith we are all called to have.
So what is a person to do? Step one, pray, step two take action. Step three, refer to step one. I am going to do whatever it takes to make someday today. So that when God opens the doors, or brings the nest turn in my journey i will be ready. Not necessarily ready for what lies ahead, ready to walk with ridiculous faith.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
One Month To Live
I probably spend too much time reading as it is, but I just started another book that was recommended by a dear friend, thanks Alan. The book is titled One Month to Live and it is written by Kerry and Chris Shook. I am sure that most of you have already heard of and possibly read the book already, hey I am slow. Anyway, my plan for the next thirty days is to read through this book and journal the questions and thoughts I have as I do it. So here goes.
Day 1:
What five things would I change in my life if I knew I only had one month to live?
This is an easy and not so easy question all at the same time. First I would live my life at a more sustainable pace. Number two, I would take more time away from the office or work. Number three invest more into my family. Number four play more golf. Number five plant a church.
How would I like my life to be different after reading the book?
I guess I would like to have greater clarity of my passions, and the willingness to live them out in greater ways. I don't want to be tied to the status quo anymore than I have to. I want to living my life on God's terms not on everyone else's.
And we are off. I invite you to comment, encourage and challenge me as I go through this journey.
Day 1:
What five things would I change in my life if I knew I only had one month to live?
This is an easy and not so easy question all at the same time. First I would live my life at a more sustainable pace. Number two, I would take more time away from the office or work. Number three invest more into my family. Number four play more golf. Number five plant a church.
How would I like my life to be different after reading the book?
I guess I would like to have greater clarity of my passions, and the willingness to live them out in greater ways. I don't want to be tied to the status quo anymore than I have to. I want to living my life on God's terms not on everyone else's.
And we are off. I invite you to comment, encourage and challenge me as I go through this journey.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Nothing is Impossible
Most people in the church world are familiar with the the verse that reminds us that we can do all things through Christ. An most are familiar with the promise that with God all things are possible. In many ways these have become trite statements of the spiritually shallow. Before you stop reading, let me unpack my thoughts some. These two promises are completely true and trustworthy. I gain strength from both of them. Yet all too often these two phrases are used to justify us not doing our part in the work is calling us to. Mary, was not sure how it would work that she a virgin would have a child, much less the Messiah. Her recognition of God's ability to make it happen didn't mean the rest was easy. When Paul had penned the words I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, there is an assumption, that he was doing very difficult things, things that could not be done in human strength alone.
In both of these phrases I also hear an expectation. Mary and Paul expected God to move and act in their lives and world. There was not simply a trust God to provide and I sit back. It was I expect God to act as I am obedient to the call on my life. There is a key that we must be doing what God has called us to do. It is not a matter of God blessing and working with what we are doing, it is a matter of doing what God is blessing.
Take for a moment Saul in the old testament. He was Israel's first king. When he started he did what God called him to do, and God worked on his behalf and blessed Saul. When Saul was repeatedly disobedient, the Lord stopped blessing and working. In fact the Lord worked to replace Saul with David. In 1 Samuel 18, it is written that David was able to do whatever his task was, because the Lord was with him. Sounds kind of familiar. We know that there are times later in life when David is not able to be successful in everything, because he is not obedient to God.
It is true that anything is possible with God, and that through Christ we receive strength beyond our own ability. This is not a mere product of God being pleased at what we do. Rather it is because we are obedient and faithful to the call of our life. God will not simply bless what we are doing if we ask. We must seek after that which God is blessing, then we will do anything God calls us to do, fore nothing is impossible with God.
In both of these phrases I also hear an expectation. Mary and Paul expected God to move and act in their lives and world. There was not simply a trust God to provide and I sit back. It was I expect God to act as I am obedient to the call on my life. There is a key that we must be doing what God has called us to do. It is not a matter of God blessing and working with what we are doing, it is a matter of doing what God is blessing.
Take for a moment Saul in the old testament. He was Israel's first king. When he started he did what God called him to do, and God worked on his behalf and blessed Saul. When Saul was repeatedly disobedient, the Lord stopped blessing and working. In fact the Lord worked to replace Saul with David. In 1 Samuel 18, it is written that David was able to do whatever his task was, because the Lord was with him. Sounds kind of familiar. We know that there are times later in life when David is not able to be successful in everything, because he is not obedient to God.
It is true that anything is possible with God, and that through Christ we receive strength beyond our own ability. This is not a mere product of God being pleased at what we do. Rather it is because we are obedient and faithful to the call of our life. God will not simply bless what we are doing if we ask. We must seek after that which God is blessing, then we will do anything God calls us to do, fore nothing is impossible with God.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Whos Agenda
Many things seem to cause my journey with God to slow down. There is all the 'work' of the church, which can grind. There is all the involvement in the Annual Conference, which can suck the life out of a person if not careful. There are the things like TV, and food. When all is said at done however, the most significant hindrance to a deeper walk with God is me. Not all these other things, simply me.
The mixed bag of selfish ambition, pride and fear can overwhelm a person. Most of all the desire to see things done my way can cause significant disconnect from God and people. The people of Israel cried out for a king in the 1 Samuel. No longer did they want God to rule their lives they wanted a human king like all the nations around them. In this longing for a king they had lost sight of the fact that they are not suppose to be like the nations around them. The nation of Israel was to be marked by a people who had God as their leader.
In the end what we really learn about the Israelites is that they didn't really want an earthly king either, what they really wanted was to rule themselves. To return to the days of judges when Israel had no king and everyone did what they wanted. To add to this there was a desire to do whatever they wanted, without consequence.
I guess I have not come very far from the Israelites. Come to think of it I think we are all very similar to the Israelites. We want to do whatever we want to, and not face the consequences. If we are not careful, every activity we engage in becomes an attempt to have our agenda furthered, which might not be the one God has in mind. The struggle is that now one really knows the mind of God. So what are we to do. Mark 8 would remind us to deny ourselves, and follow Christ. Seems like good advice, no not advice, a good calling to holy living.
Whos agenda are you pushing?
The mixed bag of selfish ambition, pride and fear can overwhelm a person. Most of all the desire to see things done my way can cause significant disconnect from God and people. The people of Israel cried out for a king in the 1 Samuel. No longer did they want God to rule their lives they wanted a human king like all the nations around them. In this longing for a king they had lost sight of the fact that they are not suppose to be like the nations around them. The nation of Israel was to be marked by a people who had God as their leader.
In the end what we really learn about the Israelites is that they didn't really want an earthly king either, what they really wanted was to rule themselves. To return to the days of judges when Israel had no king and everyone did what they wanted. To add to this there was a desire to do whatever they wanted, without consequence.
I guess I have not come very far from the Israelites. Come to think of it I think we are all very similar to the Israelites. We want to do whatever we want to, and not face the consequences. If we are not careful, every activity we engage in becomes an attempt to have our agenda furthered, which might not be the one God has in mind. The struggle is that now one really knows the mind of God. So what are we to do. Mark 8 would remind us to deny ourselves, and follow Christ. Seems like good advice, no not advice, a good calling to holy living.
Whos agenda are you pushing?
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Cost Benefit
I want to start with the disclaimers to get them out of the way. I know that Jesus, and many others in scripture, teach us to be wise. I know that we are to be good stewards. I get that we should not be haphazard with what the lord gives us.
Having said that, I have become quite disturbed with myself lately when it comes to taking risks. I am comfortable with risk as much as the next person, but lately I have been stuck in the world of what if. For some stupid reason I break into a cost/benefit analysis as soon as an opportunity comes up. to be honest with you it makes me sick to be in that mode. It is not how it should be.
What it really comes down to is, do I trust God or not? If the opportunity before me is from God, do I trust God to provide for the needs? I have come to believe the single greatest thing holding people and churches hostage is the inability to trust God to be God.
My closing thought is a quote from the book Entrepreneurial Faith by Kirbyjon Caldwell and Walt Kallestad, "If you can't jump brave, jump scared."
Having said that, I have become quite disturbed with myself lately when it comes to taking risks. I am comfortable with risk as much as the next person, but lately I have been stuck in the world of what if. For some stupid reason I break into a cost/benefit analysis as soon as an opportunity comes up. to be honest with you it makes me sick to be in that mode. It is not how it should be.
What it really comes down to is, do I trust God or not? If the opportunity before me is from God, do I trust God to provide for the needs? I have come to believe the single greatest thing holding people and churches hostage is the inability to trust God to be God.
My closing thought is a quote from the book Entrepreneurial Faith by Kirbyjon Caldwell and Walt Kallestad, "If you can't jump brave, jump scared."
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
"Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon." 1 Samuel 3:1 (NLT)
In a day and age when many people, myself included, like to talk about what God is doing, leading and speaking, is it really God? I wonder if our day is not all that different than the days of Samuel's youth. When the Lord God speaks directly to Samuel he, Sam, does not understand it to be God. Samuel is convinced that it is Eli, the priest and father figure to Samuel. It is not until Eli realizes what is happening, that he instructs Samuel. Eli recognizes that it is God once again speaking. There was a time when God regularly spoke to Eli, but that had been a while.
Samuel has a deep conversation with God.
Sam: Here I am Lord
The Lord: I am going to destroy your mentor and his sons for their sins
How does Sam respond, he stays in bed as long as he can. And when Eli asks what the Lord said to him, Sam has the task of telling his father, mentor and leader that the Lord is going to take his life. This stirring encounter between Sam and God ought have us all just hoping and begging God to have us be a prophet of God. Let's see God was not recognized for some time, then when God speaks the message is that those closest to you are going to die.
However, in a day and age when God is often not recognized when speaking, and visions are treated as fantasy, it might just be you and I that God is calling to in the night. I am going to resist the temptation to break into the gaudy hymn, Here I Am Lord. Instead I am going to challenge us not to sing a song, but to be the voice that proclaims the message of God. I am going to challenge this generation to be the generation that seeks after God. i am going to challenge all of us to make this a time when God's voice and visions are know often.
Maybe your are the next Samuel.
In a day and age when many people, myself included, like to talk about what God is doing, leading and speaking, is it really God? I wonder if our day is not all that different than the days of Samuel's youth. When the Lord God speaks directly to Samuel he, Sam, does not understand it to be God. Samuel is convinced that it is Eli, the priest and father figure to Samuel. It is not until Eli realizes what is happening, that he instructs Samuel. Eli recognizes that it is God once again speaking. There was a time when God regularly spoke to Eli, but that had been a while.
Samuel has a deep conversation with God.
Sam: Here I am Lord
The Lord: I am going to destroy your mentor and his sons for their sins
How does Sam respond, he stays in bed as long as he can. And when Eli asks what the Lord said to him, Sam has the task of telling his father, mentor and leader that the Lord is going to take his life. This stirring encounter between Sam and God ought have us all just hoping and begging God to have us be a prophet of God. Let's see God was not recognized for some time, then when God speaks the message is that those closest to you are going to die.
However, in a day and age when God is often not recognized when speaking, and visions are treated as fantasy, it might just be you and I that God is calling to in the night. I am going to resist the temptation to break into the gaudy hymn, Here I Am Lord. Instead I am going to challenge us not to sing a song, but to be the voice that proclaims the message of God. I am going to challenge this generation to be the generation that seeks after God. i am going to challenge all of us to make this a time when God's voice and visions are know often.
Maybe your are the next Samuel.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The Preferred Role
As I continue my trek through Judges I keep coming across the phrase, "Israel had no king in those days, and everyone did what they thought was right in their own eyes." I have a few thoughts right off the bat, first why not get a king? Then I remember that God is suppose to be their king, not a earthly king. My next thought is why don't the people ever learn. Then I think, why don't I ever learn. The following thought is, I would do things differently if I were there. I think we can all see the problem with that line of thought.
Upon further reflection, I find it comes down to an understanding of roles. What is the preferred role we like to have God play in our lives. More specifically, what role do we prefer Jesus to play. Jesus fulfilled many roles and actions, they are all boiled down to Savior and Lord, or if you like, Forgiver and Leader. The Savior role is the one that most of us identify with very readily. In this role Jesus takes our sins and pays our debt on the cross. The role of forgiver is my favorite understanding of Jesus.
Then there is the other key role, Lord or Leader. This role is more problematic because it means that I am not in charge. It means that I cannot do what ever I see fit in my own eyes. It means that even though I do not have an earthly king, I do have someone who is ruler over my life. Even typing those words is difficult because I do not want to have anyone ruling over me. I have had a long standing, and genetically reinforced issue with authority. Actually, it is not an issue with authority, I just want to rebel against it. Still there is Jesus wanting to not only be my Savior, but longing to be my Lord and Leader.
In reality, even when i don't think I have a king, I have a King. And when I think I can do whatever I see fit in my own eyes, I have to answer to my King. The amazing thing about my King is that I can go my own way, and He will let me, but I will have to answer for my choices.
Upon further reflection, I find it comes down to an understanding of roles. What is the preferred role we like to have God play in our lives. More specifically, what role do we prefer Jesus to play. Jesus fulfilled many roles and actions, they are all boiled down to Savior and Lord, or if you like, Forgiver and Leader. The Savior role is the one that most of us identify with very readily. In this role Jesus takes our sins and pays our debt on the cross. The role of forgiver is my favorite understanding of Jesus.
Then there is the other key role, Lord or Leader. This role is more problematic because it means that I am not in charge. It means that I cannot do what ever I see fit in my own eyes. It means that even though I do not have an earthly king, I do have someone who is ruler over my life. Even typing those words is difficult because I do not want to have anyone ruling over me. I have had a long standing, and genetically reinforced issue with authority. Actually, it is not an issue with authority, I just want to rebel against it. Still there is Jesus wanting to not only be my Savior, but longing to be my Lord and Leader.
In reality, even when i don't think I have a king, I have a King. And when I think I can do whatever I see fit in my own eyes, I have to answer to my King. The amazing thing about my King is that I can go my own way, and He will let me, but I will have to answer for my choices.
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