Too many Helpers

I used to say this all the time in the context of finances, but my recent contemplation of God's role in our lives has broadened it to "No one is going to DO your life."

God and many people want to help you make decisions, but you are the one who will have to decide. God and many people will provide resources and gifts, but you are the one who has to accept them. YOU have to live YOUR life (otherwise we wouldn't call it YOUR life, eh?).

I sing b/c...

It's always interesting how the leaders at weekend service will try to prompt those gathered for worship. While there may be lots of good/better/best ideas out there, my thinking on singing on Sunday morning is reduced to an old song, "I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free."

You're full of...

How can God fill me when I'm full of myself?

The life you choose

We all have choices to make. One that has confronted me recently has been whether to choose an Easy Life or a Great Life. Which will you choose?

God is like coffee

While at the Alpha weekend away, our discussion of the Holy Spirit led to this analogy: His empowerment is like coffee and I'm like a cup. Sometimes the coffee slops out if I'm not careful, sometimes, I drink it, sometimes I share it, sometimes I choose to toss it out. Just like my coffee cup needs refilling, I need refilling of the Holy Spirit's power. I'm glad He's got more in  reserve than even Starbuck's.

Pumpkins

Is the point of this picture that 'pumpkins are orange'?

How about this one?

Now this one?

The Bible makes statements along the lines of  'pumpkins are orange,' and yet we miss the point if that's the main thing we get rather than something along the lines of  'Emily went to the pumpkin patch and had a great time as she celebrated the fall harvest with some orange pumpkins.' Did Paul write Galatians because "we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and not by our works, or the works of the Law," (link) or because "some people are disagreeing with me about salvation and here is why they are wrong. Don't listen to them." Every part of the Bible was written in a specific historical context. The truths in them, both revealed and implied, are being brought to bear in a very specific way. It's easy to forget - especially when the pumpkins are so orange.

The point of scrapbooking

If the Bible is a scrapbook of God's family, treat it how you would a other scrapbooks. Acknowledge the setting of the pictures. Emily's Year in Review books serve a different purpose from What to Expect: The Toddler Years similar to how the Bible serves a different purpose to Systematic Theology. Which way do you treat the Bible?

A Pastor by Any Other Name - Part 1

We do not find terms such as "lay pastor" or "facilitator" in the Bible - one is either an elder/pastor or he is not - it's that simple. Our getting past the distinction between "staff" (paid) and unpaid elders is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome if we hope to establish a healthy house church ministry. We must publicly acknowledge the deep-seated, Biblical truth that an unpaid pastor of a small group meeting in the home is every bit as much a pastor as one who is paid to lead a larger congregation meeting in a church building. Steven Lorch in Welcome Home: A Practical Guide to House Churces, Small Groups, Home Fellowships or Whatever Else We Call Them.

Simply Floored

Acts 9:4 and he fell to the ground...
In response to God's work, Paul fell to the ground. Have I ever been literally knocked to the ground by God's working?

God, please don't leave me in the mundane, but allow me to experience your working!

Dr. Popeye

Popeye said "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more."

All the apathy, arrogance, laziness, injustice, selfishness, loneliness, & hypocrisy need to end.

Got Help?

Why won't 'they' help? Because 'they' don't exist.
'They' will help when you raise 'them' up to be helpers. Find a 'they' and start training.

God give me a helper!

According to their kind

Genesis 1:25 says "God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good"

When I consider mentoring others, I expect them to be like me - according to my kind. Sometimes that scares me...

Context for Calling

Currently I am praying, "God, let me know in what context I should be pursuing the calling you've given me." Callings that aren't pursued are denied.

Sounds like a concert

I've heard the comment "the service felt like a concert" so many times that I grew numb to it until it recently happened to me. Anyone who plans a church service has a responsiblity to invite people into participation; anyone who attends a church service has a responsibility to prepare themselves to enter participation. Was I unprepared or was the invitation not extended?

Is this planned?

When someone has a role in a church service and makes a change to the flow of the service, what is that person saying about the original plan? Maybe something like "My off-the-cuff alteration is better than your prayerful, strategic planning." - or maybe not.

Serving God while distracted

If 'my best life now' means living in the power of God, what blocks my submission to Him? Lack of sleep, physical pain, worry, mind-altering substances, sin, relational instability. A whole rainbow of issues to investigate.

Implications

Why am I writing about implications?
Because we’re not too good at making decisions. We make decisions based on our available knowledge, but if we were to think about the outcome of our decisions, we’d make better ones. I want to think about all sorts of decisions and situations in order to be ready for them or for similar ones in the future.

The me I want to be

I diagnosed my car and fixed it (a faulty relay) - now I question if I'm even the person I think I am.

Do you really believe the things you say you believe?
Are you really the person you think you are?

Notice the annoyances

I've found myself annoyed by a few things recently. Presto - I now have more insights into who I am. Thank God I don't have to stay this way!

What annoys you?

Transparent Secrecy restated

How will we know how each other make decisions unless we talk about it? Your decisions are personal, but if you keep the private, no one can learn from them.

Thoughts from service at First Baptist Auburn 6/12/2011 where the speaker enumerated the benefits of keeping your spiritual life a secret.

Transparent Secrecy

"your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." If God intends me to be motivated by rewards, don't I need to see both the action and the reward? If my mentors never tell me what they do 'in secret,' how will I be able to correlate their relationship with our Savior?

You can't go to church...

I was at church this morning doing church with my church and thought about what the church is doing today. (?!?) How much does our ambivalent use of 'church' affect our spiritual lives?

Translated *I was at the weekend service this morning paying attention and being involved with my congregation of fellow believers and thought about what the whole group of Christ-followers on earth is doing today.

Celebrating Kingdom Work

One day I hope to hear 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Thank you to everyone who labors for the Kingdom. With God's help, we can make a difference!

Church is 'FUN'?

If I want to have fun, I probably won't end up at church. If I want to see myself as part of something bigger than I am alone, I probably will end up there. Don't advertise church events as 'fun' if you want me to come.

An Invitation to Discuss

God could say 'You're wrong. Zap, now you're gone.' Instead he invites us to dialogue (Malachi 1:2). It's amazing to serve such a merciful Savior.

For Whom Do I Work?

A Pastor of Student Ministries has many people he or she 'serves:' the students, their parents, the volunteer leaders, the elders/deacons, the staff leadership. Understand which relationship is the key one.

Thoughts from my conversation with Pastor Geoff at Waukesha First 3/24/2011.

Momentum vs. Inertia

"Church Plants" and ministries that have 'It' have more conversion growth. Would you use the term 'Momentum' to describe your congregation or perhaps 'Inertia.' Positive Life Change reinforces itself (Momentum) as does the attitude 'We've always done it this way before' (Inertia).

God served me...

Why is it important "to serve"? The decisions we make reveal who we believe God to be. If He has served me (who could do nothing in return), it's logical that we'd make the same choice.

My thoughts from a conversation with Pastor Geoff at Waukesha First.

Pure Religion

James 1:27 directs us that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
I've read a lot about keeping myself from being polluted and I've put effort into it as well. What have I done for widows and orphans? I'd sure like my religion to be pure and undefiled...

My thoughts from Pastor Verne's message (3/20/2011 Fatherly Advice - Relationships) and Doug McConnell's message to DTS (11/05/2010 Being the Family of God)

Yes to Children's ministry

"So I said, Yes! Not just to a job, but to a vision. Yes, I want to help make Promiseland the best hour of every kid's week. Yes, I see kingdom potential in every child. Yes, I believe that children's ministry really does matter. And Yes, I'll do whatever it takes to become more effective every year... Each must be deliberately and prayerfully adopted."

Sue Miler made the implication for me. (From her book Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week)

Kids and Ministry

Ministry was never designed to stand still (a trait shared with kids)!
From Sue Miller's Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week

Combustible Vision

From Sue Miller's Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week: "How Clear and Contagious is your ministry vision?... Too many leaders try to lead a ministry fueled by something other than the combustible conviction that comees from a God-directed vision."

If this is true about Christian leaders, how much more is it true for everyone else? Does my life radiate a "combustible conviction of God-directed vision" that I can invite other people to share?

Thanks for lending me the book, Jon Glass.

When God disagrees..

I stand before God who will judge me with regards to what I've done. He won't judge me based on what you've done ('cept in regard to how I was a leader...).

When God calls, He expects us to answer. When our leaders direct, He expects us to listen. What happens when the two seem to be in tension? Perhaps He wants us to work out His plan from melding the two.

Whatever God does not reveal to us immediately, He intends for us to work out in the context of community. (from P Guy (if memory serves) who said "Whatever God does not deliver us from immediately, He intends for us to work out in the context of community.")

"Good" Small Group Leaders Pray

"Pray for Group Members Daily." Next Bible Study, I'm taking everyone's picture to put on my computer so I'll remember to pray. or maybe I'll just write your name next to my mirror.

My thoughts based on 8 Habits of Effective Small Group Leaders by Dave Earley

"Good" Small Group Leaders Dream

"Dreaming of Leading a Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Group" is now on my to do list for Bible Study. Now I just have to make time for it...

My thoughts based on 8 Habits of Effective Small Group Leaders by Dave Earley

Generosity Is The Antidote

What's the opposite of "Giving is the antidote to materialism"? Perhaps "Acquiring and Enjoying Stuff is a Worthy Goal." If we aren't living as though the first one is true, are we living as though the second one is?

My thought from Pastor Verne's message on 3/13/11 at Waukesha First. Listen online.

Live for the Line, not the Dash

What's the opposite of "Live for the Line, not the Dash (on your tombstone)"? Perhaps "Our choices have no serious eternal consequences." If we aren't living as though the first one is true, are we living as though the second one is?

My thought from Pastor Verne's message on 3/13/11 at Waukesha First. Listen online.

Our Hearts Follow Our Treasures

What's the opposite of "Our Hearts Follow Our Treasures "?Perhaps "What I can't see is unimportant." If we aren't living as though the first one is true, are we living as though the second one is?

My thought from Pastor Verne's message on 3/13/11 at Waukesha First. Listen online.

God Owns It All

What's the opposite of "God owns it all"? Perhaps "I can do whatever I want since it's mine." If we aren't living as though the first one is true, are we living as though the second one is?

My thought from Pastor Verne's message on 3/13/11 at Waukesha First. Listen online.

Don't Choose a Church for Yourself

I Love Ephesians 2:8-10. Whenever I hear it, my ears perk up... Oddly, the churches that I enjoy most use this verse often. Are they geniuses like me, or is it Selection Bias?

If I'm comfortable (in life, at church, at work), is that a sign that I'm healthy (physically, mentally, spiritually) or that I'm merely paying attention to the few items that I value?

(*Pastor Verne, Can you use Ephesians 2:8-10 more often? That'd be great.)

Making Decisions

We're not too good at making decisions. We make decisions based on our available knowledge, but if we were to think about the outcome of our decisions, we’d make better ones. I want to think about all sorts of decisions and situations in order to be ready for them or for similar ones in the future.

God's Measurement

I hate it when you get suprised by a boss's assessment - thankfully it's been rare in my life. It does make one wonder though...

Do we measure the same thing God does? When we get to heaven, will we be suprised by His assessment?

He has told you, oh man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you.
To Do Justice
To Love Kindness
And To Walk Humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

Pastor of Archival?

Churches are fantastic at creating content, in my opinion. Pastors, teachers, & small group leaders spend countless hours preparing messages, lessons, & experiences.

How many excellent resources have been lost because the tape, CD, or DVD containing it has not been properly archived or not even created?

Measuring the Unseen

In the preface to the REVEAL study, Greg Hawkins points out that churches need to measure the unseen. Whatever we equate with spiritual growth is what we'll work on at church.

If we think Spiritual Growth is somehow equivalent to church activity, we'll generate even more church activity. REVEAL did discover that "Church activity IS NOT a blueprint for spiritual growth." An interesting implication...

Measuring Importance

Everyone measures something.

How many people like me or don't like me?
How does my income compare to those around me?
Am I at least as good as everyone I know?

The thing we measure is given importance just by the act of measuring it. Changing what we measure will change what we do.