Go Deep

Shallow Christians and Shallow Churches miss the richness of Christ's love as well as the fullness of His power and purpose in this life. I'm going to steer you to my friend Pastor Debbie Spisz's blog for a good devotional word about going deep.

http://echo5dls.wordpress.com/

Dive in, baby! :-P

My True North

My True North. I just listened to Bill George as part of The Forum 2009 Leadership Conference. He wrote a book called True North in which he encourages you to find out what your purpose and giftings are and then build on those strengths. Rick Warren's book Purpose Driven Life gives similar encouragement.

So I just wanted to blog/journal about what comes to mind when I think about God's purpose for my life and what really gets me juiced in ministry. There are a whole lot of things that I enjoy about ministry (and certain things I don't), but these are the ones that really touch a deep place of joy in my spirit. These are the ones that I am unconsciously driving toward all the time. I don't know how comprehensive this is, but these are the ones off the top of my head:

Preaching God’s Word
Seeing new believers pursue Jesus and live out a transformed/transforming life
Radical acts of generosity and compassion
Equipping, empowering and releasing people into ministry (Team building)
Passionate worship

What's God's purpose for your life? What is your True North?

No Limits Leadership

There's an old proverb (not biblical) that says something like "don't let your reach exceed your grasp." In other words it is saying that you should be aiming for things that are beyond your ability to attain. There is certainly wisdom in this saying. For example, if you don't know me I am 38 yrs old, 6' 1" with a big frame and weigh around 245. Even if I was in top physical condition, it would be foolish of me to pursue a career as a horse jockey!

This can be true when it comes to leadership as well. There are certainly limitations to every person. Some are better leaders than others. Some have different skill sets. Some are better with people. Some are better with establishing necessary systems. Some are better with IT. You get the point...

By this time in life I know my strengths and limitations. However, I have invested a lot of time, research and effort into an area that removes all my limitations. In Exodus 18 Moses' father-in-law Jethro gives him some wise counsel. Moses was trying to pastor millions of people all by himself. Jethro told him that he was wearing himself and the people out by carrying the load by himself and that he needed to share the load by creating a hierarchical leadership team. I don't care how talented you are or if you have the most impressive leadership skills, you have limitations.

If you are wise and realize this, you can put the Jethro principle (nod to J. Maxwell) into practice. That "thing" that I have invested in is team building. You see as a pastor I am aiming at something that is way beyond my ability to grasp on my own. It is not daydreaming or fantasy, I know the skills and the cost associated with what I am aiming at. That is why I pray often for the equipped people that I need to come alongside me in partnership. When you have a vision for "Team" rather than a vision for "I," you remove limitations that may be caused by a lack of ability. Now, when you also seek God for His vision and commit yourself to doing things His way your truly can achieve the impossible!

Dealing with the Injustice of Betrayal

Has someone ever let you down? Someone who was so influential in your life who through their actions of words just suddenly pulled the carpet out from under you? I have heard numerous stories in my years of ministry where kids would share the devastation they felt as they learned that their parents were getting a divorce. I have heard heartbreaking stories of abuse by various means against someone weak and vulnerable and trusting. Every time it is heart wrenching to hear these types of things the father's heart in me wants to try and fix it, wants to lash out and hurt those who have inflicted harm in such ways. But the truth of it is that the Lord is is the only one who can "fix" it. Oh He doesn't remove the experience from our minds, or somehow go back in time and change it. What He does is He brings healing to the open stinging wound. What He does is He makes a way where we don't have to be defined by tragedy or inflicted shame. What He does is give us the gift of being able to extend forgiveness towards those who don't deserve it, just like He does to us. This frees us from the toxic effects of bitterness and unforgiveness, in a way that no amount of "positive thinking" or self-help can ever come close to.
In moments where our foundations are rattled, it is an opportunity for us to know more of Who God is and how loving, generous and all-sufficient He truly is to us. Have you experienced betrayal? Have you then made the choice to either nurture the pain and anger, or dive deep into Jesus to find more hope, more healing and more freedom?
Oh and that whole desire to lash out...God's got that covered too. The reason we can let go of retribution is because God is a God of Justice and one Day there will be a reckoning. (Though you know you have truly found freedom when your desire for those who have hurt you is mercy rather than judgment)

Regarding the release of the Lockerbie Bomber

Recently the Scottish government released the only man convicted for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. This was done for "compassionate" reasons according to the people of Scotland's "beliefs." (Scotland is a Christian nation.) The reason for the release is because the bomber, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, has been diagnosed with cancer and only given months to live. He was sent back to Libya to be with his family while he dies.

I understand that this is incredibly painful and insulting to the families of the many victims, but is there a greater good at work here? Is the Scottish government wrong in this and other cases? What would be served for him to spend his few remaining days in prison alone, except perhaps vengeance? He was, in effect, in prison for the rest of his life after his conviction.

I know that this man received a hero's welcome back in Libya, and if he was indeed guilty of the crime (there has been serious doubt regarding the conviction) that to me is disgusting to celebrate this man and his actions. But we (and by "we" I mean Christians) are not responsible for other people's actions, only our own.

I think that this was a strong act of compassion that honors the Lord and sends a strong message of the way that Christians are different. After all, Christians understand the darkness of our own hearts and the treachery we are capable of. Though some would read this and object "I would NEVER..." But given the same environment and upbringing, you really don't know that you would be any different. Let me say that we do desire justice in this world and believe there should be punishment for crimes, but we also are called to extend mercy. This act was, perhaps, a great example of that.

My point in all this? Christians are called to have a biblical worldview, rather than a secular (or regular) worldview. I think that this is one case of a government that is still founded upon Christian principles as we and many other nations continue slipping away from Christ. Our history is filled with examples of extreme compassion that reflected our faith and made the world sit up and take notice.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Just another example of our brokenness in sin. Why do we only truly appreciate what we have when we are separated from it? My fam is out of town for the week and suddenly I am aware of how much I love my wife and children. I suppose it has something to do with the peace and quiet that allows for reflection, where normally everything is a mad rush of chaos. And perhaps dealing with the pressure of trying to pastor and grow a church that has a great future ahead of it, as well as working on my Masters for the last two years.. These often unfairly only leaves scraps for my family. But this time makes me wonder if I truly express how precious my wife is to me or let my children know how much I love them. Do they know?

So I think that I will write a note to each one that they can read on their return that expresses those things. An idea for you to use as well?

My identity and confidence

I will rest in what God has spoken over and about me rather than what others or even myself would say regarding who I am or where I am headed.