Ok, so I missed doing this last week, so this weeks links may include some from last week as well.
Jon Acuff talks about chasing dreams in a great post last week. Decide to do it, and then do it. So simple!
Tim Stevens reminds us how important our words are… even if we do not remember them in his post titled, “Every Conversation Matters.” What a great reminder!
Perry Noble gives us Ten Random Leadership Thoughts. Some excellent ones here! My favorite? I have two actually, “The people God has placed to lead with you should be listened to and valued; after all, God speaks to them too!” And, “Loyalty cannot be demanded…it must be earned.”
Last Wednesday evening, we were sitting in a Journey Bible class called, “Living God’s “A” Plan” that Mark Waltz was teaching. (By the way, the classes are amazing. If you have not attended one of them, you need to. It is food for the soul!) One statement that Mark made, as he was discussing our plans vs. God’s plans really struck me…
“My plan A: “God, change my circumstances.” God’s plan A: Use people (in my circumstances) to change me”
Now, I will be the first to say that I never had any plans at almost 40 years old to be laid off from a church, then, end up working an hourly job at an electronics store while I waited to find a full-time position in a church to serve God in. After all, I am called to be in full time ministry! Surely there should not be much of a waiting period for me. God needs me somewhere! Right?!?
Evidently, God needs me right here for now. He is teaching me, and molding me through people that are around me that will make me a better servant to Him and to others. I am learning more and more each day that His “Plan A” is better than my “Plan A” could ever be. So, I am leaning into that, and looking for opportunity to see and learn all that He has for me.
Don’t pray for a change of circumstances. Pray that you learn and are changed by the people in your circumstance.
We are now about 3 months into our “not on a church staff” journey. There have moments that have been intensely difficult for me, and moments that have been very refreshing. I am really focused on learning what God has for me to learn during this time of “wandering” (so to say). I know that God has a plan…
I have no intention of staying out of “full-time” ministry. In fact, I am more convinced of my call than ever. Even if it is not full time right now, I am serving Him and trying to make a difference in the lives of people that I come in contact with. By the way, that is the call on all of our lives as Christ followers. We are to help others take their next steps towards Christ, and to advance God’s Global Glory!
I am being very transparent here. So as you read this, I hope it helps you rather than makes you think less of me. (Not that what people think of me matters, I am focused on what God thinks.)
There have been moments that I have just wept at the fact that I am not going into the office every day to serve in a church in a full-time capacity. It is easy to take God’s call on your life for-granted. If you are serving God in full time ministry, be thankful of that, and count it as a blessing. You are in a position to have great impact and influence on the lives of people. Use that wisely.
It can be difficult to juggle my work life and my church life, but it can be done. You can have a job and still attend service and be involved in a ministry. You just have to make it a priority. Being in this position has allowed me to see that it can be difficult, but also that it can be done. You can be as involved serving in ministry as you want to be.
My wife and kids mean more to me than they ever have. The situation that we find ourselves in at the moment is far from ideal or what we had planned for our lives at this stage, but I am so proud of the way that Jennifer and the kids have responded. They are a great gift from God to me!
This is a time of great growth for me. Things that I have done for 20 years are taking on new meaning and shape in my life. Songs that sung have more meaning than ever. The teaching of God’s Word is transforming me more than ever. Relationships that I have with people are more precious. My focus to reach people is more clear. God is shaping me into what I need to be for Him. I relish that change and pray that it continues.
I love doing life with my wife. She works so hard and has such a great attitude about our “wilderness.” She inspires me and keeps me focused, especially on my “low” days. What a gift I have in her!
I have no idea how long this “wilderness wandering” will last for us. I am not even so sure I should call it that, because even though I may think of it as wandering, God has a great plan. He is faithful, and will teach us what we need to learn in this stage. I am leaning into that big time!
As I read thought the Gospels, I am amazed at the number of times that Jesus would rebuke the Pharisees for the life they were living. Most people looked at the Pharisees and thought they were the very creme of the crop, and were the example that everyone needed to follow. Their commitment to religious exercises and obedience to their laws were unrivaled, and even held as the standard for all. The problem was, these were not God’s standards. They were standards that were made by men to help keep God’s law.
I have no doubt that every intention in creating their man-made religious laws were done with great intentions. After all, they did want to please and obey God. But after time, the focus moved from pleasing and obeying God to making sure people met the standards man set up to keep God’s law. No longer was it good enough to keep God’s commandments, but you had to keep the rules and regulations that men had set up in order to please God, which was, of course, totally wrong.
Today’s quote speaks to this. It is found in a book by Bruxy Cavey titled, “The End Of Religion.”
Religious people miss the message and turn to the rituals and regulations, ethics and activities prescribed to them as the way to achieve what God has already offered them as a gift. In so doing, they miss the life of God and fail to satisfy their spiritual thirst.
Picture a thirsty person holding a cup of water. Now picture that person licking the outside of the cup in an attempt to quench his thirst. That is the picture of religion. Religious people tend to focus on the cup and forget about the contents.
I think there are many Christ-followers that have grown up in church thinking that doing is more important than being. In other words, doing all of the prescribed things that man has set up for us to conform is more important than being like Jesus. We have been taught to focus on the outside of the cup rather than what is inside the cup.
Jesus taught people to focus on the inside of the cup. It is what will quench your thirst. It is what gives you life.
The difference between the outside and the inside is this: one is based on rules, the other is based on a relationship.
I am focusing on the relationship. That is what will make me more like Jesus.
Loved this post titled, “Breaking News” by Seth Godin. It got me thinking about all the “breaking news” we have at church. You know, all the things that we tell everyone are so important, but really do not add value to their life or help them take next steps to Jesus (and if we were honest, we would say we do not want to do it/attend the event either!). Just something to think about.
Pete Wilson hit me over the head with his post “Costly Assumptions” (and his podcast that I listened to that included some of the same). Ouch! But thanks Pete!
Perry Noble says “You Don’t Have To Hate Your Life.” God has created us for a purpose. When we pursue it, and live it, we will be fulfilled. The difficult part usually becomes living God’s purpose and not our own.
Lastly, “A Principle Art Of Leadership” by Tim Stevens. Short, concise and yet this principle holds back many, many churches. Leaders, release your people to do what you cannot and should not be doing!
Growing up, I was involved in a particular group of churches that were certainly very evangelistic, had a tremendous heart for missions, held to a literal view of the Scriptures and were very conservative doctrinally speaking. I am thankful for that, and still hold to those tightly in my ministry today. One thing that I have let go of is my view on change, and specifically in the area of methodology of ministry. I am not advocating doing anything and everything just to get people in the door, but there are things that need to change as the culture changes in order to remain relevant and to be able to reach people that no one else is reaching.
This week’s quote speaks to that:
“The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday.”
- R.T. Kendall, pastor of Westminster Chapel
The funny thing is (actually, it is not so funny), the same people who criticize “new” methods of reaching people used to do “cutting edge” things to reach people (believe it or not, Roller Skating, Kite Sunday and Quartets used to be cutting edge… AND criticized).
My question: Why is it that people get this idea that God stopped working in the 50′s-60′s and 70′s? Did God all of a sudden start opposing new ideas and methods? I do not think so. I think God wants us to be as creative now as ever, and He has given us tools that no one would have ever thought of to reach people I say if we can use them, let’s use them for God’s glory!
Ok, it is time for another edition of Friday Links, bringing you the best posts that I have read for the week. Boy, that sounded like a commercial, didn’t it? Well, not selling anything here, just sharing some great thoughts from some great leaders that I happen to have read this last week. Hope it is helpful!
This post by Mark Beeson is from last month, but was just awesome. It has stuck with me for a couple of weeks now: “Can you be a Christian?”
Pete Wilson speaks on being accountable, 100% accountable to be exact, in his post “The Last 2%.” He also shares his battle with having “A Need To Be Right.” Thanks for being so open Pete. It helps me.
Not too much time to read this week, so that is all I have got!Have a great weekend!
This weeks quote comes from Andy Stanley and his leadership podcast that I have been listening to. You can listen to his podcast by going to iTunes and subscribing to it. Great stuff! Ok, here is this weeks quote:
“The local church rarely gets serious about change until they run out of money… We’re preoccupied with paying the bills, not reaching unchurched people. What does that make us?”
Here are my take-aways from this:
A church that thinks it can hold things together and stop the exodus of people by doing what they have always done is sadly mistaken.
Playing it safe so that you do not upset the church members that have been there a long time will not cause the church to grow. In fact, it will sink the ship faster because no one is being reached and then change will have to come, and it will be forced change, not planned change.
It is much easier to plan the change yourself. It may be difficult, and there may be some resistance, but at least it will be change you are planning and not change that is forced upon you.
When the focus is money and not people we will have a harder time making the necessary changes.
I cannot imagine the range of emotion the women felt as they went to the tomb that Sunday morning and saw that the stone was rolled to reveal that Jesus was not there. I cannot imagine how Peter felt when the women told the disciples that Jesus had sent news, and specifically wanted Peter to know. It was a new beginning for everyone. Peter had a fresh start, the women had hope again and the world now could have a relationship with the God of the universe in a way that had never been thought possible.
It was just the beginning of a new day, but it changed every day from then on.
Just one link for this week as we focus on our Lord. As you think about the events of this week in the life of Jesus, remember, you are the reason Why He went through it all. His suffering was for you. He became sin for you. And we will celebrate this Sunday, because of what He did for you.
We rode into town the other day
Just me and my Daddy
He said I’d finally reached that age
And I could ride next to him on a horse
That of course was not quite as wide
We heard a crowd of people shouting
And so we stopped to find out why
And there was that man
That my dad said he loved
But today there was fear in his eyes
So I said “Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I’ll bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows
Daddy, please can’t you do something?
He looks as though He’s gonna cry
you said he was stronger than all of those guys
addy, please tell me why
Why does everyone want him to die?”
Later that day the sky grew cloudy
And Daddy said I should go inside
Somehow he knew things would get stormy
Boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
If there was something he had to hide
So after he left I had to find out
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds
To a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from the cross
And it said, “Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for My robe?
This crown of thorns hurts Me more than it shows
Father, please can’t You do something?
I know that You must hear My cry
I thought I could handle the cross of this size
Father, remind Me why
Why does everyone want Me to die?
When will I understand why?”
“My precious Son, I hear them screaming
I’m watching the face of the enemy beaming
But soon I will clothe You in robes of My own
Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know
But this dark hour I must do nothing
Though I’ve heard Your unbearable cry
The power in Your blood destroys all of the lies
Soon You’ll see past their unmerciful eyes
Look there below, see the child
Trembling by her father’s side
Now I can tell You why
She is why You must die”
