Two recent incidents are on my mind today. Both have served to impress an uncomfortable truth into my heart. The truth: we have developed the idea that part of our American heritage is the elimination of anything uncomfortable. If it's too hot, turn on the air conditioning; if it's too cold, turn up the heater. We live in a climate-controlled, acoustically stimulating, smell-good environment.
Let me tell you first about the incidents, then I'll get to the lesson I think God is trying to teach me. The first occurred almost two weeks ago. It was a typical early September Thursday. I was about to leave our office to work on a project in the quietness and high-speed internet of my home. Suddenly, the lights flickered and the power went out. The office was dark and quiet without the hum of the A/C in the background. Early September is HOT in Yuma and it was the hottest time of the day. We waited, expecting it to kick back on in a few minutes. We waited some more. I went home still waiting. Updates sent to my smartphone told me that this major outage started very near my house but had taken in everything all the way to San Diego and up the coast into Orange County. It might not be restored until the next day!
At home, using battery-powered lights, I watched a battery-powered thermometer record the gradual rise of the temperature in my living room. Fortunately, my house was cool when the power went off and I am blessed to live in a place that is very well insulated. I read, drank water and pondered the uncomfortable air as minutes turned to hours. I began to think about how tiny this problem was in the big scheme of things. My friends in the Dominican Republic suffer through blackouts like these almost every day. I have Haitian friends who almost never have tasted many of the comforts I enjoy every day without gratitude.
I admit that I am normally prone to nervous fretting during times like that evening, but for some reason I was able to give this one to God. It was near bedtime and I said to Cathy, "I'm tired; I think I will just go to bed and get back up when the power comes back on. Then I can reset everything." Right after that, a light flickered and our comfortable world was back.
The second incident was this past weekend. Cathy was away on a women's retreat with ladies from church. She called Saturday morning to give me an update. "How are you?" I asked.
"It's funny," she replied, "Everyone is asking me that this morning." Then she explained why. The dormitory she and some friends were assigned was infested with bedbugs. Cathy got the worst of them, ended up with hives from neck to feet and had a bad reaction to the antihistamine she took.
As we talked, we both pondered our insulation from so many nuisances that the rest of the world takes for granted. We admitted how easy it was to develop the attitude that we live above ever being uncomfortable. We also thanked God that it happened to her and not someone else. My wife is pretty mature in her walk with Christ. She endured this and saw it as what it was: interference that didn't have to tarnish the joy of God working the hearts of many women. By the way, they changed rooms, their clothing and bedding were washed by some wonderful ladies in the group, and they all returned home safely with anti-bedbug measures in place.
What about the lesson I'm learning? You have probably guessed it. If not, here it is: I have no right to live in comfort all the time! Paul, the Apostle who endured beatings, imprisonments and shipwrecks, put it thus way: Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Philippians 4:11 (NASB)
Honestly, I haven't learned this lesson yet and I want to learn it. I don't look forward to the methods God may use to teach me, but I sure want to learn it!
How about you?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Showing posts with label Priorities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Priorities. Show all posts
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Why I Run Alone...And With Others
I was challenged a few years back when a friend wanted to start running with me. Now, don't get me wrong. I try to offer a friendly greeting as I trot along the roadsides in the early mornings. I smile and say "Hi" even on days like today when it's still dark outside. Friendly greetings are one thing, but running with a buddy on most days? Challenging!
You see, I listen to books while I run. I love the engagement of a great story as I put one foot in front of the other. It breaks the monotony and keeps my mind focused on something besides the pain. The offer from my friend was going to keep me from my books. I said "yes" anyway. And it changed everything.
My buddy was ten years my junior. He was completing a full 30 years as a Marine (Semper Fi!). When we started, he hadn't been running as much as in his younger years, but he still had to qualify in his annual Physical Fitness Test. He wasn't out of shape!
My years of distance running gave me a slight edge at the beginning, but it wasn't long before he challenged more than my book addiction. My pace began to get faster. I was less bothered by the physical discomfort. "Let's run the Half Marathon at Camp Pendleton," he exclaimed one day. A few months later we took off on the 13.1 mile course over Heartbreak Ridge. It changed my entire running perspective.
My buddy's job has taken him out of state during the week the past couple of years and we haven't been running together. I smile, say "Hi" and keep listening to books. But I discovered something: it's harder to stay focused and harder to push myself when I train alone. I lose something by not having a partner who is working on similar goals. It's easier to cut myself too much slack. It's tempting to think I'm doing better than I really am.
I see a parallel between my running experience and participating in another type of race. That's the race called life. Paul, the Apostle, used running symbolism to describe the life of a Christ-follower. "Everyone in a race runs to win," he said. Another time he mentioned, "I'm sprinting toward the finish line of the high calling of Christ Jesus."
In the life-race, I have discovered a critical truth: those who run alone never reach their full potential. I have recently stated it this way: "There is no significant, sustainable spiritual growth outside the context of healthy relationships." Without friends in training with us, we give up, we give in, and we easily quit altogether. With friends, we receive the encouragement, the challenge and the help we need to win the race.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Summer Study Break
Brian is an old friend who happens to pastor a megachurch. The eight or nine years that separate us were far more significant when I was almost thirty and he had just finished college. Back then I was more of the mentor and he was the eager learner. Now, thirty years later, the age difference is hardly significant. I am forever grateful for what he has taught me.
One of the critical things I learned from Brian is something he called his "Summer Study Break." "It's not a break to study," he commented, "It's a break from study." He went on to explain his need to recharge his preaching batteries each summer. At the time, he would take about six weeks away from preaching. He continued on with his other duties of leading and pastoring, but had others preach in his stead during those weeks.
My first Summer Study Break was several years ago. I have enjoyed one almost every year since. Inevitably this season leads to some questions to which I will add my answers...
1. Are you enjoying your vacation? A: I'm not breaking from work, just from the creative cost of sermon prep.
2. What do you have to do all day since you don't have to prepare? A: plenty! I spend my life in meetings, most of them for planning what we do around here. I help mentor some younger pastors. In addition, I'm preparing for Children's Camp next week (I'm Camp Pastor) and for a conference where I'll speak later in the year. Finally, I'm doing additional reading to fill up my emotional well.
3. I don't want to make a decision about this church until we have heard one of your sermons; when will you preach again? A: I beg you, PLEASE never make a church membership decision because of the preaching of the Senior (or Lead) Pastor. That treats the church like a retail outlet and makes you a consumer. This is the Body of Christ. Find the local church where He calls you and devote your life to Him there.
All that said, I am preaching twice in July, including this weekend. I can't tell you how much I have gained from the other speakers in our "Ancient Relevance" series through the Old Testament book of Zechariah. I am deeply grateful for our pastors John, Tom and Scott, along with Paul Cunningham and Don Vickers (who will preach in a couple of weeks). They haven't just shared the load; they have stretched us and helped us grow in the faith.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Raise The Bar
I lifted my arm in a wave as I passed two women on the jogging path at a local park. "I wonder if they noticed how relaxed I am as I zoom past them," I wondered with a bit of pride. I was in fairly good shape and felt great as I glided along. Just after I went around them, I turned on a gravel road to exit the back side of the park and make my way to a canal bank on the way home.
There, blocking vehicle access from the road to the park, was a chain stretched out about a foot above the ground. "I'll just hop over that," I said to myself while taking long strides, "and head down the road. Almost home!"
SPLAT!
The next thing I knew, I was picking myself up from the gravel, road rash on hands, knees and one shoulder. I was still wondering about the people I passed just moments before. "I'm sure they are really impressed now!" I was also hearing a voice in my head say, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Some lesson!
Obviously I'm not the one to talk about today's subject. How can I speak about raising the bar if I can't even jump it when it's ridiculously low? Well, I hope I'm in a little better shape to speak of it as a value we hold at Stone Ridge Church. I'll be careful as I talk about it, though. I remember the thing about pride, destruction and falling.
Our church has sought ways to communicate to people, "Come as you are!" But we try to show the goodness of God not to leave us like we are. Many of us sought God because our lives were a mess. Following Jesus is far more than simply changing our eternal location; it's changing the way we live our lives every day. Most of us, if we are honest, desperately need God to make some changes in us.
Raising the spiritual bar is not God's way of increasing the requirements we must meet to experience His forgiveness. It is, however, a lifetime of spiritual stretching exercises that God Himself often orchestrates to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2). Inch by spiritual inch, He keeps developing our character, helping us live like the new creation He designed us to be.
Here's the problem and it's the reason we specifically stated "Raise the Bar" as a Stone Ridge value. Far too many churches get stuck in spiritual ruts. Communities that were once vibrant and growing have settled into the spiritual doldrums.
One reason, I believe, is that the requirements for spiritual leaders aren't much different than the requirements for church membership. A few outward signs of commitment (like attending, giving and serving) are enough to be a spiritual leader. No one stops to see if the character of Jesus is being formed in them. No one asks that Biblical requirements for leaders, listed in books like 1 Timothy and Titus, be present for one to lead.
If the leaders don't have spiritual passion, no wonder the church spends most of its time wounded on the gravel road rather than racing along a God-designed spiritual journey.
There, blocking vehicle access from the road to the park, was a chain stretched out about a foot above the ground. "I'll just hop over that," I said to myself while taking long strides, "and head down the road. Almost home!"
SPLAT!
The next thing I knew, I was picking myself up from the gravel, road rash on hands, knees and one shoulder. I was still wondering about the people I passed just moments before. "I'm sure they are really impressed now!" I was also hearing a voice in my head say, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Some lesson!
Obviously I'm not the one to talk about today's subject. How can I speak about raising the bar if I can't even jump it when it's ridiculously low? Well, I hope I'm in a little better shape to speak of it as a value we hold at Stone Ridge Church. I'll be careful as I talk about it, though. I remember the thing about pride, destruction and falling.
Our church has sought ways to communicate to people, "Come as you are!" But we try to show the goodness of God not to leave us like we are. Many of us sought God because our lives were a mess. Following Jesus is far more than simply changing our eternal location; it's changing the way we live our lives every day. Most of us, if we are honest, desperately need God to make some changes in us.
Raising the spiritual bar is not God's way of increasing the requirements we must meet to experience His forgiveness. It is, however, a lifetime of spiritual stretching exercises that God Himself often orchestrates to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2). Inch by spiritual inch, He keeps developing our character, helping us live like the new creation He designed us to be.
Here's the problem and it's the reason we specifically stated "Raise the Bar" as a Stone Ridge value. Far too many churches get stuck in spiritual ruts. Communities that were once vibrant and growing have settled into the spiritual doldrums.
One reason, I believe, is that the requirements for spiritual leaders aren't much different than the requirements for church membership. A few outward signs of commitment (like attending, giving and serving) are enough to be a spiritual leader. No one stops to see if the character of Jesus is being formed in them. No one asks that Biblical requirements for leaders, listed in books like 1 Timothy and Titus, be present for one to lead.
If the leaders don't have spiritual passion, no wonder the church spends most of its time wounded on the gravel road rather than racing along a God-designed spiritual journey.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Don't Stay Where You Are
I knew him when he was in his middle years. The challenges of a growing family, the responsibilities of a high-demand job and the extra load of a side business seemed to occupy his time. His involvement in church was hit and miss, though I could sense that he had an earlier season when his heart burned bright with hope and vision of reaching his community with the love of Christ.
The metaphor of a siding off a major rail line comes to mind. At one time this man had obviously been going down the track with great joy, but the worries and cares of life (along, perhaps, with the deceitfulness of riches) had captured his attention and he chose to dwell on the siding.
The siding can be fine for very short stays. It's where we can be repaired so we can get back on the rail and into fully serving our purpose. But there is something insidious, even diabolical, about the siding as a permanent stop in our spiritual lives.
The ugliness of the siding was seen clearly by the time I knew the man. As he watched the trains of spiritual life roll past him, he used his considerable influence to discourage others around him from getting back on track. His long tenure in the place where he lived had given him the ear of many who, like him, had taken a respite along the side rail. Like him, they lingered there until they considered the siding the normal place for spiritual travelers and voiced their disdain for any and all who dared stay on the main tracks and move past them.
Tragically, the man I have described was real. Sadly I tell you that I believe his heart once burned with desire to keep moving as he followed Christ. With a broken heart, I tell you that I watched him slow (and sometimes stop) the spiritual progress of an entire church.
Unfortunately, he was also an Everyman of sorts. He represents a bloated and ever-growing number of people who have left their first love for an empty life on the side. The siding is deceptive; make sure it doesn't fool you.
"Don't Stay Where You Are." It's our second value at Stone Ridge Church.
The metaphor of a siding off a major rail line comes to mind. At one time this man had obviously been going down the track with great joy, but the worries and cares of life (along, perhaps, with the deceitfulness of riches) had captured his attention and he chose to dwell on the siding.
The siding can be fine for very short stays. It's where we can be repaired so we can get back on the rail and into fully serving our purpose. But there is something insidious, even diabolical, about the siding as a permanent stop in our spiritual lives.
The ugliness of the siding was seen clearly by the time I knew the man. As he watched the trains of spiritual life roll past him, he used his considerable influence to discourage others around him from getting back on track. His long tenure in the place where he lived had given him the ear of many who, like him, had taken a respite along the side rail. Like him, they lingered there until they considered the siding the normal place for spiritual travelers and voiced their disdain for any and all who dared stay on the main tracks and move past them.
Tragically, the man I have described was real. Sadly I tell you that I believe his heart once burned with desire to keep moving as he followed Christ. With a broken heart, I tell you that I watched him slow (and sometimes stop) the spiritual progress of an entire church.
Unfortunately, he was also an Everyman of sorts. He represents a bloated and ever-growing number of people who have left their first love for an empty life on the side. The siding is deceptive; make sure it doesn't fool you.
"Don't Stay Where You Are." It's our second value at Stone Ridge Church.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Come As You Are
He had patrolled the blood-soaked streets of Mogadishu and endured the harsh desert of Iraq, but it was the pain of events back home that brought him to the brink of hopelessness.
I received a call one morning from a guy in our church; a call from someone who never called. "I have a friend," he said. "He's going through some pretty rough stuff and isn't sure he can go on with life. Can you see him?" I just happened to have an opening that morning, something that can be quite rare in my schedule. "Can he come right away?" I asked.
The man walked in, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped. He spoke of his despair and his longing to know that Someone could offer him hope. At least a sliver.
That man, who today is a leader in our church, was a living picture of our first value at Stone Ridge: Come as you are!
To contrast, I saw a family walk into one of our recent services. Parents and two or three kids, who looked to be in their young teens. As I noticed the relatively conservative clothes they wore (girls in dresses and boy in sport shirt and slacks) along with the somewhat stiff way they walked, I thought, "Uh-oh. They may be in for a surprise." Our Ignite worship band was leading that morning; the same band that leads Ignite for teens on Saturday nights. Let's just say that they aren't "traditional." The young man who leads them used to be in a touring band and has body art all the way down one arm. He passionately loves Jesus, but he ain't, er, traditional. At the end of the service, I noticed that the family quietly left and I don't think they have been back.
Please don't get me wrong; I have a deep level of compassion and respect for the family I just described, but they struck me as people whose whole view of attending church is different than ours. We seek to embody the value "Come As You Are." For most of us, the button-down, spit-shined version of ourselves is a person we like to be, but we would admit that looking good is in many ways just a veneer. In other words, our lives are marred by schisms, struggles and stresses that take their toll on us. Nearly every day.
Unfortunately, many of us took the admonition to "give your best to God" to mean, "Act like everything is great even though it isn't." In an era when our culture regularly grinds people up and spits them out, we have learned to walk into church with what I call our "plastic Jesus smile" on our faces. Most of us desperately need healing, but we act like we're the people who have it all together.
Stone Ridge isn't like that. I have dubbed my office as a "free-cry zone." We have boxes of tissues sitting at various places all over our campus and they are not primarily for allergy season. Jesus called the weary and those carrying a heavy burden to come to him. He said that He was here to rescue the downtrodden. One day He told the religious leaders that it is the sick who need a physician; they saw themselves as having it all together and He couldn't help them.
At our church we urge you, "Come As You Are!" It's the first step to becoming someone different.
I received a call one morning from a guy in our church; a call from someone who never called. "I have a friend," he said. "He's going through some pretty rough stuff and isn't sure he can go on with life. Can you see him?" I just happened to have an opening that morning, something that can be quite rare in my schedule. "Can he come right away?" I asked.
The man walked in, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped. He spoke of his despair and his longing to know that Someone could offer him hope. At least a sliver.
That man, who today is a leader in our church, was a living picture of our first value at Stone Ridge: Come as you are!
To contrast, I saw a family walk into one of our recent services. Parents and two or three kids, who looked to be in their young teens. As I noticed the relatively conservative clothes they wore (girls in dresses and boy in sport shirt and slacks) along with the somewhat stiff way they walked, I thought, "Uh-oh. They may be in for a surprise." Our Ignite worship band was leading that morning; the same band that leads Ignite for teens on Saturday nights. Let's just say that they aren't "traditional." The young man who leads them used to be in a touring band and has body art all the way down one arm. He passionately loves Jesus, but he ain't, er, traditional. At the end of the service, I noticed that the family quietly left and I don't think they have been back.
Please don't get me wrong; I have a deep level of compassion and respect for the family I just described, but they struck me as people whose whole view of attending church is different than ours. We seek to embody the value "Come As You Are." For most of us, the button-down, spit-shined version of ourselves is a person we like to be, but we would admit that looking good is in many ways just a veneer. In other words, our lives are marred by schisms, struggles and stresses that take their toll on us. Nearly every day.
Unfortunately, many of us took the admonition to "give your best to God" to mean, "Act like everything is great even though it isn't." In an era when our culture regularly grinds people up and spits them out, we have learned to walk into church with what I call our "plastic Jesus smile" on our faces. Most of us desperately need healing, but we act like we're the people who have it all together.
Stone Ridge isn't like that. I have dubbed my office as a "free-cry zone." We have boxes of tissues sitting at various places all over our campus and they are not primarily for allergy season. Jesus called the weary and those carrying a heavy burden to come to him. He said that He was here to rescue the downtrodden. One day He told the religious leaders that it is the sick who need a physician; they saw themselves as having it all together and He couldn't help them.
At our church we urge you, "Come As You Are!" It's the first step to becoming someone different.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Actions Speak Louder...
I was listening to a recorded discussion as I was driving the other day. One of the people in the dialog is the pastor of a very large church. I have learned much by listening to him over the years and appreciate his ministry.
My ears perked up when he admitted that he had become angry when his neighbor's lawn was overdue being mowed. I pulled into my driveway and looked over to my own little patch of grass and realized that many areas of it were seeding out. The telltale little shoots were four or five inches high, even though I had mowed only about five days earlier. I was secretly grateful that the pastor (who, by the way, was sorry for his attitude about something so unimportant) didn't live in my neighborhood.
You see, I am particular about my yard. I don't struggle much with how my neighbor's lawn may look, but I am constantly doing little things to keep mine up. I rarely walk to the mailbox around the corner without adjusting something that isn't quite right. To put it simply, I enjoy keeping it nice.
My choice to spend time, energy and money on my yard reflects a personal value. If I told you that I really care about how the exterior of our home looks and never did anything to keep it up, you would say that I was hypocritical. To genuinely value something requires that I take action. It doesn't mean that I must be perfect, but it means I will expend resources to accomplish it.
As a pastor, I understand that a church values some things, too. This subject has been on my mind a lot because we just rewrote our values statement recently. Whether you go to church or not, whether you live in the same town as me or not, I can't wait to share it with you. It says much about us.
In the meantime, what does your use of time, energy and money say about your values?
My ears perked up when he admitted that he had become angry when his neighbor's lawn was overdue being mowed. I pulled into my driveway and looked over to my own little patch of grass and realized that many areas of it were seeding out. The telltale little shoots were four or five inches high, even though I had mowed only about five days earlier. I was secretly grateful that the pastor (who, by the way, was sorry for his attitude about something so unimportant) didn't live in my neighborhood.
You see, I am particular about my yard. I don't struggle much with how my neighbor's lawn may look, but I am constantly doing little things to keep mine up. I rarely walk to the mailbox around the corner without adjusting something that isn't quite right. To put it simply, I enjoy keeping it nice.
My choice to spend time, energy and money on my yard reflects a personal value. If I told you that I really care about how the exterior of our home looks and never did anything to keep it up, you would say that I was hypocritical. To genuinely value something requires that I take action. It doesn't mean that I must be perfect, but it means I will expend resources to accomplish it.
As a pastor, I understand that a church values some things, too. This subject has been on my mind a lot because we just rewrote our values statement recently. Whether you go to church or not, whether you live in the same town as me or not, I can't wait to share it with you. It says much about us.
In the meantime, what does your use of time, energy and money say about your values?
Friday, June 4, 2010
Margin For We
Yesterday I wrote about margin for me. As a leader, though, I think much about margin in a corporate setting. The dynamics are far more complex.
When our church constructed the first stage of our new campus a few years ago, we thought we had the square footage configured appropriately. We failed to foresee how rapidly we would add young families and how quickly we would run out of space for children.
The obvious long-term solution was to start planning the next phase of the campus and include ample room to reach kids. We discovered, however, that we couldn't wait to raise the funds and build before we made some changes. We needed the ability to grow our children's ministry in order for the church to keep growing. We needed some "margin for we."
The need drove our staff to take a two-day "time out" and travel to an off-site destination where we could thoroughly explore possible options without the interruptions that are a natural part of busy church life. We initially considered six or seven possible solutions. We weighed the benefits and likely time/energy/money (the three available resources to accomplish work) cost of each. After many hours of conversation and prayer, we came up with a plan.
To say that any solution that changes life for a whole group of people is easy and painless would be laughable. One person might face every challenge by throwing money at it (isn't this what governments tend to do?). Another would avoid spending a dime and work themselves silly to get the job done. In the end, the best alternatives include some combination of all three resources, but that still doesn't make implementation a piece of cake.
In our case, the best short-term solution was a schedule change. Before we changed, we had three adult worship services, but only two of them included Children's Ministry. Our 8 a.m. service was too early for most young families to attend and the style of the service was more attractive to older attenders than those younger. We combined that service stylistically with a slightly more contemporary music sound and changed it to an hour later. We then launched an even more contemporary service on Saturday evenings.
To say that this change has been easy for everyone is far from the truth. People had to change their schedules, some choosing a completely different time-frame for worship attendance. Worship leaders have added practice hours so that they can lead two services Sunday morning and each service style is unique. We have been adding musicians and technical people to adult worship services and new teachers and aides to children's services.
We have the discomfort that the service that was largest in attendance is not always the largest anymore. The new schedule just changes how everything "feels."
But we effectively increased our children's square footage by 50%.
And all our services have room to grow.
It's "margin for we."
When our church constructed the first stage of our new campus a few years ago, we thought we had the square footage configured appropriately. We failed to foresee how rapidly we would add young families and how quickly we would run out of space for children.
The obvious long-term solution was to start planning the next phase of the campus and include ample room to reach kids. We discovered, however, that we couldn't wait to raise the funds and build before we made some changes. We needed the ability to grow our children's ministry in order for the church to keep growing. We needed some "margin for we."
The need drove our staff to take a two-day "time out" and travel to an off-site destination where we could thoroughly explore possible options without the interruptions that are a natural part of busy church life. We initially considered six or seven possible solutions. We weighed the benefits and likely time/energy/money (the three available resources to accomplish work) cost of each. After many hours of conversation and prayer, we came up with a plan.
To say that any solution that changes life for a whole group of people is easy and painless would be laughable. One person might face every challenge by throwing money at it (isn't this what governments tend to do?). Another would avoid spending a dime and work themselves silly to get the job done. In the end, the best alternatives include some combination of all three resources, but that still doesn't make implementation a piece of cake.
In our case, the best short-term solution was a schedule change. Before we changed, we had three adult worship services, but only two of them included Children's Ministry. Our 8 a.m. service was too early for most young families to attend and the style of the service was more attractive to older attenders than those younger. We combined that service stylistically with a slightly more contemporary music sound and changed it to an hour later. We then launched an even more contemporary service on Saturday evenings.
To say that this change has been easy for everyone is far from the truth. People had to change their schedules, some choosing a completely different time-frame for worship attendance. Worship leaders have added practice hours so that they can lead two services Sunday morning and each service style is unique. We have been adding musicians and technical people to adult worship services and new teachers and aides to children's services.
We have the discomfort that the service that was largest in attendance is not always the largest anymore. The new schedule just changes how everything "feels."
But we effectively increased our children's square footage by 50%.
And all our services have room to grow.
It's "margin for we."
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Barely Enough
Our family was young and we lived a great distance from the childhood homes where Cathy and I grew up. It was exciting every time we got to make the trip, especially after our kids were born. There is something beyond special about seeing grandparents.
One part our kids won't remember about those early trips is how stressful they were for me. Money was more than tight in those days and we had just enough money to make the journey, even with careful budgeting. I can remember the concern I felt, driving cars that weren't always mechanically reliable along many miles of barren highway.
Today, that part of life is but a memory. The cars we drive are more prepared and, in case we do have trouble, we have more resources to take care of the need.
Life is significantly more peaceful with some margin. Margin is that space between what you have and what you need. If you have some margin, you approach challenges with far more confidence. If you don't have it, you live in constant concern for the problem that will take you down.
Think about it for a minute. If you are a runner, you want to have something left for the end of the race. If you are working on a project, you want plenty of time. If you are traveling, you want to start on time and not chance a speeding ticket because you were late. If you eat at a restaurant, you want to be sure you have enough for the bill when it comes.
I thought of this recently in a meeting with a colleague. I mistook his recent lack of optimism as simply a bout of negative thinking. It turned out to be a lack of margin. He starts every week knowing that he will barely get things done -- including many tasks he is capable of doing at a much higher level. If he had some margin.
How about you? What parts of your life are comfortable because you are prepared for the challenges that will surely arise? What gives you stress because you have barely enough?
One part our kids won't remember about those early trips is how stressful they were for me. Money was more than tight in those days and we had just enough money to make the journey, even with careful budgeting. I can remember the concern I felt, driving cars that weren't always mechanically reliable along many miles of barren highway.
Today, that part of life is but a memory. The cars we drive are more prepared and, in case we do have trouble, we have more resources to take care of the need.
Life is significantly more peaceful with some margin. Margin is that space between what you have and what you need. If you have some margin, you approach challenges with far more confidence. If you don't have it, you live in constant concern for the problem that will take you down.
Think about it for a minute. If you are a runner, you want to have something left for the end of the race. If you are working on a project, you want plenty of time. If you are traveling, you want to start on time and not chance a speeding ticket because you were late. If you eat at a restaurant, you want to be sure you have enough for the bill when it comes.
I thought of this recently in a meeting with a colleague. I mistook his recent lack of optimism as simply a bout of negative thinking. It turned out to be a lack of margin. He starts every week knowing that he will barely get things done -- including many tasks he is capable of doing at a much higher level. If he had some margin.
How about you? What parts of your life are comfortable because you are prepared for the challenges that will surely arise? What gives you stress because you have barely enough?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Defend or Decry?
Have you noticed how we tend to defend the indiscretions of those with whom we agree? And we decry the same indiscretions in people whose views are different than ours.
Two recent events, both involving people whose opinions are similar to mine, have given me a ray of hope. In each case, the leader took himself out of the picture because of his own weakness.
The first incident involved John Piper. Piper, a popular Christian author and pastor is currently on an eight-month Sabbatical from virtually all writing and ministry. Announcing his decision, he wrote, "I see several species of pride in my soul that, while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with [my wife] Noël and others who are dear to me." In other words, he wisely chose to pull away from the limelight and the rat race before more serious damage was done.
The second situation was unveiled just today. Indiana Republican Representative Mark Souder announced that he is resigning from Congress, effective Friday. He said that he has "sinned against God, my wife and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff." Souder further explained his decision by stating, "As I leave public office, my plans are focused upon repairing my marriage, earning back the trust of my family and my community, and renewing my walk with my Lord."
We live in an era in which it is common for people to step over such weaknesses and fight on for the greater good. What's interesting is how we tend to evaluate indiscretions as large or small based on our perception of what the "greater good" actually is. If a certain politician was the swing vote in a cause we are passionate about, would we be tempted to overlook a moral failure? To put it differently, have we turned a blind eye to the past failures of leaders because we liked their public decisions?
Both Piper and Souder seem to be aware of that often forgotten characteristic of God: "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) Also, God is "no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34) In other words, God wasn't looking on from heaven and thinking, "This guy is normally on my side. I ought to overlook this failure so he can continue to influence people in the direction I want to go."
The Bible says that it is time for "judgment to begin with the household of God." (1 Peter 4:17) The promise of God's Word is that God will hear from heaven and heal the land of His who people humble themselves and pray, turning from their wicked ways.(2 Chronicles 7:14) For that reason I find the actions of these two men refreshing.
If you pray, please pray for them and their families. From their individual statements, Piper has probably inflicted far less damage on those he loves than is the case with Souder. As one who has far too often sat across the counseling table and watched the tears stream down the face of a spouse whose husband or wife has cheated, I am painfully aware of the grief they must endure before the relationship is truly healed.
Two recent events, both involving people whose opinions are similar to mine, have given me a ray of hope. In each case, the leader took himself out of the picture because of his own weakness.
The first incident involved John Piper. Piper, a popular Christian author and pastor is currently on an eight-month Sabbatical from virtually all writing and ministry. Announcing his decision, he wrote, "I see several species of pride in my soul that, while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with [my wife] Noël and others who are dear to me." In other words, he wisely chose to pull away from the limelight and the rat race before more serious damage was done.
The second situation was unveiled just today. Indiana Republican Representative Mark Souder announced that he is resigning from Congress, effective Friday. He said that he has "sinned against God, my wife and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff." Souder further explained his decision by stating, "As I leave public office, my plans are focused upon repairing my marriage, earning back the trust of my family and my community, and renewing my walk with my Lord."
We live in an era in which it is common for people to step over such weaknesses and fight on for the greater good. What's interesting is how we tend to evaluate indiscretions as large or small based on our perception of what the "greater good" actually is. If a certain politician was the swing vote in a cause we are passionate about, would we be tempted to overlook a moral failure? To put it differently, have we turned a blind eye to the past failures of leaders because we liked their public decisions?
Both Piper and Souder seem to be aware of that often forgotten characteristic of God: "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) Also, God is "no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34) In other words, God wasn't looking on from heaven and thinking, "This guy is normally on my side. I ought to overlook this failure so he can continue to influence people in the direction I want to go."
The Bible says that it is time for "judgment to begin with the household of God." (1 Peter 4:17) The promise of God's Word is that God will hear from heaven and heal the land of His who people humble themselves and pray, turning from their wicked ways.(2 Chronicles 7:14) For that reason I find the actions of these two men refreshing.
If you pray, please pray for them and their families. From their individual statements, Piper has probably inflicted far less damage on those he loves than is the case with Souder. As one who has far too often sat across the counseling table and watched the tears stream down the face of a spouse whose husband or wife has cheated, I am painfully aware of the grief they must endure before the relationship is truly healed.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Haiti: Learning From "Their" Experiences
I have been cautious about writing too much regarding the plight of ten American missionaries who are currently being held in Haiti under charges of kidnapping and abduction. My caution stems from two factors. First, the media is swimming with reports about the situation and those reports have frequently been speculative at best. The last thing I needed to do was to add my own speculations.
Second, my previously stated relationship with three of the missionaries has made this more than a casual observation for me. Members of our family have been emotionally shaken by this event in the same way that the 7.0 started it all. We have prayed endlessly. We have carried on literally hundreds of conversations in verbal and written form since it began. (Our daughter has written some excellent blog posts here.) The raw emotion of it has served to make me even more cautious about publicly committing my ruminations to print.
As we continue to wait and pray, I think it's time for me to talk about a few "take aways" which can be gleaned from the situation. Perhaps this can help someone else avoid the same predicament and subsequent pain.
We Americans are frequently the quickest to jump into the world's problems. This can be a good thing, like the rapidity with which some mercy organizations made it possible to text a certain number on our mobile phones and instantly donate $10 to the relief fund. It can be a bad thing, like the times we have stormed into countries where we were definitely unwelcome and been seen more as conquerors rather than as caregivers.
The Christians in my country are not immune to these passionate acts; in fact we are often instigating them. On many occasions, our quick action leads to saving lives and offering hope which otherwise might have been lost. Isaiah (chapter 6), when he "saw the Lord high and lifted up", quickly responded with "Here am I; send me!" If nothing else, our unrestrained activity is heartfelt.
Conversely, our passion can, at times be driven more by human emotion than by genuine encounters with God's Spirit. We are quick to quote the Great Commission ("Go ye therefore into all the world..."), but we fail to remember that what Jesus said in the original language was not so emphatic. What He really said was, "As you are going..." There's a huge difference. Jesus never put the command to go above the wisdom of whether it is the right time, place, and way to go. I once heard someone say that we should make sure what we are perceiving is truly the unction of God's Spirit and not just indigestion.
I am not questioning the missionary call to go places where people have not heard and which are inherent with danger. The Gospel has traveled from generation to generation for two thousand years. Every culture that has been touched by it was once hearing it for the first time. On the other hand, short-term missionaries (we number in the tens of thousands, just from the U.S.) are remiss if they don't take into account the work of those who went before them. The incarcerated missionaries in Haiti had scant, if any, contact with established mission organizations which were doing significant work in the region long before the quake happened. No doubt, those organizations could have used both the financial help and the labor of a group willing to work.
A pastor friend of mine spoke to me recently about the experience his church had following the 2004 tsunami. They rapidly deployed a team to the scene. They caught the attention of the local press and people outside their church gave generously to assist them. The original team sat on the ground with nothing to do...for five days! Then, with no real work accomplished, all but two of the team members had to come home to their regular jobs. How many thousands of dollars were wasted because their passion got ahead of their wisdom?
In Haiti, even more is at stake. First is the emotional toll being endured by the missionaries, their families, loved ones and churches. Second, there's the financial cost of their defense. Third, this is a distraction from the ongoing relief efforts. Finally, it is being used as an argument that we Christians need to keep our Gospel to ourselves.
Second, my previously stated relationship with three of the missionaries has made this more than a casual observation for me. Members of our family have been emotionally shaken by this event in the same way that the 7.0 started it all. We have prayed endlessly. We have carried on literally hundreds of conversations in verbal and written form since it began. (Our daughter has written some excellent blog posts here.) The raw emotion of it has served to make me even more cautious about publicly committing my ruminations to print.
As we continue to wait and pray, I think it's time for me to talk about a few "take aways" which can be gleaned from the situation. Perhaps this can help someone else avoid the same predicament and subsequent pain.
We Americans are frequently the quickest to jump into the world's problems. This can be a good thing, like the rapidity with which some mercy organizations made it possible to text a certain number on our mobile phones and instantly donate $10 to the relief fund. It can be a bad thing, like the times we have stormed into countries where we were definitely unwelcome and been seen more as conquerors rather than as caregivers.
The Christians in my country are not immune to these passionate acts; in fact we are often instigating them. On many occasions, our quick action leads to saving lives and offering hope which otherwise might have been lost. Isaiah (chapter 6), when he "saw the Lord high and lifted up", quickly responded with "Here am I; send me!" If nothing else, our unrestrained activity is heartfelt.
Conversely, our passion can, at times be driven more by human emotion than by genuine encounters with God's Spirit. We are quick to quote the Great Commission ("Go ye therefore into all the world..."), but we fail to remember that what Jesus said in the original language was not so emphatic. What He really said was, "As you are going..." There's a huge difference. Jesus never put the command to go above the wisdom of whether it is the right time, place, and way to go. I once heard someone say that we should make sure what we are perceiving is truly the unction of God's Spirit and not just indigestion.
I am not questioning the missionary call to go places where people have not heard and which are inherent with danger. The Gospel has traveled from generation to generation for two thousand years. Every culture that has been touched by it was once hearing it for the first time. On the other hand, short-term missionaries (we number in the tens of thousands, just from the U.S.) are remiss if they don't take into account the work of those who went before them. The incarcerated missionaries in Haiti had scant, if any, contact with established mission organizations which were doing significant work in the region long before the quake happened. No doubt, those organizations could have used both the financial help and the labor of a group willing to work.
A pastor friend of mine spoke to me recently about the experience his church had following the 2004 tsunami. They rapidly deployed a team to the scene. They caught the attention of the local press and people outside their church gave generously to assist them. The original team sat on the ground with nothing to do...for five days! Then, with no real work accomplished, all but two of the team members had to come home to their regular jobs. How many thousands of dollars were wasted because their passion got ahead of their wisdom?
In Haiti, even more is at stake. First is the emotional toll being endured by the missionaries, their families, loved ones and churches. Second, there's the financial cost of their defense. Third, this is a distraction from the ongoing relief efforts. Finally, it is being used as an argument that we Christians need to keep our Gospel to ourselves.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Dominican Missionaries Travel To Haiti
I have just received an update from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This morning's meeting of leaders from the Dominican Baptist Convention has resulted in a plan for five of their missionaries to travel to the border of Haiti southwest of Santo Domingo. Our Yuma missionary, Barry Burnett, will serve as the driver. He will be accompanied by an International Mission Board missionary who served in Haiti for seventeen years and was recently relocated to the DR. Three others will also travel with them when they depart on Saturday.
Their first objective will be to find out if they are allowed across the border. There is still some doubt about this. Then, they will survey the situation on the Haitian side of the border. Their information is that many Haitians have fled to the border seeking aid. It is possible that they will establish an aid station just inside the Haitian border.
The next objective will be to travel toward Port Au Prince. They will attempt to find the pastors who have been serving and with whom our missionaries have a relationship. Some of their churches have been destroyed, we are told. The team will check the feasibility of using those church locations as aid stations.
They will also determine if we can get construction teams in to rebuild those churches. We have a trip already scheduled into the DR in late March. The situation is fluid right now, and we may redirect our efforts in that trip to assist with the effort in Haiti.
How can you help?
1. The leaders in the DR have asked for prayer. Pray that God will open the door for them to enter Haiti and establish a beachhead to help the hurting there.
2. Give. Former President Clinton has said that is the best way for most Americans to help right now. If you want to give through a church, Vertical Church, Oasis Church and Stone Ridge Church, all of Yuma, are receiving offerings along this line. Just mark the gift for Haiti. We have a proven network that we have verified is high integrity. The churches in the DR are giving this Sunday, also.
3. Consider going. If the doors open to enter Haiti and help rebuild, we will have lots of work to do!
Their first objective will be to find out if they are allowed across the border. There is still some doubt about this. Then, they will survey the situation on the Haitian side of the border. Their information is that many Haitians have fled to the border seeking aid. It is possible that they will establish an aid station just inside the Haitian border.
The next objective will be to travel toward Port Au Prince. They will attempt to find the pastors who have been serving and with whom our missionaries have a relationship. Some of their churches have been destroyed, we are told. The team will check the feasibility of using those church locations as aid stations.
They will also determine if we can get construction teams in to rebuild those churches. We have a trip already scheduled into the DR in late March. The situation is fluid right now, and we may redirect our efforts in that trip to assist with the effort in Haiti.
How can you help?
1. The leaders in the DR have asked for prayer. Pray that God will open the door for them to enter Haiti and establish a beachhead to help the hurting there.
2. Give. Former President Clinton has said that is the best way for most Americans to help right now. If you want to give through a church, Vertical Church, Oasis Church and Stone Ridge Church, all of Yuma, are receiving offerings along this line. Just mark the gift for Haiti. We have a proven network that we have verified is high integrity. The churches in the DR are giving this Sunday, also.
3. Consider going. If the doors open to enter Haiti and help rebuild, we will have lots of work to do!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Message From Stone Ridge MemberTammy Pal
January 14 at 7:59pm
Hi Sam,
I talked with Caleb again today. He is traveling to the DR with a group of doctors from Huntsville who are part of "Doctors Without Borders". They will be working at a clinic in the DR that is close to the Haitian border. Apparently last night there were 1800 people waiting in line at the clinic. He is traveling with one large satellite system and they have shipped 4 others down for him to set up, with which to provide communications and computer networks for the doctors and staff.
It's a start. When the border opens they will probably be inundated.
We are praying that the Holy Spirit will sweep over that island, that the occultic strongholds will be vanquished and that the hopeless will find salvation in Jesus. Tonight on the news they showed a group of Haitians singing and even though we couldn't tell what the words were, the tune was, "You are my all in all". YES!!!!!
Thanks for relaying the information. We are praying for our brothers and sisters in the DR who are on the front lines.
blessings,
tammy
Hi Sam,
I talked with Caleb again today. He is traveling to the DR with a group of doctors from Huntsville who are part of "Doctors Without Borders". They will be working at a clinic in the DR that is close to the Haitian border. Apparently last night there were 1800 people waiting in line at the clinic. He is traveling with one large satellite system and they have shipped 4 others down for him to set up, with which to provide communications and computer networks for the doctors and staff.
It's a start. When the border opens they will probably be inundated.
We are praying that the Holy Spirit will sweep over that island, that the occultic strongholds will be vanquished and that the hopeless will find salvation in Jesus. Tonight on the news they showed a group of Haitians singing and even though we couldn't tell what the words were, the tune was, "You are my all in all". YES!!!!!
Thanks for relaying the information. We are praying for our brothers and sisters in the DR who are on the front lines.
blessings,
tammy
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Parables, Part 2
Have you ever noticed how much we can glean from a very small parable? Read on...
One day a weary traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a kind and discerning man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the longing eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried a slight smile as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he waited to see into the man’s heart. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper asked.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“How much do you have?” replied the shopkeeper.
“I have a little bit of gold. It isn’t much, but it is the sum of my earthly possessions.”
“That’s good,” stated the shopkeeper, “but do you have anything else? This pearl is indeed precious.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” The humble traveler was turning to leave.
“Don’t go just yet,” the shopkeeper pled. “Do you have anything else besides that small amount of gold?”
“Well, we -- my family and I -- own the little home where we live.”
“That’s good!” smiled the shopkeeper. “A small bag of gold and your home. You mentioned your family?”
Shocked, but intrigued, the traveler said, “My wife and I have a son and two daughters.”
“Wonderful!” The shopkeeper was laughing now. “A little gold, a small house, a wife, a son, two daughters. Anything else?”
Horrified that the conversation was continuing this way, the humble traveler turned to leave. Quickly, the shopkeeper called him back. “Sir, please! I beg you, please look at the pearl one last time.”
The traveler looked. There was something about this pearl. He longed for it with all his heart. Then the shopkeeper said, “One last question, sir. Do you have anything else? An animal to carry your pack, for instance?”
“I have an old burro,” said the traveler. “I’m afraid he isn’t worth much.”
“Let’s see,” the shopkeeper replied. “A small bag of gold, a little home, a wife, a son, two daughters. Oh, and a tired, old donkey.”
He held out the pearl to the man. “Sold!”
The man was full of fear. Yet he couldn’t resist the pearl. He reached out his hand and took it, his face breaking into ecstasy. He just stood there. He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
The shopkeeper finally cleared his throat. “Humble traveler, you have purchased my pearl. Alas, now I need to ask your your help.”
“Help? What could I do to help you?”
“Well, you see,” the shopkeeper replied, “I have this bag of gold. Could you take care of it for me? I will from time to time ask that you give some of it away for me to help some of my friends. Could you do that?”
“Uh, of course,” said the traveler.
“And I have a problem. You see, I already have a place to live. Could you continue to live in that home you gave me? But, occasionally, when some of my friends need hospitality, could you share it with them?”
“Yes. Of course!”
“And, traveler, there’s another matter. I also have a family. Could you take care of the family you dedicated to me? Could you protect them for me? And, if I have something special I need them to do, could you bless them and let them do it?”
By now, the traveler was weeping. He had given the shopkeeper everything. As tears flowed down his cheeks and dripped from his beard, he asked, “Do you want me to care for your burro, too, sir?”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To us, He is the pearl!
One day a weary traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a kind and discerning man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the longing eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried a slight smile as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he waited to see into the man’s heart. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper asked.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“How much do you have?” replied the shopkeeper.
“I have a little bit of gold. It isn’t much, but it is the sum of my earthly possessions.”
“That’s good,” stated the shopkeeper, “but do you have anything else? This pearl is indeed precious.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” The humble traveler was turning to leave.
“Don’t go just yet,” the shopkeeper pled. “Do you have anything else besides that small amount of gold?”
“Well, we -- my family and I -- own the little home where we live.”
“That’s good!” smiled the shopkeeper. “A small bag of gold and your home. You mentioned your family?”
Shocked, but intrigued, the traveler said, “My wife and I have a son and two daughters.”
“Wonderful!” The shopkeeper was laughing now. “A little gold, a small house, a wife, a son, two daughters. Anything else?”
Horrified that the conversation was continuing this way, the humble traveler turned to leave. Quickly, the shopkeeper called him back. “Sir, please! I beg you, please look at the pearl one last time.”
The traveler looked. There was something about this pearl. He longed for it with all his heart. Then the shopkeeper said, “One last question, sir. Do you have anything else? An animal to carry your pack, for instance?”
“I have an old burro,” said the traveler. “I’m afraid he isn’t worth much.”
“Let’s see,” the shopkeeper replied. “A small bag of gold, a little home, a wife, a son, two daughters. Oh, and a tired, old donkey.”
He held out the pearl to the man. “Sold!”
The man was full of fear. Yet he couldn’t resist the pearl. He reached out his hand and took it, his face breaking into ecstasy. He just stood there. He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
The shopkeeper finally cleared his throat. “Humble traveler, you have purchased my pearl. Alas, now I need to ask your your help.”
“Help? What could I do to help you?”
“Well, you see,” the shopkeeper replied, “I have this bag of gold. Could you take care of it for me? I will from time to time ask that you give some of it away for me to help some of my friends. Could you do that?”
“Uh, of course,” said the traveler.
“And I have a problem. You see, I already have a place to live. Could you continue to live in that home you gave me? But, occasionally, when some of my friends need hospitality, could you share it with them?”
“Yes. Of course!”
“And, traveler, there’s another matter. I also have a family. Could you take care of the family you dedicated to me? Could you protect them for me? And, if I have something special I need them to do, could you bless them and let them do it?”
By now, the traveler was weeping. He had given the shopkeeper everything. As tears flowed down his cheeks and dripped from his beard, he asked, “Do you want me to care for your burro, too, sir?”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To us, He is the pearl!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Parables, Part 1
Have you ever noticed how much we can glean from a very small parable? Read on...
One day a wealthy traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a shrewd and evil man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the kind eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried the glint of greed as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he prepared to set the hook. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper looked mystified.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“Well, sir, you obviously have an eye for beauty. You can tell as well as I that this is perhaps the most lovely and the rarest pearl you have ever seen.”
“How much?”
“Sir, no one would dare ask such a question unless they were a person of great means and could afford a great price.”
“How much?!!”
“Well, sir, obviously this pearl will cost far more than most could afford -- more than a king’s ransom or the dowry of a beautiful princess.”
Now, voice low and full of emotion, the traveler asked one last time: “How much?” He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
“Why, sir, the only fit payment for a pearl such as this -- a jewel of such great value -- would be that which you value the most. I have noticed the boy waiting outside with your servants. He is obviously not one of them. And I, too, have heard stories about you. I have heard that wherever you travel, you always take your only son with you. If you want this pearl, he is the price.”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To Him, YOU are the pearl!
One day a wealthy traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a shrewd and evil man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the kind eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried the glint of greed as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he prepared to set the hook. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper looked mystified.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“Well, sir, you obviously have an eye for beauty. You can tell as well as I that this is perhaps the most lovely and the rarest pearl you have ever seen.”
“How much?”
“Sir, no one would dare ask such a question unless they were a person of great means and could afford a great price.”
“How much?!!”
“Well, sir, obviously this pearl will cost far more than most could afford -- more than a king’s ransom or the dowry of a beautiful princess.”
Now, voice low and full of emotion, the traveler asked one last time: “How much?” He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
“Why, sir, the only fit payment for a pearl such as this -- a jewel of such great value -- would be that which you value the most. I have noticed the boy waiting outside with your servants. He is obviously not one of them. And I, too, have heard stories about you. I have heard that wherever you travel, you always take your only son with you. If you want this pearl, he is the price.”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To Him, YOU are the pearl!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
One At A Time
Part 3
Triage. The word surfaces mental pictures of a disaster-populated emergency room. For some it means hope, but for others it signals despair.
In our saner moments, we objectively think on the scene of triage and acknowledge the wisdom of its implementation. But in other moments, we can be caught in the personal drama going on. The very idea of triage means some some patients will probably live and others will probably die. It means that a medical professional will accordingly choose who gets treatment and who doesn't. Failure to decide could leave the medical staff without the resources and energy to treat anybody. Morbid, don't you think?
Well, I am not a doctor and I don't have to think about medical triage very often. I do, though, face ministry times in which the dishes are stacked on the counter and manpower is stunted by illness, family emergencies or needed rest.
Those are the moments when, as a pastor, I must make tough calls. I must decide which short-range goal needs extension and which can't wait. I must choose whether to push the staff a little harder so we can enjoy a team victory. Or, is it time to delay or cancel something in order to maintain long-term staff health?
Our staff recently went away for a two-day offsite planning retreat. We prayed, worshiped, talked, laughed and -- before it was over -- cried. We made a tough decision which will cost significant time and energy for virtually every staff member. When we arrived back at home, I talked to one of three staff members who will pay the biggest price for the change we are considering. She shared her concern about another member of the team and whether our plan was just too much.
I told her that I am willing to lead us up this steep road. But I'm not willing to destroy the staff in the process. They need their health to face more challenges in the future. That means we may have to slow down some of our lofty dreams to do the dishes. We can't do everything (I hope some other pastors are reading this) but we can choose the best items on our agendas and make the biggest possible difference in the most lives.
In a way, it's ministry triage.
Triage. The word surfaces mental pictures of a disaster-populated emergency room. For some it means hope, but for others it signals despair.
In our saner moments, we objectively think on the scene of triage and acknowledge the wisdom of its implementation. But in other moments, we can be caught in the personal drama going on. The very idea of triage means some some patients will probably live and others will probably die. It means that a medical professional will accordingly choose who gets treatment and who doesn't. Failure to decide could leave the medical staff without the resources and energy to treat anybody. Morbid, don't you think?
Well, I am not a doctor and I don't have to think about medical triage very often. I do, though, face ministry times in which the dishes are stacked on the counter and manpower is stunted by illness, family emergencies or needed rest.
Those are the moments when, as a pastor, I must make tough calls. I must decide which short-range goal needs extension and which can't wait. I must choose whether to push the staff a little harder so we can enjoy a team victory. Or, is it time to delay or cancel something in order to maintain long-term staff health?
Our staff recently went away for a two-day offsite planning retreat. We prayed, worshiped, talked, laughed and -- before it was over -- cried. We made a tough decision which will cost significant time and energy for virtually every staff member. When we arrived back at home, I talked to one of three staff members who will pay the biggest price for the change we are considering. She shared her concern about another member of the team and whether our plan was just too much.
I told her that I am willing to lead us up this steep road. But I'm not willing to destroy the staff in the process. They need their health to face more challenges in the future. That means we may have to slow down some of our lofty dreams to do the dishes. We can't do everything (I hope some other pastors are reading this) but we can choose the best items on our agendas and make the biggest possible difference in the most lives.
In a way, it's ministry triage.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
One At A Time
Part 2
Our company had just departed. The evening was fun; our hearts and stomachs were full. The pile of dishes waited like an impatient boss as they sat on the countertop next to the sink. Ugh!
Cathy and I both went into "task mode." This wasn't the time to check email, watch TV or write tomorrow's blog post. It wasn't the time to prop up with a good book. It was time to do dishes and clean up the kitchen. We set about doing the chores quickly, yet methodically. In less than twenty minutes we were done!
Yesterday's story, about a lady who was down in the dumps as she procrastinated about some simple tasks, was true. But it was also a parable. And it gives significant understanding to my recent realities.
I have been under incessant deadlines and pressures. You could say that the week I am behind in sermon preparation (I'm usually 3 weeks ahead; right now it's only 2) is like an unwashed plate on the cabinet. Then there's the planning for dinners we will host as part of a special project -- like a dirty glass. Then the planning for a giving emphasis for our future campus development -- like a crusted baking pan.
Add in the sickness that has at times compressed our staff -- like a dirty bowl. And the death in my assistant's immediate family -- like a stack of silverware. And the associate pastor away for a much-needed vacation -- like a another dinner plate.
Oh, I need to mention the day and a half away for my wife to undergo outpatient surgery (in Phoenix, difficult recuperation, but she's getting much better now) -- like a greasy skillet.
And, to top it all off, we are approaching our largest outreach event of the year this Saturday (Family Fall Festival) -- like a whole stack of dinnerware.
You see, my life can get stacked up just easily as that lady who called her pastor. Yours can, too. And, if we don't stop what we're doing to take care of business, we will probably be "down in the dumps."
Doing of the dishes. Putting life into perspective and avoiding the blues.
That's why I haven't written much on Dwell and Cultivate lately.
Tomorrow, I want to share about it from one more angle; that as a leader.
Our company had just departed. The evening was fun; our hearts and stomachs were full. The pile of dishes waited like an impatient boss as they sat on the countertop next to the sink. Ugh!
Cathy and I both went into "task mode." This wasn't the time to check email, watch TV or write tomorrow's blog post. It wasn't the time to prop up with a good book. It was time to do dishes and clean up the kitchen. We set about doing the chores quickly, yet methodically. In less than twenty minutes we were done!
Yesterday's story, about a lady who was down in the dumps as she procrastinated about some simple tasks, was true. But it was also a parable. And it gives significant understanding to my recent realities.
I have been under incessant deadlines and pressures. You could say that the week I am behind in sermon preparation (I'm usually 3 weeks ahead; right now it's only 2) is like an unwashed plate on the cabinet. Then there's the planning for dinners we will host as part of a special project -- like a dirty glass. Then the planning for a giving emphasis for our future campus development -- like a crusted baking pan.
Add in the sickness that has at times compressed our staff -- like a dirty bowl. And the death in my assistant's immediate family -- like a stack of silverware. And the associate pastor away for a much-needed vacation -- like a another dinner plate.
Oh, I need to mention the day and a half away for my wife to undergo outpatient surgery (in Phoenix, difficult recuperation, but she's getting much better now) -- like a greasy skillet.
And, to top it all off, we are approaching our largest outreach event of the year this Saturday (Family Fall Festival) -- like a whole stack of dinnerware.
You see, my life can get stacked up just easily as that lady who called her pastor. Yours can, too. And, if we don't stop what we're doing to take care of business, we will probably be "down in the dumps."
Doing of the dishes. Putting life into perspective and avoiding the blues.
That's why I haven't written much on Dwell and Cultivate lately.
Tomorrow, I want to share about it from one more angle; that as a leader.
Monday, October 26, 2009
One At A Time
It's surely oversimplified, but a story I heard has fused itself on my brain for about a quarter century. A pastor I knew told about a lady in his congregation.
The lady struggled with being down in the dumps. Notice that I didn't say "depression" -- I'm certain her ailment was not depression. At least not the clinical type.
Anyway, this lady asked the pastor to come to her home and pray for her. He walked in (I hope he wasn't visiting alone, but that's another story.) and saw that her house was trashed. The lady was very low and she wanted a listening ear.
After a time, he told the lady that he knew how to cure her blues. "How?" she asked.
"I won't tell you unless you promise to follow my instructions."
"I'll try," was her reply.
"Then I won't tell you."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Have I ever given you anything to do that is impossible for you to do?"
"Uh, no," said the lady.
"Then I give you my word that the cure for your problems is within your ability and I will tell you what it is if you promise to do it."
"I'll try," she said again.
He arose to leave. "In that case, I won't tell you."
"But I'll try!" Pleading in her voice.
"No. I won't tell you unless you promise."
Finally, she gave in.
"When I leave, get up and go into your kitchen. Clean up that pile of dishes stacked in the sink. Tonight, call me and tell me three words: 'I did it.' Then I will give you the next step."
Fortunately, the lady followed through with her promise. The pastor gave her a series of small projects that, one-by-one, got her life manageable again. Within a few days, her blues were gone.
...........
In case you're wondering, I haven't been in the blues. However, this story relates to something I can tell you about my recent absence here at Dwell and Cultivate.
I will do that tomorrow.
The lady struggled with being down in the dumps. Notice that I didn't say "depression" -- I'm certain her ailment was not depression. At least not the clinical type.
Anyway, this lady asked the pastor to come to her home and pray for her. He walked in (I hope he wasn't visiting alone, but that's another story.) and saw that her house was trashed. The lady was very low and she wanted a listening ear.
After a time, he told the lady that he knew how to cure her blues. "How?" she asked.
"I won't tell you unless you promise to follow my instructions."
"I'll try," was her reply.
"Then I won't tell you."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Have I ever given you anything to do that is impossible for you to do?"
"Uh, no," said the lady.
"Then I give you my word that the cure for your problems is within your ability and I will tell you what it is if you promise to do it."
"I'll try," she said again.
He arose to leave. "In that case, I won't tell you."
"But I'll try!" Pleading in her voice.
"No. I won't tell you unless you promise."
Finally, she gave in.
"When I leave, get up and go into your kitchen. Clean up that pile of dishes stacked in the sink. Tonight, call me and tell me three words: 'I did it.' Then I will give you the next step."
Fortunately, the lady followed through with her promise. The pastor gave her a series of small projects that, one-by-one, got her life manageable again. Within a few days, her blues were gone.
...........
In case you're wondering, I haven't been in the blues. However, this story relates to something I can tell you about my recent absence here at Dwell and Cultivate.
I will do that tomorrow.
Friday, October 2, 2009
An Explanation
I love to write about life here at Dwell & Cultivate. The only thing is that sometimes my writing gets sidetracked by...life. That was certainly the case this week.
Life. Maximum warp.
I will return next week. I will pick up more Trade Tools then.
Life. Maximum warp.
I will return next week. I will pick up more Trade Tools then.
Monday, September 21, 2009
"I walk today...
...so I can walk tomorrow."
Many years ago, it was my privilege to be the pastor and friend of a golf professional. He was a manage-a-golf-course and give-lessons pro. The course he ran was, at the time, one of the busiest in the state of Arizona.
My friend told me about a man in his early nineties who was a member of two of the oldest, most prestigious country clubs in the Phoenix area. To say the least, he had plenty of money. However, that elderly gentleman came daily to the city course managed by my friend. Each day he played nine holes. And he always walked.
His motto, sage advice, was the quote with which I started today.
On Saturday, it was my joy and privilege to run in a race. Thirteen hundred runners is by no means a huge crowd, but it's enough to create a great environment of excitement.
At such an event, it becomes easy to pick out those who run in races all the time. They are like their own little community. They see each other, catch up since their last race and take off down the road, putting one foot in front of the other.
Some of them obviously live to run. That's not me.
I run to live.
Many years ago, it was my privilege to be the pastor and friend of a golf professional. He was a manage-a-golf-course and give-lessons pro. The course he ran was, at the time, one of the busiest in the state of Arizona.
My friend told me about a man in his early nineties who was a member of two of the oldest, most prestigious country clubs in the Phoenix area. To say the least, he had plenty of money. However, that elderly gentleman came daily to the city course managed by my friend. Each day he played nine holes. And he always walked.
His motto, sage advice, was the quote with which I started today.
On Saturday, it was my joy and privilege to run in a race. Thirteen hundred runners is by no means a huge crowd, but it's enough to create a great environment of excitement.
At such an event, it becomes easy to pick out those who run in races all the time. They are like their own little community. They see each other, catch up since their last race and take off down the road, putting one foot in front of the other.
Some of them obviously live to run. That's not me.
I run to live.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)