The Right Thing For The Right Reason

Today I was privileged to welcome the ninth class of students to our Clearwater Master's Commission. We started Master's Commission because we wanted to invest into the lives of young people. When I was greeting the new parents I introduced them to our children's pastor and his wife and our youth pastor and his wife. All four of them are graduates of our program. I am so proud of the progress these young people have made in their lives and now their careers in ministry.

What a joy to know that our church had a part in that process because we did the right thing for the right reason. Only eternity will tell all of the good that comes from this local church taking a risk on a new ministry nine years ago.

Now what about all of the little things in my life. I believe that is not just the big events like starting a new ministry, but what happens in our lives when we do the right thing for the right reason in the everyday events and labors of our lives. Every twelve inches produce a foot. Every three feet produce a yard. Every five thousand two hundred and eighty feet produce a mile. But it all starts with that first little step. It begins with doing the right thing. And oh what a feeling when you know you did it for the right reasons.

Something I Saw

I was reading Mark Batterson's blog who had been reading Erwin McManus and Mark made a comment that kind of stopped me in my tracks. He said

"I think there is a such a temptation to copy when it comes to ministry. I wrestle with it as much as anyone else. I think we need models. I've got my fair share, including Erwin McManus. But I remember reading something Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in Self-Reliance: "There is a time in every man's education that he arrives at the conviction that imitation is suicide. He must take himself for better or for worse."
I think there are two simple principles that ought to guide us:
1) Keep Learning.
2) Be Yourself."

Wow! That was really powerful to me today. I have this confidence that God made me to be me. I have this confidence that the Holy Spirit comes with creativity and a plan for my life that will make me uniquely me. It is so easy just to think what others think, do what others do. I want to live my life in such a way that I face the Lord and say I endeavored to do this thing the way you dropped it in my life.

I read my bible like God has a real live word for me today, so why wouldn't I believe that God's plan for my life may have things in it that I have observed in others, but a real strain that looks like a DNA created just for me. Since God loves me as much as He has shown, I really do believe that He has a plan for my life that He wants to reveal through exposure to others, revelation from the word of God, history in general and a clear word that He whispers in my heart and says "Hey Steve try this and see what I will do".

Dangerous

When did it become safe to follow Christ? When did the element of adventure not be one of the most exciting parts of following Jesus. Jesus said to Peter, "follow me and I will make you". He wants to be the maker. He wants to lead us in paths that are of His choosing. Let's see now who has the greatest imagination, me or God. Who knows the plan and program of world evangelization best, me or God. Who best knows how to equip and provide resource for me, and the questions go on and on. The problem. It requires me being the follower and Him being the leader. It requires me turning loose and making decisions that at the time may be down right frightening.

I want to follow Jesus. I want to have my life make a difference. I want for my legacy to be: Here lies Steve, he followed Christ in the grand adventure and he made a difference.

If I was called home today who would miss me? Well Ruth and the kids, my family and friends would miss me. Maybe a few others that I have built relationships with. Would my neighbors miss me? Would my community say, what will we do without Steve? Would my coworkers say who will carry on God's grand work?

When Uzziah died Isaiah said who will take his place? Who is going to stand for the things He stood for. Granted God had everything under control and told Isaiah so, but that man had made such an impact that God's prophet went to the temple to tell God. Hey God now what are we going to do without Uzziah.

If you want to be missed, you have to be willing to take a risk. If you want to follow God you are going some places that look pretty dangerous. If you want to make an impact on your sphere of influence you have to be willing to listen, hear the voice of God and go where you may have never been before.

Sounds like an adventure to me, let's go. I am willing to become dangerous, how about you.

Where to Begin

When you have been away for awhile and you want to tell your friends what happened while you were away sometimes it is difficult to know where to begin. I am there this morning. I choose "THE SHACK". I read a couple of books while on vacation but The Shack is one of the most interesting and challenging books I have read in years. I won't talk about it in terms of the plot or the action of the book, but let me share with you what it has done "to" me.

This book challenged the way I think about the way I think. In a really good way I might add. I really don't know where to begin, so I will just wander around a bit.

God is good. It is not that he does good things, or is proactive toward goodness. God is just good and so good it is way beyond my pitiful imagination

When I read "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever" I now think of course He is because in Him Yesterday, today and tomorrow are all just in the phrase "He is".

"God so loved the world" has a brand new meaning to me. "I am that I am" is so much fresher than it was.

One of the greatest gifts that God ever gave me was the gift of choice and I have abused it so badly when it comes to how I choose to relate to Him.

I really could go on and on, but I will not. I am reading the book again starting right where we go into the shack. I want all of those incredible insights to the love, grace and mercy of God to roll over my mind and my soul over and over and over again.

I usually relate experiences like this one to songs because I love music so much. It gives me a hook to hang my hat on. This is the song that comes to mind when I think about this book.

He Was There All The Time

Never again will I search for a fake rainbows end
Now that I’ve found the answer my life is just starting to rhyme
Sharing each new day with Him is a breath of fresh life
Oh what I've missed He's been waiting right here all the time

Chorus
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time

Thanks for allowing me some time off from this little thing that I do every morning. God bless all of you that read this blog.

Vacation

Well I am still roaming around Washington DC. Please don't forsake the blog even though you may think I have. I am taking some time to enjoy myself and do some soul introspection. My gratitude for those of you who follow this blog is great.

See you shortly.

Off to The Library of Congress

Still Out There

Yesterday I was at The Call in Washington DC. I was amazed and thrilled to see so many young people going after God. It gives me great hope to see a solid core from this present generation hungry for God.

I pray that great leadership will arise and give them focus and direction for God's plan. As great as it is to see so many come together for prayer, it is only an event if not taken up at the local level and turned into a dynamic plan. Don't get me wrong I am not discouraged at all, I just know that inspiration is only part of God's plan.

The Opening ceremonies of the Olympics are not the Olympics. It just announces that an incredible two weeks of competition is coming. The real work happens with all those local olympic committees and individuals that compete.

Thank God for those who will rise up and give great leadership under the Holy Spirit to this generation in The United States.

Vacation

Today is purely a vacation day. I will post tomorrow. I am reading a novel. I read a lot but not usually novels. Tomorrow will be some of my thoughts on the book. You really must read it if you haven't.

The Shack. Whoa! and major Whoa!

See you in the morning bright and early.

Extravagant Generosity

The concept here is not just to be generous, but generosity that is over the top. You know, kind of like the grace of God. I understand that concept. (sort of) God is generous and extravagantly generous with us all.

It is easy for me to think this way in some areas because gift giving is my love language. I easily receive love through gifts and it is my favorite way of expressing love. (a bit of a problem because time and service are Ruth's love language) I can't think of anything I would rather do than give extravagant gifts to those I love. My family, those around me who bless me and work with me, I love sharing good things with them.

I have found the most extravagant thing I can give is my time. It is the most precious commodity we have. When I share my time I usually want it to be with those that seem special to me.

This that I am describing is not what this attribute is about. I think "Extravagant Generosity" here is living this way as a lifestyle with everyone we come in contact with. The ones we love, the ones we don't and the ones we have not made a determination about yet. Why? Because that's what God's extravagant grace is like. He showers it on everyone. Those who openly love him and even those who hate him are the recipients of God's great grace.

Wow what if I could learn to be extravagant with my time to those in my second level of relationships and third and even those that I am just beginning to be in relationship with. Oh yes, and those with whom I have no relationship. You might say you can't spend as much time with the latter as you do the former. True, but maybe extravagance in time is not as much about quantity as it is quality.

Risk Taking Mission and Service

I am at a loss. I am not totally sure how to write about such a theme. Those who know me would probably agree that I am a risk taker. It is a part of my personality. But I am not sure how to respond to this idea of risk taking service to God.

Where is the risk? If it is done in service to God and the reason for doing it is to honor Him and build His kingdom, how can you lose. We win if we risk everything for God even if it looks like we lose. He said if you want to save your life you have to lose it. And winning and losing is so subjective in God's kingdom. There's my take on it. There's your take on it. There is His take on it and sometimes it is hard to immedeately know what has happened.

If this all sounds like I am not sure, it is because I am not sure. It is our responsibility to present all that we have to Him. If we give Him everything, then what is left to risk. I think this is a question for everyone individually and every local ministry to define and answer for themselves.

I believe in the light of eternity, any risk taken for Him will have proved a worth while task.

Like I said, I really am at a loss. This idea is going to take me a while yet to work out in my own life.

Intentional Faith Development

How many times have I heard "we left that church because we were not being fed". Give me a major break. Leave because God leads you away for another purpose. Leave because you hate the pastor. Leave because you want pink carpet instead of lime green. Don't leave because you cannot open the word of God and feed yourself.

There, I feel better now.

It is my job to develop my faith. It is the job of my pastor to equip me for ministry and give direction and a path for ministry and fellowship in the locality I live. We live in a time in North America when the availability for discipleship material is unbelievable. Whole bookstores devoted to discipleship. Websites, radio, television networks all devoted to discipling people to Christ.

Oh, AND ANOTHER THING, the bible itself is available in every translation imaginable on the internet. Well I don't have access...can you say public library. There is no excuse available to, well I will say almost anyone for not developing your faith.

If you want to talk about the shepherds we can do that another day. But today let me state it clearly. You and only you are responsible for your spiritual development.

I certainly hope everyone has a great day. By the way, I am on vacation and that is why there may be multiple day spaces between post. I love you guys. You have to keep loving me. And you have to develop YOUR faith.

Peace out.

Passionate Praise

This past Sunday one of the lyrics from praise and worship was "how can I do anything but praise." That is where I live. I cannot imagine not having praise in my life. There is incredible joy that comes from lifting my voice or my hands or my mind toward heaven and giving praise to
God.

Through a process I have come to the place where my mind comes alive to God and the things of God in my life. Most days one of my very first thoughts is I must get to the word of God. I am absolutely passionate about being in His presence.

I see the value so great that I have instructed the people who put our services together to make as their No. 1 priority: Create an atmosphere that allows people to step into the presence of God if they choose to. Well I choose to. When my quiet time is interrupted it distresses me. I feel as though I have been cheated from one of life's basic needs. I have made it a priority to hear from God through the word and let my mind dwell on what it says to me every day.

Honestly, corporate worship used to be my favorite time of the week. I still love it. I love singing with the church body and I love the encouragement I get from seeing others enter into worship. But my life has come to the place that I cannot live without my private worship time.

I consider this little article for the most part to be a time for me to express my thoughts toward Him. It disturbs me when I am not able to do it because I can't get to the computer or the computer can't get to the internet.

I have a goal. I want to have Paul's testimony be mine. "For me to live is Christ".

Radical Hospitality

Proverbs 18:24 ...A man that hath friends must show himself friendly...

I am thinking how my life would change if I lived everyday looking for people that need my hospitality and then being intentional about showing it. I am a creature of habit and fancy myself as being friendly. However, I recognize that I am more readily friendly with those I am familiar with.

What relationships am I missing in my life because I do not go out of my way to be hospitable.
When I think about the people that I admire the most, all of them are incredibly hospitable. HELLO, that is probably why I was drawn to them in the first place.

I have met people that I have come to respect and see as great leaders. They have a common attribute. When I am around them they make me feel that I am so special. All of their attention is turned toward me even if I am only in their presence for a few minutes. I go away thinking "wow".

I believe that I could stretch my influence a lot further if I just made a decision to be hospitable and even radically hospitable with people that cross my path on a daily basis. The only thing it is really going to cost me is a little time. Yeah, that's right, the most precious commodity that I possess.

Five Attributes

I read something today that captured my attention. They are from the book "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations". I am not thinking about them for a church yet, because I have not even read the book.

What if I lived my life with these five things in mind.
1. Radical Hospitality
2. Passionate Worship
3. Intentional Faith Development
4. Risk-taking Mission and Service
5. Extravagant Generosity

You know that would be a pretty good set of goals for anybody. Maybe over the next several days I will share my thoughts on what each of these might look like in my life. Why don't you join me and each day after the post, you could share what it could look like in your life or in any one's life.

See you tomorrow!