We need some spiritual giants...

Who is your spiritual mentor?  Do you have someone in your life who guides you on your spiritual journey?  Do you have a spiritual parent?

I went to Rev. C.E. Stairs and Uta Chase’ funerals.  Two spiritual giants in the Wesleyan church.  And as sermons, tributes and eulogies were given, it was repeatedly said about what an impact they had on the next generation of Christians and Pastors- how they had been part of seeing people come to Christ, grow in that relationship, and even their call into ministry.

I wondered as I sat in both services- “who will be the spiritual giants in the next generation?”  We are in such a busy, fast paced, individualistic society that I fear people aren’t putting in the time in their own spiritual life, let alone the next generation. 

 

If you are in the “senior generation” and you are reading this- can you name 1 or 2 people that you are intentionally pouring your life into?  If you are in the “younger generation” and you are reading this- can you name 1 or 2 people that you are intentionally seeking to learn from and submit yourself to? 

 

As I get older I desire to have those spiritual giants in my life.  But I also know that I need to be that for someone else.

 

Start praying to God would bring this person into your life- I guarantee you will be richer and deeper spiritually because of it!

Am I Dead or Alive?

Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

We usually only quote half of that verse- the first half.  It's a great verse, it's memorable, it's portable. (And maybe it's just me) But it also may be one of the hardest verses for me to live out.  I think it was L.E. Maxwell who said, "self dies hard".  And I agree.

As a kid I "asked Jesus into my heart" many times.  As an adult I have asked that my "self" be crucified many more times.  Sometimes it feels like real momentum is picking up, growth, maturity...holiness.  And then self rears it's ugly head!

Where did you come from?

I thought you were crucified? 

How did you crawl out of the crave and get control again?

I wish it was just me, but I doubt it.

I desire to live a holy life, I desire for self to stay crucified, but the battle is real.  Maybe that's the point, to actually wage war against the flesh and sin.  Maybe I need I don't wage war enough, maybe I play games more often then not.  Maybe I won't let self be crucified to actual death...I like self...I'm used to self.  It's easy, convenient, and natural.

Just when I think I won't "win" I'm reminded of what Jesus said, "If anyone would come afer me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

DAILY...DENY...TAKE UP...AND FOLLOW.

The sanctifying work of God is a process.  It's intentional.  It's a choice.  It's going to hurt.  It's not going to be easy.

But I so desire it! 

Do you?  I pray that if you're reading this God does a deep work in your heart, I pray that you will pick up the cross daily, and I pray that you will die to self and live to Christ Jesus....for God's glory....and your joy!

Sabbath

I believe in the Biblical principle of a sabbath as much as the next person.  But practicing it is a different story.  For me a Sabbath meant not going to the church office, but that was pretty much the only difference (As a pastors Sundays aren't a great "sabbath" so I take Fridays). And lately I have just been noticing that I felt sluggish, irritable, and generally tired.

After thinking about it for a while I realized that my sabbath was just that I didn't go in the church, but it wasn't a true "unplugging" and resting.

So last Friday I shook things up.  I slept until I woke up without an alarm.  I ate well- healthy whole meals (no fast food), skipped the gym (*gasp*), didn't turn the tv on, no iPad, no leadership/theology reading, and when I got tired mid-afternoon I slept for 2 more hours!

It was amazing once I removed busyness how quickly my body wanted to crash.

Here's the best part...I was inifitely more productive on Saturday!  I was up early, sermon came together much, much faster, had a great workout, carved out family time, and that continued into Sunday.  It's almost like I was....rested!

Julia and I have decided this will be our new Friday-Sabbath practice. 

I don't care who you are- you are not a machine.  Caffeine may mask it for a while, but you cannot function flat out forever.  You need to rest.  You need to re-charge your batteries. 

So I challenge you, try a true Sabbath, not just a "not going to work day", but truly unplugging.  Slow down.  Enjoy putting your feet up.  Nap.  It may be the most productive day you have!

Who will rule?

I've been thinking a lot lately about sin.  Not exactly a happy thought, but I think a necessary one.  How much do you think about sin?  Which sins do you think about?  Just the big ones or the little ones too?  Only the bad things you do, or the good things that you do not do?  Which ones grieve your heart and which ones do you shrug off as "no big deal"?

In recent days I've been convicted that I do not take sin seriously enough.  Of course I am concerned with the big stuff, like any "good" Christian- but what about the little stuff- stuff that no one will even notice.  Stuff that won't hurt my reputation, won't slow down my productivity, won't hurt my marriage, etc.

But isn't that where it starts?  Isn't that the beginning?  Eve should been no where near that tree.  David should have been at war, not the roof top.  Ananias and Sapphira should have been honest about how much they sold their land for.

While we brag about not commiting the "big ones" are we equally diligant on the subtle ones?  Don't the subtle ones turn into the big ones over time.

In Genesis 4 God accepts the offering of Abel and rejects the offering of Cain- and Cain looses it!  Verse 6 says, "The Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.  Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.'"

That phrase "sin is crouching at the door" should send make the Christian sit up straight.  The problem is I (and many others) are asleep at the wheel.  We aren't paying attention, too many times we don't rule over sin; instead we get careless and relaxed.  And in that moment we are vulnerable...even (or especially) to the small stuff.  Once the door is cracked open, you are defenseless.

Are you paying attention to sin?  Even the so called little ones?  I mean the really little ones!  Who holds you accountable?  Who do you confess your sin to...besides the Lord?!  Who do you take your mask off with and talk openly with?  What is your plan to fight sin and grow in holiness?  It won't happen by accident.

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you in faithful; he will surely do it."  1 Thessalonians 5:23

Paying Attention to Details

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Psalm 139:23-24

As a leader it is an essential that we pay attention to the details. As a pastor we are watching over our people, planning events, numerical goals, pushing budgets, dreaming about visions and plans to get there- and the list goes on. Leaders in business do this in their field as well.

But "good leaders" learn how to watch for the details. Watch for positive trends or negative trends and react accordingly. We leverage the positive for gains and wins and we try to stop the negative before too much loss or damage ensues.

But I have been wondering if I do a better job with that at the corporate level than the personal level. I can analyze my church to death, but pay little attention to my own heart. We have plans, visions, and dreams for our church/business, but what about our personal life? What kind of people do we want to be in 5 years?

I talked with our staff this week about taking some time to evaluate, not our ministry, but what is going on in our own heart! Sometimes we are so busy taking care of the "business" that we neglect the eternal stuff- who we are becoming.

The great thing is that we all have built in warning signs or indicators. For me when I am negelecting the condition of my heart I get cynical, critical, and negative. For you it might be something else. Maybe it's your mouth and language- starts to digress when things are slipping. Maybe it's sleep or diet. Maybe it's your thought life.

I encourage you- learn to listen, let God do some searching, and then if you need to course correct, do it now. Many leaders will say "if only" after it was too late. By God's grace, don't let it get that far. Pay attention to the details.

What is your "foolish limit"?

I have been reading through the book of Joshua the last few days. It's been a while since I have read this book, and I've been trying to do it with a "what if I was Joshua" perspective. A number of things have hit me, but this morning as I was reading Joshua 6 my mind was really racing.

Joshua 6 is when God marches around Jericho and the walls fall down- well that's the brief version- I suggest you go read it.

As I read it I pictured how utterly foolish these people looked walking around this fortified city! What must the people inside the city be thinking? What was Joshua thinking day after day just walking in circles? On day 3 do you stop and really re-evaluate your attack strategy? There's no way this was a common war strategy.

But it's clear, he did it, because God told him to! And I hope that I would have been that obedient, but I must confess, I would have really doubted the logic of the plan. Is this efficient? I don't see how effective this will be! What will those inside think? What will those marching behind think? Isn't this going to look a little foolish?

What if God asked me to do something foolish today? The immiediate thought was; what if I was to walk around my city block daily praying for the people...outloud...would I do it? What if God wanted me to step out of the crowd in a bold way...would I do it? What if God just simply wanted me to raise my hands in worship...

Unfortunately my "foolish limit" is pretty low. But this year I have been really thinking about this, "if God asked me to do it, then do it." Good enough thought, but what about the action.

How low is your "foolish limit"?