What defines your life?!?

After spending 4 amazing days with my son in Washington DC, I have started reflecting on what defines my life. Throughout history most men have been defined by their careers. We have allowed our self worth to be captured in our paychecks and job titles. However, over the last few days I have been in a place where no one knows what I do for a living, with my son who only cared that I was with him. I meet people who were shocked when I opened doors for someone, offered up my seat, or demonstrated kindness to complete strangers. Over the last 4 days I was not defined by my career (pastor) but by my character. I am convinced that God is telling me to focus on the weight of my character. It is easy to allow the prestige of what I do to define my character and to allow everyone to assume things about my character simply because they associate me with my career. But, I want my obedience to the pursuit of God and my transformation to the image of God to define me. I do not live with a hunger for God because it will further my career, if God were to call me out of ministry and into the workplace, I would still live with a commitment to the covenant relationship of my faith. So, what defines you... and do you like what it says about you?

beliefs verses convictions

I guess blogs are a great place to think out loud and I'm wrestling with an idea I need to let out! I listen all the time to people talk about their beliefs. They make statement after statement about their beliefs and it gets me jazzed up to hear the passion in their voices! Now, listening to people talk about beliefs is not unusual since everybody's got an opinion and don't mind sharing it with you. What confuses me is their ability to make decisions to support their beliefs. In other words, what I'm wrestling with understanding the difference between belief and conviction. I here people talk all the time about the priority of their faith but then I watch the development of their faith become their last option. (ie. When did church camp and a mountain top experience with God become less important than sports camp, band camp, cheer camp, dance camp, etc?!?) I'm scared for the next generation of Christ-followers who are watching us proclaim our beliefs and yet live with mixed conviction. I'm not opposed to sports camps, please know I've spent enough time and sent enough money to places all over the south but I pray my children will see me place faith development before athletic or music or art development. Our children will know our convictions by how we set our calendars and how we write our checks. In my own life, I'm trying to be slow to speak and deliberate in what I hold to be my convictions! OK, well now I've got that out of my head.

People vs. Programming

I've always found it so ironic how differently church staff and church members see church programming. Church staff members can become so passionate and emotionally attached to a new program because they see all the different ways it can help and minister to the people. While at the same time church members see programming as another night of the week gone or another activity where the staff wants me out of the house. The church member believes that by coming to the event or program they have done the church staff member a favor and boosted his or her numbers. However, the staff member is hoping and praying that God will use the event to change the church member's life forever. So where's the balance?!? How do we as church leaders help church members see the need for spiritual development, while not making it feel like a spiritual burden? It may be different for every church leader but I believe the answer begins with identifying the church's priorities. As leaders we need to clearly define and clearly communicate the vision and priorities of the church. If we fail to communicate clearly defined priorities then church members are more likely to believe we have a greater interest and investment in the program than the people.

from Sidewalks to Social Networks

I was listening to a man talk one day about the disappearance of sidewalks in neighborhoods. A generation ago families would come home and walk up down their sidewalks learning about the lives of their neighbors. However, somewhere ago the way we stopped using sidewalks, we'd come home with our take-out dinners, close the garage door, and cocoon in our homes isolated from our neighbors. I don't know why, maybe we got busier, maybe we just stop liking our next door neighbors, and wanted to find a way to hand pick our neighbors. We all seemed isolated until the emergence of the SOCIAL NETWORK. Networks like Facebook, My Space, God's Social Network, and personal blogs gave all of us the freedom to hand pick our new neighbors. No longer do we need to learn the social skills necessary for interacting with a next door neighbor who sees life differently, now we can shut them out and simply focus on a network of friends built around common interest or ideologies. Is it good or bad? I don't know, all I do know is that it gives a whole new perspective on the Biblical question, "Who is my neighbor?" Social networks have replaced sidewalks but I hope they don't replace the Good Samaritan.

Healing

Psalms 30:1-2
I will exalt You, Lord, because You have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. 2 Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

Healing comes in different forms at some of the most unusual times from some of the most unlikely places. One of the great mysteries of the Lord is seen in the way He moves and works in the lives of His people. What we think is an easy no-brainer and obvious request for God to answer, can often times find God taking us on a spiritual journey we never expected. When God moves we can be assured of two things: 1. He has never lost control of the situation. We may feel abandoned and confused as we experience the results of living in a fallen world but God is still present and still in control. 2. God is always answering prayer, even when we can’t see the results. We are willing to acknowledge God’s presence when we see Him answer prayer according to our request and our will, but God is always moving and we must come to a place of trust, especially when we see His hand move in a different direction from our will.