One of the hazards of leadership is criticism. It doesn't matter if you're leading a Little League team or the United States of America. If you're making decisions, somebody is going to think you made them in the wrong way! Donald Rumsfield, the Defense Secretary who is a primary architect of the war in Iraq and a lightning rod for criticism, said "I am truly saddened by the thought that anyone could have the impression that I or others here are doing anything other than working urgently to see that the lives of the fighting men and women are protected and cared for in everyway humanly possible." In his public position, he knows that he will be criticized, that people without the same kind of information he has, will form conclusions about the way he carries out his responsibilities.
The fact is that leaders are human. Sometimes they do a better job than other times! Sometimes they disappoint us and sometimes they delight us. Speaking as one who leads, the most frustrating thing about the criticism that comes my way is when it comes from the critic's own frustration or failure to grasp the full dimension of issues involved. If, as a pastor, I take action that is wrong and someone points out that I've made a error in judgment, that is valuable criticism. If, on the other hand, I simply do not or cannot respond to the desires of someone and therefore they choose to become a critic, I find that that kind of criticism much harder to deal with.
Kevin Offner, in the Student Leadership Journal, published by IVP, offers the following advice to those who are ready to become a critic. Let me urge you to read his advice carefully today. It could transform your relationship with someone who you're about to make into a target of criticism.
_____________________________________
Here are five changes I believe critical people need to make.
First, we must have our spiritual eyes opened to see two truths: the heinous depth of our own sin and the amazing grace of God’s love toward us in Christ. Spiritual sight is not something we can will. God must give it. But we can cry out to Him for it. “Lord, would You open my eyes to see myself soberly and to know Your love more intimately?” We desperately need to feel the weight of our own sin and then to cast ourselves upon God’s grace. No mere head knowledge, here. “Wash your hands, you sinners. . . . Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief” (Jas. 4:8–9, NLT). When King David’s blind eyes were finally opened to his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, he didn't merely acknowledge it in some academic, emotionally removed way. He fell on his face and fasted for days (2 Sam. 12:16)!
Second, we must be deeply convinced that we can never know with certainty another person’s motives. Yes, we can see actions, and clearly sinful actions need to be confronted. But we must catch ourselves when we hurriedly, often unconsciously, make that jump from He did this to He is obviously acting from pride (or insecurity or revenge, etc.). There are so many factors beyond our knowledge that motivate another’s actions. Only God sees the heart, and only His judgment will be 100 percent accurate and fair. Now, perceptive people will hear this admonition yet still secretly think, Well, yes, but you see, I really do know why this person does what she does. Sometimes we are right. But we must remember that we may very well be wrong.
Third, when we’re bothered by another’s actions, we must pray fervently for that person and our response to him or her. What would happen if we channeled all our critical energy into a running dialogue with that person’s (and our) Creator?
Fourth, we must learn to be diplomatic and direct in confronting people one on one. No fake smiles, no repression of negative feelings, but instead, direct, tactful communication. Our goal is not to blast people or to inform them of all their hidden character flaws. Rather, our goals are God’s glory and the reconciliation of broken relationships. Recently I talked with the student I described earlier regarding her critical spirit. “I feel I need to tell you something. Yet I’m hesitant to do it for fear of losing your friendship. For the last several times I've been with you, you have spoken critically of something either the group or I have done. There’s often much truth in what you say, but I find myself frequently dragged down by your comments. We need encouragement as well as criticism. I value your friendship, and thus I thought I ought to share this with you.” I'll be honest: she didn't respond as I’d hoped. But I did feel right about being direct and honest rather than nurturing my own critical spirit.
Finally, we need to be encouragers, genuinely building others up and helping them become all God longs for them to be. I want to get excited about making others successful. I can be an encourager in others’ lives, as Barnabas was to Paul. I can trust God to provide encouragement for me as well. I have watched people melt when given a rightly timed, genuinely motivated word of affirmation or gratitude. And I know how empowered I feel when I’m around a genuine encourager.
_____________________________________
It's not always wrong to be a critic, but if you must, be a constructive critic. Always aim to build up others, to discover the Kingdom aim in a given situation.We have a BIG job to do, Believer. Let's not allow sniping at one another to destroy our effectiveness and the joy of working together in His kingdom. Got a 'beef' with someone?Figure out if it's worth discussing. If it's not, shake it off, and let it go into the "sea of forgetfulness!" If it is, then follow the steps to the best outcome.
_____________________________________
Be in worship on Sunday. Come with a prepared heart and mind, ready to hear, ready to worship, ready to receive!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Are you a critic?
One of the hazards of leadership is criticism. It doesn't matter if you're leading a Little League team or the United States of America. If you're making decisions, somebody is going to think you made them in the wrong way! Donald Rumsfield, the Defense Secretary who is a primary architect of the war in Iraq and a lightning rod for criticism, said "I am truly saddened by the thought that anyone could have the impression that I or others here are doing anything other than working urgently to see that the lives of the fighting men and women are protected and cared for in everyway humanly possible." In his public position, he knows that he will be criticized, that people without the same kind of information he has, will form conclusions about the way he carries out his responsibilities.
The fact is that leaders are human. Sometimes they do a better job than other times! Sometimes they disappoint us and sometimes they delight us. Speaking as one who leads, the most frustrating thing about the criticism that comes my way is when it comes from the critic's own frustration or failure to grasp the full dimension of issues involved. If, as a pastor, I take action that is wrong and someone points out that I've made a error in judgment, that is valuable criticism. If, on the other hand, I simply do not or cannot respond to the desires of someone and therefore they choose to become a critic, I find that that kind of criticism much harder to deal with.
Kevin Offner, in the Student Leadership Journal, published by IVP, offers the following advice to those who are ready to become a critic. Let me urge you to read his advice carefully today. It could transform your relationship with someone who you're about to make into a target of criticism.
_____________________________________
Here are five changes I believe critical people need to make.
First, we must have our spiritual eyes opened to see two truths: the heinous depth of our own sin and the amazing grace of God’s love toward us in Christ. Spiritual sight is not something we can will. God must give it. But we can cry out to Him for it. “Lord, would You open my eyes to see myself soberly and to know Your love more intimately?” We desperately need to feel the weight of our own sin and then to cast ourselves upon God’s grace. No mere head knowledge, here. “Wash your hands, you sinners. . . . Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief” (Jas. 4:8–9, NLT). When King David’s blind eyes were finally opened to his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, he didn't merely acknowledge it in some academic, emotionally removed way. He fell on his face and fasted for days (2 Sam. 12:16)!
Second, we must be deeply convinced that we can never know with certainty another person’s motives. Yes, we can see actions, and clearly sinful actions need to be confronted. But we must catch ourselves when we hurriedly, often unconsciously, make that jump from He did this to He is obviously acting from pride (or insecurity or revenge, etc.). There are so many factors beyond our knowledge that motivate another’s actions. Only God sees the heart, and only His judgment will be 100 percent accurate and fair. Now, perceptive people will hear this admonition yet still secretly think, Well, yes, but you see, I really do know why this person does what she does. Sometimes we are right. But we must remember that we may very well be wrong.
Third, when we’re bothered by another’s actions, we must pray fervently for that person and our response to him or her. What would happen if we channeled all our critical energy into a running dialogue with that person’s (and our) Creator?
Fourth, we must learn to be diplomatic and direct in confronting people one on one. No fake smiles, no repression of negative feelings, but instead, direct, tactful communication. Our goal is not to blast people or to inform them of all their hidden character flaws. Rather, our goals are God’s glory and the reconciliation of broken relationships. Recently I talked with the student I described earlier regarding her critical spirit. “I feel I need to tell you something. Yet I’m hesitant to do it for fear of losing your friendship. For the last several times I've been with you, you have spoken critically of something either the group or I have done. There’s often much truth in what you say, but I find myself frequently dragged down by your comments. We need encouragement as well as criticism. I value your friendship, and thus I thought I ought to share this with you.” I'll be honest: she didn't respond as I’d hoped. But I did feel right about being direct and honest rather than nurturing my own critical spirit.
Finally, we need to be encouragers, genuinely building others up and helping them become all God longs for them to be. I want to get excited about making others successful. I can be an encourager in others’ lives, as Barnabas was to Paul. I can trust God to provide encouragement for me as well. I have watched people melt when given a rightly timed, genuinely motivated word of affirmation or gratitude. And I know how empowered I feel when I’m around a genuine encourager.
_____________________________________
It's not always wrong to be a critic, but if you must, be a constructive critic. Always aim to build up others, to discover the Kingdom aim in a given situation.We have a BIG job to do, Believer. Let's not allow sniping at one another to destroy our effectiveness and the joy of working together in His kingdom. Got a 'beef' with someone?Figure out if it's worth discussing. If it's not, shake it off, and let it go into the "sea of forgetfulness!" If it is, then follow the steps to the best outcome.
_____________________________________
Be in worship on Sunday. Come with a prepared heart and mind, ready to hear, ready to worship, ready to receive!
The fact is that leaders are human. Sometimes they do a better job than other times! Sometimes they disappoint us and sometimes they delight us. Speaking as one who leads, the most frustrating thing about the criticism that comes my way is when it comes from the critic's own frustration or failure to grasp the full dimension of issues involved. If, as a pastor, I take action that is wrong and someone points out that I've made a error in judgment, that is valuable criticism. If, on the other hand, I simply do not or cannot respond to the desires of someone and therefore they choose to become a critic, I find that that kind of criticism much harder to deal with.
Kevin Offner, in the Student Leadership Journal, published by IVP, offers the following advice to those who are ready to become a critic. Let me urge you to read his advice carefully today. It could transform your relationship with someone who you're about to make into a target of criticism.
_____________________________________
Here are five changes I believe critical people need to make.
First, we must have our spiritual eyes opened to see two truths: the heinous depth of our own sin and the amazing grace of God’s love toward us in Christ. Spiritual sight is not something we can will. God must give it. But we can cry out to Him for it. “Lord, would You open my eyes to see myself soberly and to know Your love more intimately?” We desperately need to feel the weight of our own sin and then to cast ourselves upon God’s grace. No mere head knowledge, here. “Wash your hands, you sinners. . . . Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief” (Jas. 4:8–9, NLT). When King David’s blind eyes were finally opened to his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, he didn't merely acknowledge it in some academic, emotionally removed way. He fell on his face and fasted for days (2 Sam. 12:16)!
Second, we must be deeply convinced that we can never know with certainty another person’s motives. Yes, we can see actions, and clearly sinful actions need to be confronted. But we must catch ourselves when we hurriedly, often unconsciously, make that jump from He did this to He is obviously acting from pride (or insecurity or revenge, etc.). There are so many factors beyond our knowledge that motivate another’s actions. Only God sees the heart, and only His judgment will be 100 percent accurate and fair. Now, perceptive people will hear this admonition yet still secretly think, Well, yes, but you see, I really do know why this person does what she does. Sometimes we are right. But we must remember that we may very well be wrong.
Third, when we’re bothered by another’s actions, we must pray fervently for that person and our response to him or her. What would happen if we channeled all our critical energy into a running dialogue with that person’s (and our) Creator?
Fourth, we must learn to be diplomatic and direct in confronting people one on one. No fake smiles, no repression of negative feelings, but instead, direct, tactful communication. Our goal is not to blast people or to inform them of all their hidden character flaws. Rather, our goals are God’s glory and the reconciliation of broken relationships. Recently I talked with the student I described earlier regarding her critical spirit. “I feel I need to tell you something. Yet I’m hesitant to do it for fear of losing your friendship. For the last several times I've been with you, you have spoken critically of something either the group or I have done. There’s often much truth in what you say, but I find myself frequently dragged down by your comments. We need encouragement as well as criticism. I value your friendship, and thus I thought I ought to share this with you.” I'll be honest: she didn't respond as I’d hoped. But I did feel right about being direct and honest rather than nurturing my own critical spirit.
Finally, we need to be encouragers, genuinely building others up and helping them become all God longs for them to be. I want to get excited about making others successful. I can be an encourager in others’ lives, as Barnabas was to Paul. I can trust God to provide encouragement for me as well. I have watched people melt when given a rightly timed, genuinely motivated word of affirmation or gratitude. And I know how empowered I feel when I’m around a genuine encourager.
_____________________________________
It's not always wrong to be a critic, but if you must, be a constructive critic. Always aim to build up others, to discover the Kingdom aim in a given situation.We have a BIG job to do, Believer. Let's not allow sniping at one another to destroy our effectiveness and the joy of working together in His kingdom. Got a 'beef' with someone?Figure out if it's worth discussing. If it's not, shake it off, and let it go into the "sea of forgetfulness!" If it is, then follow the steps to the best outcome.
_____________________________________
Be in worship on Sunday. Come with a prepared heart and mind, ready to hear, ready to worship, ready to receive!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The amazing power of "thanks!"
Are you aware of the power of sincere gratitude? "Thanks-living" has the capability of transforming a bad day into a good one, a difficult relationship into a rewarding one, a miserable situation into one that is tolerable. Anybody who knows me even a little, is well aware that I can be a real grump, that I live wrapped up in the world of ideas and thoughts a lot. I am not exactly "Johnnie Sunshine" some of the time because of the drive to 'get it done' and the need to see it (whatever 'it' is) done right and well. Truth is, when I am at my most focused and intense state, I don't even like me. OK, you can stop laughing at that one. I'm sure somebody's going to remind me of that statement at exactly the wrong moment.
I've learned a way to regain a grip on my brighter side. I just begin to offer up thanks. It happened 'round 3:30 AM today. I awakened feeling anxious about some projects that are waiting to be completed. There in the dark I could feel tension rising inside of me. Of course there was not much I could do at that hour, but I knew I didn't want to spend the next two hours staring into the dark at the ceiling, so I started running down a list in my mind of people for whom I am so very thankful. I named them, one by one, to the Lord, thanking Him specifically for who they were and the ways that He allowed them to enrich my life and ministry. In a matter of moments, I just know there was a smile on my face in place of the tension lines because I felt the anxiety ease. It felt so wonderful to be thanking the Lord, that I praised Him for His love, for the grace He's sovereignly given me, for the amazing trust He's shown in me by giving me access to so many good things.
Sometimes thankfulness is almost spontaneous! When some wonderful thing happens - a heart-felt "Thank you, Lord! Praise God!" bursts from my lips. And then sometimes, I have to offer what the Bible calls a 'sacrifice of praise.' In that, I give up my will, my desire for more pleasant circumstances, and begin to thank God for His goodness, for His sovereignty, for His sometimes inscrutable will! Let's not make a common mistake involving this kind of thanksgiving. God doesn't ask you and me to defy good sense by thanking Him for terrible things like war, disease, or sinful oppression. That's nuts! But, He clearly wants us to thank Him for His faithfulness, for His love, for His goodness even when it seems like He's forsaken us, or left us in the grasp of the Evil One.
David urges us to adopt thanksgiving as a lifestyle. Take a look:
"I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together." (Psalm 34:1-4, NLT)
Remember, too, the importance of expressing appreciation to others. There's a genuine benefit that accrues to the one giving thanks in those situations. When we honestly express our thanks to another person (Careful there, I'm not recommending empty praise) we inevitably gain an emotional lift. Try it in a conversation today. You know how easily we slide into criticism of others. I do, so do you. When that starts to happen, turn it inside out and look for ways to speak positively and appreciatively about others. Watch the tone of the conversation change. It will amaze you. And you'll feel so much better, so much more encouraged, at the end of the conversation. I'm not recommending that we become Pollyanna's who only see the good side of life and never, ever say a cross or critical word. Speaking truthfully means that sometimes we'll have to point out failure or need for change. But, on balance, we will accomplish much more with sincere praise than with incessant criticism. (God, help me to remember that!)
So, I hope you'll take this simple little TFTD and make it a day for "thanks-living." Why not start right now with 5 minutes of praise prayer? Don't ask God for anything, just thank Him - profusely for people and situations and His goodness! Then, as you go through the day, look for opportunities to drop a word of affirmation and thanks into the lives of people - from the girl who pours your coffee to the spouse who shares you life!
And - Thank you for reading along day by day.
___________________________________
Give thanks to the Lord our God and King;
His love endures forever.
For He is good He is above all things;
His love endures forever.
Sing Praise -- Sing Praise
With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
For the life that's been reborn;
His love endures forever.
Sing Praise -- Sing Praise.
From the rising to the setting sun;
His love endures forever.
By the grace of God we can carry on;
His love endures forever.
Forever God Is Faithful,
Forever God Is Strong.
Forever God Is With Us Forever - Forever
Copyright - Chris Tomlin - CCLI License No. 810055
I've learned a way to regain a grip on my brighter side. I just begin to offer up thanks. It happened 'round 3:30 AM today. I awakened feeling anxious about some projects that are waiting to be completed. There in the dark I could feel tension rising inside of me. Of course there was not much I could do at that hour, but I knew I didn't want to spend the next two hours staring into the dark at the ceiling, so I started running down a list in my mind of people for whom I am so very thankful. I named them, one by one, to the Lord, thanking Him specifically for who they were and the ways that He allowed them to enrich my life and ministry. In a matter of moments, I just know there was a smile on my face in place of the tension lines because I felt the anxiety ease. It felt so wonderful to be thanking the Lord, that I praised Him for His love, for the grace He's sovereignly given me, for the amazing trust He's shown in me by giving me access to so many good things.
Sometimes thankfulness is almost spontaneous! When some wonderful thing happens - a heart-felt "Thank you, Lord! Praise God!" bursts from my lips. And then sometimes, I have to offer what the Bible calls a 'sacrifice of praise.' In that, I give up my will, my desire for more pleasant circumstances, and begin to thank God for His goodness, for His sovereignty, for His sometimes inscrutable will! Let's not make a common mistake involving this kind of thanksgiving. God doesn't ask you and me to defy good sense by thanking Him for terrible things like war, disease, or sinful oppression. That's nuts! But, He clearly wants us to thank Him for His faithfulness, for His love, for His goodness even when it seems like He's forsaken us, or left us in the grasp of the Evil One.
David urges us to adopt thanksgiving as a lifestyle. Take a look:
"I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together." (Psalm 34:1-4, NLT)
Remember, too, the importance of expressing appreciation to others. There's a genuine benefit that accrues to the one giving thanks in those situations. When we honestly express our thanks to another person (Careful there, I'm not recommending empty praise) we inevitably gain an emotional lift. Try it in a conversation today. You know how easily we slide into criticism of others. I do, so do you. When that starts to happen, turn it inside out and look for ways to speak positively and appreciatively about others. Watch the tone of the conversation change. It will amaze you. And you'll feel so much better, so much more encouraged, at the end of the conversation. I'm not recommending that we become Pollyanna's who only see the good side of life and never, ever say a cross or critical word. Speaking truthfully means that sometimes we'll have to point out failure or need for change. But, on balance, we will accomplish much more with sincere praise than with incessant criticism. (God, help me to remember that!)
So, I hope you'll take this simple little TFTD and make it a day for "thanks-living." Why not start right now with 5 minutes of praise prayer? Don't ask God for anything, just thank Him - profusely for people and situations and His goodness! Then, as you go through the day, look for opportunities to drop a word of affirmation and thanks into the lives of people - from the girl who pours your coffee to the spouse who shares you life!
And - Thank you for reading along day by day.
___________________________________
Give thanks to the Lord our God and King;
His love endures forever.
For He is good He is above all things;
His love endures forever.
Sing Praise -- Sing Praise
With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
For the life that's been reborn;
His love endures forever.
Sing Praise -- Sing Praise.
From the rising to the setting sun;
His love endures forever.
By the grace of God we can carry on;
His love endures forever.
Forever God Is Faithful,
Forever God Is Strong.
Forever God Is With Us Forever - Forever
Copyright - Chris Tomlin - CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Making peace
The Middle East simmers with tensions that explode into violence regularly. Terrorists seek the destruction of life and property around the globe from Afghanistan to Uganda. It isn't just nations making war! Some streets in our own country are as dangerous as a battlefield. Teenage tough guys think that the answer to difference of opinion is a bullet in someone's brain. Then, too, our churches - which ought to be oasis's of peace - are often torn up with strife, with factions struggling for control. And the American family knows little peace. Astronomical divorce rates reveal the depth of animosity that boils behind the front doors in our neighborhoods. Personal peace eludes most of us, too. Drugs, both legal and illegal, are consumed in prodigious quantities in attempts to find relief from the unending turmoil of an empty heart.
Is peace of any kind even possible or is it just a mirage? Jesus answers that question. He invites us to come to Him, to embrace His ways, and says, "You will find rest!" Isaiah makes this statement -(48:22) “There is no peace,” says God, “for the wicked.” But there is peace for the righteous! Peace comes only from a restored relationship with God. It is not a natural state of fallen humanity. It is a gift of God that must be received. Even then peace must be pursued. It will not simply break over us like sun through the clouds. We who know peace with God have to work at creating and maintaining peace among men! The Bible says that those who take up this calling of making peace will be known as "children of God."
Peace is not simply the absence of open conflict. It is a state of contentment, of rest, of wholeness. That is why true peace is only possible for the person who has come to know God. Only in God can we escape the torment of envy, of greed that keeps us fighting with ourselves and each other. Some mistakenly think that peace will be discovered in a new geographic location. "If only I could move to a small town in Montana!" This myth that peace can be found somewhere outside of ourselves is persistent. But it is just that, a myth. Peace begins within us, a work of the Spirit of God.
Believer, are you peaceful? Maybe even trying to answer that question makes you feel terrible pain for you know that you are not at peace, nor are you a peace-maker. Know this, peace is possible. I love the story of one of Jesus' most amazing miracles. The Lord and his friends were sailing across the little sea of Galilee when their small boat was caught in a storm. Jesus had fallen asleep in the back of the boat. What a testimony to the power of inner peace that picture is! His friends grew frantic as the storm increased in intensity. Finally, they scream at the sleeping Jesus, "Don't you care that we're about to die?" "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39, NKJV) Ah, that's rich with meaning for you and me. I've often watched the storms blowing up around me and felt the panic rising. As critics attacked, as money ran short, as health issues arose, as the sea of sin churned up it's filthy waters 'round me - I have screamed to God, "Don't you care that I'm about to be swept under? Where are You?" In His grace, time and time again, He has come to stand alongside of me and I've watched Him restore calm with just a powerful word!
Why is my memory so short? Why do I allow fear to replace peace again and again?
I am still searching for that answer.
But, this I know, peace is mine through Christ Jesus, my Lord. He has made peace for me with God, who is no longer my Judge. He is now my Father.
From my secure place in His family, I can live in peace and I am charged to seek peace.
If you're afraid today, or in turmoil, or at war - come to Jesus, the Peace-maker.
Invite Him to speak to your storms.
Once He has brought peace of mind to you, then take up the calling of becoming a peace-maker.
Here's a word from the Word to meditate on for a few moments today:
"All of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you.
Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, “If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good.
Work hard at living in peace with others. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”" (1 Peter 3:8-12, NLT)
Is peace of any kind even possible or is it just a mirage? Jesus answers that question. He invites us to come to Him, to embrace His ways, and says, "You will find rest!" Isaiah makes this statement -(48:22) “There is no peace,” says God, “for the wicked.” But there is peace for the righteous! Peace comes only from a restored relationship with God. It is not a natural state of fallen humanity. It is a gift of God that must be received. Even then peace must be pursued. It will not simply break over us like sun through the clouds. We who know peace with God have to work at creating and maintaining peace among men! The Bible says that those who take up this calling of making peace will be known as "children of God."
Peace is not simply the absence of open conflict. It is a state of contentment, of rest, of wholeness. That is why true peace is only possible for the person who has come to know God. Only in God can we escape the torment of envy, of greed that keeps us fighting with ourselves and each other. Some mistakenly think that peace will be discovered in a new geographic location. "If only I could move to a small town in Montana!" This myth that peace can be found somewhere outside of ourselves is persistent. But it is just that, a myth. Peace begins within us, a work of the Spirit of God.
Believer, are you peaceful? Maybe even trying to answer that question makes you feel terrible pain for you know that you are not at peace, nor are you a peace-maker. Know this, peace is possible. I love the story of one of Jesus' most amazing miracles. The Lord and his friends were sailing across the little sea of Galilee when their small boat was caught in a storm. Jesus had fallen asleep in the back of the boat. What a testimony to the power of inner peace that picture is! His friends grew frantic as the storm increased in intensity. Finally, they scream at the sleeping Jesus, "Don't you care that we're about to die?" "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39, NKJV) Ah, that's rich with meaning for you and me. I've often watched the storms blowing up around me and felt the panic rising. As critics attacked, as money ran short, as health issues arose, as the sea of sin churned up it's filthy waters 'round me - I have screamed to God, "Don't you care that I'm about to be swept under? Where are You?" In His grace, time and time again, He has come to stand alongside of me and I've watched Him restore calm with just a powerful word!
Why is my memory so short? Why do I allow fear to replace peace again and again?
I am still searching for that answer.
But, this I know, peace is mine through Christ Jesus, my Lord. He has made peace for me with God, who is no longer my Judge. He is now my Father.
From my secure place in His family, I can live in peace and I am charged to seek peace.
If you're afraid today, or in turmoil, or at war - come to Jesus, the Peace-maker.
Invite Him to speak to your storms.
Once He has brought peace of mind to you, then take up the calling of becoming a peace-maker.
Here's a word from the Word to meditate on for a few moments today:
"All of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you.
Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, “If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good.
Work hard at living in peace with others. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”" (1 Peter 3:8-12, NLT)
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Picking up your junk
In the public restroom, I had this little revelation. What would life be like if each one of us were committed to picking up our own junk out of respect for others? In that restroom, which is 'shared' by everybody but 'owned' by nobody,I saw paper towels tossed in the corner, toilet paper thrown on the floor next to the commode, and urine puddled on the floor. OK, that's a little graphic, but hopefully you get my point! Not many people live that way in their own house because they feel some sense of responsibility for what is 'theirs' and they just don't want to foul their own nest!
In the world at large it seems that more and more of us live disrespectfully. We seem to be increasingly careless in the use of words and in actions that diminish life's beauty for others. We are losing our internal sense of being part of a larger whole, our grasp of our communal responsibility. That is one reason for the growth of 'big' government and all the petty laws that increasingly govern our lives. The inner discipline that would tell us where the 'boundaries' of life should be and that would cause us to give up some of our 'space' for the benefit of our neighbors is lacking. So, we look to our government to create those boundaries and to tell us where we can build our fences.
We are in love with ourselves and our own convenience! Happiness, we mistakenly believe, is found in total self-expression, greater consumption, and unfettered freedom. So we spend ridiculously, have sex with anyone we wish, get more, build bigger barns, and alienate ourselves from each other with wider and wider gaps. The paradox is that the more we insist on 'having it my way,' the less joy we find in the world. Why? Because true joy isn't found in selfishness, but in service!
Here's the most tragic thing of all, at least to me. Selfishness is the #1 problem even in the community where love is supposed to be the mark of authenticity. Yep, I'm talking about the church. Even in the church, there isn't all much 'community' because, all too often, we're trying to grab the power, gain some glory, and use Jesus for self-fulfillment instead of service. Hundreds of churches are destroyed every year, not by outside attack, but by strife on the inside. Somehow the Bible's teaching that the Church is a living organism, God's creation from individuals He brings together to do His work in a mutually beneficial way, is lost on many of us. Why? Because we bring our self-centeredness to church with us. This person says he wants only a certain kind of music used in worship. That person wants all the church's attention focused on one specific ministry. Another wants only to hear sermons about prophecy. Where that kind of attitude flourishes, you will find a church that is hampered by power plays, people trying to get other people to agree with them, to pressure those in leadership offices to do what they want done - now. The Word tells us that "where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:16, NIV)
Jesus taught the ideal of community life and mutual benefit in a homely way. Here's the story. The disciples were fighting with each other about their relative importance. "Jesus loves me more than you." Can you imagine a group of adult men acting so silly? I can. I've seen it first hand! Yes, I have to admit that I've done it, too. Anyway, Jesus heard them arguing, so when they got to the place where dinner was served, they all reclined around the table. It was the custom of the time to provide a servant to wash the tired, dirty feet of those who visited your home. But, this group had no servant, and none of them was about to take that role voluntarily, so they ate at a table, smelling each other's stinky feet! After dinner, Jesus got up and took off his robe. He took a towel and prepared to wash feet. It was shocking!! He was the Master, but He was forgetting about His status, forgetting about public opinion, forgetting about personal advantage. When He finished the task, He said, "You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. " (John 13:13-17, The Message)
Believer, would you like to enjoy more beauty, experience more love, feel the joy?Let me encourage you to forget about yourself and to start being a servant. Pick up your junk... and while you're at it, pick up your neighbor's trash.
When you're about to say something, think about how it will sound to the ones who hear your words.
When you're ready to take action, ask yourself, "Who benefits most? Me, or We?"
When somebody trespasses onto 'your' space, steps on your toes, fails to notice your needs - pray for the Holy Spirit to change your response.
Here's a word that challenged me this morning. Let the Spirit use it to speak to you.
"If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff.
Live generously. “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that." (Luke 6:29-32, The Message)
______________________
Lord, you've handed me a tough assignment, asking me to be a servant.
Everything in my human nature screams for soothing and I love to be stroked and served.
The 'big lie' about being served as the way to happiness is so seductive.
I cannot consistently be a servant in my own strength, or by my own resolve.
So, I pray- change my very nature, O Spirit of God.
Break the grasp of selfishness in me.
Let me see again the depth of Your suffering for me, suffering I caused by my willful rejection of God and good.
Then, convict me sternly, compelling me by the lessons of grace,and drawing me with bonds of love, into a life of Loving service;that allows Your beauty to be seen in me and in the world which I help to create by my words and actions.
For Jesus sake, I pray. Amen.
In the world at large it seems that more and more of us live disrespectfully. We seem to be increasingly careless in the use of words and in actions that diminish life's beauty for others. We are losing our internal sense of being part of a larger whole, our grasp of our communal responsibility. That is one reason for the growth of 'big' government and all the petty laws that increasingly govern our lives. The inner discipline that would tell us where the 'boundaries' of life should be and that would cause us to give up some of our 'space' for the benefit of our neighbors is lacking. So, we look to our government to create those boundaries and to tell us where we can build our fences.
We are in love with ourselves and our own convenience! Happiness, we mistakenly believe, is found in total self-expression, greater consumption, and unfettered freedom. So we spend ridiculously, have sex with anyone we wish, get more, build bigger barns, and alienate ourselves from each other with wider and wider gaps. The paradox is that the more we insist on 'having it my way,' the less joy we find in the world. Why? Because true joy isn't found in selfishness, but in service!
Here's the most tragic thing of all, at least to me. Selfishness is the #1 problem even in the community where love is supposed to be the mark of authenticity. Yep, I'm talking about the church. Even in the church, there isn't all much 'community' because, all too often, we're trying to grab the power, gain some glory, and use Jesus for self-fulfillment instead of service. Hundreds of churches are destroyed every year, not by outside attack, but by strife on the inside. Somehow the Bible's teaching that the Church is a living organism, God's creation from individuals He brings together to do His work in a mutually beneficial way, is lost on many of us. Why? Because we bring our self-centeredness to church with us. This person says he wants only a certain kind of music used in worship. That person wants all the church's attention focused on one specific ministry. Another wants only to hear sermons about prophecy. Where that kind of attitude flourishes, you will find a church that is hampered by power plays, people trying to get other people to agree with them, to pressure those in leadership offices to do what they want done - now. The Word tells us that "where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:16, NIV)
Jesus taught the ideal of community life and mutual benefit in a homely way. Here's the story. The disciples were fighting with each other about their relative importance. "Jesus loves me more than you." Can you imagine a group of adult men acting so silly? I can. I've seen it first hand! Yes, I have to admit that I've done it, too. Anyway, Jesus heard them arguing, so when they got to the place where dinner was served, they all reclined around the table. It was the custom of the time to provide a servant to wash the tired, dirty feet of those who visited your home. But, this group had no servant, and none of them was about to take that role voluntarily, so they ate at a table, smelling each other's stinky feet! After dinner, Jesus got up and took off his robe. He took a towel and prepared to wash feet. It was shocking!! He was the Master, but He was forgetting about His status, forgetting about public opinion, forgetting about personal advantage. When He finished the task, He said, "You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. " (John 13:13-17, The Message)
Believer, would you like to enjoy more beauty, experience more love, feel the joy?Let me encourage you to forget about yourself and to start being a servant. Pick up your junk... and while you're at it, pick up your neighbor's trash.
When you're about to say something, think about how it will sound to the ones who hear your words.
When you're ready to take action, ask yourself, "Who benefits most? Me, or We?"
When somebody trespasses onto 'your' space, steps on your toes, fails to notice your needs - pray for the Holy Spirit to change your response.
Here's a word that challenged me this morning. Let the Spirit use it to speak to you.
"If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff.
Live generously. “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that." (Luke 6:29-32, The Message)
______________________
Lord, you've handed me a tough assignment, asking me to be a servant.
Everything in my human nature screams for soothing and I love to be stroked and served.
The 'big lie' about being served as the way to happiness is so seductive.
I cannot consistently be a servant in my own strength, or by my own resolve.
So, I pray- change my very nature, O Spirit of God.
Break the grasp of selfishness in me.
Let me see again the depth of Your suffering for me, suffering I caused by my willful rejection of God and good.
Then, convict me sternly, compelling me by the lessons of grace,and drawing me with bonds of love, into a life of Loving service;that allows Your beauty to be seen in me and in the world which I help to create by my words and actions.
For Jesus sake, I pray. Amen.
Monday, July 10, 2006
The counsel of a good friend
In the Proverbs we are taught that "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success. Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!" (Proverbs 15:22-23, NLT) I thank the Lord for my wife's good sense and advice. Too many times to count in our 31 years of marriage she has provided me with a perspective that helps me find the right balance, or she has wisely steered me away from some impetuous action that would proven regrettable. There are my trusted friends in ministry whose counsel I seek from time to time when I face a crossroads decision. I appreciate their wisdom, even when they point to a course of action that is not, at first look, appealing.
I cannot lead God's church by testing the winds of opinion and 'giving the people what they want,' but my leadership calling is enhanced by gathering men and women with good minds, those committed to Christ and His Church, and people of spiritual depth around me. They offer counsel. I am not so foolish as to think, even for one moment, that I have enough experience, or 20/20 vision in all things! By way of example, in filling two positions on our church's ministry team this Summer, I took a lead in the process of selecting candidates, but I was guided in the selections by teams who prayed with me for God's guidance and who gave their time to advise and evaluate candidates for those positions.
King David enjoyed the counsel of good friends. He nicknamed his inner circle, "the Mighty Men." Isn't that a cool moniker? The Bible says "David’s Mighty Men, ...linked arms with him as he took up his kingship..." (1 Chronicles 11:10, The Message) They were his allies, offering encouragement, surrounding him with support. In the book of the Acts which tells us the stories of the first generation of Believers, there were councils called from time to time when the Church faced thorny issues requiring wisdom. Yes, leaders like Peter and Paul were decisive and bold, but they were also willing to let God speak to them through the counsel of their friends and co-workers. In those stories we find that sometimes the debate was sharp and words pointed! Feelings got hurt, too. But, with the help of the Spirit, those early church leaders kept their eyes on the goal and built Christ's Kingdom, not their own!
Do you have a circle of advisors?
Are there people in your life that you have invited to speak truthfully to you, no matter the situation?
Are you a "Lone Ranger" trying to live self-sufficiently?
Jesus calls us into the community of the Church. That means more than coming together for worship on Sunday morning. He asks us to lay down our ego, to 'die to self,' and to become servants to one another. In obedience, we gain so much. Yet, tragically, in our time of emphasis on radical individualism, we are so quick to discard relationships with those who challenge us, who offer counsel that does not soothe us, or seem to affirm us.
Let's take that descriptive line from the experience of the Mighty Men and 'link arms!' Let's go beyond romantic notions of fellowship that only values the 'warm fuzzies' that come from the good times of fun and laughter, to build a real team that builds our character, that calls the highest and best from us in the cause of Christ.
Take this word from the Word with you today. Ask God, the Spirit, to teach you how to build a circle of counselors in your life.
"Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT)
I cannot lead God's church by testing the winds of opinion and 'giving the people what they want,' but my leadership calling is enhanced by gathering men and women with good minds, those committed to Christ and His Church, and people of spiritual depth around me. They offer counsel. I am not so foolish as to think, even for one moment, that I have enough experience, or 20/20 vision in all things! By way of example, in filling two positions on our church's ministry team this Summer, I took a lead in the process of selecting candidates, but I was guided in the selections by teams who prayed with me for God's guidance and who gave their time to advise and evaluate candidates for those positions.
King David enjoyed the counsel of good friends. He nicknamed his inner circle, "the Mighty Men." Isn't that a cool moniker? The Bible says "David’s Mighty Men, ...linked arms with him as he took up his kingship..." (1 Chronicles 11:10, The Message) They were his allies, offering encouragement, surrounding him with support. In the book of the Acts which tells us the stories of the first generation of Believers, there were councils called from time to time when the Church faced thorny issues requiring wisdom. Yes, leaders like Peter and Paul were decisive and bold, but they were also willing to let God speak to them through the counsel of their friends and co-workers. In those stories we find that sometimes the debate was sharp and words pointed! Feelings got hurt, too. But, with the help of the Spirit, those early church leaders kept their eyes on the goal and built Christ's Kingdom, not their own!
Do you have a circle of advisors?
Are there people in your life that you have invited to speak truthfully to you, no matter the situation?
Are you a "Lone Ranger" trying to live self-sufficiently?
Jesus calls us into the community of the Church. That means more than coming together for worship on Sunday morning. He asks us to lay down our ego, to 'die to self,' and to become servants to one another. In obedience, we gain so much. Yet, tragically, in our time of emphasis on radical individualism, we are so quick to discard relationships with those who challenge us, who offer counsel that does not soothe us, or seem to affirm us.
Let's take that descriptive line from the experience of the Mighty Men and 'link arms!' Let's go beyond romantic notions of fellowship that only values the 'warm fuzzies' that come from the good times of fun and laughter, to build a real team that builds our character, that calls the highest and best from us in the cause of Christ.
Take this word from the Word with you today. Ask God, the Spirit, to teach you how to build a circle of counselors in your life.
"Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT)
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