We've got to spend less time DOING and focus on simply BEING who God has already made us to be. Does that statement from my last post sound like I'm suggesting that we cease giving any thought or attention to what we DO? Well, please know it's NOT what I meant. But just yesterday our pastor posed a very good question--"Does God care more about who we are OR what we do?" The answer, of course, is that God cares much more about who we are.
"But who we ARE determines what we DO," you might say, and you're quite right. It's a matter of focus, though. (And, yes, DOing certain things can help influence who we become.) Nonetheless, I really believe we need to put more effort and attention into helping people recognize who God has called them to BE and less time in asking them to DO more and more.
One of the biggest challenges in that, though, is measuring how well we're able to help people BE. Measuring character is difficult, while measuring what and how much people DO is a lot easier. And, for good reason, we have a deep-seated need to measure how well we're accomplishing our goals (how else do we recognize where we need to improve?). The BEing, though, has to come before the DOing.
Back to the original point, we aren't really who God desires us to BE until it leads us to DO the things God calls us to do, but it's got to start with a recognition and understanding of who God has made us to BE.
More on that to come!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
BEING vs. DOING
Thanks to Mark Batterson (for his recent blog post) and Dr. Jerry Sheveland (for his sermon Sunday) on being who God has made us to be. It was such an encouragement, and a great reminder, to hear again that we need to quit trying to fit some contrived mold and simply allow God to move and work in and through us, making us who HE desires us to be. We spend so much time doing things that we think will help us look/act/talk/sound like a pastor/father/husband/whatever that we fail to simply let God live through us. We've got to spend less time DOING and focus on simply BEING who God has already made us to be.
Brent Allen our pastor here at Old North, will be starting a new series this Sunday on our identity in Christ. He'll be talking about who we are and Whose we are. If you're in the area, join us this week at 9:30, 11:00 or 6:00. If you're not, check it out on the web at www.oncmedia.org/podblog/ .
Blessings!
Brent Allen our pastor here at Old North, will be starting a new series this Sunday on our identity in Christ. He'll be talking about who we are and Whose we are. If you're in the area, join us this week at 9:30, 11:00 or 6:00. If you're not, check it out on the web at www.oncmedia.org/podblog/ .
Blessings!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
rel·e·vant
rel·e·vant \ˈre-lə-vənt\ adj.
bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent: a relevant remark.
I've now have the title for the book I want to write...Reclaiming Relevance. I'm convinced that too much of what we do as churches and worship ministries is driven by what we've done as churches and worship ministries. History and heritage are important gifts that are not to be overlooked, but I'm convinced we spend an inordinate amount of time and energy holding onto those at the expense of having a "bearing upon" or being "connected with the matter at hand." And that matter is proclaiming the glory of God and His unfathomable grace to a profoundly unaware and desperate world.
I know that the term "relevant" has gotten some bad press in certain circles, and that's OK. Relevance has served as the excuse for shallowness and lack of preparation in far too many instances. It can be used as a reason to dilute truth. In these applications, so-called "relevance" deserves the condemnation it has received.
On the other hand, scripture commands us to be "relevant" in the best and truest sense of the term. What has more "bearing upon" the foundational questions of good and evil, life and death, meaning and purpose, than the truth of God's word? This truth, of course, is unchangeable. Our delivery of it, though, must always be evaluated in terms of accuracy and effectiveness. If that evaluation reveals a need for change, we have abdicated our responsiblities as salt and light if we fail to implement it--whether it suits us or not. How dare I allow my preferences to supercede my God-ordained responsibility to present His truth in a way that it can be heard and understood by the world around me?
Anyway, my book (if I ever write it) will likely focus on the issue of relevancy particularly as it pertains to worship. It will likely cause offence to some whom I deeply admire and respect, but they will, hopefully, hear my heart even if they disagree with my approach. Who may agree or disagree, though, can't be the determining factor in whether or not I write (or what I write).
So what do you think?
bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent: a relevant remark.
I've now have the title for the book I want to write...Reclaiming Relevance. I'm convinced that too much of what we do as churches and worship ministries is driven by what we've done as churches and worship ministries. History and heritage are important gifts that are not to be overlooked, but I'm convinced we spend an inordinate amount of time and energy holding onto those at the expense of having a "bearing upon" or being "connected with the matter at hand." And that matter is proclaiming the glory of God and His unfathomable grace to a profoundly unaware and desperate world.
I know that the term "relevant" has gotten some bad press in certain circles, and that's OK. Relevance has served as the excuse for shallowness and lack of preparation in far too many instances. It can be used as a reason to dilute truth. In these applications, so-called "relevance" deserves the condemnation it has received.
On the other hand, scripture commands us to be "relevant" in the best and truest sense of the term. What has more "bearing upon" the foundational questions of good and evil, life and death, meaning and purpose, than the truth of God's word? This truth, of course, is unchangeable. Our delivery of it, though, must always be evaluated in terms of accuracy and effectiveness. If that evaluation reveals a need for change, we have abdicated our responsiblities as salt and light if we fail to implement it--whether it suits us or not. How dare I allow my preferences to supercede my God-ordained responsibility to present His truth in a way that it can be heard and understood by the world around me?
Anyway, my book (if I ever write it) will likely focus on the issue of relevancy particularly as it pertains to worship. It will likely cause offence to some whom I deeply admire and respect, but they will, hopefully, hear my heart even if they disagree with my approach. Who may agree or disagree, though, can't be the determining factor in whether or not I write (or what I write).
So what do you think?
Monday, September 1, 2008
More transitions...
I've long been impressed by the calm and peaceful way most elderly couples can look back at the events of the past --even hard or tumultuous times. From their vantage point, they know that the events of the past have worked themselves out and things are fine. Those who are believers can even see God's hand at work through those events.
My desire is to live NOW with that same perspective, knowing that God will, indeed, "work things out" in a way that will honor Him. Maybe it's just the phase of life we're in, but it seems like every day/week/month (choose one) brings about another very major transition: job change move oldest finishes college/leaves the country middle at college youngest off to school parents ill death of first parent empty nest. The early years of our marriage were that same way--getting married grad school full-time job first home children arrive--and God has certainly worked good out of all of it. The transitions of the last months and years have been, almost entirely, positive and exciting changes. In retrospect, about the only difference we'd have wished for would have been some of what we've seen with our parents. (Even in not being able to sell our house, we can see God's hand at work.)
Change can be exhilarating, exhausting, exciting, frightening or some combination of all the above. It's exciting to me to see what God has done in our lives over these last several months, though certain parts of it have been a bit exhausting, too (e.g. carrying loft beds, step-by-step, up to the fourth floor!). It's even more exciting to imagine what He's got in store for us in the days to come, and my imagination is really pretty limited in comparison to God's incredible creativity (to put it mildly).
So, with all due respect to what we've seen recently, here's to the future! I can't wait to see how God is going to work in our lives and the lives of those we love. Even if we'd never seen it before (and we certainly have), His word teaches His faithfulness in every situation. So bring it on--I can't wait to see what He's going to do!
Blessings...
My desire is to live NOW with that same perspective, knowing that God will, indeed, "work things out" in a way that will honor Him. Maybe it's just the phase of life we're in, but it seems like every day/week/month (choose one) brings about another very major transition: job change move oldest finishes college/leaves the country middle at college youngest off to school parents ill death of first parent empty nest. The early years of our marriage were that same way--getting married grad school full-time job first home children arrive--and God has certainly worked good out of all of it. The transitions of the last months and years have been, almost entirely, positive and exciting changes. In retrospect, about the only difference we'd have wished for would have been some of what we've seen with our parents. (Even in not being able to sell our house, we can see God's hand at work.)
Change can be exhilarating, exhausting, exciting, frightening or some combination of all the above. It's exciting to me to see what God has done in our lives over these last several months, though certain parts of it have been a bit exhausting, too (e.g. carrying loft beds, step-by-step, up to the fourth floor!). It's even more exciting to imagine what He's got in store for us in the days to come, and my imagination is really pretty limited in comparison to God's incredible creativity (to put it mildly).
So, with all due respect to what we've seen recently, here's to the future! I can't wait to see how God is going to work in our lives and the lives of those we love. Even if we'd never seen it before (and we certainly have), His word teaches His faithfulness in every situation. So bring it on--I can't wait to see what He's going to do!
Blessings...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
So Much More
In a few hours, I'll be leaving to pick-up our middle daughter from college in Oklahoma, swing by my parents' house in MO, and then drive back here to OH. Emily's finishing her sophomore year in college already! In less than two weeks, Kim, our oldest, will be coming in from Mexico for a visit, and in just over three weeks, Mallory, our youngest, will be graduating from high school.
My wife and I have been blessed so far beyond anything we could even begin to imagine or deserve when it comes to our daughters. They are each unique, of course, but they each love God and are serving Him in the way they sense Him leading. They are beautiful, both inside and out, and they bless Brenda and I in ways they don't even realize.
What's amazing to me is that it was only about 3 1/2 weeks ago (or so it seems) that they were toddlers.......or in preschool.......or even in grade school. But here they are--our youngest about to graduate, our middle daughter half-way through college, and our oldest already a graduate and serving God in Mexico. No more than we knew about being parents when they came along, it's clear that God deserves all the credit and we are simply the beneficiaries of His goodness and grace.
Of course, that's really true in every area of our lives. Even in those situations in which He chooses to use we humans as tools to effect His will, the blessings, the results, are totally from Him. In this particular case--our girls--it just seems like He did it overnight! Whatever His timeline was, though, His blessings are magnificent beyond measure.
To God be the Glory!
My wife and I have been blessed so far beyond anything we could even begin to imagine or deserve when it comes to our daughters. They are each unique, of course, but they each love God and are serving Him in the way they sense Him leading. They are beautiful, both inside and out, and they bless Brenda and I in ways they don't even realize.
What's amazing to me is that it was only about 3 1/2 weeks ago (or so it seems) that they were toddlers.......or in preschool.......or even in grade school. But here they are--our youngest about to graduate, our middle daughter half-way through college, and our oldest already a graduate and serving God in Mexico. No more than we knew about being parents when they came along, it's clear that God deserves all the credit and we are simply the beneficiaries of His goodness and grace.
Of course, that's really true in every area of our lives. Even in those situations in which He chooses to use we humans as tools to effect His will, the blessings, the results, are totally from Him. In this particular case--our girls--it just seems like He did it overnight! Whatever His timeline was, though, His blessings are magnificent beyond measure.
To God be the Glory!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
No Need, But Lots of Want
I was driving home late the other night (I'd been to Pittsburgh to see my Marlins beat the Pirates 10-4!) when I heard a song I'd heard many times before. Casting Crowns is a group that everybody in our family enjoys, and their song "In Me" is nice enough, but I'd never paid it a whole lot of attention. Until the other night, anyway.
As I was cranking the CD up to help me stay awake, two phrases of the chorus seemed to jump out at me like they never had before--
How refreshing to know You don't need me.
How amazing to find that you want me!
You know, the almighty God of the universe who created all that it and has every resource imagineable at his beck and call really doesn't need you or me. He would still be perfection itself, the ultimate completeness, even without me. Neither does He need me to accomplish His purposes in the world. He is more than capable of realizing every aspect of His perfect will without my help. As much as I long to serve Him, it is kind of refreshing to know that His will isn't dependent on my performance.
At the same time, though, it's rather disconcerting to realize that the source of so much of my identity and sense of self, serving my God, really isn't necessary for His success. It leaves me feeling a bit lost and out of touch. But, how amazing to find that you want me!
He doesn't NEED me, but He desperately WANTS me. Can you fathom that? I don't think I fully can, but what I do understand of it shows me more than I've ever realized of God's incredible character and nature. He doesn't need me, but He wants me because HE chooses to.
What an amazing God we serve!
Blessings!
As I was cranking the CD up to help me stay awake, two phrases of the chorus seemed to jump out at me like they never had before--
How refreshing to know You don't need me.
How amazing to find that you want me!
You know, the almighty God of the universe who created all that it and has every resource imagineable at his beck and call really doesn't need you or me. He would still be perfection itself, the ultimate completeness, even without me. Neither does He need me to accomplish His purposes in the world. He is more than capable of realizing every aspect of His perfect will without my help. As much as I long to serve Him, it is kind of refreshing to know that His will isn't dependent on my performance.
At the same time, though, it's rather disconcerting to realize that the source of so much of my identity and sense of self, serving my God, really isn't necessary for His success. It leaves me feeling a bit lost and out of touch. But, how amazing to find that you want me!
He doesn't NEED me, but He desperately WANTS me. Can you fathom that? I don't think I fully can, but what I do understand of it shows me more than I've ever realized of God's incredible character and nature. He doesn't need me, but He wants me because HE chooses to.
What an amazing God we serve!
Blessings!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
"Dying to Know You" by downhere
This song really speaks my heart. Hope you love it, too.
Old streets don't lead back where they used to
We blaze new trails to ancient places
I still love You just like I used to
But this love won't fit spreadsheets
I don't just want to hear it
I want to feel it too
It's less like I'm trying
It's more like I'm dying to know You
New day, new wave, same destination
With all this new change, lest we forget our beginnings
But I'm done with lip service
You look through the skin to the heart that drives this
Beyond trying, I'm dying for love
I'm dying to swim in Your sea
I'm dying to taste and see
I'm dying in all that I do
So come to me 'cause I can't get to You
Old streets don't lead back where they used to
We blaze new trails to ancient places
I still love You just like I used to
But this love won't fit spreadsheets
I don't just want to hear it
I want to feel it too
It's less like I'm trying
It's more like I'm dying to know You
New day, new wave, same destination
With all this new change, lest we forget our beginnings
But I'm done with lip service
You look through the skin to the heart that drives this
Beyond trying, I'm dying for love
I'm dying to swim in Your sea
I'm dying to taste and see
I'm dying in all that I do
So come to me 'cause I can't get to You
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