I have been doing a lot of study think week on the topic of Spiritual Gifts. I’m writing a curriculum series for our LifeGroups based on the 8 Characteristics of a Growing Disciple. “Serving in Giftedness” is the fourth on the list, but I’m tackling it first because we have a LifeGroup going through this topic now (so I’m “piggybacking” on their series).
The more I study and read on the topic (more blogging to come on that) the more I realize how wrong we get it sometimes. Our focus is just off. We focus too much on our “gifting” and not enough on our “using”. As part of my study my entire paradigm regarding spiritual gifts has changed (more to come on that as well).
This morning I realized that our 35th President had it right in his Inaugural Speech on January 20, 1961. You’ve probably heard the part I’m referring to many times. You can see and hear it here…
In case you can’t read or listen, here’s what he said that’s so important…
“Ask not what your country can do for you.
Ask what you can do for your country.”
It’s the same in the church. He had it right. It applies to spiritual gifts. It applies to our motivation to be a part of a church in general. Let me “paraphrase” it this way…
“Ask not what your church can do for you.
Ask what you can do for your church.”
Or maybe even better yet…
“Ask not what the people in your church can do for you.
Ask what you can do for the people in your church.”
We’re supposed to be about serving and loving others. It’s what we’re supposed to do with our gifts, talents, and passions. It’s how the church works. It’s how we work.
You’ve probably asked this question yourself. I can almost guarantee you’ve heard someone ask it. I’ve done both…asked it and heard it just this week in fact. It’s one of those “questions for the ages”…it has been asked ever since mankind got thrown out of The Garden on our ear…
Why does God allow bad stuff to happen to people?
We know deep down that God could stop all of the bad stuff…the stuff happening in our lives, to the people we know, around the world. He has the power, but why doesn’t He do it?
People come to different conclusions. Some think it’s because He’s mean. Some say it’s because He doesn’t care. Some that He doesn’t even exist.
There are “deep” theological answers (think “free will”), but I’m not getting into that today. This whole topic came up while I was reading a passage out of Hebrews this morning. The answer given there is specifically for those who are following Him. Why does God allow stuff to happen to those who are trying there best to follow Him?
Why?
Because we’re His children, and that’s what a good Dad does…
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.
Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children,
it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us,
shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? Hebrews 12:7-9, NLT
When I read that this morning I wanted to know more about the word “discipline” used here. It made me think of how I discipline my own children (a common occurrence…just ask Kyle), punishing them to change their behavior. And it’s close…but it goes beyond how I typically think of discipline. God is using what goes on in our daily lives…the good and the bad…to shape and mold us. He lets the stuff happen because He wants it to train us…to change us. The word is more akin to the idea of instruction and training—not just punishment.
And God’s does this all throw His perfect filter of love and grace. He isn’t allowing these things to happen because He’s mean or doesn’t care. Quite the opposite…He allows it because He knows it’s good for us…it will develop our character and draw us to Himself (if we let it). I don’t know about you, but I want to be a legitimate child of God. And He’s been using plenty of “stuff” in my life to discipline/train me. I just wish it wasn’t so painful sometimes (as does Kyle), and I wish I would realize what’s happening when I’m going through the battle.
Teaching is both by gifting and my passion. But I understand that it’s not everyone’s gifting (1 Corinthians 12:28).
However, we need to be careful not to use that as an excuse in our spiritual lives. We are supposed to be teaching others about spiritual things…
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Hebrews 5:12, NLT
As I read this passage,a couple of thoughts come to mind:
There is an expectation of growth in our spiritual lives. We are supposed to learn and graduate from “spiritual milk” to “spiritual meat”. It’s natural…and it’s unnatural not to grow.
There is an expectation that we will take others on the journey with us…we are supposed to be teaching others the spiritual truths we learn as we grow. You don’t have to be some Biblical scholar, but you need to be sharing your experiences…how God has been teaching you and how you have grown.
I’ve been praying this week about who God wants me to pour my life into. Who should I be taking on the journey with me? Who can I teach…and learn from at the same time?
I have been thinking about brothers and sisters a lot this week. I’ve been thinking about my brother, who I lost 20 years ago. I’ve been thinking about my sister, who I lost a week ago.
Brothers and sisters hold a dear place in our lives. We love them…and sometimes they drive us crazy (but we still love them).
I miss mine. A lot.
But I have one more brother…and so do you…
So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father.
That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11, NLT
That’s pretty cool if you ask me…Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters.
Do you remember the old (and I do mean old) child’s song/nursery rhyme, “Ring Around the Rosie“? It goes something like this…
Ring around the Rosie, A pocketful of posies. Ashes, ashes. We all fall down.
I remember singing it as a kid (kinda silly looking back now). We had no idea what the song was about (no, it’s not about the Black Plague as some people think it is). And the song/game would go on, and on, and on…
But there is one phrase in there that has an important meaning…and it is almost a direct quote from a Scripture passage I read this morning:
I don’t know about you, but I may just be the poster-child for this passage. I looked up the word “stumble” and it has this idea of us all (plural) falling, stumbling, making mistakes, falling short.
I vividly remember the first day we brought Lindsay home from the hospital. We set her down in her car seat (she was still asleep)…we looked at eat other and thought/said, “What now?” We were new, young parents with the awesome responsibility of caring for and raising another human being (you have to pass a test to drive a car, but not a parent?). There was a mix of emotions ranging from excitement to terror at what lay ahead. Could we do this? What were we supposed to do now? What had we gotten ourselves into? Where are the Doritos?
As I sit here in the church during my first day I am struck by the similarities. The responsibility is not quite the same magnitude, but it’s awesome none-the-less. The same questions are running through my head. I want to do this right…I want to focus on the right things and not just be about programs and curriculum. I want God to lead the way, not the other way around. I have a list, but is it God’s list?
My prayer is truly to be about God’s business and not my own. I want Him to take the lead and I want to follow. I know I can’t do this in my own power. I need Him.
The similarities don’t stop with the questions and the doubts…
We need God to help us raise our kids…it’s not a solo job.
I need God to help me do this “job” (there has to be a better word than that)…it’s not a solo flight either.
I’m excited about what lies ahead. Today has already been a good day and the calendar is starting to fill up…meeting with the people who are doing the real work in the trenches and starting to build the framework of support for our growth (spiritually and numerically).
We figured most of it out with Lindsay (we’re still in the process)…I’ll figure it out here. Because I’m not alone. Thank God!
R.I.P. my beloved Denver Broncos. Another year down the drain…full of promise never quite realized.
After they way they’ve played over the last month plus I’m not sure I wanted to watch another game in the playoffs (OK, I lie…I wanted to see it). Like everyone else, I am sickened and confused by the Bronco’s end-of-year meltdowns, this time with almost an entirely new cast of characters.
But now that it’s over, this is the team we thought we might get at the start of the year. In fact, few people gave them a chance to be this “good”. Most thought my prediction at the beginning of the year (read it here) of an 8-8 season was a fantasy…most thought they’d be lucky to get 4-5 wins. That 6-0 start got us all excited and hopeful that a miracle had occurred.
But the bubble was burst.
Reality set in.
These Broncos are who we thought they were…mediocre.
It was still fun to watch most weeks (setting aside losing to the stinkin’ Raiders and Chiefs!!). And the Defense was better, although I’m not sure how it could have been any worse, and has room to continue to improve. I was a little surprised by the offensive line play at times during the year. The running game never got the traction it needed. And there was too much off-field drama (blame both sides there).
Here’s hoping for a better off-season, a great draft, and a better 2010…we gotta keep the faith Bronco Nation!
This new year is new for me in different ways than usual. Of course, it’s a brand new year and I’m doing the typical reflection of 2009 and looking forward to 2010. But this year there’s more.
Yesterday was my last day in the corporate work force after 20 years. Today…the first day of 2010…is the first day of stepping into my calling as a full time pastor. And there are mixed “emotions”…
It’s exciting.
It’s a little intimidating.
It’s new.
It’s different.
2010 is already shaping up to be like no other year. And I plan on chronicling my “new life”. There will be challenges, failures, excitement, victory, and who knows what else—and I want to share it all with you. I’m on the ride with God and we’re trusting Him for everything else. I know without a shadow of doubt that we are doing exactly what God wants us to do. And that’s exactly where you want to be.
So as this year unfolds…take the journey with me. You might learn something too…and I know you’ll teach me a thing or 12.
Last night I finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (of The Davinci Code fame…or is that infamy?). My overall assessment is that the story is actually very good…for a work of fiction. As long as you remember that this is a novel, and not a scholastic work, it’s easy to enjoy. It has a good story, great plot twists, it captures your attention and keeps you involved in the evolving story. The riddle(s) that is unraveling keeps you guessing and you actually get engaged in trying to solve the riddle yourself. For a story I give it an A+.
I just wish that Dan Brown had left it alone when the story was over. The last few chapters have nothing to do with the story (they even occur after the riddles have been solved and everyone else has gone home except for two of the main characters). The last few chapters (chapter 133 in particular) is simply Mr. Brown’s way of getting in his secular humanism…it reads as page-after-page of secular humanism lecture. In the last pages he manages to proof-text Scripture (when he isn’t outright mis-quoting or mis-interpreting it), lump all religions into one basket, and declares that all religion simply points us to ourselves as gods.
Here are a two examples (two of many):
The Bible, like many ancient texts, is a detailed exposition of the most sophisticated machine ever made…the human mind.” (chapter 133).
Um….no it isn’t! The Bible is an exposition of God’s search for relationship with mankind. It’s the story of God’s redemptive love…from start to finish. It’s exactly the opposite of an exposition of the human mind.
Langdon had never understood why the very first passages of the Bible referred to God as a plural being. Elohim. The Almighty God in Genesis was described not as One…but as many.
“God is plural,” Katherine whispered, “because the minds of man are plural.” (chapter 133)
Again…wrong! God is plural because God is Trinity…not because the minds of man are plural. This is basic theology and Mr. Brown does his best to explain the Trinity away withing the confines of secular humanism (and does a poor job if you ask me).
As I said, these are only two example. The litany of secular humanistic “teaching” in this chapter alone is too long and detailed to get into here…but it is obvious. Mr. Brown believes that humans are becoming like their Creator (at least he admits we have one)…gods that can accomplish great things. I agree that we can accomplish great things, but not apart from God…rather with God. There is a big difference.
If you haven’t read this book…please do. It is a good book, but think about skipping chapter 133 (it doesn’t help the book at all). And if you have read it…or if you choose to read chapter 133 (I know I would…especially if someone told me not to)…let’s keep this final quote form the book in mind…
I read a great quote this morning from a man we all know…
Christians are the only people in the world who have anything to be happy about.
—Billy Graham
I can’t say as I’ve ever thought about it that way, but he makes an excellent point. And I for one have plenty to be happy and thankful for. God is good. And for some reason He wants a relationship with me…we’re on an adventure together.
So I echo Mr. Graham’s statement this morning…I have all the reason in the world to be happy. And I echo the Psalmist as well…
I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me. Psalm 71:23, NLT
So if you see me smiling this week…it’s just because I’ve got plenty to be smiling about. Merry Christmas!
