Friday comes so fast.I do look forward to my day off.My day off is important for a few small reasons, but nevertheless small but important.Back in the day, I used to treat my day off as some golden, owed day for all my hard work.Sure I heard all the leaders of ministry talking about the value of down time—yes important if the week has been full and meaningful—yes a day off after a week of time in the office, relationship time, time in and out of “head stuff”, time carrying heavy things—time planning, time facing issues—down time is important.
On the other hand, life goes on.Life continues to move forward regardless of down time.Life moves fast and sometimes the only shot at getting some down time is forcing the issue.Yep, today is one of those forced issues.If I’m going to get some down time—I am going to have to force it in—and then, it really isn’t down time.It really becomes a burden and a hassle.
Now what?Where, how am I going to get a recharge today?Marcie wants to get the house cleaned, Alex’s band is playing at Icthus, Cooper just got up, and there really is so much to do.How to find time?I know Saturday will be filled with Graduation parties to go to, with other things that need to happen.Friday may not be all that I want it to be that is for sure.So—now what?
I am right now reminded of Jesus’ after He fed the five thousand His movement across the sea to find some quietness.He went to find time alone away from the people, away from all the commotion.That is what I am going to do—get out of the house and find some time alone.It may not be a lot of time, but it will be time.I’ll grab my Bible and head out for a time.
That is my journal for the today— when I was working in Corporate sales—I prospected all day long, every week.By the time Saturday hit, the last thing I wanted to do was talk on the phone or “prospect” in any form.Today, after a week of ministry—crazy ministry where I work—the last thing I want to do is problem solve—and do, do, do.I really need to just get filled up—that is what I am going to do today.
While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46"Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."Luke 20.45-47
What in the world?Why was I reading this passage this morning?What led me to Luke 20?It is interesting for me today that I was spending time reading about Jesus because I enjoy reading the narrative of His life of ministry.I thoroughly enjoy the way Jesus interacted with people, all the people.I find it so enlightening to read how he treated people, how sometime He spoke directly and sometimes indirectly.Sometimes He would go right for the heart of a matter, and sometimes He actually would do an end around to make a point.As I read 6 chapters of Luke today—It was if the Spirit was highlighting my Savior’s interaction with the legalists the Pharisees.
Now, I for one do not appreciate legalism 1 bit.I don’t appreciate the show the Pharisees perpetrated on others.I certainly don’t like them in the Scriptures and I certainly don’t like them today.Yes, I know that my sentiment towards the Pharisees is not politically correct for some—oh I know—some think that love will solve everything.Jesus was straight in this passage toward the Pharisees—he called them out.He actually let them have it.Did He like them?Did He love them?Did He care for them?
Yes, and He told them the truth period.That is where I spent my time this morning.Reading the narrative of Jesus and how He interacted with people.He shot straight, told the truth and called out the Pharisees.Oh man, so many things run through my mind as a leader, as a pastor as someone like my Savior that does not appreciate the;
Outward religious show
The taking advantage of people
The ideal of being better than others because of knowledge.
Yes—in truth, all 3 above are still prevalent today.This maybe an elephant in the room that we just don’t talk about, but the Pharisees are alive and well and still creating an attitude of being better, being smarter, being Holier than others and they shouldn’t be catered to what so ever—ever.Oh I know, many can’t handle such a strong sentiment.Many can’t handle the truth that knowledge puffs up.Places of leadership can puff up and ultimately can take advantage of those that actually need a person to love and care for them.
I know, the track through Luke 20 was an interesting passage to read today—but it also spoke to me about the need to stay grounded in the way of Christ.To serve, to love, to tell the truth, to be bold with the Pharisees is the way of Christ.Leadership in my estimation can never be about a show period or I as a leader will be just as off the mark as the Pharisees of old and of today.
Lord Jesus, help me in your way.Help me to never be proud of all the false standards set up by the religious people in your day or those of today.Help me to always be honest and available to tell the truth.Help me to never be about the show, but to be all about your attitude and your heart.Amen
Whew wee, what a busy weekend.Wedding rehearsal Friday night with a Cubs Reds game and fire works after the game—of course, the Cubs winning was worth the trip to downtown Cincinnati.Saturday was a full day with Alex's graduation and then the wedding.Sunday is always full with all the trimmings of Sunday morning, being part of the Sunday a.m. services, leading the Student Ministry and then an Elder board executive session, graduation parties after, mowing the lawn and finally sitting down to collect my thoughts.A full, great weekend for sure.
I have been reading a new book called The Dip by Seth Godin.Terrific read for all working people, and for those that wonder if they are in the midst of “a dip” or a Cul de sac.You know, are you in a downward time “the dip” and needing to grab onto integrity, prayer, lessons, growth, rethinking or is this time a cul de sac?The Cul de sac—or dead end, is the place where you can be when the best thing to do according to Seth Godin is quit.Immediately quit.Why?
The cul de sac has no way out.It is technically a dead end.For jobs it’s the end.For careers it the dreaded “you have gone as far as you can.”For some, the dead may actually be comfortable, its easy, you have done it all and now the cul de sac is where you rest.The problem is that the cul de sac can rob us all from the opportunity to expand, to broaden, to move forward again-- in truth---not in the cul de sac.One most leave the dead end to go and explore anew with renewal.
I am a leader—by nature, by profession, by calling.I have experienced my fair share of “dips” rough times, turmoil on the job, in relationships, in life.I don’t like the dips, the down turns, but I know they can be worked through.Dips are rough on us all, but the dips have great opportunities. Cul de sacs and dips are not always easy to understand.Sometimes dips produce an inward strong pull to quit.One must become very savvy at discerning dips.On the other cul de sacs are not easy to discern either.The cul de sac can be much harder to quit—we all have been taught that quitters don’t succeed in life.Quitting is for the weak.So, we can tend to not quit the cul de sacs and quit in the dip.
This same principle goes for programs, managing people and other things related to church work.Ministry has dips, ministry has dead ends.Somethings we do—just need to stop to just plain end.Some things we do need to continue—just get through the tough times and bam a great ministry moves forward.So, do I know when I am in a dip?Hmmmm.
How bout the cul de sac?
I know I have quit when I shouldn’t have.I also know that I have hung on believing that toughing it out was required by God, by my family and by me—but looking back--- I should have ended it.What does all this mean?HmmmmmmI love ministry, people, serving as unto the Lord, building ministries, building up the local church.I love all there is about ministry period.That being said—the dips will come, am I willing to work it through?The cul de sac?When am I in one?
These are important days for me at 50.My time is shortening every day to do great things for the Lord.The answer for me at this time is where can I put everything I...
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matt. 6.19,20
“I have to keep in mind that as hard as I work, and whatever I might achieve, whether it is planes, vacation homes, cars, recognition, the moment I die it is gone.I could be doing so much more in working for the Kingdom of God.”
--Lance Murdock
Chicago Board of Trade
Descending into Greatness by Bill Hybelsis a great read for leaders.Chapter 3 is dedicated to the story of Lance Murdock.In short, Lance Murdock a “huge” Chicago trader that came to a place in his life where he recognized that each day he faced two distinct “Kingdoms”one kingdom of man, the other kingdom of God.Murdock also came to ask several other questions as a follower of Christ.“Can I maintain possessions and still be effective as a Christian?What is the line between need, blessing and excess?
Yesterday as I experienced a “flat” kind of day— I read Hebrews 13.5“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Similarly Matt. 6.19 Jesus speaks on the same subject—things, contentment, excess.Funny how as a leader in the church, a pastor, a shepherd this is a subject that many “followers” don’t want to hear about.In the same vein, I don’t enjoy a healthy dose of the truth at all times in my life, but I believe this is a huge issue for many, many followers.Is it about money?No.Is it about hard work and earning money?No.Is it about getting things?No, not completely.
It’s about the heart.The internal things.It’s about what goes on in someone’s heart—that leads to focusing and pursuing other things—or placing things over God and His kingdom.It is a struggle for all, but as a leader, I am convinced more than ever that God wants His people to loose their love for things and money and get back to loving Him and serving Him with our life.
Oh sure, I may struggle every once in awhile over things, and contentment—but this is a discipline matter, a self talk matter, a matter of commitment, a matter of not “feeling” good all the time with the stuff.
Feeling good is such a lousy reason to pursue anything really.Soon the dependence to “feeling good” becomes the passion to go and keep repeating the cycle of more, better, bigger—because it makes us feel good—and that codependence is brutally hard to break especially when we live in a world that says “you have arrived, you are successful, you are awesome because you have the good life.”Added to that is the words from others that continue to enable us deeper into the feeling good as they tell us how great we are because we have more, we wear the right stuff, we own the right cars and size house and on and on.
Following Jesus becomes very difficult when all the other accolades mean so much more.
