I know it has been a long while since I have sat down to write...but I'm back. I'll try and make my post short and sweet. Having said that...
There were two point made during Bible Study (3 September, 08) that really stood out. I would like to call them "meat questions". They pack a hard punch when one sits and think about them.
1. If Jesus being the Word (John 1) had to use the Word, how much more should we? Let that just simmer for a moment. How can we as Christians even think to survive without reading, using or saying the Word?
2. "Sometime we don't have victory because we don't want to let go of some things." In other words, sometimes we would rather suffer than to forgive, let go of baggage, change our surrounding, get over forgotten issues, and on and on. What might be the something keeping you from your victory.
I can say that both points were able to find a "spot in my bed". What about you?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
What Am I Doing With My Talent
If any of us went to Sunday as a child we heard the story of the "wicked servant" in Matthew 25:14-30. As children our understanding was much different than it is as adults. But as we got older the story becomes a message of "God expects everyone to do something with the gifts he gave us". Some are moved to become involved in ministry and some are just moved until the get home.
In this weeks Bible Study Bishop Perry pointed out something that all Christians should consider. First, she said that more than anything we should desire to please God by walking in a true relationship with Him. If we desire to see Him smile at us then we must be in a place of committed service to Him. We will no longer do things just so we can say that we are active or that we are "used by God". Instead we will serve God because our relationship with Him draws us to a place of surrender to Him. Secondly, God will hold us accountable for the use or lack of use of the talents/gifts that He has placed in us. As His workers in the vineyard, we will be judged according to what we produce.
The later point made me think. I don't know what talents others may have or even how many anyone else has. But I know - if we are honest with ourselves we know some of the things that God has placed in us- God has placed many talents within me. I'm not only responsible for using those talents, but using them according to God's will. What I do with those talents will be judged by God.
How many people sit in the church with talent(s), but they either have placed their talent(s) in a bag or they are using them in away that is contrary to what God has planed? Do they know that they will be held accountable for their actions or lack thereof?
Here is a better question. What talents do I know that I have but am not putting to use? Or maybe I'm using them but in low gear. Am I afraid to walkout into the deep - though I know that God is right there with me - because it's the unknown? Would it be correct to say that I'm more afraid of the uncertain or the small issues than I am of God's judgement?
The floor is open...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
When is your mission complete?
During this weeks Pastoral Bible Class several questions were asked in regards to Shadow Mission and Mission. As the questions were being raised and answered be various individuals, a thought hit me. Of course it may just be my brain working over time. One of the questions that sort of took me on a brief journey was whether individuals in the Bible, Like Esther, completed their mission in the one act that is recorded in the Bible. The Bible, though a historical book that spans many generations, only gives us brief glimpses into the lives of those who are mentioned. Very seldom are we given "over the years" coverage of lives like Moses, David or Paul. However, if these men are examples of the others mentioned, there is a great possibility that there were continual missions in their life. Often time, one mission lead to the next mission. Maybe, there were small missions that fulfilled a greater mission.
I think many times we think of missions being something big that makes a grand stage. But many times it may take back stage to a someone else's "grand" mission, like Mary the mother of Jesus, Martha, Mary Magdalene, Jonathan, or Eliezer. All of these individuals had a very important mission of being a support to help others fulfill their mission. I mean after Jesus forgave and healed (spiritually) "Evangelist" Magdalene she became a follower of Jesus. We are not told the extend of her support in his ministry - and no we are not going to include the Da Vinci Code's belief- until we see her later at his Resurrection. Do your really think all she did was become the first to declare the gospel? Is it possible that she was apart of Jesus marketing/evangelistic team? Her daily mission may not seem very big, but every mission (no matter how many pats on the back you don't get or if no one writes it in history) is important to God.
I think its like Rick Warren put it in simple term - live everyday of your life on purpose. There is a daily mission, but we have to be sensitive to God to fulfill it. We may never know what it is until after it is done. My mission today may be to call a member who has been going through spiritually or to pray for that person who came to mind for know reason. You see our mission or purpose is not always clear to us at the moment. But I think that is why we pray for God's wisdom and guidance each day. "Lord order my steps in your will today..."
I have to say that I believe that every believer has a continual mission and purpose. There is a our daily mission and then there may be our MISSION. It just may not seem "grand" enough to us to call it a mission. But if that's what God purposed for you today - then its the mission that he gave to you.
The floor is open...
*please refrain from using individuals names (those who may have been seen in the news in a negative light) as this is a public forum meant to encourage believers.
I think many times we think of missions being something big that makes a grand stage. But many times it may take back stage to a someone else's "grand" mission, like Mary the mother of Jesus, Martha, Mary Magdalene, Jonathan, or Eliezer. All of these individuals had a very important mission of being a support to help others fulfill their mission. I mean after Jesus forgave and healed (spiritually) "Evangelist" Magdalene she became a follower of Jesus. We are not told the extend of her support in his ministry - and no we are not going to include the Da Vinci Code's belief- until we see her later at his Resurrection. Do your really think all she did was become the first to declare the gospel? Is it possible that she was apart of Jesus marketing/evangelistic team? Her daily mission may not seem very big, but every mission (no matter how many pats on the back you don't get or if no one writes it in history) is important to God.
I think its like Rick Warren put it in simple term - live everyday of your life on purpose. There is a daily mission, but we have to be sensitive to God to fulfill it. We may never know what it is until after it is done. My mission today may be to call a member who has been going through spiritually or to pray for that person who came to mind for know reason. You see our mission or purpose is not always clear to us at the moment. But I think that is why we pray for God's wisdom and guidance each day. "Lord order my steps in your will today..."
I have to say that I believe that every believer has a continual mission and purpose. There is a our daily mission and then there may be our MISSION. It just may not seem "grand" enough to us to call it a mission. But if that's what God purposed for you today - then its the mission that he gave to you.
The floor is open...
*please refrain from using individuals names (those who may have been seen in the news in a negative light) as this is a public forum meant to encourage believers.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Listening For Our Purpose
During this Wednesday's Pastoral Bible Study Class the Bishop posed a question as she ministered concerning understanding our purpose or mission. The question was "can you hear from the Lord when you are busy with the cares of life?"
Now maybe I should back up for those who were not there. The basic theme of the lesson was being in the position to hear and answer the call of God. Several examples were given, 1. Isaiah (6:8) 2. Paul (his conversion) 3. Judah (in Judges 20), to show that in order to hear the complete Word of the Lord one must be in the proper place to hear from God.
As we desire to know our mission with clarity and certainty, we will only know after we have surrendered ourselves and entered into the place or the positions where God's voice can be heard. One thing I loved that was said, was that we as individuals "must hear from God" and not seek after men to speak to us for God. Being a typical PK, the last thing I want is for someone to walk up to me and tell me "thus saith the Lord," when God has not said anything. I've seen too many people move because people said move. But what did God tell you in the quite place? Others may so go, but God may have said sit and learn. Who do you listen to? In fact are we more moved by people's voice and desired mission for our lives? Are we even concerned about the shipwreck that is due to ensue from following people? How do we even know if we are hearing from God?
This is where I shall open the floor for your discussion.
Now maybe I should back up for those who were not there. The basic theme of the lesson was being in the position to hear and answer the call of God. Several examples were given, 1. Isaiah (6:8) 2. Paul (his conversion) 3. Judah (in Judges 20), to show that in order to hear the complete Word of the Lord one must be in the proper place to hear from God.
As we desire to know our mission with clarity and certainty, we will only know after we have surrendered ourselves and entered into the place or the positions where God's voice can be heard. One thing I loved that was said, was that we as individuals "must hear from God" and not seek after men to speak to us for God. Being a typical PK, the last thing I want is for someone to walk up to me and tell me "thus saith the Lord," when God has not said anything. I've seen too many people move because people said move. But what did God tell you in the quite place? Others may so go, but God may have said sit and learn. Who do you listen to? In fact are we more moved by people's voice and desired mission for our lives? Are we even concerned about the shipwreck that is due to ensue from following people? How do we even know if we are hearing from God?
This is where I shall open the floor for your discussion.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
In Search of...Oppertunity
This week we began our 21 day Daniel's Fast. Also, this month our Bishop has started a series on The Shadow Mission during our Pastoral Bible Class. Over the course of the month I will write on the Bible study and share with you what has been taught. Also, I will enjoy the feed back.
However, with that idea in mind and the recent events taking place in Kenya, I want to write about two words: Opportunity and Displacement. For some reason the other day I kept say to myself, the opportunity of displacement. Now I know that this does not make any sense. I'm sure that my dear Kenyans would not see their displacement as an opportunity or our friends from New Orleans, for that matter. Being the thinker that I am, I just couldn't figure this one out. What opportunity is there in being displaced? I would ask you to help me to see the good in this notion. Displacement never brings about opportunity! It brings about hardship and pain, but never opportunity.
I beg to differ with myself. (I invite you to enter into my world of internal conflict. Many people may wonder why I'm such a good debater, here is why.) But I think I would disagree with myself in this case. While I understand that for the most part we can not see the opportunity that the violence in Kenya would bring, displacement does not always mean something that remains in the negative.
Would you like to explain yourself? Sure. Look at it like this. Each of us has a purpose given to us before our conception. But life takes us down many paths, often taking us away from our purpose. While we feel we have a right to the life we choose, we forget that as Christians we do not belong to ourselves. So our acquired passion for life that we have taken from society is our infringement on God's will for our life. Yes! We are free will beings and have a right to choose to go wrong. But when we give ourselves to God - in complete - we relinquish our ownership of forced title rights to our lives. We all know that God is the rightful owner of our lives, but we forced him off the property and took control. Do you follow me?
I'm hearing you. Continue, please. Ok. When we tell God that He can have control, often it is lip service with little action. It becomes a battle between the spiritual man and our humanity - fleshly. God then allows things to come into our lives to disrupt or displace us from our comfort zone. Of course we never like it when God displaces us from the things that we call our live. But God knows that if he does not allow things to come and move us away from the things that distract us we will never see or know our opportunities that God has in store for us.
Ok, you may have a point, but... Wait. Let me finish. As long as we stay in our will, we can never walk in the opportunity of promises being fulfilled. Opportunity is usually hindered or destroyed by disobedience or self ownership. As long as I belong to me I can not walk in His opportunity. His path and mine do not share the same coordinates. So I have a choice of freely abandoning my road for His, or subject myself to the possibility of being displaced from my normal way of life. Either way, opportunity awaits me. It's just that one brings with it more pain, hardship and all the other stuff that goes with being displaced.
Capisce (or capishe depending on your choice of spelling)? Yea, yea. But I'm not saying that I agree with you. If God displaces us, that would mean that we are out of His will and that we spend unnecessary time suffering until we yield and then choose to follow His plan. So the opportunity comes not in being displaced, but in the final surrender to God's will.
And my dear you are so right. The opportunity is in doing God's will and not ours. But if God does not allow us to be displaced we may never surrender to His will. We may find comfort in our will. Sometimes we need a little push, and displacement is that push. Of course we have a choice to stay in that uncomfortable place waring with what is right. But truth be told, eventually in that place we will become battle fatigued and give up all together - blaming God. Most people backslide because they refuse to allow God to move them from their will to His' will. They blame God for all of their pain and suffering. They refuse to simply to surrender and say, "yes Lord. What do you will?"
So, it would be ideal if we all just yielded to God's Divine will, but I know that that is not always the case. Yea, you are right about that! And I would add, that we are blessed when God cares enough to allow those things to come and disrupt our perfect world. It means that he cares enough to see us live on purpose rather than just live. We can rest a sure that if we are displaced from our world, God is right there to see us through to His place of great opportunities.
However, with that idea in mind and the recent events taking place in Kenya, I want to write about two words: Opportunity and Displacement. For some reason the other day I kept say to myself, the opportunity of displacement. Now I know that this does not make any sense. I'm sure that my dear Kenyans would not see their displacement as an opportunity or our friends from New Orleans, for that matter. Being the thinker that I am, I just couldn't figure this one out. What opportunity is there in being displaced? I would ask you to help me to see the good in this notion. Displacement never brings about opportunity! It brings about hardship and pain, but never opportunity.
I beg to differ with myself. (I invite you to enter into my world of internal conflict. Many people may wonder why I'm such a good debater, here is why.) But I think I would disagree with myself in this case. While I understand that for the most part we can not see the opportunity that the violence in Kenya would bring, displacement does not always mean something that remains in the negative.
Would you like to explain yourself? Sure. Look at it like this. Each of us has a purpose given to us before our conception. But life takes us down many paths, often taking us away from our purpose. While we feel we have a right to the life we choose, we forget that as Christians we do not belong to ourselves. So our acquired passion for life that we have taken from society is our infringement on God's will for our life. Yes! We are free will beings and have a right to choose to go wrong. But when we give ourselves to God - in complete - we relinquish our ownership of forced title rights to our lives. We all know that God is the rightful owner of our lives, but we forced him off the property and took control. Do you follow me?
I'm hearing you. Continue, please. Ok. When we tell God that He can have control, often it is lip service with little action. It becomes a battle between the spiritual man and our humanity - fleshly. God then allows things to come into our lives to disrupt or displace us from our comfort zone. Of course we never like it when God displaces us from the things that we call our live. But God knows that if he does not allow things to come and move us away from the things that distract us we will never see or know our opportunities that God has in store for us.
Ok, you may have a point, but... Wait. Let me finish. As long as we stay in our will, we can never walk in the opportunity of promises being fulfilled. Opportunity is usually hindered or destroyed by disobedience or self ownership. As long as I belong to me I can not walk in His opportunity. His path and mine do not share the same coordinates. So I have a choice of freely abandoning my road for His, or subject myself to the possibility of being displaced from my normal way of life. Either way, opportunity awaits me. It's just that one brings with it more pain, hardship and all the other stuff that goes with being displaced.
Capisce (or capishe depending on your choice of spelling)? Yea, yea. But I'm not saying that I agree with you. If God displaces us, that would mean that we are out of His will and that we spend unnecessary time suffering until we yield and then choose to follow His plan. So the opportunity comes not in being displaced, but in the final surrender to God's will.
And my dear you are so right. The opportunity is in doing God's will and not ours. But if God does not allow us to be displaced we may never surrender to His will. We may find comfort in our will. Sometimes we need a little push, and displacement is that push. Of course we have a choice to stay in that uncomfortable place waring with what is right. But truth be told, eventually in that place we will become battle fatigued and give up all together - blaming God. Most people backslide because they refuse to allow God to move them from their will to His' will. They blame God for all of their pain and suffering. They refuse to simply to surrender and say, "yes Lord. What do you will?"
So, it would be ideal if we all just yielded to God's Divine will, but I know that that is not always the case. Yea, you are right about that! And I would add, that we are blessed when God cares enough to allow those things to come and disrupt our perfect world. It means that he cares enough to see us live on purpose rather than just live. We can rest a sure that if we are displaced from our world, God is right there to see us through to His place of great opportunities.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
It's A New Year
Let me say a belated Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year!I pray that everyone had a blessed holiday season.
Though we don't know the exact time that the savior came into the world, I think it is amazing that we celebrate it the last week of the year. The birth of Jesus Christ ended the oppression of the law and sin, and brought the hope of new life to all.
A week before a new year we celebrate the birth of the Life Giver. As we are now into the new year, we should remember that what happened last year should remain in last year. December 25th the world celebrated the beginning of Grace and new mercy. So January 2008 is a time to live in God's grace and thank him for new mercies that are giving to us each day. Since we have just celebrated new life let us live with an attitude of new life.
Have a blessed 2008!
Though we don't know the exact time that the savior came into the world, I think it is amazing that we celebrate it the last week of the year. The birth of Jesus Christ ended the oppression of the law and sin, and brought the hope of new life to all.
A week before a new year we celebrate the birth of the Life Giver. As we are now into the new year, we should remember that what happened last year should remain in last year. December 25th the world celebrated the beginning of Grace and new mercy. So January 2008 is a time to live in God's grace and thank him for new mercies that are giving to us each day. Since we have just celebrated new life let us live with an attitude of new life.
Have a blessed 2008!
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