The Caveat

"If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people

will go to their home in peace."

(Exodus 18:23)

Everybody loves a GREAT IDEA! Especially we pastors. WE go to a Conference and hear what another church or leaders is doing (successfully!) and we get excited to try it out ourselves. We read a book or magazine article and want to implement the "latest and greatest" in our churches. And why not, right?! It's worth trying at least, isn't it? Well... maybe not!

Moses was having a problem. He was THE MAN for the newly-rescued Hebrew people. The people looked to him for everything. And it was wearing him out. His father-in-law, Jethro, saw this and suggested a change: put 'judges' in the mix... spiritually mature & trustworthy men... set them over groups of people, to decide the 'minor stuff.' Then Moses could handle the 'big stuff.' It was a great idea! But Jethro had one caveat: make sure God also tells you to do this!

That's the part that we Christian leaders often miss. Why waste time trying a great idea out, if God hasn't asked us to do it in the first place? All it becomes is a waste of time. But if God DOES lead us, then go for it! Full speed ahead!! Who knows... it might just help us "endure" as leaders, and give our people more of God's "peace!" We all want more of that, don't we!?!

Everything we do...

"Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you?  We are speaking in Christ before God.  Everything we do, beloved, is for the sake of building you up."

(2 Corinthians 12:19) 

Ulterior motives.  We, who are in positions of leadership, are sometimes accused of having them.  People may second guess or mistrust something we do because they believe we have ulterior motives.  We couldn't simply be doing them for the outward purpose it seems.  Or we're trying to "cover our backsides," so to speak.  If they are correct, shame on us.  However, if their fears are unfounded, we can look to Paul for encouragement.

Paul has quite a tenuous relationship with the church in Corinth.  He loves them dearly, but they tend to drive him crazy!!!  For starters, their behavior is quite often not up to God's standards.  So Paul then chastises them, which they don't take well.  They accuse him of false motives... of being too hard on them... of his trying to defend himself for them.

One sentence from Paul stops me in my tracks: "Everything we do, beloved, is for the sake of building you up" (v.19).  Wow.  Everything?!  What would it mean for me to have this as my "pastoral mantra"?  That everything I do for my church (and people) would be for building them up?  Or what about with my kids?  Or Jody?  Or my friends?  Heck, what about soccer referees (okay, that might be a bit extreme!)?

PRAYER: Lord, you build me up.  You do not provoke.  You bear patiently with us in our weaknesses.  Help me to follow your lead.  Help me to lead the church with that insight.  That everything I do will be to build up the church members.  May that be the mark of my relationship with Jody, Ezra & Emily, too.  Everything.  AMEN.

Proper Props!

"Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him."

(John 7:18)

If you believe the adage, "there's no such thing as bad publicity," then Jesus is the talk of the town in John, chapter 7. It's the Festival of Booths, and hoards of people have gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem for a week of celebration. Everyone is talking about Jesus (see v.10-13)... and when he makes a surprise appearance and starts teaching, a big debate ensues. "Who does this guy think he is?" they ask. "He doesn't even have any teaching credentials!" (v.15). Jesus assures them it's not his words/ideas/insights he's sharing, but God's - the One who sent him.

Verse 18 really hit me today. Jesus said when people seek their own glory, it's one thing. But it's another thing altogether for one to seek GOD'S GLORY ("the one who sent him"). We all love a little bit of glory. Most of us don't experience it that often, but who doesn't enjoy the praise & accolades of others?!? But Jesus reminds us (especially those of us who are Christian leaders!) that it's not about us and our status in the eyes of others at all... it's about making God famous... giving God the glory! Easy to say, I know... a lot harder to do (at least to do it with humility & sincerity).

To give God glory means to speak the truth in love, because it's the truth, not because of how it will make you look. To give God glory means to acknowledge that all we have comes from him, not by our own striving. To give God glory means to recognize the grace, love & forgiveness that God has showered upon us... and to extend that same to others. All others.

I know... I know... we've all got a long way to go! AMEN.

Tempting

[From Monday, June 1, 2009]

"Then the Israelite said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also...' Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.'"

(Judges 8"22-23)

In just 3 chapters, Gideon went from an insecure, fearful, "regular Joe" to a powerful and successful warrior/leader. The change is all because of God... and Gideon knows it! So when the Israelite leaders came and asked (no, begged!) Gideon to be their ruler, he declined. They were ready to make his family a dynasty of rulers. But Gideon kept their focus where he thought it needed to be: "the LORD will rule over you."

That must have been a little more challenging to decline than Gideon let on (Maybe he had a while before he gave them his answer?!). The offer of power and authority is a strong temptress. Maybe Gideon still had traces of his former insecurity (thus, the decline)? Then again, maybe he had divine wisdom. Maybe he know how easy it is to lose focus on God?

It's even hard for those of us already in positions of church leadership to maintain that perspective. It's ultimately not about us. It's about God. And no leader worth his/her salt can lead with integrity without that understanding. At least not for very long.

PRAYER: Thank you God, for the wisdom of Gideon. For the call to keep YOU as our leader, no matter what our positions of authority or leadership are within the church, community & world. Help me to maintain that perspective, Lord. Help me to always remember that You are the One who leads. I'm just called to help others follow. AMEN.

A Shepherd's job is...

"For I am now raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hooves."
(Zechariah 11:16)

God is tired of worthless leaders of his people. He resorts to sarcasm here in Zechariah 11:16 (you've gotta love a God who gets into sarcasm!)... listing all the bad qualities of those leaders:

• They don't care for the perishing... those outside the flock! Those not connected to a life-sustaining community of faith. These will perish without guidance & care.
• They don't seek the wandering... those within the flock who have strayed, gone off on their own. Sheep (and humans) have this tendency. That's why good shepherds are crucial.
• They don't heal the maimed... Sheep (and humans!) get wounded in life. It happens quite often. Recovery is possible with the proper care & healing. That's not always the case when left on our own to heal.
• They don't nourish the healthy... The healthy and strong sheep need care too! They need to be nourished to sustain their strength & vigor. The bad leaders even neglect these.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, give me the heart of a good shepherd... one who leads the way You want me to... caring for the perishing... seeking the wandering... healing the maimed... nourishing the healthy... and seeking to follow You all of the days of my life.

Planned Pair-enthood

[NOTE: This is from Saturday, Nov. 29th]

"After this the Lord appointed 70 others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go."

(Luke 10:1)

Jesus has a plan... a 35 city tour! He's coming to a town near
you!! But before he kicks off the road trip, he chooses 70 followers and sends them off to "prepare" the cities for his coming.

There's a couple of insights that jumped out at me today: 1) Jesus didn't send people out alone. He could have either a) chosen only 35 of his best followers and sent them out on their own, or b) sent 70 out to 70 different cities, doubling his reach. But Jesus seemed to know they'd need a partner in ministry! Teamwork is more important than mere numbers. 2) Jesus had a strategic plan. he wasn't just roaming the countryside, traveling wherever the wind blew him. Nope. He had a plan. 35 cities he intended to reach out to. So he sent his followers there ahead of time. 3) Jesus entrusted himself and his power to his followers. He could have gone to all 35 cities without having sent the 70 ahead... he could have done the ministry himself (or at least have overseen everything in person). Instead, he trusted the disciples and entrusted his power to them. The result? 70 people came back extremely excited about the impact THEY had made for the kingdom!

So much to learn here. Especially as we get ready to possibly start a new satellite ministry as a part of Aiea UMC. Can I learn from Luke 10:1? Don't try to do everything myself (work with a partner in ministry)... have a strategic plan... and trust the leaders in the church to be involved in the actual ministry! Train them, empower them, trust them! And then watch how the passion and excitement grows!

PRAYER: You have so much to teach me, Lord. Help me to learn from your examples - especially as we consider moving ahead with the satellite ministry possibility. It's not about me. It's about You and Your kingdom - and the role you've given each of us to play together. AMEN.

Genuinely Concerned

"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you, soo, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ."
(Philippians 2:19-21)

While in prison, Paul tells the church in Philippi his desire to send Timothy to them. Why Timothy? Paul gives him an amazing endorsement: "There's no one like him who'll be genuinely concerned for your welfare." Wow. The problem with the others is this: they're more focused on their own interests than God's.

This is a troubling statement. Where do I fall on this spectrum? My "job" is to care for the needs of my faith community - and I like to think I do that. But how much of my day is spent "seeking my own interests?" How much of my HEART desires my own interests, too? I can honestly say that within my family, I genuinely do seek the welfare of Jody, Ezra & Emily above my own. It's something I saw my father model, and something he learned from his father, too. May I also be able to model this as pastor of Aiea UMC.

PRAYER: Lord, You have called me to be "genuinely concerned" for the people of Aiea UMC. Keep me faithful to this task and not to slide into seeking my own interests. Thank you for the witness of my parents, and the opportunity I have to love my own family. AMEN.

Up From the Throne

"When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes."
(Jonah 3:6)

Jonah reluctantly gives his message (of doom!) to the wicked city of Nineveh... and "surprise!" the people believe God and repent. Not only that, but the king himself joins in the effort. For some reason, the fact that he "rose from his throne" struck me. He had to get up off his seat of authority... his place of power and privilege. Couple that with removing his royal robe, and this is a true act of humility.

What "thrones" do we enjoy sitting on? For me, the throne of "pastor" at times is a "high and exalted one." I walk the line between just being me, and being THE PASTOR. I'm at my best when I'm me, the pastor, not me, THE PASTOR. I've been called to serve this congregation with grace. I must not get caught up in titles & positions, but rather lead with humility. I also have a throne as "father." I need to be willing to get off my throne, step down from my position of authority, and be humble before my children (and my wife). There are no awards for sitting on the throne the longest!

Prayer: Lord, continue to teach me humility. Help me model it for my family and my church in Aiea. Help me be willing to get up from the thrones that follow me, so I can be real before You. May I never abuse the authority entrusted to me. AMEN.