Try Being Yourself

Playing to our strengths isn't just a good idea in sports. It's important to life. One of the keys to being a solid, healthy leader, parent, athlete, pastor, job-seeker is to be honest about our God-given capacity--both our strengths and our weaknesses.

In ministry in my 30's, the church had a couple hundred people. At one time, I was the worship leader, the youth director, the custodian and the groundskeeper all at the same time. But as the church has grown, I've had to give up many things that I wasn't great at to focus on a few that I was better at. It wasn't always easy to let go. It still isn't.

I have to repent sometimes of trying to be someone else who has talents and abilities I don't have. Some well-meaning people have given me teaching DVD's with the unspoken request, "Maybe if you watch these you could teach more like _________." Even when I do watch and perhaps learn something, I have to choose to be me when I turn it off. Otherwise, I won't be authentic and true to my unique talents.

It's unfair to ourselves and others to say that if we try hard enough we can be great at anything. It's simply not true.  We've all...

• heard people struggling to sing high that should sing low
• heard people speaking that should stick to singing
• watched people agonize over teaching who would make a great counselor
• read articles from accountants who should stick to numbers, not journalism

There are some things that God has wired you to do that only you can do. Consider Matthew 25:14-15. And also Dr. Suess' wisdom: "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You!"

Christianity Rises and Falls on Teamwork

In a couple of weeks the All-Star Game will take place. It's the game where supposedly the best players from the NFL, as voted on by fans, play in one game. You'd think with all that star appeal that you wouldn't be able to get a ticket. And if you did it would certainly cost more than the Super Bowl, right? Wrong. My quick check on stubhub showed tickets for under $50 for the All-Star game. For the Super Bowl? They start at $2,000+. Why? Because we all know the All-Stars aren't really playing their best in that game. An injury might "mess up their contract." After the game, they go back to play for their "real team."

 And like one preacher said, "Christians ought not play like All-Stars."i 

In an all-star game, the players wear a temporary jersey for the game but they wear their home-team helmet. Christians can be like that. I've got the jersey that says, "Christian" but the helmet that says, "Hipster Church," "Conservative Republican," "Calvinist," or "Cool Multicultural Java-drinking Tatt-wearing Twenty-Something." We might be a Jesus-follower but after Sunday is over, we go back and play on our real team.

But it’s not supposed to be like that. Those who are truly impacted by the gospel wear the same helmet: the helmet of salvation. And our theme song? “Amazing Grace.” Christians have all received the same grace that not one of us deserves! Ephesians 4 tells us we have the one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all! That's what makes us all one team.

Christianity is not a solo sport. It thrives in the context of team. Who's on yours? Does anybody have your blind side? Your back? Don't be an all-star.

iThis quote is attributed to Thabiti Anyabwile from a Together for the Gospel Conference. I've tried to find the quote and give him proper credit but so far I haven't found it.

Quiet Love

It seems kind of odd to talk about quiet. Sort of like writing an article on health in between slurps of mega-size Dr. Pepper. But here goes.

It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since these words were first played on the radio,

What would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say
If I took those words away? 

(From "More than Words" by Extreme)


But it still applies--sometimes words are a nuisance and simply aren't helpful. Words are not always the best language of love. Like,

At a funeral -- "Well at least he's in a better place"
When a baby dies -- "Maybe you'll have another one"
When your dog of 15 years dies -- "You need to get another puppy."
When your Mom and Dad divorce -- "Well, an unhappy marriage is worse than divorce."

Or feeling like we must respond to every question in the shadow of Newtown, CT. Like these responses:
"I'll tell you where God was. He left the building in 1963 when we took prayer out of the schools."
"I wonder what was wrong in that home."
"There needs to be a filter for sick people."
"Another reason for gun-control."

There may be a time for discussing these things. But not now. We need the love that is expressed with fewer words. Now is not the time to explain. Now is the time for the ministry of presence. To quote another old song, sometimes "my words get in the way." Silence is golden. Not the kind that sits in coldness but warm, loving silence with actions of loving kindness.

Think about the darkest moments of your life. What do you remember? What someone said? Or who was there? It's rare we remember what was said. But we always remember who sat with us, held us and cried. 

Yeah, I know. I've just proved my point. So much for quiet. I've already said too much.

Red and Green

Red and green is everywhere. It's Christmas. And it reminds me of how long it will be until I taste a real vine-ripened tomato again! The fake ones in the store just aren't the same. It also reminds me of what I call the ripe fruit principle.

Imagine you have two patches of tomatoes. The first patch was planted 15 days earlier than the second. Now anyone who has ever grown them knows when it's June it seems like the tomatoes will never turn red. You want that first ripe tomato so everyday you go and poke around in the second patch. But everything is still green. No matter how much you dig around the plant and provide the right conditions, it's still going to take anywhere from 60-90 days until harvest. You can fret over the green tomatoes but there are laws of the harvest and no amount of fretting will make a difference. You need to go where the tomatoes are ripe.

Sometimes I spend too much time fretting over someone who just needs more time on the vine. I can pray, hope and worry. I can make it about me: "What am I doing wrong? What's wrong with my leadership?" When sometimes, it's not about me at all. It's about them.

My time would be better spent looking for the ripe tomatoes.

• "But they have so much talent!" Yes, but they aren't ready.
• "But I love them!" Yes, but they aren't ready to receive your love.
• "But they have money and that could help the cause here." Yes, but they aren't ready to turn lose of it.
• "But I know I could help them!" Yes, but they aren't ripe enough to hear it.

There's someone who is ready to say yes, ready to hear the gospel; someone who is hungry for wisdom...now. Around you, there is someone who is ripe for harvest, for leadership or even for friendship. They may not be as pretty, as smart, as talented or as likeable. But don't fret over the green tomatoes. Just go for the ripe ones today.

Why Immigration Matters

It was today in 1863 that Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address to a deeply divided nation. This speech included those now famous words which reminded America that the founding fathers were committed to establishing a nation that was "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." 
 
I recently saw a documentary on the Clinton 12. It's the story of 12 young African-Americans caught in the crossfire of desegregation in a small town, Clinton, Tennessee. Hearing their first-hand accounts reminded me again how important it is to seek to understand so that we don't give way to fear. These 12 were not seeking to make history. They were simply seeking a quality education. Their parents were tax-paying citizens who wanted their children to believe it was true: that all men are created equal.

The 12 were descendants of slaves, brought to America against their will. Those immigrants had no choice. But oh, I'm glad God allowed it to happen! Through their tragedy and suffering, what a contribution African-Americans have made to this nation. It's hard to imagine the loss, the gaps, the beauty that would be absent from this tapestry we call America--in the arts, sports, education and more significantly to me, the Christian church. I shudder to think what American Christianity would look like had it not been for the influx of our African brothers and sisters.

And now we are faced with growing tension regarding our southern border. Thousands of Hispanics are coming to America. As the church, we should be very careful about our stance. We can only imagine how God may use them in our churches and in America to bring renewal and wide-impact evangelism. Our God is on the move and He is calling out a people for Himself from every tribe and every nation.

Hope for Change

 At least once a day, I hear from someone who is worried about America: "What can we do?" "Where is the church?" "Where is the hope?" "Pastor, why don't you speak more on _____________?"

Some are afraid. "What will America look like after the election?"

Politicians cannot change the soul of America.Neither can new laws. The Old Testament as a whole is proof that unless the hearts of the citizens are changed, there will be no national change.

What can we do? First of all, we pray. Not only for the leaders we like but for the ones we don't like. Paul says to the young pastor Timothy, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions..." (1 Timothy 2:1,2 emphasis added, ESV). 

Not, "First of all, vote." Not, "First of all, call your Senator." Not, "First of all, volunteer for your favorite candidate." No. "First of all...pray."

Why? "...that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Note that God's desire is for all to be saved, not that all will agree on issues.

All that being said, are issues important? Yes, absolutely. And yes, we should witness to the power of Christ and that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We should warn people when we get the opportunity, in love. The greatest need our politicians have is not to be persuaded to shift on public policy. "God's desire is for all to be saved." Even our elected officials.

The current hot-button topics are not the reason for the spiritual decline in America. Rather, they are the evidence of it. Watch the news and you'll see a glaring reality: the souls of American citizens are in need of an awakening. The spiritually dead don't need another law. The dead need a resurrection. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to do that.  

And yes, we should be influential when and where we have the power to do so. Those who have integrity, character and gifts of government should run for office. Many times unqualified people rise to levels of influence simply because no one challenged them in the race. (Some gifted Christians have simply been reluctant to step into those fearful waters of being vetted for public office. I understand their reluctance. But maybe it's time?) 

Lastly, we should vote. Not just in these high profile elections but in the smaller ones. Do you pay attention and vote for new school board members? For new county council members? Do you check the records of judges when their names come up? These local elections have sometimes as much impact on our daily lives as the national ones.

Let's not neglect our civic duty. Voting isn't just a privilege. It's a responsibility. But the changing of our nation will not happen because of one election. It will happen when good people pray, run for office, and vote. I wish it was as easy as one election. But it isn't. God help us. And God stir up good and decent people to do more than get amped up once every four years.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermons Now Free

Some said his preaching was so powerful that it came with the force of an electric shock. He thundered from the pulpit and London was moved. One lady writes of her experience here:
 
"In an extraordinary way, the presence of God was in that Church. I personally felt as if a hand were pushing me through the pew. At the end of the sermon for some reason or the other the organ did not play, the Doctor went off into the vestry and everyone sat completely still without moving. It must have been almost ten minutes before people seemed to find the strength to get up and, without speaking to one another, quietly leave the Church. Never have I witnessed or experienced such preaching with such fantastic reaction on the part of the congregation." (Iain H. Murray, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The Fight of Faith 1939-1981, p. 377.)

Now the sermons of Martyn Lloyd-Jones are online and they are free! Thanks to the MLJ trust, now the great preacher of Westminster Chapel can be heard as he preached more than 30 years ago. The style is much different than today. The sermons are deep and meaty and it takes some listening but we need to stretch our minds now and then. One of my favorite messages is "A Gospel of Power" based on 1 Thes. 1:5. You can sign up for a free account HERE.