Sage Advice from an Unexpected Source

I was reading an editorial this morning in a trade journal ("Industrial Heating") I get on-line and thought this was worth noting.  Just goes to show God can speak from anywhere.

The original text actually came from a Ken Blanchard column from 1995 entitled “The Spiritual Workplace” which appeared in another trade journal at that time.  I have copied both the current and original text below:
     
Blanchard indicated that he began teaching the importance of self-esteem in his leadership and management seminars because he realized that managers could not properly coach their teams if they didn’t feel good about themselves. He said, “After all, only people who genuinely like themselves can build the self-esteem of others without feeling that it takes something away from themselves. As I have said many times, I think the most widespread addiction in the world is the human ego. Ego stands for ‘Edging God Out.’”    

In his book, We are the Beloved, Blanchard offered some suggestions about how people can “get out of their own way” using the HELP model. The “H” in HELP stands for humility. In a book written by Blanchard and Norman Vincent Peale, they said, “People with humility don’t think less of themselves, they just think of themselves less.” He then went on to say, “Humility helps you remember that there is someone more powerful, more loving and more caring than you.” In any time of uncertainty, it’s not a bad thing to remember that there’s someone more powerful than you (and that’s not the current resident of the White House).    

The “E” in HELP stands for excellence. Blanchard discusses the different definitions of this word, but says, “The kind of excellence that helps keep you on course is available to everyone. It’s the process of rising up and becoming the very best you can be. This means balancing between achieving (accomplishing results) and connecting (maintaining important relationships).”    

The “L” stands for listening. He used an analogy of ships listening for the fog horn when fog settles in over the seaport so that they know where the dangers are. “Charging hard through life leaves little time for listening to that voice that calls us to a more excellent way of living.”    

And finally, the “P” stands for praising. In The One Minute Manager, Blanchard emphasizes that the key to developing people is to catch them doing something right so that you can recognize their performance. He says, “If you are to stay on course in your walk through life, you need to begin to catch yourself doing things right as well.” 

Broken

Life has been a little more stressful lately.  We are still adjusting and learning to be a family of five, everyone has been tired, everyone is busy going different directions, I have been traveling, Will's sleep schedule has been in flux, work is crazy with the end of the fiscal year/unclear budgets/writing proposals for future funding, normal life stuff but all seeming to occur simultaneously.  All this is going on and it seems we are in a bit of a spiritual rut as well.  We feel disconnected from our Life Group after a summer hiatus and a rough time at getting back connected.  I am missing hanging out with middle school kids and sponsors this summer on mission trips and at amusement parks.  Some of the focus and direction I was feeling earlier in the year seems to have waned.  Normal cycles, normal life stuff.

I read this on a friend's blog today and it spoke to where we seem to be as a family right now.
"Sometimes the best thing to do is be broken. It has to happen, and there is no use resisting it. Being broken means being emptied out a little more. It happens in subtle and not so subtle ways."

This made me consider that maybe we just need to accept our brokenness.  I know that we are broken, the world is broken, creation is broken and only God can redeem us.  It is when we try to hold things together on our own, relying on our own strength and not His, that we get ourselves into trouble.  I too often forget that God is in control, not me.  God Is, I Am Not.

All we can do is pray - "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You...Help, Help, Help...Forgive, Forgive, Forgive".

A God Who Knows Us and Wants To Love Us

The idea that we serve "a God who knows us and wants to love us" keeps surfacing the last couple of days.  On the way to work yesterday, I was thinking back on the scripture that Francis Chan used in a communion mediation at Catalyst that we watched during our leadership weekend a couple weeks ago.  The highlighted parts of the passage, 1 Peter 5:6-11, are what came to mind during my drive.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.


Then at lunch yesterday I was reading a post on Angela's friend Dixie's blog.  An excerpt is below

"How blessed we are by God who wants to BE with us! He wants us to know how much He loves us and He wants us to share it with others! He loves us all much more than we know. And you know what? Jesus wants His money's worth - He died and rose again for more than a feel-good moment here and there. He sent us Holy Spirit so that we can do more miraculous things than He did! Isn't it time we walked that out? Are you ready to get out of the boat?! I AM!"

Like this was not enough, the devotion I read with Kate last night was about how God created each of us uniquely and loves us for who we are, just as we are.

The thought was further reinforced this morning as I sat with Owen cuddled up in my lap.  I was reflecting on how different each of our children are and how it is some of those differences that I really love about each of them.  I am just starting to get to know William, but I already see things in him that are different from what I remember of Kate and Owen when they were first born and I am already falling in love with him.  It made me think about the thoughts above and how God knows each person on this earth and loves them for who they are, as he created them to be that person.

I have always secretly worried as we added to our family about how I could love the next kid as much as I already love the one or ones we have (and for the record I do).  This maybe gives just a little divine incite into that.

True Worship

Isaiah 58

(New Living Translation)

1 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins!

2 Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.

3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on   ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. 4 What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. 5 You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. 7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! 10 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.

13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.  Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. 14 Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Commanded to Love and Serve Others

I was led to 1 John 3 this morning by a Rob Bell sermon I was listening to on-line.  These verses sum up where God led the elders and staff last Sunday night during our time of prayer and discussion.  If we truly love God and choose to follow Christ, we are commanded to serve our brother regardless of what the world thinks.  Additionally, it is through our belief, relationship, and fellowship with God that we receive the guidance of the Spirit and learn to love others as Christ loved us.

(New Living Translation)
11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. 13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

Hyper Life

This concept, originally planted in my head by Mark Nelson, keeps coming up in things I read, things I hear, thoughts while I am preparing lessons.  It is the idea that God does not want us to live boring and mundane lives.  He actually desires more for us.

American culture and much of American Christianity wants us to believe that a life following Jesus will be boring, restrictive, and incomplete.  Yet, I am led to believe lately that Christian life should and can be crazy, unpredictable, and spontaneous.  Following the Holy Spirit is dangerous and will disrupt your "normal" life.

I see examples of people who have decided to really turn their life over to God and rely on him, following him as completely as they can.  They live lives that others view as "crazy", not knowing or I perceive caring where God will take them next, but relying on him to guide and provide for them.

So, how do I let go and let God be in control?  How do I tap into the Hyper Life that God has planned for me?  For I am called by God, I truly believe this although I may not fully understand that calling.  God did not put us on the earth to be miserable and did not gift us the way He did without purpose. God's dreams for us are whispered through our lives if we listen.  So, we listen, we look for where God will show up today, we pray, then we listen again...

Living Dependent on God

Last year, about this time, I came across the verses below in Psalms.

 ^{Psalms 37
(NIV)
25} I was young and now I am old,
       yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
       or their children begging bread.

 ²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely;
       their children will be blessed.

 ²⁷ Turn from evil and do good;
       then you will dwell in the land forever.

 ²⁸ For the LORD loves the just
       and will not forsake his faithful ones.
       They will be protected forever,
       but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; 

(Message)

^25-26 I once was young, now I'm a graybeard—
      not once have I seen an abandoned believer,
      or his kids out roaming the streets.
   Every day he's out giving and lending,
      his children making him proud.

 ^27-28 Turn your back on evil,
      work for the good and don't quit.
   God loves this kind of thing,
      never turns away from his friends.

 ^28-29 Live this way and you've got it made,
      but bad eggs will be tossed out.
   The good get planted on good land
      and put down healthy roots.

I noted these verses because they related to a conversation I was having the night before with Ron and Dan about whether if we could completely and faithfully rely on God, He would completely care for our needs (of course there is question about what that means).  These verses seem to say that God will not let us go hungry or forsake us if we depend on and follow him. Yet, as Ron pointed out to me, this does not always appear to be true in our modern times as many "righteous" people are currently being persecuted and there are believers in third world countries that die of starvation every day.

So this brings us to the questions below which I continue to struggle with:  

• Will God be faithful to provide for those who live fully dependent on Him?
• What does it mean to live fully dependent on God?  How does that affect employment and insurance?
• What if God chooses to provide physical death and eternal life instead of simply physical life?  Is He still faithful?

As Ron said to me back then, "I really want to trust God fully, but I'm finding that I don't even know what that really looks like".  Another piece of the puzzle I guess.  I think his prayer for me then pretty much sums it up...


God help us to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness and let you take care of the rest.  Help us to understand how we should live differently to really do this and help us have enough faith to really do it.  – Amen

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