Lately I've been thinking about being inadequate vs. being empowered.
There are many days I feel inadequate. I feel as if I'm not good enough, talented enough, strong enough and that there are millions of people out there who can do a better job (life @ home and @ work) than me. I believe feelings of inadequacy are usually fueled by the fires of comparison. It is so easy to feel like your lacking when you're stuck on coveting or comparing what someone else has or is. My mentor in college J.Scott Duvall once said, "When I listen to the tempting voices of comparison, I know I've lost focus on the Father. Renewed focus causes comparison to fade." It's true...when I stop to realize God's power, grace, mercy, and love that he so generously lavishes upon me, my need to be like someone else slips away.
Inadequacies are also fueled by sin. Sin causes me to forget God's provision over me, and even more, it roots guilt which can breed spiritual paralysis. Looking at sin, owning it, dealing with it, and leaving it behind are the keys to developing and understanding redemption and forgiveness.
But when it comes to my relationship with God, I also feel inadequate, unworthy, even shameful in His presence. I am in complete need of Him. So, yes, I am inadequate. My relationship with Jesus shows me how much I need Him and little I bring to the table. I believe His desire is that we become dependent on Him because of our inabilities. Jesus desires from me a sense of utter abandon from self so that I can become completely dependent on Him. Humility, servant minded, and a missional mindset help me to develop a sense of dependence.
It's funny, only when I'm at this state of losing self and gaining a greater perspective on the Father do I truly sense empowerment. Jesus is provider, sustainer, author and perfector. His mighty, Holy, awesome, and overwhelmingly in control. Jesus empowers me through His relationship with me, the steadiness of His Word, and the whispers of His Spirit. I am empowered not because I've gained an ability, risen to a status of influence, or finally become the person I've admired; I'm empowered because I'm His and I'm allowing Him control over me.
Inadequate? Yep, in the presence of a might God. Inadequate? Nope, not among me for my God is empowering me, not for the purpose of comparison or to puff me up, but to glorify His name.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Too Sexy Too Soon:
Do tween fashion trends push girls to mature too fast? This is a news story from ABC News that provides enlightenment to what student pastors everywhere have been combating...maintaining a sense of innocence through adolescence is so difficult in today's culture.
I hope this video causes discussion between parents and within the home.
I hope this video causes discussion between parents and within the home.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
He Conquered the Grave
Today as I write this, the Bolton High School community is mourning the loss of two students who were involved in a one vehicle car accident on November 9. We have a community of students and parents who grieving over a friend, student, son, and daughter. In encouraging our students of faith through this difficult time we want to impress of them a few things:
1) Life is fleeting. Scripture tells us that we are but a vapor and we don’t know when we will breath our last so we must make the most of every opportunity (Jas. 4:14; 2 Cor. 6:2, Eph. 5:15-16).
2) Our hope isn’t in living but in the one who brings Life. Students need to grieve, but they also need bring hope in the mourning that they know and trust is in the One who has conquered death (Jn.11:35; 16:33; 1 Cor. 15:54-55).
3) We don’t understand why. God’s plans are perfect and in His sovereignty we occasionally can’t understand why things happen, but we can trust in His love for us (Jer. 29:11, Is. 55:7-8; Prov. 3:5-6).
4) The death of a peer can lead to others being open to spiritual conversations and even salvation. Death naturally causes one to think about life and life is empty and hopeless without Christ (Jn.14:6; Col. 4:5-6).
I didn’t know the students who passed away, but my heart hurts for their families and their friends. We must take every day as a gift and use it according to the purposes of Christ in His mission in sharing the gospel.
1) Life is fleeting. Scripture tells us that we are but a vapor and we don’t know when we will breath our last so we must make the most of every opportunity (Jas. 4:14; 2 Cor. 6:2, Eph. 5:15-16).
2) Our hope isn’t in living but in the one who brings Life. Students need to grieve, but they also need bring hope in the mourning that they know and trust is in the One who has conquered death (Jn.11:35; 16:33; 1 Cor. 15:54-55).
3) We don’t understand why. God’s plans are perfect and in His sovereignty we occasionally can’t understand why things happen, but we can trust in His love for us (Jer. 29:11, Is. 55:7-8; Prov. 3:5-6).
4) The death of a peer can lead to others being open to spiritual conversations and even salvation. Death naturally causes one to think about life and life is empty and hopeless without Christ (Jn.14:6; Col. 4:5-6).
I didn’t know the students who passed away, but my heart hurts for their families and their friends. We must take every day as a gift and use it according to the purposes of Christ in His mission in sharing the gospel.
Monday, November 8, 2010
In Action
It is so cool to see people being made into disciples.
A few weeks ago we had a man come forward during an invitation at one of our morning services who wanted to accept Christ. Immediately you could tell this guy hadn't grown up in church, not to mention his sheer size is enough to fill a refrigerator box.
To date, this guy accept Christ, attended our membership class, was baptized, and last night attended my "Discovering Spiritual Maturity" class (the second class in our Discovery process). He is a changed man and I'm so excited for him.
Here is a man who has a wife, kids, and lived without Christ for many years. But after encountering Christ, his life was significantly changed and his actions today are proof of the saving and incredible power of God. He is being made into a true disciple and follower of Christ...it is so good to see God in action and to observed people living out the 'switched' life.
A few weeks ago we had a man come forward during an invitation at one of our morning services who wanted to accept Christ. Immediately you could tell this guy hadn't grown up in church, not to mention his sheer size is enough to fill a refrigerator box.
To date, this guy accept Christ, attended our membership class, was baptized, and last night attended my "Discovering Spiritual Maturity" class (the second class in our Discovery process). He is a changed man and I'm so excited for him.
Here is a man who has a wife, kids, and lived without Christ for many years. But after encountering Christ, his life was significantly changed and his actions today are proof of the saving and incredible power of God. He is being made into a true disciple and follower of Christ...it is so good to see God in action and to observed people living out the 'switched' life.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Fire Pits and Halloween
We live at the very end of a cove. In fact, we really like where we live. Our street is rather quiet and our kids can ride their bikes and play and we don't have to worry about traffic or any creepers looking at our kids. Our neighbors are wonderful people that we really enjoy sharing life with. A couple of homes have grown children so we're able to seek wisdom and learn from their experiences. Other homes have kids our ages and we desire to raise our kids up according to God's Word. They attend school together and make up a little grade school posse.
Last night we decided to take over our cove for Halloween. We brought out lawn chairs, a couple of tables, and a couple of fire pits. As it got dark we roasted the hot dogs and made smores and the kids went trick or treating on our block in the quest of who could become the biggest candy glutton. We were able to pass out candy and enjoy the evening cool air as a group of families.
Toward the end of our evening a couple hand in hand walked down the street to our cove. I noticed they didn't have any kids and we're watching us pretty closely. The gentleman had long hair in a ponytail and was in Harley Davidson get up from head to toe. They introduced themselves to us and came down because they were curious. They saw the fire pits, kids playing, and wanted to know what was going on. As the conversation progressed she is a single mom with a 16 year old daughter and they live several doors down. We engaged in pleasantries and I am hoping that our conversation will give me an in to invite them to our church in the near future.
I wonder how often people outside the church look on the inside of church and see love, community, security, fun, hope, and care and long to have that in their lives. I believe that just like last night, people are looking at churches wondering what all the joy is about and can they have a part in it.
This begs two questions:
1) Is the environment in my church like the environment on my cove? Do we foster love, community, and care in such a way that those on the outside want what we have in the inside (1 Peter 2:12)? Too many churches chase after meaningless mishaps and add depth to gossip driven drama and forget that people are looking in to see if what we have under the steeple is any different than what they have in their sin.
2) Would my church accept, with open arms, outsiders? Ben, who sought us out last night, seemed like a really fun character. His long hair, leathers, and curious personality might not be accepted at several places of worship - what a travesty...I hope that my church will be a place with arms wide open to people looking in.
Who knew fire pits and Halloween be an opportunity to foster care not only in my neighborhood but also my church? I'm praying I'll be able to talk to Ben and Amy again...
Last night we decided to take over our cove for Halloween. We brought out lawn chairs, a couple of tables, and a couple of fire pits. As it got dark we roasted the hot dogs and made smores and the kids went trick or treating on our block in the quest of who could become the biggest candy glutton. We were able to pass out candy and enjoy the evening cool air as a group of families.
Toward the end of our evening a couple hand in hand walked down the street to our cove. I noticed they didn't have any kids and we're watching us pretty closely. The gentleman had long hair in a ponytail and was in Harley Davidson get up from head to toe. They introduced themselves to us and came down because they were curious. They saw the fire pits, kids playing, and wanted to know what was going on. As the conversation progressed she is a single mom with a 16 year old daughter and they live several doors down. We engaged in pleasantries and I am hoping that our conversation will give me an in to invite them to our church in the near future.
I wonder how often people outside the church look on the inside of church and see love, community, security, fun, hope, and care and long to have that in their lives. I believe that just like last night, people are looking at churches wondering what all the joy is about and can they have a part in it.
This begs two questions:
1) Is the environment in my church like the environment on my cove? Do we foster love, community, and care in such a way that those on the outside want what we have in the inside (1 Peter 2:12)? Too many churches chase after meaningless mishaps and add depth to gossip driven drama and forget that people are looking in to see if what we have under the steeple is any different than what they have in their sin.
2) Would my church accept, with open arms, outsiders? Ben, who sought us out last night, seemed like a really fun character. His long hair, leathers, and curious personality might not be accepted at several places of worship - what a travesty...I hope that my church will be a place with arms wide open to people looking in.
Who knew fire pits and Halloween be an opportunity to foster care not only in my neighborhood but also my church? I'm praying I'll be able to talk to Ben and Amy again...
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