26 October 2005
Time Management
I used to be an excellent time manager. It's become so clear lately that I may have those gifts deep down somewhere, but they're hiding. Or, rather, I'm being lazy. I've tried to take control of this again so I can stop running around like crazy. Please send out a prayer for me when you think about it. I'm getting everything done that I need to; I just need to do it all with less stress and greater efficiency.
Real Idiot
Sometimes I can be a real idiot. While in North Carolina last week I began a blog for our D-Group. I made sure only members of the blog could comment, just in case anyone else happened to stumble across it. (I'm not listing it publicly in blogger because I'm trying to allow our group to be open, honest, and private.) Anyway, I added all the guys as members by listing their e-mail addresses in the open line, separating them all by semi-colons. Concerned that no one had added themselves, I began pondering what went wrong. Then it hit me: I had to add each guy by using a separate line. Ugh! It's really obvious, too, when you adjust your settings. Man.... :)
25 October 2005
Vocation of Ministry
Okay, Brandon has made some good points, but my thoughts need another post. I'll be organized, with three parts to my thoughts. (What a pastor!)
1) Brandon is correct that all Christians are called to ministry. Regardless of our particular vocation, each of us has a responsibility to live a life worthy of the call to faith. That doesn't mean our ministry stops with our lifestyles. Rather, we must also testify about the Lord, actively seeking to bring others into God's Kingdom. Our evangelical testimonies are the thing that separates us from being a "good person" and being a "good Christian person." (Yes, I do think it's a cop-out to say, "I'll just evangelize by living a life that people want to know more about why I'm different." I'm not saying that each person will evangelize five people daily, but I'm saying that the Lord will lead us into the right place at the right time with people.)
2) While all Christians are called to be ministers, I still think this is a cop-out for some people who are afraid to go into a full-time vocation of ministry. I do think there is a difference between the every-Christian-minister and the full-time-Christian-minister. It may be hard to deal with, but God really does call people apart from the norm. He always has. After being led out of Egypt, Abraham's descendents were given a life code. This wasn't meant to make the people "better" than everyone; they were being called from the normal people to be separate for God. Even among those called out people, God set apart the Levites even further. They received no land inheritance, and their entire lives were to be wrapped up in doing God's ministry. If you don't see the connection for today's world, here it is. God still calls people out to be separate for His ministry. When we're Christians, God calls us apart from the world. This doesn't make us better than everyone else; it makes us separate. (God loves all people and wills that none should perish, remember?) He calls some Christians (like Brandon and me) to a life of full-time vocational ministry, making us even more separate but not "better." Basically, I believe God calls people apart, not above. We're on a level plane in the eyes of the Lord, regardless of what we do, how we do it, or the length of time we've spent doing it. When I say that the honor of a full-time vocational calling is being ignored, I am not talking about one person being better than another. I'm talking about the honor of being called apart from the norm by God. That's cool.
3) Brandon never would have had to warn me not to make others feel badly about themselves if we ministers weren't so corrupt. What is our problem, anyway? People have perverted the fact that we're called apart for Him, making ministry something about us being above others. So many ministers have lived lives in which we seem better than others, sometimes even treating Christians in our care like they don't measure up to our level of spirituality or our knowledge of God. If we weren't so busy making ministry about us, then no one would feel put down by our unique callings. Rather, they would celebrate and encourage others who felt that call. Ministry has become about money, talent, and comfort, three things that dominate many pastoral meetings, conversations, and interviews. These things are important, but we need to let go of ourselves and minister in God's name and in His power. Then the truth of God will prevail, and we won't have to worry about inferiority complexes in other Christians. (I'll save my many thoughts about inferiority complexes also being too much about us.)
1) Brandon is correct that all Christians are called to ministry. Regardless of our particular vocation, each of us has a responsibility to live a life worthy of the call to faith. That doesn't mean our ministry stops with our lifestyles. Rather, we must also testify about the Lord, actively seeking to bring others into God's Kingdom. Our evangelical testimonies are the thing that separates us from being a "good person" and being a "good Christian person." (Yes, I do think it's a cop-out to say, "I'll just evangelize by living a life that people want to know more about why I'm different." I'm not saying that each person will evangelize five people daily, but I'm saying that the Lord will lead us into the right place at the right time with people.)
2) While all Christians are called to be ministers, I still think this is a cop-out for some people who are afraid to go into a full-time vocation of ministry. I do think there is a difference between the every-Christian-minister and the full-time-Christian-minister. It may be hard to deal with, but God really does call people apart from the norm. He always has. After being led out of Egypt, Abraham's descendents were given a life code. This wasn't meant to make the people "better" than everyone; they were being called from the normal people to be separate for God. Even among those called out people, God set apart the Levites even further. They received no land inheritance, and their entire lives were to be wrapped up in doing God's ministry. If you don't see the connection for today's world, here it is. God still calls people out to be separate for His ministry. When we're Christians, God calls us apart from the world. This doesn't make us better than everyone else; it makes us separate. (God loves all people and wills that none should perish, remember?) He calls some Christians (like Brandon and me) to a life of full-time vocational ministry, making us even more separate but not "better." Basically, I believe God calls people apart, not above. We're on a level plane in the eyes of the Lord, regardless of what we do, how we do it, or the length of time we've spent doing it. When I say that the honor of a full-time vocational calling is being ignored, I am not talking about one person being better than another. I'm talking about the honor of being called apart from the norm by God. That's cool.
3) Brandon never would have had to warn me not to make others feel badly about themselves if we ministers weren't so corrupt. What is our problem, anyway? People have perverted the fact that we're called apart for Him, making ministry something about us being above others. So many ministers have lived lives in which we seem better than others, sometimes even treating Christians in our care like they don't measure up to our level of spirituality or our knowledge of God. If we weren't so busy making ministry about us, then no one would feel put down by our unique callings. Rather, they would celebrate and encourage others who felt that call. Ministry has become about money, talent, and comfort, three things that dominate many pastoral meetings, conversations, and interviews. These things are important, but we need to let go of ourselves and minister in God's name and in His power. Then the truth of God will prevail, and we won't have to worry about inferiority complexes in other Christians. (I'll save my many thoughts about inferiority complexes also being too much about us.)
20 October 2005
Interesting Follow-Up
You'll never guess what happened this morning. I represented BBC at a Christian school that was strongly focused on ministry and spiritual depth! Just about the time I thought I should give up on Christian schools, the Lord reminded me that He really is behind these ministries. The school's chaplain is legitimately encouraging spiritual depth, telling the students there is no point in being in Christian school without active faith. YES!! It's so much better when we can actually perceive God's truth in places that claim to teach it.
18 October 2005
Spiritual depth
What ever happened to spiritual depth? I guess I shouldn't be so extreme with that statement, but I can't believe how shallow Christian "depth" can be sometimes. For example, why on earth would a parent ever dedicate their child to the Lord if they know deep down they would be upset if their child ever went far from home or (gasp) entered God's full-time ministry? Seriously, when did going into ministry stop being an honor? I feel as though ministry is a great calling, a very high spiritual honor, a humbling responsibility. I'm pretty sure that there aren't many people like me anymore. Even testimonies of those pursuing God's call often start with, "I never wanted to be in ministry, but I guess I had to." I've spent a lot of time in Christian schools lately, and I've been shocked that NOT ONE student in a CHRISTIAN high school feels led to ministry. The profiles I've been handed by guidance counselors talk a lot about being accepted into schools and being "as good as public schools."
It seems to me that we're walking a fine line. Christians don't want to be called anymore; we don't want to go out on a limb for God. (Yes, I know that all you BBC students are arguing with me in your minds right now because most of you are the exception.) We don't want the world to look at us and say, "Christian schools aren't as good;" "Christians aren't as smart or successful;" or "Christians don't make enough money." What?! None of those things has ANYTHING to do with our faith. Seriously, Christians, where are we dropping the ball? We've traded truly knowing Christ for a "relevance" that has more to do with being worldly than with connecting with those around us. Is this why Christ asked whether He'd find anyone faithful upon His return?
It seems to me that we're walking a fine line. Christians don't want to be called anymore; we don't want to go out on a limb for God. (Yes, I know that all you BBC students are arguing with me in your minds right now because most of you are the exception.) We don't want the world to look at us and say, "Christian schools aren't as good;" "Christians aren't as smart or successful;" or "Christians don't make enough money." What?! None of those things has ANYTHING to do with our faith. Seriously, Christians, where are we dropping the ball? We've traded truly knowing Christ for a "relevance" that has more to do with being worldly than with connecting with those around us. Is this why Christ asked whether He'd find anyone faithful upon His return?
04 October 2005
Salvation
Hi, everyone! Yes, it's been awhile. Many things have happened...at least in the Brewer family. :) Sorry, Mark, but I'm glad about Emily's first steps/marathon. All I've done is to travel. I love admissions!
Okay, here's the deal. Communion is such an important thing for its lack of excitement in many churches. I am convinced that we've allowed something strange to happen in our worship. When participating in the Lord's Supper, we were asked to do it in remembrance of Christ. We do this. How do we do it? We talk about Christ's death and resurrection, remembering what happened way back when. That's what salvation seems to be to so many people - something that happened way back when. While Christ's death and resurrection happened way back when, salvation was not a one-time thing. Salvation did not happen simply at the death and resurrection without any further action on the part of Father, Son, or Spirit. Truthfully, we are still being saved. Today God is saving me through Christ by the Spirit. Today God's power forgives me, redeems me, restores me, and frees me for powerful living. Today I am being saved. When Christ told us to practice the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Him, was He talking about remembering Him as an individual, or was He talking about remembering Him as an eternal saving agent? Should we remember the action without remembering who the Lord really is? No way.
Okay, here's the deal. Communion is such an important thing for its lack of excitement in many churches. I am convinced that we've allowed something strange to happen in our worship. When participating in the Lord's Supper, we were asked to do it in remembrance of Christ. We do this. How do we do it? We talk about Christ's death and resurrection, remembering what happened way back when. That's what salvation seems to be to so many people - something that happened way back when. While Christ's death and resurrection happened way back when, salvation was not a one-time thing. Salvation did not happen simply at the death and resurrection without any further action on the part of Father, Son, or Spirit. Truthfully, we are still being saved. Today God is saving me through Christ by the Spirit. Today God's power forgives me, redeems me, restores me, and frees me for powerful living. Today I am being saved. When Christ told us to practice the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Him, was He talking about remembering Him as an individual, or was He talking about remembering Him as an eternal saving agent? Should we remember the action without remembering who the Lord really is? No way.
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