The Resume!

If you have lived and struggled it is likely that you have graduated from the school of hard knocks. It’s life experience the teaches you a few lessons that shaped who you are and likely sharpen your skills along the way. For me, I think I may have been a graduate student (Masters level) and likely never to receive my diploma because I feel as if every each day I had another lesson in a perpetual series of classes. Unfortunately, I didn’t always do well on the exam.

The good news is, there’s a lot that I can put on my resume. While it might not be a certified transcript from an accredited institution, nevertheless it has taught me certain skills that shape who I am. Life’s challenges are indeed the hallmark for achievement. When applying for our first job we may have been turned down because experience was needed. Eventually we start hearing that we are over experienced because of our age. Yet, somehow in the middle we find a career and a profession or vocation based on our skills, education, and mostly experiences.

I have been criticized for working too hard. In one of my ministries I averaged over 80 hours weekly and still volunteered my time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). I did chaplaincy work in another ministry where I would serve after 10 pm through early morning; getting just a few hours of sleep I would report to the office the next morning by 8:00 AM. Of course I needed to spend more time at home!  

Those ideals where drilled into me by my father who believed in hard work. His motto could have been, “Do all you can!” I am reminded of a quote I read, “A recent scientific study showed that out of 2,293,618,397 people, 94% are too lazy to actually read that number.” (I hope you are willing to read further!)

Wisdom prevails when it comes to experience. Nothing can beat personal experience. The lessons we’ve learned help us interpret life and make good choices. 

Theodore Roosevelt was a terrific historian and tremendous leader at the turn of the 20th century. His resume was built through rugged hard work and through tough individualism. It was through his experience of leading the Roughriders and furthering his career as a strong and independently-minded person that created the brand that we know him as now. He’s often known for advocating for individual achievement and hard work ethics that earned him tremendous stature as a strong man. Winning battles and achieving through hard work became symbols of his brand. His resume was based on his large achievements and perseverance and mostly experience.

As I comb through the Bible it’s easy to come upon another individual who reminds me of a similar personality, both before and after his conversion. The apostle Paul is that rugged individual that seems to also have a tremendous resume of experiences. 2 Corinthians 11:23 - 28 is a summary of his resume.

“Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

**Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.**” -- 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (Astrid added)

There are very few people who have such an impressive resume. While there are many in history, I know of none personally. But, I do know is that this as a person of high achievement and, in the midst of struggle, has persevered. I believe it certainly rest on the understanding that the apostle Paul had a Calling from the Lord. Even a tremendous testimony of his conversion.

Too often I find people who are willing to give up and just the moment that they could have achieved. Too often we hear of those that have backtracked because it was simply too hard to step forward. Too often we see individuals who are given a pass and excuses are made when they had every reason to move ahead.

I look back on how many times my plans were thwarted and if had I just simply had hung on just a little bit longer could’ve made the different. Even toward the end of Paul’s life we find in the book of Philippians that Paul drew his strength from the Lord. I’m impressed that while he was in prison one of the most impressive statements is that he concludes that letter by giving greetings and especially calling out those of the household of Caesar. These were the ones that have come to faith likely because of the influence of Paul during his house arrest and imprisonment.  Even though he had every reason to give up yet, he continued to build his resume for the work of the Lord. He spoke truth and saw converts even among the high-ranking officials of Caesars Palace.

Could I or any of us conclude our lives with such a resume? Could any one of us write down a list of those whose lives have been changed because of our impact on their lives? We never really know when our final day is to come, yet, we should be about our fathers business each and every day by sharing our faith. Our message is filled with the hope we have through Christ who gives us strength. 

Let us not retire, nor grow tired but build a resume of experiences for God’s glory!

The Living Hope!

Today I want to encourage us because of the living Word of God. Today’s blog entry is a reminder that there is a living hope! 

There are at least three things I need to  understand in order that we can see that God is active and living. He is active in His creation and by His Word, the Bible in our lives. 

God spoke!

In Genesis we see that God always has been. The Bible starts out with, “In the beginning God.” The fact that God has always been is important. It is in understanding thus that as He created life. it was through Him that gave order to life! 

Many debate how God did it. The Bible makes it clear that His creation began to be described by His Word when it reads, “...and God said”. The world became because God spoke the living Word.

We see further that the Word was living and life began as He spoke it into being. Psalms 33:6 reads; “The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word,and all the stars were born.”

The translation here uses the word, merely. It is an adverb that means, “only as specified and nothing more; simply”. I love that word because it seemed easy for God. It was simply by the spoken Word!

The Word already existed.

A word we often talk about and read is LOGOS. It is a Greek word which means order and logic. From nothing God created order. Before creation there was nothing but God created order in His creation. We know by reading John 1:1-3 that the Word already existed. It was not created but all of creation was by the spoke word; it already existed!  

John 1:1-3 is how we come to understand the origin of his Word as it reads, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.”

Scripture reminds us that the Word is eternal. The Word of God not only has always existed but it was by what God spoke into being. The Scripture says that God’s Word never returns void. (Isaiah 55:11) It is a truth that reminds us that the word of God as eternal substance, not just for this world but also the next. We read about God’s kingdom and that Jesus came to reveal his kingdom on earth but it is by his word that it comes into being.

Isaiah 55:11 — It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

A love for His Word. 

I think I enjoy preaching and teaching the Word most because it’s the opportunity to remind people of the eternal hope. We can have this hope through the living God and living Word.  It begins by my love for the Bible!

We have a living hope because of the eternal blessing that can only come from the Word of God. 1 Timothy 4:10 reads, “This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.”

It is hardest to live it out! (not just preach truth). Living out what is preached or taught is the toughest! Applying and being discipled in the Word of God is clearly challenging but, God also gives us strength to accomplish his will for our lives. Since His Word is eternal it also means that His principles and precepts are eternal. It becomes a way of life!

What is the life verse that keeps me on track? 

My life verse is from Philippians 1:6 that reads and reminds me daily, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

When I discovered my life verse, it wasn’t magical but, the Lord impressed on me that this verse was specific to me. It became an anchor for me so that during troubled waters I can remain calm and it keeps me from drifting.

My challenge for us is to memorize passages from the Word that have deep meaning and deep application to our lives. What is your favorite one?

Measure of Church Health

I have pastored in churches for many years and I’ve often wondered how I could measure not only my church growth but also church health. There are many parameters that we use today from personality test to emotional intelligence and the like but is there a measurement for church health?

Experts will tell us that we can measure our churches impact on church growth. Often churches have become event oriented in an effort to draw people in but during the lock down of the corona virus this past spring and throughout the summer it has caused many churches to reevaluate their impact. Going online and attracting more individuals just left church with an uneasy feeling and many ask themselves if truly they are making a difference?

When I pastored I worked hard at getting people involved in the ministry. One of the the strategies came as a result something I was passionate about. I was interested in engaging others in the process and seeing them rise to the leadership level and be involved in ministry. As they made great strides it also raised the level of impact of the church. Even today, my ministry context in a para-church organization once again is looking for ways to involve others. I’d like to see peoples stepping up and taking on the ministry that they can lead. Perhaps that’s a way to measure church health is by getting people involved?

Today I want to offer yet another idea on church health. I believe that the level of compassion for the church has toward others, especially those outside the church, could be a great measurement tool. The church's “compassionate intelligence ratio” could be perhaps the most important quality in the life of the church. Jesus spoke of this over-and-over by how He demonstrated through His life but also what He said about love. Jesus had compassion and His example, I believe is a measurement instrument and has a direct impact on the way we measure our church health.

As church encourages their people to reach out and love others in the name of Jesus, it raises the tide for the church to a place that we can measure its impact. Having loving and compassionate ministries while at the same time engaging others in the process is a terrific measurement.

More basic than that is a simple question of how we treat those less fortunate than ourselves? Perhaps it’s a question for our church; about the way in which they treat the least in the lost of our community? I believe that the care for the orphans and widows as recorded in the book of James gives us a biblical reference point and a measurement tool.

Foster Care and the ministry to those serving this sector is one way of activating the compassion intelligent ratio. How often does the church talk about and engage the church in the ministry to the orphan of today (those in foster care and at-risk youth)? 

Perhaps God would have put community of the faithful to also be people of compassion? It is just as important to be compassionate and caring as to be concerned about the attendance as just numbers or the financials as ways to measure health. 

I defer to the heart of God who saw the multitudes as sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36) He said that our light should shine in darkness so that others can see the face of God! (2 Cor. 4:6)

I look to the scripture that tells me that God is interested in the care and welfare of the least and the lost of our communities as recorded in Proverbs 31:8-9 which reads; “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.“

I marvel at the message that is a repeated theme over-and-over to love and care for the orphan. James makes it clear that true religion is the care for the orphan as recorded in James 1:27 Which reads; “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.“

In summary we can understand the heart of God as recorded in Psalms 82:3-4 which reads; “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.“