Fresh Is as Fresh Does

I read in Matthew 16 a passage that still challenges me. I say “still” because it’s the key verse God used to bring me to repentance in 1971. “What will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?” (Matt. 16:26 NASB). It’s easy to overlook caring for our own spiritual health while we seek to minister to others. The one can’t be done without the other. Ministering to others must flow out of the life and health of our own spiritual life – what God is currently doing in us, not just what He did in days past. At the same time, a healthy soul finds ways of expression and ministry, otherwise it becomes stale – even putrid (think of the Dead Sea which has no outlet). God, keep me fresh!

Come and Worship

Come! Let us raise a joyful song to the Lord,
a shout of triumph to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
and sing him psalms of triumph.
For the Lord is the great God,
a great king over all gods;
the farthest places of the earth are in his hands,
and the folds of the hills are his;
the sea is his, he made it;
the dry land fashioned by his hands is his.
Come! Let us throw ourselves at his feet in homage,
let us kneel before the Lord who made us;
for he is our God,
we are his people, we the flock he shepherds.
You shall know his power today
if you will listen to his voice.
(Psalm 95:1-7 New English Bible)

What a great privilege we have to serve the King of kings! There is no higher honor than to have been adopted as children of God and received into His family. Though, and thankfully, we are not saved by things we do, but through faith, we are given the privilege of doing things for Him to accomplish His plan. The times we get to see how things fit together are great times. PTL.

You’ll notice that this passage is from the New English Bible. For the last few years I’ve done my daily Bible reading from versions other than what I normally use for study. It’s been interesting to become familiar with the New Revised Standard and New King James Version. I have more that I’m working toward after I finish with the NEB – sometime next Spring. One advantage that I’m finding is that the different wording brings new insights.

I like the way that the NEB translates verse 6: “Come! Let us throw ourselves at his feet in homage.” All the other versions I’ve looked at use the words worship and bow. The NEB, with its “throw ourselves at his feet in homage,” communicates to me a greater sense of urgency and passion. I like that.

Reflections of a Common Man

I saw a pair of falcons the other day. I’ve seen singles before, but never two together. These two looked young. They caught my attention as they leaped into the air from a tree near our deck. Suzanne and I had just gone out to enjoy the beautiful Spring morning and apparently startled these two from their rest. They took differing paths to escape the threat we posed, one to the east of the house and one to the south. The one heading south didn’t go far, but landed in a Maple tree just behind the house. We were able to catch a great view, though brief, of the magnificent bird of prey.

Our home is visited regularly by a variety of flying animals: Canadian geese love this area with the small stream down the hill and the pastures nearby, crows abound with their incessant cawing, starlings have been resident even through the winter, robins have returned bringing their joyful tune with them and bluebirds, finches, sparrows and other common birds. The falcons, however, are not common. They’re special.

I’ve intended this blog to be a place where I can ruminate on things large and small, wise and simple, common and unusual. All of these are simply the reflections of a common man. Even as I write that phrase – common man – I’m reminded that there isn’t one of us who is really common. Each of us is unique, created by God in His image for His purpose with His glory in mind. It doesn’t seem like “common” is a good word to use of God’s creative work. King David described himself as “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

So, I reflect on the birds of the air and the worth we ascribe to them – great or small – and the vastly surpassing worth of those creatures God deigned to create in His image. I’m humbled again to be called a child of God – a son of the Lord of Heaven. It’s amazing.

All In: How do we ever know?

Ministry can be tough. Charlie Brown said, “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand.” I spoke with a friend and colleague yesterday and he is struggling over some issues in his ministry. How do you get people motivated? How do you enable them to see the big picture and what’s possible if everyone is sold out to the goal of the ministry?

Those questions really are keys to leadership in any area. How to you get the people to go “all in?” How can you get someone fully invested in the goals of the organization? I wonder if the key is defining what “all in” looks like. What would it look like for an individual or a couple to be fully invested in the “prime directive” of an organization? For me, what would it look like for someone to be “all in” seeking to fulfill the great commission?

Do we define “all in” by the amount of time invested in the task? Are we “all in” because we give the majority of our time to a specific endeavor? Are we “all in” when we attend every event or support every project?

Another question: Who defines “all in” anyway? Is the leader the one who decides who’s “all in?” Do we trust the people to determine whether they’re “all in?” Can we trust them?

There are many bases on which we could define “all in,” some of which would be helpful. Other ways can be misleading or even deceptive.

Perhaps the bottom line is whether I’m “all in.” Am I doing all I can or should? That in itself is an interesting question. How much can I do? Is there ever an end to how much I could do? If we focus on “should,” that implies that there is an objective standard which determines the appropriate level of activity. Am I meeting that standard? Do I have any right to go beyond that amount? It appears to me that we err when we press past the level of “should” and endeavor to do everything possible. Furthermore, when I apply that “could” standard to others, I’ve compounded the error and make those I influence partners in violating the proper God-given expectations for activity.

Father, I believe that you would have me focus on my “all in,” forgetting the status of those around me. When I lose my focus remind me of your plan and your empowerment. Let me model that level of commitment – and activity – that characterizes a properly balanced life by your standards, rather than the arbitrary standards of some human culture. May I represent you well.