I have realized that there is a buzzword right now in charismatic Christianity that is getting to the point of being cliché. That word is “Community.” Some even like to throw the word “Koinonia” around, which is the Greek word for “Fellowship.” I think that it is a great idea, because Christians need community. Without it, the person dies in isolation. Much like a baby who is not touched, cuddled or loved enough, a person will whither without ample connection. Today I want you to not settle for community, instead seek a life giving community.
The question is…
How do we create a sense of community?
I have worked with Life Groups at multiple places, I have also been a part of many myself. I have noticed the recent push for this, because the church on a whole struggles with the ability to meet individual needs… especially larger churches. For some reason, it seems that a small number of people actually take advantage of these groups. Whether it is fear of intimacy, inability/lack of desire to make time, or needs not being met, it seems that people are not engaging at the rate that churches desire. That, and often times groups are demanded to multiply, much like a business model. But I often feel that community is pushed but not properly taught, much like being told to build a bookshelf without having instructions.
The two components to community that I see are LOVE and FRIENDSHIP.
Love: I can remember getting in a discussion with people and I asked them to define love. They rattled off 1 Corinthians 13, which I am sure you can train a parrot to regurgitate with the same amount of zest. I cut the person off because I knew the person and they did not show the fruit of 1 Corinthians 13 (more on that later). So let me give you the Webster’s Dictionary definition:
THE UNSELFISH LOYAL AND BENEVOLENT CONCERN FOR THE GOOD OF ANOTHER.
Does that change the way you view love? For me, it did. It motivated me to continue to live that way. Without getting into the different Greek forms of love, I want to say that this fits the definition of true love. IT IS A CHOICE, not a feeling. It is also reciprocal, so that means that two people have to make that choice. I am saying all this to say that we really need to have a healthy view on what love is and is not. Ultimately, if everyone had unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of everyone, we would live in a much better society. But life is not that way. That is why it is important that we embody this attribute.
One final thought on love is that not everyone can love properly. If someone is constantly taking from you, you should probably be careful with the time that you spend with them. If you look at your life as a tree, you want to make sure that people are not taking all of your fruit without helping you grow and be more fruitful. That is not love. We are taught to love our neighbors as ourselves, not love our neighbors more than ourselves.
Friendship: Somewhere along the line we were taught in life that everyone must be friends with everyone. That is so unrealistic. In fact, I just heard something to that effect at work yesterday. People who get together in their free time and do stuff that they enjoy doing together are friends. These people also have vested interests in the other person’s life. I am saying this because we have diminished the definition of “friends” to something that is more sterile and less defined. Friendship can get dirty because people’s lives are messy.
How does this relate to church? I have found that people have a tendency to think just because you go to church together, you must be friends. I have had this happen to me a few times, and it disturbs me. The truth is that we must have boundaries about who we say and do things with. We cannot be everything to everyone, it does not work!
I say this to prove a point. We are stewards of our friendships, so we only have so much that we can give adequately. I am quite honestly not very interested in NASCAR or hunting, so I would not have much in common with someone who talks about that constantly. That being said, it would not make sense for me to spend quite a bit of my free time hunting and watching NASCAR, because it would not be enjoyable and I would be wasting time that I could be using speaking life into another friendship that is neglected and could be a much more life-giving friendship.
That being said, when we think about community we need to wonder who we associate best with. We should always be open to new people, but if you have nothing in common with the person then the situation will work itself out. It is not being cliquey because not everyone meshes perfectly. It becomes a clique when you exclude people without good reason.
So how do we as leaders promote this mindset? Teach your people how to love properly. Second, think outside of the box and do activities that bring people together, and empower others create activities to bring others together. Yes, going to church is nice, going to Bible Studies/Cell Groups/Life Groups/Care Groups are good, but sometimes just getting away from the church setting to do an activity is helpful.
To close this post, I want to give you two things to work with. I mentioned 1 Corinthians 13, and I wanted to go back to that. This verse demonstrates what loving people look like. But if we do not cultivate the definition above in our lives, then we can never show the fruit. If you chose to live a life of love, insert your name in place of the word “Love” in 1 Cor 13:4-7. Are you patient, are you kind, do you not envy, etc?
The second point is to look at the people we spend our time with outside of mandatory functions. Do you like what you see? Do they build you up? Do you have activities that you enjoy doing together? These are things you have to ask yourself. In college, I realized that I needed to get people out of my social circles that were unhealthy.
To use an analogy, I understood why my favorite football team was abysmal. Being a Browns fan, I watch my team loyally but I have realized that they are so bad because they pick the wrong type of players for the wrong type of offense and defense that they were running. There were also guys that were distractions and self-centered that hurt team chemistry. In life, we need to find people that fit our systems, and people who do not become cancers to the chemistry of life.
I want to challenge you to not just settle for community, but instead seek loving friendships that lead to healthy community. It might take time, but the best things in life take time.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Ignorance is not Bliss.
One day, I was talking with someone at work and I got into an interesting debate. This person told me that the Bible can be interpreted so many different ways, that it is pretty much irrelevant. I smiled politely and thought of my next move. Knowing that he was an atheist, I wondered how strong his knowledge was of the Bible.
“How well do you know the Bible?” I asked. After a moment, he replied that he never had a desire to read it. Perplexed, I wondered how he knew that it was false if he had never read it before.
“Well, how familiar are you with Greek?” I asked. The answer was predictable. I then went on to explain that the Greeks had multiple interpretations for love, and I rattled off three of them. I then explained that each of those types of love are mentioned in the Bible, and that there is sometimes no distinction in the text, and we lose that in the English translations. He nodded and told me that it was interesting and that he did not know that. I am sure it did nothing to convince him to think differently, but this illustrates the thrust of this post: Christians need to improve their biblical literacy.
When I mention “bible literacy”, I am not referencing having a seminary education or anything of that sort, but rather being a student of what you are learning. If you view the Bible as something you have to read, then you will never glean the life from it. I am guilty of that, and I am doing my best to read it actively instead of reading it as an obligation.
Let’s do a quick exercise. Read 1 Corinthians 14:33-35. It is super-controversial and when taken at face value is really dangerous. Before you disregard my post… know that I am trying to prove that women should be allowed to talk, and that this was a response to an event, not Paul creating doctrine. These are the reasons why…
1. Who was this letter written to? The Corinthians. They had many issues in their church and Paul was writing them to clarify the issue. The issue at hand is the disordered nature of worship.
2. What is the section about? As I just mentioned, the section around it is about disorder during the time of worship (especially with prophecy). After this group of verses (33-35), Paul goes right back into discussing orderly worship, which means this is directly tied to the rest of the chapter.
3. Anything special about the word usage? The word for “silent”, sigao, I have read that it implies a stillness in the face of disorder. We lose that in the English translation.
4. What about the culture of the people? Women in the Roman Empire were not always educated or free to express themselves the way men could. This being said, there are a few theories on what the “disturbances” were.
The men often times went to the forums and knew more about recent theories and religions, where the women were not always free to move about. This would mean that the women would have likely been in the dark when it came to some of the ideas being tossed around. Knowing that the service at times took place in a synagogue, women and men would be on separate sides of the synagogue. This would create disorder as the women would either have to yell across to their husbands to answer questions, or interrupt the speaker to get the proper answer, thus slowing the progress of the group.
It is also believed that the women were abusive of their newfound freedoms in Christianity. They were allowed freedoms that they did not have before, and Paul was trying to temper that. Just like a kid from a strict home going away to college, sometimes people do not do what is right with their new freedoms and abuse them.
It could be one of these issues, it could be all of them. But the important thing is that when this is taken into consideration, it clarifies that it was not doctrine that Paul was creating, but he was creating a temporary remedy for a certain problem.
5. What about Paul’s track record with women? He supported women in leadership. There are numerous women mentioned in the Epistles to the Corinthians and Romans. Chloe and Phoebe are two that come to mind. This showed that he appreciated and encouraged participation from women. It was just that the time was not right in Corinth for them to enjoy total freedom. It might have hurt more than helped.
I am giving this example because it is a debated subject that gets lost when the proper context is not established. That is why it is important for us to understand what it is that we are reading, rather than just taking everything at face value or turning it into something that moves towards our agendas. Instead, we should try to understand why it was written and figure out how it helps us today.
Another example I would like to give is the exchange between Peter and Jesus in John 21:15-17. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times. Three times, Peter replies. What often gets lost in the English is that the Greek words used by Jesus the first two times is agape. This God’s love, true love. Meanwhile, Peter responds that he philos loves Jesus. This type of love is brotherly love. Finally, Jesus asks Peter if he philos loves him, and Peter responds that he does. Does this make the complexion of the verse that much different? I hope that it would.
I would like to encourage everyone who reads this to actively engage what they are learning, and not just take it at face value. Yes, it requires effort, but the rewards outweigh the risks in this case. Christians get called ignorant enough, so I try not to give people another reason to use that insult. Ignorance in this case is not bliss, and I hope you feel the same way!
“How well do you know the Bible?” I asked. After a moment, he replied that he never had a desire to read it. Perplexed, I wondered how he knew that it was false if he had never read it before.
“Well, how familiar are you with Greek?” I asked. The answer was predictable. I then went on to explain that the Greeks had multiple interpretations for love, and I rattled off three of them. I then explained that each of those types of love are mentioned in the Bible, and that there is sometimes no distinction in the text, and we lose that in the English translations. He nodded and told me that it was interesting and that he did not know that. I am sure it did nothing to convince him to think differently, but this illustrates the thrust of this post: Christians need to improve their biblical literacy.
When I mention “bible literacy”, I am not referencing having a seminary education or anything of that sort, but rather being a student of what you are learning. If you view the Bible as something you have to read, then you will never glean the life from it. I am guilty of that, and I am doing my best to read it actively instead of reading it as an obligation.
Let’s do a quick exercise. Read 1 Corinthians 14:33-35. It is super-controversial and when taken at face value is really dangerous. Before you disregard my post… know that I am trying to prove that women should be allowed to talk, and that this was a response to an event, not Paul creating doctrine. These are the reasons why…
1. Who was this letter written to? The Corinthians. They had many issues in their church and Paul was writing them to clarify the issue. The issue at hand is the disordered nature of worship.
2. What is the section about? As I just mentioned, the section around it is about disorder during the time of worship (especially with prophecy). After this group of verses (33-35), Paul goes right back into discussing orderly worship, which means this is directly tied to the rest of the chapter.
3. Anything special about the word usage? The word for “silent”, sigao, I have read that it implies a stillness in the face of disorder. We lose that in the English translation.
4. What about the culture of the people? Women in the Roman Empire were not always educated or free to express themselves the way men could. This being said, there are a few theories on what the “disturbances” were.
The men often times went to the forums and knew more about recent theories and religions, where the women were not always free to move about. This would mean that the women would have likely been in the dark when it came to some of the ideas being tossed around. Knowing that the service at times took place in a synagogue, women and men would be on separate sides of the synagogue. This would create disorder as the women would either have to yell across to their husbands to answer questions, or interrupt the speaker to get the proper answer, thus slowing the progress of the group.
It is also believed that the women were abusive of their newfound freedoms in Christianity. They were allowed freedoms that they did not have before, and Paul was trying to temper that. Just like a kid from a strict home going away to college, sometimes people do not do what is right with their new freedoms and abuse them.
It could be one of these issues, it could be all of them. But the important thing is that when this is taken into consideration, it clarifies that it was not doctrine that Paul was creating, but he was creating a temporary remedy for a certain problem.
5. What about Paul’s track record with women? He supported women in leadership. There are numerous women mentioned in the Epistles to the Corinthians and Romans. Chloe and Phoebe are two that come to mind. This showed that he appreciated and encouraged participation from women. It was just that the time was not right in Corinth for them to enjoy total freedom. It might have hurt more than helped.
I am giving this example because it is a debated subject that gets lost when the proper context is not established. That is why it is important for us to understand what it is that we are reading, rather than just taking everything at face value or turning it into something that moves towards our agendas. Instead, we should try to understand why it was written and figure out how it helps us today.
Another example I would like to give is the exchange between Peter and Jesus in John 21:15-17. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times. Three times, Peter replies. What often gets lost in the English is that the Greek words used by Jesus the first two times is agape. This God’s love, true love. Meanwhile, Peter responds that he philos loves Jesus. This type of love is brotherly love. Finally, Jesus asks Peter if he philos loves him, and Peter responds that he does. Does this make the complexion of the verse that much different? I hope that it would.
I would like to encourage everyone who reads this to actively engage what they are learning, and not just take it at face value. Yes, it requires effort, but the rewards outweigh the risks in this case. Christians get called ignorant enough, so I try not to give people another reason to use that insult. Ignorance in this case is not bliss, and I hope you feel the same way!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Patience and Effort
When I reflect on the lesson that I my teacher taught today, it reminded me of something that is wrong with Christianity. My teacher talked about how Abraham was promised numerous offspring, and he never lived to see it. We begin to see that as Abraham ages, and he begins to become impatient with God and decides to take matters into his own hands. The result was Ishmael, who would be at odds and with all his brothers (Gen 16:12). Abraham eventually received Isaac, and would die not seeing his descendents being numerous.
As a whole, I find that the message above greatly contradicts what we are taught in church today. We have been given an idea that if we have enough faith, that we will receive what we want. Western culture tends to teach us that if we want something, that we should not have to wait for it. Instead of asking God for wisdom to see and have peace with his will, we are taught ask and you shall receive. We also never ask whether we need something or not, we just want it.
With that in mind, I wish to ask you, “What if God gave us everything that we wanted? What would the world look like?” If you ask me, I don’t even want to know! I really don’t think that we would have much of an appreciation for anything in life. Everything would be handed to us on a platter and we would have no respect for anything outside of our own desires.
When I look at my own life, I have benefited from being in a middle class family. We were never rich, but I was never in want of anything. My parents taught me to work for what I have, and that’s what I did. One of my biggest regrets is that I did not listen to God when I was in undergrad. I felt called to the ministry, but I did not feel confident because of my medical problems.
Much like Abraham, I got impatient and did not like what I was hearing from God and I moved in my own direction. Ultimately, I paid the price. The good thing is that I am still using what I learned in college and it gave me a boost for graduate school.
For those of you that know what I have been through medically, you know that I should not even be in grad school. I should not even be in a profession like the one I am about to enter. But it comes to show that God gives you what you need for the moment when you seek his will. It is difficult to see in most cases and often times seems crazy, but that is a discussion for another time!
In regards to Moses, he eventually received Isaac, it took a long time but God gave it to him. One thing that I have always tried to do is be patient for the Isaacs in my life. Whether it is a job, a ministry, a big break on something, I try to wait for God’s perfect timing. I also strive to be content with what God gives me for the moment.
What about those things that we never see? There are things in life that we do not understand. Much like Abraham never seeing his numerous descendents, we have do not always see the fruit of our lives. Me, I never understood why God allowed me to have my conditions. It bothered me for a while, because many of my friends coasted through and I had to work extra hard.
But then two things dawned on me. The first was that I appreciated life much more because I earned what I had. I was patient and trusted God, and it shows. I also did not throw a fit because I did not get what I wanted that moment, I just waited and worked hard.
The second thing that dawned on me is that life is not about me. None of it. My life is to be used to bless others and to help others. Because of what I have been through, I can reach people that no one else can. Instead of saying whoa is me and complaining about my issues, I can encourage others and give life to them because I have become an example of overcoming a bad situation. Often times, we never know who we touch, but we do.
I say this to bring home the idea that we need to continue to seek understanding as to why things happen in our life, and see the global picture rather than the self-benefits of every situation. I do not say that as a man who has it under control, because I just blew it this summer and I think I lost a good friend because of it. I am not perfect! But I am hoping others wish to try and create a paradigm shift with me in which we are patient and appreciate what we have in life instead of always seeking the next thing.
Now that I asked the question what would life look like if we got everything we wanted, what would life look like if we were more patient for God’s leading? I think it would be a better world.
As a whole, I find that the message above greatly contradicts what we are taught in church today. We have been given an idea that if we have enough faith, that we will receive what we want. Western culture tends to teach us that if we want something, that we should not have to wait for it. Instead of asking God for wisdom to see and have peace with his will, we are taught ask and you shall receive. We also never ask whether we need something or not, we just want it.
With that in mind, I wish to ask you, “What if God gave us everything that we wanted? What would the world look like?” If you ask me, I don’t even want to know! I really don’t think that we would have much of an appreciation for anything in life. Everything would be handed to us on a platter and we would have no respect for anything outside of our own desires.
When I look at my own life, I have benefited from being in a middle class family. We were never rich, but I was never in want of anything. My parents taught me to work for what I have, and that’s what I did. One of my biggest regrets is that I did not listen to God when I was in undergrad. I felt called to the ministry, but I did not feel confident because of my medical problems.
Much like Abraham, I got impatient and did not like what I was hearing from God and I moved in my own direction. Ultimately, I paid the price. The good thing is that I am still using what I learned in college and it gave me a boost for graduate school.
For those of you that know what I have been through medically, you know that I should not even be in grad school. I should not even be in a profession like the one I am about to enter. But it comes to show that God gives you what you need for the moment when you seek his will. It is difficult to see in most cases and often times seems crazy, but that is a discussion for another time!
In regards to Moses, he eventually received Isaac, it took a long time but God gave it to him. One thing that I have always tried to do is be patient for the Isaacs in my life. Whether it is a job, a ministry, a big break on something, I try to wait for God’s perfect timing. I also strive to be content with what God gives me for the moment.
What about those things that we never see? There are things in life that we do not understand. Much like Abraham never seeing his numerous descendents, we have do not always see the fruit of our lives. Me, I never understood why God allowed me to have my conditions. It bothered me for a while, because many of my friends coasted through and I had to work extra hard.
But then two things dawned on me. The first was that I appreciated life much more because I earned what I had. I was patient and trusted God, and it shows. I also did not throw a fit because I did not get what I wanted that moment, I just waited and worked hard.
The second thing that dawned on me is that life is not about me. None of it. My life is to be used to bless others and to help others. Because of what I have been through, I can reach people that no one else can. Instead of saying whoa is me and complaining about my issues, I can encourage others and give life to them because I have become an example of overcoming a bad situation. Often times, we never know who we touch, but we do.
I say this to bring home the idea that we need to continue to seek understanding as to why things happen in our life, and see the global picture rather than the self-benefits of every situation. I do not say that as a man who has it under control, because I just blew it this summer and I think I lost a good friend because of it. I am not perfect! But I am hoping others wish to try and create a paradigm shift with me in which we are patient and appreciate what we have in life instead of always seeking the next thing.
Now that I asked the question what would life look like if we got everything we wanted, what would life look like if we were more patient for God’s leading? I think it would be a better world.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What Law Did I Break?
When I was at home a few weeks ago, I had the chance to catch up on a book that I was reading. The best part was that it completely coincided with a discussion that I had with someone while I was at home. This person tried arguing doctrine with me, and I came to found out that he had very little ground to work with. He had spent his entire life disliking Christians WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING CHRIST!
So what I want to discuss today is WHAT EXACTLY JESUS TAUGHT and then ask WHAT LAW ARE WE BREAKING AS CHRISTIANS?
To do this, I am going to give you a quick run down of the Sermon on the Mount paraphrased, outside of the Beatitudes. So, here we go!
Mt 5:13- Live a life of good deeds in the community and bless others.
14-16- Keep Gods ways and be a guide to others.
17-20- Be better than the hypocrites and do not make their mistakes.
21-22- Don't just avoid killing, but think about the anger in your heart that stokes that desire.
23-26- Make amends with those that you have hurt.
27-28- Love your spouse purely, not just considering adultery, but flee from that which entertains the thought of impurity.
29-30- Avoid destructive situations (this is hebraic exaggeration, much like how we exaggerate, so don't poke out your eye!)
31-32- Don't bail on your marriage for any reason, yes there are good reasons, but it was common back then to divorce easily and Jesus is establishing repercussions here.
33-37- Be a person of your word.
38-42- Don't be vengeful, it will destroy you. Instead, do good because it gives life.
43-48- Do good to everyone, not just those who do good to you.
6:1-4- Do charitable things not for attention, but to bless the person.
5-8- Don't be hypocritical and be spiritual only in public, but also in private.
9-15- Pray to revere God, ask for his will, ask for your needs, ask for forgiveness, forgive others, ask for safety from evil and temptation.
16-18- Forgive others of what they have done to you. Other wise it will hurt you physically and hurt you before God.
19-21- Don't be materialistic.
22-24- Focus on what is good in life, and keep your eyes on that rather than dwelling on negativity.
25-34- Do not be anxious over what you can not control.
7:1-5- Do not judge others, and look at yourself before you think of casting judgment.
6- Do not waste your time or good on people who will try to hurt you
7-11- Seek God to provide for your needs and desires in life.
12- The Golden Rule, treat others as you would like to be treated.
13-14- Though the narrow path requires discipline, stay on it because it is the path of life
15-20- Be careful of false teachers, and you can identify them by their fruit.
21-23- Live life authentically, and be real with God.
24-28- Put your trust in what is solid, not in what shifts easily. In this case, it is the teachings of Jesus.
So now that I am done with this, what lesson above violates any law? This is the core of Jesus' teaching in the book of Matthew. The reason that I chose this is because it is a good indicator of what Jesus believed and taught, and it is consistent through out the Gospels. He taught pragmatically and at the level of his audience.
I know that a lot of people who argue with me about Christianity always go for the hypocrisy issue. Hypocrisy is a human trait, not a religious one. Jesus specifically speaks out against that, as noted above. I am writing today to show that most people criticize Christianity because of Christians and that often times they do not understand what is written in the Bible. I am not trying to convert anyone or make anyone feel bad, I just want to write this because I want people to understand Christianity the way I do. The message above is why I am a Christian, because I love Christ and I love what he stood for.
So my question today is, what law do the lessons above break? I think we would be hard pressed to find one.
So what I want to discuss today is WHAT EXACTLY JESUS TAUGHT and then ask WHAT LAW ARE WE BREAKING AS CHRISTIANS?
To do this, I am going to give you a quick run down of the Sermon on the Mount paraphrased, outside of the Beatitudes. So, here we go!
Mt 5:13- Live a life of good deeds in the community and bless others.
14-16- Keep Gods ways and be a guide to others.
17-20- Be better than the hypocrites and do not make their mistakes.
21-22- Don't just avoid killing, but think about the anger in your heart that stokes that desire.
23-26- Make amends with those that you have hurt.
27-28- Love your spouse purely, not just considering adultery, but flee from that which entertains the thought of impurity.
29-30- Avoid destructive situations (this is hebraic exaggeration, much like how we exaggerate, so don't poke out your eye!)
31-32- Don't bail on your marriage for any reason, yes there are good reasons, but it was common back then to divorce easily and Jesus is establishing repercussions here.
33-37- Be a person of your word.
38-42- Don't be vengeful, it will destroy you. Instead, do good because it gives life.
43-48- Do good to everyone, not just those who do good to you.
6:1-4- Do charitable things not for attention, but to bless the person.
5-8- Don't be hypocritical and be spiritual only in public, but also in private.
9-15- Pray to revere God, ask for his will, ask for your needs, ask for forgiveness, forgive others, ask for safety from evil and temptation.
16-18- Forgive others of what they have done to you. Other wise it will hurt you physically and hurt you before God.
19-21- Don't be materialistic.
22-24- Focus on what is good in life, and keep your eyes on that rather than dwelling on negativity.
25-34- Do not be anxious over what you can not control.
7:1-5- Do not judge others, and look at yourself before you think of casting judgment.
6- Do not waste your time or good on people who will try to hurt you
7-11- Seek God to provide for your needs and desires in life.
12- The Golden Rule, treat others as you would like to be treated.
13-14- Though the narrow path requires discipline, stay on it because it is the path of life
15-20- Be careful of false teachers, and you can identify them by their fruit.
21-23- Live life authentically, and be real with God.
24-28- Put your trust in what is solid, not in what shifts easily. In this case, it is the teachings of Jesus.
So now that I am done with this, what lesson above violates any law? This is the core of Jesus' teaching in the book of Matthew. The reason that I chose this is because it is a good indicator of what Jesus believed and taught, and it is consistent through out the Gospels. He taught pragmatically and at the level of his audience.
I know that a lot of people who argue with me about Christianity always go for the hypocrisy issue. Hypocrisy is a human trait, not a religious one. Jesus specifically speaks out against that, as noted above. I am writing today to show that most people criticize Christianity because of Christians and that often times they do not understand what is written in the Bible. I am not trying to convert anyone or make anyone feel bad, I just want to write this because I want people to understand Christianity the way I do. The message above is why I am a Christian, because I love Christ and I love what he stood for.
So my question today is, what law do the lessons above break? I think we would be hard pressed to find one.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
My Out to Sea Experience
So I went out to see about a week and a half ago, and I never followed up. So here it is...
Monday: I showed up at 445 am, but we took off at roughly 6 am. We were SOOOOO late! Good thing we had a very high ranking person with us, who actually said "they can wait!" It must be nice to have that much clout that you can stop a ship from taking off!
The first day was a lot of wondering around the ship and getting lost. I found that most of my job is to talk with people, and get them to spill there guts. Haha! Not really, but we talk a lot to people. It was fun. It was a lot to take in though, because I am only there for a few days and I want to have meaningful conversations. When I have free time, they let me do my homework, being that I had a final due on the following day.
What was cool was seeing a pod of dolphins come along the ship, and they played along the side. They sort of got in the way though, so I am sure that our boss was not too big on that! At the end of the night, I got caught by the Captain wandering around, and he mistook me for someone else! That was sort of awkward. My bed was the third one (think bunk beds), so it was about six feet off the ground and I had a two foot space to climb into! That was interesting.
Tuesday: There was more walking around. The sailors had to wash down the deck, so I wandered around and kept them company. I figured I would put myself out there a bit. Being that I am prior enlisted, I find it strange to talk with enlisted guys, because I am never sure where the boundaries are. But it seemed okay. We start our bible studies tonight, so I will probably start to get to know them a bit more. I am at least getting to know some of the guys in the berthings.
I did the evening prayer tonight, which was no problem. I have done prayers before for retirements and dinners, so it was no problem. One of the quartermasters (guys who drive the ship) tried to teach me how to drive today. I laughed, and said, "I think I will let you do it!" The prayer was a fun experience.
Wednesday: Today it felt like I slept and ate a lot. It was weird. We had a rehearsal for the burial at sea, and I made my Bible Study Lesson. I figured out that I somehow bought female shoulder boards, so I have to figure out a way to get them to stay! Shoe laces do not work... so I might have to pin them down! Ugh. Have to be creative.
Bible Study tonight went great! We had more people tonight, and they were really into the lesson! I taught on being Salt and being light. I think it is a good lesson considering the Navy. I explained the different functions of each (Salt: healing, flavoring, fertilizing, and preserving, Light: Guiding, giving hope, warming, etc). I closed telling them to find one person to be salt and light to this week, and I think they are going to do it!
Thursday: We did a burial at sea, that was an interesting situation. I just stood in formation and watched, but it was interesting. I hope I do not get buried at sea! The high light of today was in bible study, one of the cooks was inspired by the message and the burial at sea and decided to make a can that said "Do you need healing, growth, hope..." she listed a bunch of the qualities, and then passed it around for people to put in a post it with their request. They then threw it out to sea. That was a really touching moment for me because you could tell that they were serious!
The other nice moment was being about to talk with a guy who had given up hope on his dreams. I was there to encourage him, and relay a story from my life. His spirits picked up right away. On a funny note, the Operations officer came into the lunch room today and asked me permission to eat with me. I looked at him and said, "you have rank on me, sir." But I was technically the highest ranking person at the table, so it was sort of a weird moment! I also got to talk with this one guy about faith and politics, the entire time in the dark... I never saw his face! So that was a unique situation.
Friday: We are got off the ship at 1000, and I had to go take care of a few things before I go home. It is nice to be on land again, not that this was bad. I got home around noon, and from there I had to type up and turn in my final for Church History. So that was my trip out to sea, I hope you liked it!
Monday: I showed up at 445 am, but we took off at roughly 6 am. We were SOOOOO late! Good thing we had a very high ranking person with us, who actually said "they can wait!" It must be nice to have that much clout that you can stop a ship from taking off!
The first day was a lot of wondering around the ship and getting lost. I found that most of my job is to talk with people, and get them to spill there guts. Haha! Not really, but we talk a lot to people. It was fun. It was a lot to take in though, because I am only there for a few days and I want to have meaningful conversations. When I have free time, they let me do my homework, being that I had a final due on the following day.
What was cool was seeing a pod of dolphins come along the ship, and they played along the side. They sort of got in the way though, so I am sure that our boss was not too big on that! At the end of the night, I got caught by the Captain wandering around, and he mistook me for someone else! That was sort of awkward. My bed was the third one (think bunk beds), so it was about six feet off the ground and I had a two foot space to climb into! That was interesting.
Tuesday: There was more walking around. The sailors had to wash down the deck, so I wandered around and kept them company. I figured I would put myself out there a bit. Being that I am prior enlisted, I find it strange to talk with enlisted guys, because I am never sure where the boundaries are. But it seemed okay. We start our bible studies tonight, so I will probably start to get to know them a bit more. I am at least getting to know some of the guys in the berthings.
I did the evening prayer tonight, which was no problem. I have done prayers before for retirements and dinners, so it was no problem. One of the quartermasters (guys who drive the ship) tried to teach me how to drive today. I laughed, and said, "I think I will let you do it!" The prayer was a fun experience.
Wednesday: Today it felt like I slept and ate a lot. It was weird. We had a rehearsal for the burial at sea, and I made my Bible Study Lesson. I figured out that I somehow bought female shoulder boards, so I have to figure out a way to get them to stay! Shoe laces do not work... so I might have to pin them down! Ugh. Have to be creative.
Bible Study tonight went great! We had more people tonight, and they were really into the lesson! I taught on being Salt and being light. I think it is a good lesson considering the Navy. I explained the different functions of each (Salt: healing, flavoring, fertilizing, and preserving, Light: Guiding, giving hope, warming, etc). I closed telling them to find one person to be salt and light to this week, and I think they are going to do it!
Thursday: We did a burial at sea, that was an interesting situation. I just stood in formation and watched, but it was interesting. I hope I do not get buried at sea! The high light of today was in bible study, one of the cooks was inspired by the message and the burial at sea and decided to make a can that said "Do you need healing, growth, hope..." she listed a bunch of the qualities, and then passed it around for people to put in a post it with their request. They then threw it out to sea. That was a really touching moment for me because you could tell that they were serious!
The other nice moment was being about to talk with a guy who had given up hope on his dreams. I was there to encourage him, and relay a story from my life. His spirits picked up right away. On a funny note, the Operations officer came into the lunch room today and asked me permission to eat with me. I looked at him and said, "you have rank on me, sir." But I was technically the highest ranking person at the table, so it was sort of a weird moment! I also got to talk with this one guy about faith and politics, the entire time in the dark... I never saw his face! So that was a unique situation.
Friday: We are got off the ship at 1000, and I had to go take care of a few things before I go home. It is nice to be on land again, not that this was bad. I got home around noon, and from there I had to type up and turn in my final for Church History. So that was my trip out to sea, I hope you liked it!
Friday, August 6, 2010
My on the Job Training...
Being that group has been stopped for the Month of August, I figured I could fill you in on my life this week as I went about my on the job training with the Navy. I will do my best not to make it incredibly lame! =)
Monday: I leave at 7 am thinking that will be enough time to get me to NAVSTA Norfolk in time, I was wrong! There was a line a mile away from base, and I was thinking, "Oh shoot. This is definitely not the best first impression!!" So I called, hoping that I do not get completely blasted by my new superiors. I showed up 20 minutes late, and I found that I was the first person there after all!! Worked out quite nice. I was disappointed to find out that my buddy from ODS was not there, but thats okay. I ended up meeting five other Ohioans. It was interesting because it was a computer lab setting and talked while we waited. The most interesting stories were the ones about people's Iraq experiences.
We took a tour of the base, went and ate at the officers club (where I ate the equivalent of two meals), and then took a tour of a destroyer. I won't give many details, mainly because the ships all blur together after a while!
Tuesday: Paperwork!!! AHHHHHHHH! It was rather painless though, but it felt like they were feeling out what they needed from us. That happens ALOT. This is when I found out that I was promoted two months ago and NO ONE TOLD ME! Ridiculous! Its okay though, I just updated my uniforms in the uniform shop. Good thing it was not that high of maintenance.
What was neat was running into a two star admiral (for those that are not familiar, a very important person) who went out of his way to talk with me. I used to work with Admirals, so I am not intimidated. He asked a lot of questions in the two minutes we were talking in the Uniform shop. Then I walked back and casually said, "I just met a two-star, and we talked!" like it was an every day occurrence.
After that, we ambushed the Chaplain Candidate Office. I felt like we stalked them, which we sort of did, but it was fun. I just felt bad since the other group of Chaplain Candidates did the same thing! Thats why I just walked away and made a new friend instead. We had to be on our P's and Q's because the command that the office was in houses a four star admiral (top admiral), so we had to be careful. It worked out okay though.
After lunch, we went on a Frigate. The CO, who was a friendly man of Dutch descent, took us around and was very helpful and interesting. He knew little details about all of his crew members, and even remembered stuff about us. As he was explaining something to us on the outside of the ship, and I felt something land on my arm. I try brushing it off, and feel that it was a hornet. Next thing I felt was a sharp pain! So I forced it off of my arm, and it hurt quite a bit but I kept my mouth shut! It worked out okay, though I am sure that my pictures all have a strange red mark on arm. The chaplains were so proud of me that I took it with minimal reaction =)
Wednesday: We ended up listening to different stories from the chaplains. One Chaplain, who just got in from deployment, was telling us how he deals with sailors. It was interesting listening to his sea stories, and I can not believe some of the things that happen... they are crazy! So I definitely got a strong dose of reality in reference to what the Chaplaincy is like.
We got to check out the Little Creek base, and go on a small patrol boat. The Commanding Officer looked younger than me, and was really friendly. While over in Little Creek, we also checked out Ft. Story. We spent soooo much time driving! When we got back to base, we went on a Cruiser. Not the biggest ship either, but they were really interesting. The command center looks like something straight out of Star Wars, and the capabilities on that ship are amazing.
Thursday: This was a bizarre day. It started out with a massive theology debate between the baptists, and from there the Presbyterian got pulled into it. It seems that everyone is either baptist, seventh day adventist or presbyterians. I like being a fly on the wall for these conversations, because I get to hear view points. I generally don't engage in them, but they are hilarious since you can tell that they are SO into what they are talking about.
One of my fellow candidates disappeared, and we left him behind when we went on a destroyer to meet with an injured sailor. That was a fun experience, and we got to talk with a few lay leaders on the ship.
When we got back, the Chaplain and I went to eat, and we were the only two to go. We bumped into the CCPO coordinator, and he ate lunch with us. I find that he is a really fun guy to talk with, and that he definitely has a difficult job. But it was nice because I could have conversations and not worry about getting talked over.
I got called out a total of two times today! Supposedly, according to one of the Candidates, something about the way I stand is not very militant! I did not get what he said, but eh, oh well. Then I got called out by a Chaplain for having my hat too low. The good thing is that my Chaplain pulled him aside and told him to be more diplomatic about correcting people. The rest of the day he was friendlier than normal to me, I don't know why =)
We went on an amphib today, which are the ships that deploy Marines from the coast. They are large, but they have amazing gyms! Thats what matters to me =)
I found out that I had a dinner that night, and I ended up getting home at 930ish, Not the best for doing homework! But it was a free dinner at Grate Steak, so I can not complain! I met a very encouraging Chaplain Candidate (from OH as well!), and it was great talking with him. Plus, it was just nice to see everyone away from the military scene.
Friday (today)- My chaplain was not here most of the day, but we tagged along with a Captain. We got onto the George Bush, and saw what a newer Aircraft Carrier looks like. The Chapel is AMAZING! So pretty. But it was a pretty impressive ship. We ate in the Officers Mess, and they bought our lunch for us. It was really nice. Plus I bumped into my former Medical Officer from my last command. He remembered me, and it was great talking with him! He was a very inspiring guy, really smart and quietly funny yet humble. He got me an appointment with the best doctors when I needed help a few years back.
So after that, we were done... but the Captain we were with pulled some strings and got us on board a submarine. It was cool, but I was really tired at that point! Those are sooooo tight!
I talked with our Canadian Chaplain today, and found some very random things out. The most impressive was that he said that they eat six meals a day in the Canadian Navy! I did not think that was possible!! Apparently, it is.
So as we were leaving the sub, my two fellow candidates told me that the schedule is up in the air for next week. I have no idea what will happen next, it is sort of annoying because I would like to know. So sit tight, and I will tell you more when I get back next week!
Monday: I leave at 7 am thinking that will be enough time to get me to NAVSTA Norfolk in time, I was wrong! There was a line a mile away from base, and I was thinking, "Oh shoot. This is definitely not the best first impression!!" So I called, hoping that I do not get completely blasted by my new superiors. I showed up 20 minutes late, and I found that I was the first person there after all!! Worked out quite nice. I was disappointed to find out that my buddy from ODS was not there, but thats okay. I ended up meeting five other Ohioans. It was interesting because it was a computer lab setting and talked while we waited. The most interesting stories were the ones about people's Iraq experiences.
We took a tour of the base, went and ate at the officers club (where I ate the equivalent of two meals), and then took a tour of a destroyer. I won't give many details, mainly because the ships all blur together after a while!
Tuesday: Paperwork!!! AHHHHHHHH! It was rather painless though, but it felt like they were feeling out what they needed from us. That happens ALOT. This is when I found out that I was promoted two months ago and NO ONE TOLD ME! Ridiculous! Its okay though, I just updated my uniforms in the uniform shop. Good thing it was not that high of maintenance.
What was neat was running into a two star admiral (for those that are not familiar, a very important person) who went out of his way to talk with me. I used to work with Admirals, so I am not intimidated. He asked a lot of questions in the two minutes we were talking in the Uniform shop. Then I walked back and casually said, "I just met a two-star, and we talked!" like it was an every day occurrence.
After that, we ambushed the Chaplain Candidate Office. I felt like we stalked them, which we sort of did, but it was fun. I just felt bad since the other group of Chaplain Candidates did the same thing! Thats why I just walked away and made a new friend instead. We had to be on our P's and Q's because the command that the office was in houses a four star admiral (top admiral), so we had to be careful. It worked out okay though.
After lunch, we went on a Frigate. The CO, who was a friendly man of Dutch descent, took us around and was very helpful and interesting. He knew little details about all of his crew members, and even remembered stuff about us. As he was explaining something to us on the outside of the ship, and I felt something land on my arm. I try brushing it off, and feel that it was a hornet. Next thing I felt was a sharp pain! So I forced it off of my arm, and it hurt quite a bit but I kept my mouth shut! It worked out okay, though I am sure that my pictures all have a strange red mark on arm. The chaplains were so proud of me that I took it with minimal reaction =)
Wednesday: We ended up listening to different stories from the chaplains. One Chaplain, who just got in from deployment, was telling us how he deals with sailors. It was interesting listening to his sea stories, and I can not believe some of the things that happen... they are crazy! So I definitely got a strong dose of reality in reference to what the Chaplaincy is like.
We got to check out the Little Creek base, and go on a small patrol boat. The Commanding Officer looked younger than me, and was really friendly. While over in Little Creek, we also checked out Ft. Story. We spent soooo much time driving! When we got back to base, we went on a Cruiser. Not the biggest ship either, but they were really interesting. The command center looks like something straight out of Star Wars, and the capabilities on that ship are amazing.
Thursday: This was a bizarre day. It started out with a massive theology debate between the baptists, and from there the Presbyterian got pulled into it. It seems that everyone is either baptist, seventh day adventist or presbyterians. I like being a fly on the wall for these conversations, because I get to hear view points. I generally don't engage in them, but they are hilarious since you can tell that they are SO into what they are talking about.
One of my fellow candidates disappeared, and we left him behind when we went on a destroyer to meet with an injured sailor. That was a fun experience, and we got to talk with a few lay leaders on the ship.
When we got back, the Chaplain and I went to eat, and we were the only two to go. We bumped into the CCPO coordinator, and he ate lunch with us. I find that he is a really fun guy to talk with, and that he definitely has a difficult job. But it was nice because I could have conversations and not worry about getting talked over.
I got called out a total of two times today! Supposedly, according to one of the Candidates, something about the way I stand is not very militant! I did not get what he said, but eh, oh well. Then I got called out by a Chaplain for having my hat too low. The good thing is that my Chaplain pulled him aside and told him to be more diplomatic about correcting people. The rest of the day he was friendlier than normal to me, I don't know why =)
We went on an amphib today, which are the ships that deploy Marines from the coast. They are large, but they have amazing gyms! Thats what matters to me =)
I found out that I had a dinner that night, and I ended up getting home at 930ish, Not the best for doing homework! But it was a free dinner at Grate Steak, so I can not complain! I met a very encouraging Chaplain Candidate (from OH as well!), and it was great talking with him. Plus, it was just nice to see everyone away from the military scene.
Friday (today)- My chaplain was not here most of the day, but we tagged along with a Captain. We got onto the George Bush, and saw what a newer Aircraft Carrier looks like. The Chapel is AMAZING! So pretty. But it was a pretty impressive ship. We ate in the Officers Mess, and they bought our lunch for us. It was really nice. Plus I bumped into my former Medical Officer from my last command. He remembered me, and it was great talking with him! He was a very inspiring guy, really smart and quietly funny yet humble. He got me an appointment with the best doctors when I needed help a few years back.
So after that, we were done... but the Captain we were with pulled some strings and got us on board a submarine. It was cool, but I was really tired at that point! Those are sooooo tight!
I talked with our Canadian Chaplain today, and found some very random things out. The most impressive was that he said that they eat six meals a day in the Canadian Navy! I did not think that was possible!! Apparently, it is.
So as we were leaving the sub, my two fellow candidates told me that the schedule is up in the air for next week. I have no idea what will happen next, it is sort of annoying because I would like to know. So sit tight, and I will tell you more when I get back next week!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Grace and Understanding our Lives: Acts 9
When I was fourteen, I gave my life to Christ. Church was something that was not really forced upon me growing up, yeah we went, but it was not like we were actively involved or anything like that. I can remember going to church and liking the stories, I liked the games and things like that, but the stories tended to make sense to me and I “got it” better than anything else. I became a Christian because I felt in my soul that I belonged there, and that there was something horribly wrong with the system. I will tell you more of my story as we go, but that is what you need to know for now.
The reason why I tell you that now is because the story of how we came to know Christ is one that will shape who you are. They also define what we focus on in ministry. Saul’s story is possibly one of the most popular conversion stories, and consequently the most misunderstood story. Often times, in our western culture we tend to view faith as this instant process in which you are this super-Christian right away. So this is about the story of Saul, but also our own stories, and how God uses our past, our path and our purpose to impact those around us.
So what was Saul’s background? He was a Pharisee who was well educated and considered successful by most standards. We first see him in Acts 8:1, at the stoning of Stephen. When reading the first section of chapter 9, it is apparent that Saul is ordering an eradication of the believers of the Way. “Breathing out threats and murder” is something that should not be taken lightly! He wanted ALL of them dead. It did not matter if it was a man or a woman. This just shows how intense his disdain is for the Christians. Soon, his path would cross with Jesus.
Jesus comes to him and asks him, “why are you persecuting me?” What is interesting about this, is that Jesus is referring to the church as a whole when he refers to himself. So just remember that, when people are persecuting you, they are also persecuting him, so it will not go unnoticed!
What Jesus does is come to Saul and interrupts his path. He decides that it is time to stop the direction he is going on and send him another way. We know that Jesus blinds him, and gives him a command to go to Damascus where he will be told what to do from there. What I find awesome is that even though Saul was persecuting the church, Jesus still had a place in his heart for him. What Saul was doing was horrible, but Jesus still wanted him to help the church.
In verse 10, Jesus goes to Ananias, and tells him to find Saul. What I love about this is that Jesus does not say, “The same Saul that has been persecuting me.”, instead he says, “A man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.” He also said that he received a vision about Ananias coming. It seems that Jesus is being sneaky here, because as soon as Ananias picks up on what is going on, he gives a “Wait, THAT SAUL????” Type of response, though he was quite diplomatic about telling Jesus that it was not the wisest move. But Jesus keeps telling him that he is an instrument for his use. As we all know, Ananias goes to Saul and heals him and delivers the message.
The rest of Acts shows Saul preaching in the Synagogues, and the same man that was hunting the Christians is now being hunted by the authorities. So what you are probably wondering is “how did he go from one extreme to the other?” There was a bit of a process, but when you think about it, teaching in the synagogues would have been perfect since he is a well versed Pharisee. He could prove that Jesus was the Son of God because he was familiar with the prophecies and could effectively debate.
So how does this apply to us? We all have our own Past, Path and Purpose in life, much like Saul did.
Past- Saul life as a Pharisee fit well into the need for a knowledgeable leader. Not only did this show that he could argue with the most educated of his kind, but this dramatic turnaround shows the massive amount of Grace that he accepted from Jesus. Often times, we have both types of people in our lives. Think about C.S. Lewis, he was a great apologist because he was once an atheist. He therefore knew the territory, and could argue on those levels. As for the grace received for grievous sins, the stunning turnaround can give faith to so many people.
Just think, in your life there has probably been a few things that you have gone through that not everyone can relate with. Or maybe a whole community of people has felt your pain as well but do not know how to approach it. Because of this, God has allowed you to experience what you have so that you may be more sensitive to them and be able to minister to them in a way someone like me could never. It can be really hard and confusing, but in my own life I figured that out.
When I look at my own past, I find that I was severely deficient in certain areas. The best way to hurt someone who has strong gifts is to make them weak in those areas. With the Romans 12 gifts, I always come out as an exhorter. Growing up, I did not have much encouragement from people… which is tough considering my disabilities. So I became discouraged, depressed and quiet (I am a natural extrovert). When I think about the gifts in Ephesians 4, I have always been told that I am a good teacher. Many of the churches I attended throughout my life gave false teaching and did not let me exercise my spiritual gift of teaching, which stunted my growth.
Many of us tend to fold and walk away because we just want the pain to stop so we find ways to avoid it. I tried that. I tried to walk away, but it did not work out so well. I then realized that if I did not become a Christian, then there would be no hope… and I needed to be that hope for other people. Because of my deficiency, it strengthened my resolve to give proper teaching and to make sure that those under my care are working to be whole and joyful people.
Path- Jesus found Saul on a road to arrest a large group of people. Instead of arresting them, Saul would eventually join them. God crosses our paths in many ways. Some at school, some at work, or through friends. God comes to us different ways at different points of our lives. What I have found about our paths, which span our entire lives, is that they are so different.
When I think about my path after I came to faith, it took about seven years for me to finally solidify and stabilize. I had some really bad run ins with churches, I accidentally joined a cult, was threatened with exorcism, to name a few. So I did not really have a firm grasp of scripture for a while. It was not until I took a class in undergrad on Hermaneutics that everything made sense for me.
Do I still remember those bad experiences? Yes. Do I let them hinder me? No. If I let it hinder me, then I will be cheating someone else out of a blessing. So instead I strengthened my resolve to become a better teacher. I just feel that Christians deserve a better class of leader than many of the leaders out there now.
With me, it was a slower process, and I got criticized a bit about it along the way. I had to learn to have grace with myself, and know that if I continued to beat myself up over it, then I would be hurting myself and eventually hurting others. Some of us have tougher roads than others, and we should always remember that everyone has a story and that we must be sensitive to their growth process. Also, some people do not heal as fast, so we must remember that their paths are a little more checkered then our own. But none the less, we are on unique paths that lead us to our unique purposes.
Purpose- There is this false belief that everyone’s highest purpose should be pastoral ministry. I have had a few people tell me that over my lifetime, and I promptly corrected them. If we were all preachers, then nothing else would happen! I say this to say that in our own purposes, we should never be discouraged about what we feel called to do.
I can remember moving through the church and people telling me that I need this gift or that gift, and they said that “It proves that you are a Christian” if you have this. They did not grasp the idea of diversity, and I felt like I was wearing a monkey suit when I was trying to get their approval. Needless to say, I gave up quickly.
When we look at Saul, he moved forward with his purpose of becoming an instrument to the Gentiles. When he grasped this concept, he wrote the Epistles and became one of the corner stones of our church. Saul was very influential for many reasons. But if he would have stayed in his past, instead of learning from it and utilizing it, he would have been stuck in a rut and probably only focused on Jews.
I realized my purpose when I was working at the Zoo. I have told many people this story, so if you have not heard it, just ask. When the holy spirit interceded in tight situations, when men 20 years older than me asked me for my wisdom, and when people of all walks of life wanted to be my friend when by all means they should have avoided me, then I realized that I was called to do this. This continued much of my life since then, and I have found that even though life is not perfect, I have peace because I know where I am supposed to be.
But now I want to revisit the problem of comparison. I have spent so much time establishing that you are unique and that God made you that way, but often times people do not realize that for one reason or another.
The first fallacy is that we think that our past precludes us from what he wants from us. NOT AT ALL. When you look at Saul, it was utilized.
The second fallacy is that we think that someone else’s path is better than our own. Just because someone has something different than you, does not mean that they are better. When we look at Paul, we tend to think that he came out that way. But when you start to read his letters, you begin to realize that he grows and changes over time. Paul grew over the years, so that just comes to show that we should try to understand someone’s path before we claim that they did better than us.
Finally, the third fallacy is that someone has a higher purpose than the next. Growing up as a twin, I have always been compared to my brother whether we liked it or not. I can remember growing up playing basketball. My brother was really good, and so many of my peers asked me, “why aren’t you as good as him?” My reply would be, “Because I am not Justin. I play a different style game, I play the power positions and I like to rebound and play defense. We are different.” I was never jealous of him, I knew that my purpose was to do the dirty work that most people did not want to do. The problem is that many people in society do not understand that we all need to have our own purpose.
Having Grace- When we look at Paul, we oftentimes assume that he just did well through his entire existence. We tend to forget that his growth took years, the book of Acts covered quite a few years. But since it is 28 chapters and everything is event oriented, we forget that it took years. Not all of us feel deficient in every area, but so many of us do. Sadly enough, many of us even think we are too deficient to give love, let alone anything else. Just know that God sees your heart, and he does not look at the volume, but the effort.
With that being said, have grace with yourself! We cannot be everything to everyone, and we can not be perfect. We can try, but that will break us. If you need a little more time to figure yourself out, take your time and do not give into what others demand. If you are healing slower than you hope, take your time… there is a reason why whatever happened happened to you, and God is probably working on you a little longer for a reason. There is always a big picture to everything in life, so there is a reason that we move at the speed we do. Sometimes people find their calling in their seventies, and they do great things in their twilight, but chances are that if they knew in their 20’s what they were supposed to do, they would have failed miserably because they were not emotionally or spiritually ready for it.
In closing, I hope that you understand that we must always be patient with ourselves, because there is a reason for everything. He will not allow us to go through hardships if he knew it would break us, it is to help us grow stronger. If God allowed it to happen, seek his understanding and grace so that you will be able to grow stronger through it. Just remember, as great as Paul was, that did not happen right away. Nobody happens “right away.” Continue to live in grace =)
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