May 22, 2009
It was just an irritating flat tire. After what had already seemed like a long day, with meetings at 6:30 a.m. on one side of town, and 10 a.m. at the other side of town, I was driving back to my office around noon and heard that “blub, blub, blub” sound coming from the front right tire. I knew my tires need replacing – all four. But with money as tight as it is these days, I was hoping for a few more miles. But here it was, reality hitting hard on a 84 degree day, on a busy road. I changed the tire in my newly drycleaned suit, sweating like a steer and muttering about how unlucky I was. I realized I had to head home after the tire store stop to shower and change. Just a crummy flat tire on an overwhelmingly full day.
William Cowper knew better 230 years ago when he wrote: “GOD moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.”
So I went home to complete my shower and change, and decided to call it a day. I should not have been at home on that day at that time. But had I not been there, I would have missed a call that came to my home phone around 3:45 p.m. A big call. A life-changing call.
The University of Michigan Hospital Liver Transplant program was on the line…my brother Mark, who was on the transplant list, could not be reached. And they had a liver for him, but he had to respond within the hour. Turns out, he was helping his wife coach a high school softball game, and his phone was in the car. I was able to reach him through his son’s cell phone, a number the program didn’t have. And we all raced off to the hospital, and now he has a new liver, and we are praising God for all kinds of things that happened over the past few days – even an irritating flat tire.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
You said it William, much better than I could…Praise God.
March 6, 2009
I remember a man who preached at the little church I attended as a boy, who never looked up once while delivering a message. No eye contact. Not once. For 60 minutes. To say it was hum-drum would have put too positive of a spin on it. His bald head stared down at his Bible the entire time while his monotone voice droned on and on. We focused on two things - that God could use anyone to speak to us - and extending grace to this speaker was the essence of spirituality, considering others better than ourselves. We did not ask for more. Since we did not attract new believers with this strategy, we shifted our focus to God’s satisfaction with small things and small numbers, like 2 or 3. Or were we just learning to live with mediocrity?
Mike Yaconelli did not ask for more. ”Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection.” I loved Mike for penning those words in Messy Spirituality. They rang true to me. But when he talked about his church being the slowest growing church in America (I thought mine was), I began to squirm a little bit. I got the point that numerical growth was not the all important thing – but if we weren’t reaching people – were we really fulfilling the purpose Jesus laid hold of us for?
A world away from that little church, Bill Hybels was asking for more. He reckoned that mediocrity was not a sign of spirituality. “We believe that excellence honors God and inspires people.” He encouraged the church to embrace concepts like “evaluation” and “critical review.” He saw a youth ministry grow into a mega-church that turned into a world-wide movement. He inspired me. But I wondered what happened to the bald guy with the monotone voice in his congregation?
So are we stuck with a sucker’s choice? If we expect excellence, are we lacking spirituality and promoting ourselves? Is grace only about lowering the bar to those who fail? Why do I get angry when an opportunity to reach others with God’s truth is fumbled due to lack of preparation? Why do I feel so hopeless when the church seems content to simply pay lip service to what we believe?
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert…” 1 Corinthians 3:10 [NIV]
The apostle Paul credits God’s grace with giving him the expertise to accomplish God’s purposes. When we do our best and passionately serve God – He is glorified. And he goes on -
“God has also given each of us different gifts to use…If we are leaders, we should do our best.” Romans 12:6-8 [CEV]
God has given us gifts. Even the bald man with the monotone voice had a gift – it just wasn’t public speaking. We need to find our gift. And then we need to give it our all. If he gave you the gift of leadership, you should do your best. Excellence honors God because it is a celebration of His grace, His gifts, His will. Acceptance of mediocrity (or worse) doesn’t call for His grace, it cheapens it. Excellence and grace do go together.
What if I haven’t figured my gift out yet? What if I am unsure of God’s will for my life? Warren Wierse wrote “It always amazes me how God makes His will for my life so clear to other people when I often have to ponder the Word and struggle and pray to discover what He wants me to do.” It isn’t easy. Sometimes we fail. Winston Churchill defined success as “going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” But this isn’t acceptance of failure, its working until we get it right. Solomon gives us some wisdom as we work these things out in our lives. We’re not here forever. There’s a time coming when working and planning will be over. But for today, his advice to all of us is -
”Work hard at whatever you do…” Ecclesiastes 9:10
February 28, 2009
My mother told me that my entrance into the world was quick and easy. So easy, that she delivered me without caregivers in the room. I guess that was the benefit of being her 4th child. As far as I know I didn’t land on my head, but you may question that from time to time. So I’m arriving in the blog world unnoticed as well – not famous – just slipping in to let my voice be heard. After almost 50 years, I think I’ve got something to say now. And I’ve also got a lot to learn, so I figure this will be a good place for that as well. My passions are Jesus Christ and His church; my wife; my three kids; health care finance; baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. I’m a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a friend, an enemy, a pastor-elder, a preacher, a vice president, a president, an outfielder, a hack golfer, a referee, and a bird-watcher. I think I’ll have something to say about all of these. Thanks for stopping by…
