Choosing to Cheat

Andy Stanley released a tough, tough book eight years ago entitled “Choosing to Cheat.”  You will want to be prayed up before you take off reading it as the points of this book are quite convicting. 

The general idea is this:  As husbands, wives, dads, moms, employers, employees, parents, volunteers, leaders, or laborers our time is at a premium.  Days do not contain enough hours to satisfy every job we have in life 100%.  Sometimes we short-change our families by working late.  Sometimes we short-change our employers by leaving early to be with our families.  We generally have good intentions.  But no matter how hard we try, something or someone gets “cheated.” 

All too often in the culture in which we live, it is our family who gets cheated.  In an effort to “provide for” our families to the best of our abilities, we fail to provide the one thing they really starve for, our attention. 

Other times, we decide will absolutely give our family the attention they need and we cheat our employers out of work that needs to be completed. 

Bad news first…this tension will NEVER go away.  You will fight this battle for the length of your life, just as we have since Adam and Eve introduced sin into the garden. 

Good news, though…we CAN do a better job handling that tension.

Here are a few of Andy’s pointers to help:

• Recognize that if you stay at work until all the work gets done, you will never leave.  Prioritize your time at work (that includes those who stay home with the little ones; that IS WORK!) and set a reasonable schedule to handle all that you can in that time. 
• Allow your schedule to change with the different seasons of life.  For example, if you have little ones at home and work outside of the home, discuss with your spouse what would be the ideal work schedule of most benefit to the family while allowing the work to be completed.  Be honest.
• Prioritize life.  The hard truth is that as we add children and responsibility some of our “hobbies” have to go away.  I love to golf.  However, by the time a work week is complete, homework is worked through, my wife has been given the attention she DESERVES, the children have been bathed and played with, friends have been helped, and other fires have been put out, there is simply no time left.  As adults who are committed to our families, we must accept and embrace that.  Golf (or any other hobby) is an option, family is not. 

I strongly suggest you spend the $9 on this book, read it and apply it.  Your family and employer will be blessed.

A Change Of Plans

The story of Moses from Exodus to Deuteronomy provides SO many glimpses into the ups and downs of following God’s will in a challenging world.  It doesn’t always paint a rosy picture, but it ALWAYS turns us back to an all-loving, incredibly graceful God. 

Numbers 27:12-23 records one of the most humbling of all the Moses stories.  Based on a moment of disobedience recorded in Numbers 20:1-13, Moses is reminded that he will not be joining the Israelites as they pass into the promised land.  After years and years of struggles, battles, internal arguments, dissent in the Israelite camp, and countless other trials, Moses is told again that he will NOT be going with them into the promised land…

Talk about discouraging and frustrating.

At that moment I am not sure how you and I would respond, but I fear (and figure) that it wouldn’t be as he handled it. 

Moses did not wallow in self-pity that his life was not going to turn out like he had planned it.  He did not curse and yell because his dreams were falling apart.  He did not turn away from God in anger and resentment.  He didn’t even blame the devil like we, so often, like to do for our own mistakes. 

What did he do?  He took the focus off of him and put it back on the people God had placed him in leadership of.  He focused on their needs and future rather than his own.  He asked God to appoint a man to lead the people so that they would not be “sheep that have no shepherd.” (Numbers 27:17; ESV)

Our lives, when FULLY submitted to the Lord, often do NOT turn out as we had expected.  Sometimes He blesses us beyond what we could ever have expected.  Other times, though, He takes us out of the very mission He used us to lead before its completion. 

Our job is to properly respond.  Not to be angry that God didn’t do things the way we expected or thought appropriate.  Not to question His motives or reason.  Not to gripe to others that “it’s just not fair.” 

Our job is to respond like Moses.  Take the focus off of us and place it on HIM and the people we have been entrusted to lead.  To ask the question “Okay, God, what do You want me to do?”  And to answer with a sincere…”I’m Yours!” 

Much easier said than done, no doubt.  May we passionately pursue HIS path for our life and graciously accept it when it differs from what we though it would be.

We Don’t Need Permission

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
2 Corinthians 3:1-2 (NIV)

Christ followers all have the same call on their lives according to 2 Corinthians 5:20; that being to act as ambassadors for Christ.

When the church in Corinth began to find itself being filled with people who could generate all sorts of documents showing their authority and knowledge, Paul took aggressive action. He gave the church warning of these false teachers and reminded them of two keys to their new lives: Jesus and their personal pursuit of holiness.

When provoked for some sort of “proof” that he was not a looney-tune crazy man, Paul did not relent. His response can be a guide for us still today. He said the proof of his accreditation, if you will, was written on the hearts of the people of Corinth.

For us, this should still be the case. The only documentation we need to show the world is the improved lives of those we can impact and our own changed lives. The only proof we need is the Christ-like love we show to the people we are surrounded by.

The beauty of this is its universality. You do not have to be a vocational pastor to shine the love of Christ in your life. Frankly, those who are not often have a better opportunity to do so. The people you work with, for, and over see you 40 hours a week. They see how you respond in the real world. Your actions there speak volumes to people who don’t know the love of Jesus.

I pray that we take this as seriously as Paul did…

May the changed lives of the people we surround ourselves with be the proof of our new life in Christ…

Maintaining a right balance

One of the bigger challenges I face internally is time allocation.  How much time to spend studying verse visiting? How much time to spend at home with my kids verse other homes with other people’s kids?  How much sermon time to give to believers verse non-believers?

Time…what is the right balance? 

The family issue was quite simple…my wife and childred are my #1 ministry…your’s are, too!  Don’t forget and get that wrong. 

The others are not so simple.  Thank God for the leading of the bible…

“Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:31, 32 (NLT)

The balance looks something like this…

You and I have a responsibility to encourage and train other believers to be effective witnesses in a world full of pain and death.  But our motivation must be LIFE CHANGE, NOT JUST MORE KNOWLEDGE.  The people God has placed under our tutelage must be motivated and driven to GO make the name of Jesus known, not to COME and spend fun time in bible study as an ineffective group of really knowledgable people.

So, what does the balance look like?  It takes the shape of what motivates us.  What SHOULD motivate us is making the name of Jesus known.  That desire should shape the way we teach and instruct our fellow believers, completely driven by the desire to see people meet Jesus.  That desire should shape the way we interact, teach, and preach to non-believers as well. 

Satisfying self-righeous people has no place in ministry…pointing them to Jesus sure does, though!

Glory to God for coming for the least of us!

It’s a good thing, but painful sometimes

“To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.” Proverbs 25:12 (NLT)

This may well be the hardest part of becoming a better employer, employee, leader, staff member, parent or any other position…No, scratch that…it IS the hardest part. 

It is never fun to listen to someone tell you how poorly you did at something…it’s not even fun to receive a little criticism for something you did well. 

It IS, however, important.  If you are truly committed to becoming the best at what you are you are going to HAVE to accept some criticism. 

Here are some simple guidelines…

1.  Notice the word “valid.”  Not all criticism is created equal.  There are people who are simply mean-spirited and love tearing people down.  DO NOT waste your time hearing from them…you are NEVER going to be good enough for them. 

2.  Is the criticizer coaching or griping?  If they are actually trying to help make you better and have your best interest at heart…listen to them. 

3.  Remember the balance.  The old saying “you’re not nearly as good as you think you are when things are going well, and you’re not nearly as bad as you think you are when things are going poorly” is SO spot on.  You must walk the balance of accepting and using criticism and not letting it tear you down.  You also have to be careful not to get too cocky when things are going well and everybody loves you. 

This is all going to depend you putting people in your life who will coach you to be better, NOT constantly complain about the poor job you’re doing. 

With the help of people who love us enough to be honest with us, we can truly become excellent at whatever God has positioned us to do…

Who is the person in your life who made a significant impact on YOU as a coach?

Talk About Humility…

“Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.”  Exodus 40:35 (NLT)

Can you imagine?

Can you imagine being Moses?  Over the last several years, you have been the only person in entire camp allowed to hear directly from God.  God has given you all the directions on exactly how to build His Tabernacle.  You took down every painful detail, communicated the vision, shared the expectations, oversaw the completion of the construction, and now you’re NOT allowed in it. 

As ministry leaders, we must constantly be seeking God’s divine direction in our lives.  This is not a big deal when He is laying down a vision, communicating goals, and using us in a glamorous way. 

The problem arises when God changes things up.  When He says to us, good work, now go on…that’s when the problem arises and our pride wants to kick in. 

When God shares a vision with a leader, it is the responsibility of the leader to invest their energy into the completion of said vision. 

BUT…

When God says I have a new assignment for you, it is just as much a responsibility as the original vision was. 

Is there anything harder than hearing God tell you the job you’ve invested so much time and energy in is over? 

As leaders, our call is to day-to-day obedience…even when it means a job change or vision change we don’t like.

I pray that we have the strength to be obedient, NOT prideful, when God wants to make a change in our lives. 

What was the hardest change God made you undergo?  Did you fight it?  What were the results of said change?

Which One Are You?

Proverbs 16:17 led me to ponder leadership styles this morning

“The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.”

While this passage does not deal specifically with leadership, it does beg the question which we are you leading?

Here are just some of the types of leaders I have encountered.

1. ”My company is evil” leader.  You have no issues running the name of your very own company or organization through the mud, seemingly separating yourself from the company itself.  You may be justified in believing your company is morally deficient, but you are NOT justified making that information public.  Your subordinates should either hear silence or positive support for the group that employes you both.  Only YOUR bosses should hear your complaints.  If you feel so strongly about the condition of the company you are employed by, perhaps you should look for a new employer.  If every company you have ever worked for has been evil, it may be time to look in the mirror for a little honest self-evaluation.

2.  “Things are always great” leader.  This was the one I struggled with early in my life.  These leaders love lavishing compliments on people and companies but do not have the fortitude to communicate things that need improving.  This person is just as big a detriment to the company as the first leader, but in a different way.  You must identify what it is that keeps you from coaching people who need to improve and deal with it.  Your staff deserves to get better and you are to play a part in that process.

3.  “It’s my way or the highway” leader.  You motivate by fear.  Fear is NOT a motivator.  Let me repeat that.  Fear is NOT a motivator.  It will work in short spurts, but will quickly fade when the folks under your employ recognize there is no substance behind your fear tactics.  In a phrase….stop it.   The truth with many leaders of this style is that they were either not popular or very shy as a child.  They seem to want to overcome their past by bullying the people currently under their watch.  This one is gross and childish and you need to stop.

I will post some more on this later.  My advice for now is to pray that God reveals and resolves your short-comings as a leader.  He wants you to shine HIS love in your leadership.

This is how you know…

1 Thessalonians 1:8

“And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God.  We don’t need to tell them about it.” (NLT) (Emphasis mine)

This FIRES me up!  Seriously…this is how it’s supposed to be!

The church in Thessalonica was so on fire for Christ in its early years that people just knew.  When Paul (author of this book) and others would begin to tell people about what God was doing in the church at Thessalonica, they would stop him; for they already knew! 

You CANNOT contain a whole-hearted move of God in a church.  You CANNOT keep people from noticing.  You CANNOT stop a movement of this nature.  You CANNOT be a sold out Christ follower and NOT want to be a part of this. 

What about the group/church you are in?  Are people so astonished by what God is doing through your church that they cannot stop talking about it?  Are people so in awe of the way God is working through your ministry that they want to be a part of it?  Is your church like that of the one in Thessalonica?  Completely motivated by making HIS name known?

Or is your church/group one that sits in judgement of places and movements like this?  Constantly judging or murmuring out of silly jealousy or spiritual immaturity.  Trying to explain away what is happening in worldly terms and taking the divine blessing of it away. 

My hope is that we all strive to see our church/group become just like the church in Thessalonica.  We all strive daily to serve in the way that brings the MOST glory to HIM.  If every member of a church body takes on this attitude the impact will be amazing.  God works in obedience and passion for His Son.  I hope your heart desires to be a part of a world-changing movement, not just another member in a dying church…Glory to GOD!

Reasons we say no to God (Part 3)

Exodus 4:1 (NLT)-But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me?  What if they say, ‘The LORD never appeared to you’?”

God has placed a call to minister on EVERYONE’S life.  Every single Christ follower is called to do something.  You may be called to be an accountant who is an incredible witness in the workplace.  You may be called to be a volunteer in the nursery at your church.  You may be called to help lead your local church in worship our Lord each week.  Your calling may be full-time vocational ministry.  Your calling could be to work in a factory and serve students with all your passion when you are not at work.

The point is…it is YOUR calling.  Your calling is different from the person next to you and different than mine.

There will be times when people question the legitimacy of the call in your life.  They may not trust that you are being genuine about God’s command for you.  They may doubt your motives.

These are all things that are going to happen to Christ-serving people.  People who passionately pursue God’s direction in their lives make people who do NOT do this angry and resentful.  (Isn’t is funny how some people deal with the conviction of the Holy Spirit? Just sayin..)

It is not your job to justify your calling.  It is your job to serve our Lord with every ounce of energy you have.  It is your job to identify the mission God has for you.  It is your job to then develop your ability to do that ministry.

It is NOT your job to convince people what God has called you to do.  Non-passionate “church attenders” will attack passionate “Jesus followers.”  They always have and always will.

It is vital during these attack periods that you maintain proper perspective.  Jesus called you to the ministry you are in, people did NOT. Do NOT seek to satisfy people; but LIVE to satisfy and please our Holy Lord with your passionate service to HIM!

Reasons we say no to God (Part 2)

Exodus 3:12 (NIV) “Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

What if they ask a question I can’t answer?  Did you forget, God, that I have not been to seminary?  Do you realize that my scope of biblical knowledge is limited to what I’ve learned in church?  To put it simply…I’m just not qualified to do the job you’ve asked me to do.

This reason for saying no is rampant in church today at all levels.  People will not take over Sunday school or small group leadership based on their perceived lack of education.  People will not step up to lead a team because they are not educated enough or “qualified” to lead that team.  People refuse to join a team fearing they have nothing to offer it. All the while, God’s Spirit is clearly impressing on that person the HE wants them to do job x.

This also leads to the opposite end of the spectrum, unfortunately.  People who are “qualified” (by our standards) take over positions that God simply does not want them in.  We end up with people in place out of necessity and NOT divine authority.

When God makes a decision on where to place someone, we have to trust it.  We also have to trust when God makes a decision NOT to place someone in a position, even if it seems logical to us.

Can you imagine a church, just ONE, where every single member is doing exactly what God wants them doing when He wants them doing it?  A church where NO ONE is in a position God does not want them in?  There is simply no stopping a local church like that.

Acts 4:13 reminds us that any of us may be called, at any time, to do something we are not “qualified” to do.  God used “unschooled and ordinary men” to create the church.  It starts with your relationship with Jesus Christ.  I think He can do the same today…

I encourage you to trust HIM and the calling He has placed on you.

P.S.  This is NOT  a rant against education.  If God is calling you to pursue education, do not commit the sin of not being obedient.  But, do not allow your own fear of failure (based on a lack of knowledge) prevent you from obeying God’s call for your life, whatever that may be…