I am linked to a fellow in the Netherlands on LinkedIn dot com. We’re also connected at Plaxo Pulse. I’ve never met him before, but today he blessed my life with the video posted here.
I remarked to Bev what a wonder it is that I could have this online relationship without ever having any physical contact with this person. And had I not had those connections, I would have never been aware of this video. This is truly an digital blessing.
When our daughter was in high school and feeling omniscient, she had a phrase that she used to repel any attempt to enlighten her or explain some idea. The word was “whatever,” and it was guaranteed to stop any further conversation as she served notice that she had no interest at all in what was being said by her parent. “Whatever” was the ultimate definition of indifference or scorn. Fortunately, she outgrew this.
Whatever has other definitions. 1. Everything or anything: “Do whatever you please.” 2. No matter what: “Whatever happens, we’ll meet here tonight.” 3. Any number or kind: “Whatever requests you make will be granted.”
There are some other definitions, but this gives a good idea of its absence of a specific reference. Whatever is used in interesting ways in the Bible and gives some insight into the kind of freedom that God gives us all. To the disciples Jesus said, “Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.” By so indicating, Jesus gave his disciples the freedom to choose the towns they would go to.”
The writer, Paul, told the church at Corinth that whatever they did, should be done for God’s glory. The only boundary or limitation that Paul placed on their activity was that it be God glorifying.
The writer, James, took this a step further and said that to knowingly fail to do something something good is sin. So there is an accountability that is laid on us to make good personal judgments and act on them. It is as if God is saying to us, “Do something good.”
In Philippians 4:8 we are given the freedom to dwell on any and everything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable or praiseworthy. Permission is not needed. We have carte blanche on these good things. We are also accorded similar freedoms in prayer. Whatever you ask…” Jesus said.
God gives his people enormous freedom to act on the many good choices around them. Doing good has God’s endorsement and has already been approved as long as it is for God’s glory. That’s a no brainer.
I found out last Friday that a friend had died. I knew her at a previous church for which I worked. She had been an insulin dependent diabetic since age 3. I was always impressed by her personal discipline. Had she not been, I doubt she would have survived until her late 50’s.
The recent death came on the heels of what the doctors think could have been a stroke or a fast moving infection. Whatever it was took her life quickly. Though it was painful to her family to lose her, it was actually a grace. She did not have to exist in a hospital or go through lengthy suffering.
She was a person of great faith. So if she had known she was coming to the moment of her death, I think she would have said, “This is the moment I have been getting ready for.” All of us who knew her watched her live with great spiritual integrity and hope. Death was just another stage of her journey toward God.
So on the day before Thanksgiving I will have the blessing of talking about her life. It will be a pleasure because of the inspiration and hope she gives me. She died in victory.
One of the greatest sins a “leader” can commit is to work alone. Good leadership equips, empowers, trusts, and releases. The best way to do this is through teams, and this is a good definition of team. “A team is a group organized to work together to accomplish a set of objectives that cannot be achieved effectively by individuals.”
Teamwork is the wisest means by which to contribute to an organization. An organization that does not use teams is limited by the capabilities of its weakest or most fearful leader.
Weak leaders function like log jams that slow everyone else down or even prevent forward motion. Fears, vested interests, ego, or prejudices can hamper the health and effectiveness of an organization.
That’s why teams are important. In teams, everyone has a vital role to play, everyone is empowered to contribute, and every opinion is important in the formation of direction. Teams also require humility to function correctly. A “leader” with huge ego issues will not be able to function in a team setting; it will be too threatening.
The same article about teams, quoted above, has a set of guidelines for team membership. The whole list is not printed here, but note the emphasis on individual contribution in the items listed.
Autocratic and egotistic leaders are only able to reach to their personal limits. In team work, individual commitment usually transcends the team. A team outperforms an individual and all reasonable expectations given to its individual members. That is, a team has a synergistic effect…one plus one equals a lot more than two.
Jesus understood the importance of “team” and its ability to transform individuals. He took 12 men who, individually, could never have accomplished what they did as a team in a few short years. During his three years with them, he empowered them, allowed them to fail, and when needed, supplied specific teaching.
Teamwork is vital to healthy organizations, business or religious. An individual that tries to “lead” by himself is a danger to progress and growth, because he will function like a governor on a motor and slow the organization to his own limitations.
I was working on a sermon recently that was exploring the idea of being prepared for the Second Coming, whenever that happens. The language of the New Testament seems to indicate that the First Century disciples believed that the Second Coming was imminent. Some were, apparently, quitting their jobs in order to wait. Others were afraid that it had already happened and they had missed it.
Interest and concern about the Second Coming is not unusual. It persists today as evidenced by the plethora of workshops, books, and seminars purporting to predict the time when Jesus is coming back. Hal Lindsey’s books sold widely because they promised answers. But all they did was create unnecessary angst.
Christian Century (November 13, 2007) recently reported that Ronald Reagan once said that the Chernobyl crisis had been predicted in Revelation 8. In that chapter’s description of the opening of the seventh seal, a great star fell out of the sky which caused people to die from resulting bitter waters. Reagan said “the star was called Wedgewood which translates as Chernobyl in Ukrainian.”
The reporter who wrote the story later looked up the reference and discovered that the star was called “Wormwood” instead. Whoops!
Which is what I want to say about all the predicting that goes on. Whoops! I wish all those folks would listen to what Jesus said and believe him. “…about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father,” Matthew 24:36. “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour,” Matthew 25:13.
Jesus said to be prepared, not to engage in predicting. Jesus’ way provides confidence and hope. Prediction only produces anxiety, which was not something Jesus was into.
Bob Kaylor, senior writer for Homiletics Magazine, has gotten me to thinking about my vocabulary, particularly in regard to people who are not currently part of a church community. I’ve struggled with what name to use to refer to this rather large group. Sadly, I’ve resorted to the all-too-common term, “unchurched.”
Kaylor writes that being “churched” is not necessarily a good thing and “being in church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than being in a garage makes you a car.” I like that. It reminds me that I need to be more concerned about a person’s proximity to Jesus.
Plus, you wouldn’t necessarily want a new believer to look like some of the “churched” folks. Kaylor has an 11–person playlist of people that you might want to avoid looking like in church. They include the following six:
LifeSpring wants to attract people who have no current relationship with Jesus and/or with disciples of Jesus. That can be very different from people who simply “go to church.” There’s far too many of that kind of person.
Several years ago a friend of mine a friend of mine told a joke in order to explain Daylight Saving Time. According to the joke, a man wanted to lengthen his blanket, so he cut a portion off one end and sewed it on the other end.
Okay, not very funny, but that’s about how much sense DST makes. Especially on the morning in the spring when I have to get up an hour earlier than normal.
Benjamin Franklin is given credit for originating the idea of DST in 1784 when he suggested that Parisians could economize on candles by arising an hour earlier to use morning sunlight. In 1905 Englishman, William Willett was inspired to invent DST when he observed that Londoners slept through the best part of a summer day. He lobbied unsuccessfully for the proposal until his death in 1915.
It’s now time to “fall back” to Standard Time. I look forward to the extra hour of sleep and the longer evenings. Even though I don’t enjoy the way it messes with my circadian rhythms.
One of my favorite sermon resource sites is SermonSpice dot com. I have been using them for a few years now, and I never cease to be amazed at the wonderful variety that I find at the site.
What’s neat is that SermonSpice is located just down the around about 60 miles in Fresno. That really makes no difference in the service however. They are always helpful and effective.
I would not hesitate to recommend them for someone looking for the right video idea to illustrate a sermon or some other spot in the worship. Check them out.
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