Leadership

Leadership is not an easy task. I know a lot of people who look at those who are self-employed with envy. They say, "I wish I could be my own boss" or "I wish I was the supervisor". Unbeknownst to them, those jobs are typically very demanding and require a special gifting that not everyone has.

James 3:1 tells us, "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly." Obviously, teaching is a leadership position.

Leaders tends to take all of the criticism, as well. They are the folks who are willing to take a risk for the betterment of the organization. Risks can involve pain. 

In the church, that pain goes even deeper. It can cause some to misunderstand motive and, subsequently, leave the body of Christ.

Biblical leadership involves love and gentleness. It involves the reining in of our prideful tendencies. 

Blessed are the meek, Jesus said.

Lord, help me to be meek and yet lead like Jesus led. 

Life to the fullest

Almost done with our men's Bible study. Tonight's discussion was the best yet. Topic- Life to the Fullest.
It was Jesus' intent for us to live life to the fullest, but what does that mean? Does it mean that Jesus wanted me to have fun at everything and be on the go so that I could do and be it all? I doubt it. My reasoning? We have to mesh that statement from Jesus in John 10 with what James writes. James said that we would grow through adversity, not fun.
So, I led the guys in a discussion about that. Times of personal growth, here's what a few said:
"when my income went from $200,000 to zero following a heart attack"
"when I was electrocuted and nearly killed and couldn't care for myself"
"when I had a wreck and was paralyzed" (spoken from his wheel chair)
"when my wife was diagnosed with cancer"
"when I served people in a 3rd world country and recently in Nashville"
Nobody grew closer to God when they graduated or got a new job or bought a new car or new house or got married.
Strange. Seems backwards to me.
Oh wait, I forgot. The Kingdom of God IS backwards to the world.
I guess the real question is am I willing to grow?


If I say yes, there are some cool things that the Lord has done for me. Some scripture comes to mind: 
James 1:12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 

Ecclesiastes 4:11-13 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 


When we persevere, we are strong TOGETHER and He is with us.


If I say no, only one scripture comes to mind:
Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.


Growth is good ;)

The Flood

Working with the flood victims in Nashville reminded me of the hurricanes and the damage they caused when we lived in Florida.
It's heart wrenching. We met a man and his teen son and helped them for a couple hours, they were moved nearly to tears because we helped them. We completely gutted an older, crippled man's house and there were so many things in there that I'm sure were meaningful to him that ended up in the trash heap. I was glad that he wasn't there to see it. It also helped keep our pride factor from swelling, purified our motives. We did it to be Jesus' hands and feet to hurting people. 
When the hurricanes ravaged Florida, people had insurance. So many of those affected by the flood didn't. David and I chatted as we drove home and I mentioned a potential threat to those uninsured flood victims- suicide.
There are so many people who have placed their hope in treasures of this world and a catastrophe is more than they can bear. I guess that's the fuel for my passion to go. Hope for hopeless people. The church being their in Jesus' stead, open-armed and willing. I am so grateful for people to serve alongside that encourage me and create the "cord of 3 strands" that is not easily broken. 
Sometimes I think a weak church is only strengthened through these "acts of God" as they are referred to by insurance companies. 
The flood, a weird kind of blessing or perhaps I should call it opportunity...

Perseverance

We are promised in God's word that we will be persecuted. I hear those who preach the "health and wealth gospel" and wonder if they have ever read the book of James. 
That promise of persecution isn't punishment or payment, it's preparation. It is the thing that makes our faith strong. I'm reminded of the Damascus type shotgun barrels that received their strength from heating, beating, bending and twisting...over and over. Ironic that the name sake for those old barrels is the place that Saul was headed when he met the Lord. 
In that encounter, Paul was blinded, made weak. Led by the hand into town. Through this shaping set of circumstances, he was to be the most influential writer in history. 
So, PREACH IT! JAMES, tell the world of the strength that comes through being weak, persevering, and being molded into God's image.   

The Flow

I am daily trying to better understand and live in God's flow. I guess I could also call it "God's Will for Me". It's about being who he intended me to be, influencing people for Him, living for Him... being Him, in my personality. Using all the weirdness of Matt to be Jesus today.

I know that when I am most like Jesus, I am most content. I am most happy. I am most productive.
I keep trying harder, but I read a new term yesterday...Try SOFTER. Hmmm, maybe I try too hard at times. 
I remember playing music with a guy who would say, "Relax, we are playing like we are constipated." It was funny, but I knew what he meant.
Maybe God is telling me that I am living like I'm constipated. Trying too hard. 
I want to be able to live effortlessly in God's flow.

Near death...

Well, as I encountered what felt like the threshold of death, I was thinking: will I be scared when I actually face death face to face?
Right now, I joke and say that I can't wait. But will that be the case? Will my faith prove strong in that moment? I think so. I have faced many scary things in my life but the power of God always wins the battle.
Jesus promised that. He promised that he would be with us always. Fear isn't always the sign of a lack of faith. 
I think back to when Jessica was little. We would ride the 4-wheeler out in the woods and there was this one tall stump, maybe 5 feet tall. I would stand her up on it and she would jump into my arms. I could see the fear in her little eyes, but she jumped. She had faith in me.
I'm pretty sure that God is much more deserving of my trust than I ever could be, even for my own child.
Maybe I do look look forward to jumping out of this world into His arms.

"love one another"

I'm sitting here with the breeze blowing through the living room thinking what a beautiful evening it is. My heart and mind are taken back to the Thursday before Jesus' crucifixion. 
Many refer to it as Maundy Thursday. It's a day that is celebrated a couple different ways.Through feet washing and/or meals shared together. Maundy meaning "to love one another". 
In the realm of Christianity we celebrate a lot of things. But I'm not sure that there is a time that should evoke celebrating more than this. 
As this marvelous wind blows through, I reminisce the good times and all of the incredible people that God has allowed to accompany me on this winding road. 
I am blessed.