It Ain’t About Us

As I said earlier this month, I started off the summer flat burned out. In fact, if I were completely honest about it, I’ve just come thru a time of emotional, physical and spiritual exhaustion like I’ve never been thru before. And the bad part is, it’s all been my fault. Several times I thought I was working my way thru it, but right when I got to the point of resolution, something happened to shut it all down. Fortunately, every time I was closing in on the light at the end of the tunnel, I discovered more and more things that were contributing to the state in which I was. The number one reason that kept coming back again and again was that I was trying to do the job of the Lord in my own power. One thing I know for sure from past experience is that every time my focus is shifted from Christ and His ability in and thru me, I will hit the wall very quickly. True ministry can only happen when the Holy Spirit is working in and thru our lives, using us as instruments of His purposes. When I lose sight of that and begin to mistakenly believe that ministry is up to my ability to do the work, I’m on a fast track to trouble. One thing that happens is that I think the ministry work is all about me… I make myself the center of the effort and the center of attention. When I do that, I start taking everything personally. Every critical remark, every snide comment, every sideways glance, can set me off in a second. And since I’m one of those people who have a tendency to wear my feelings on my sleeve, it doesn’t take long until I’m influencing others wrongly, depressed, and I want to quit. I struggle with sharp critics when things are going well, much less when they’re going badly. So this time in the pit has taught me how important it is to make sure I’m doing what God has called me to do, where He’s called me to be. If I’m uncertain of that, it’s easy for me to question everything. Rick Warren said that during his time as pastor of Saddleback, he’s had numerous critics. One thing he has discovered, however, is that usually the critics spew their caustic remarks then they leave. “On the other hand, if the critics stay, the pastor most likely goes. You’ve got to decide, who is going to stay – you or the critics…”

If we keep the proper perspective about ministry, and remember that it’s not about us, then we’ll also know that the criticism isn’t about us either… In my particular case of burnout, I didn’t slip into the abyss because of critics, but they are always around. So, I have had to check my motivation… I’ve had to ask myself the hard questions like: “Do I minister because I like to be needed? Do I do what I do for recognition or applause? What is my reason for continuing to remain in ministry?” If I do what I do for approval, recognition, or applause, the question isn’t whether or not I’ll burn out & quit but when will it happen. I know one thing for certain – If I’m looking for approval, there are at least a million other easier ways to do it than as a pastor. But regardless of what we do, our motivation ahs to be that we do what we do for the glory of God. I must always evaluate my motives and make sure my efforts are solely for an audience of one. And in reality, my part is not so much about the ministry I perform, as it is in my surrendering myself totally to be used by God as He ministers in and thru me. When I have that focus and perspective, the criticism isn’t quite as apt to make me want to quit. What about you?

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What Do You Believe?

A good buddy of mine passed along a statement of belief that I really liked. I’ve added a few of my own to his list and thought it might spur on a few thoughts. So…What do you believe?

·      I believe… That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other. 



·      I believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand 
that friends change. 



·      I believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. 



·      I believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the 
longest distance - same goes for love. 



·      I believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. 



·      I believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I 
want to be. 



·      I believe... That you should always leave loved ones and friends with loving 
words because you may never see them again.

·      I believe... That you can keep going long after you think you 
can't. 



·      I believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how 
we feel. 



·      I believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls 
you. 



·      I believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. 



·      I believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. 



·      I believe... That my best friend and I can have a great time together doing anything or doing nothing at all.

·      I believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up again. 

·      I believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be 
angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

·      I believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them than how many birthdays you've celebrated.

·      I believe... That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. 
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. 



·      I believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world 
doesn't stop for your grief. 



·      I believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for whom we become. 



·      I believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. 



·      I believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of seconds by people who don't even know you. 



·      I believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you for help, you will find that you have more.

·      I believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

·      I believe… That we waste far too much time and effort trying to acquire things we don't need with money we don't have, so that we can impress people we don't know. 



·      I believe… That the happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

·      I believe… That no matter what our circumstances or situation may be, if Christ is our Savior, we have a destiny above and beyond our current condition.

·      I believe… That regardless of how tough things may seem to be in life, God is at work behind the scenes and He can produce something good for your life out of the worst scenario.

·      I believe… That no matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been or what you may ever do, God loves you. He always has loved you and there is nothing you can do to change that.

·      I believe… That God’s dreams for your life are far greater than yours. And His confidence in your abilities far exceeds your critics’ lack of belief in you.

·      I believe… That "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

So… are you dancing yet?

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Fishing, Flashfloods and Faith

As many of you know, I like to fly-fish. Fly-fishing is a great way to catch fish, especially in the spring when insects are hatching over the water. The problem I most often have to contend with, however, is the wind. I try to plan properly, checking the weather patterns and wind speed, but it’s almost impossible to get it right every time. Fly-fishing tackle is so light that a good brisk wind can play havoc with the lure and line. I’ve been in the stream when the fish were teeming there were so many in the water. But the wind kept me from accurately placing my fly in the water and as a result I didn’t catch many, if any fish at all. If you fly-fish, you know it’s pretty frustrating when things like that happen. You’ve probably taken a day off to hit the streams but instead of catching trout, you end up losing flies and breaking your line. None of us like to have our plans interrupted by the weather.

There are some things worse than heavy winds too. I was once in the stream when I heard a rumbling like a train coming from up the mountain. As I looked up, a huge wall of water was moving down the river. I got out of the water just in time for a surge of about 4 feet to pass by… Evidently, the snow and ice had melted up on the mountain and broke thru a pond dam. The result was a flash flood. Talk about a scary moment. If I’d have been in the water when the flash flood reached me, I would have been “Fish Bait” (pardon the pun). Fortunately, however, I was not swept down stream… When I realized the trouble, I headed for higher ground. I’m glad God wasn’t finished with me yet.

How many times have we experienced a “flash flood” of problems in life? They often come with little or no warning. And although we try to plan and make provision for the challenges that face us, trying to control or avoid problems is about as futile as controlling the wind. Sometimes life is going to be great – blue skies and no wind or rain. But at other times, the dam will break and a flash-flood of torrential trials and tribulations will invade our lives. When ever we realize we’re in trouble or headed for trouble, the key to survival is to “run to higher ground” – run to Jesus. The truth is, He allows these flash floods into our lives for our good. And He won’t let us become fish bait.

Once the disciples were on the sea with Jesus and a storm arose. They were very much afraid, and thought their little boat was surely going to sink. When they found Jesus, He was asleep in the bottom of the boat. They woke Him up rather abruptly and He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:26) The reality was that even though the disciples may have been afraid, they had no cause to be. Jesus was in the boat with them – do you really think the ship was going to sink? Of course not! He wasn’t about to let that happen. But at the moment, the disciples didn’t think about that. Their hearts were gripped with fear. They allowed the troubles of their present situation to overwhelm the truth of God’s sovereignty and His protection of His children. When Jesus said, “O you of little faith…” I don’t believe He was rebuking the disciples. I rather believe He was sort of chuckling to Himself, like a dad might chuckle at a child. He was saying, “O if you only knew how much I love you and will protect you… You don’t see it yet, but I won’t ever let you down… I’ve got it under control.” Remember that the next time a flash flood of trouble breaks loose in your life.    

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What Will It Be - Blue Skies or Mud Holes?

It’s easy sometimes for me to develop a cynical, “glass half empty”, outlook on life – especially when I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and feel as though I’m not getting much done. When I pour my heart and soul into something and my efforts seem as futile as trying to break down a wall by banging my head against it, sooner or later I’m going to end up on the floor of my circumstances. And I’ve found that’s especially true if I’ve been trying to do the work of God in my energy instead of in the power of the Holy Spirit. And to be quite honest, I’ve been wallowing around on the floor over the past few weeks. Not because I’ve intentionally rejected the power of the Holy Spirit, but because I’ve allowed the troubles and challenges of life to overwhelm the still small voice of God. Yeah, I know that sounds bad. Certainly it’s not something I’ve wanted, but it’s a reality I’ve had to come to grips with in order to be restored. This isn’t the first time I’ve weathered a storm such as this. I’m also quite sure it won’t be the last. No doubt I’ll have to contend with the struggle as long as I live on this planet and wear this ‘earth suit’ of flesh. The issue isn’t whether or not we ever go thru stuff like this, but whether or not we choose to stay there. You may be thinking, “Why on earth would anyone choose to stay in that kind of junk?” Sometimes I do so because it’s easier to stay in the “funk” rather than admit my sinfulness and humble myself before the Lord. And in so doing – or not doing as the case may be – I make the choice to stay in my circumstances. Carl Sandburg once said, "There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud." He may or may not have known it, but he was basically paraphrasing a passage the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:22, "I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work in me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."Man, I know what that's like. I'm not talking about an abiding sin or temptation that we might normally think about, but sinful tendencies like pride, working for approval, taking credit for the work Christ does... all sorts of junk. It's all still birthed in the sinful nature of our flesh and it leads us to all sorts of problems. That’s one reason I have to routinely take time off - disappear – get alone with the Lord tune and into His still small voice whispering to my heart… The road to recovery usually begins by admitting my sinfulness and repenting. You say, “Wow! I didn’t know you had to deal with sin and repenting!” Oh yeah! More than I like to admit. We all have to deal with sin… If we don’t, we’ll end up getting entangled and imprisoned by it. The next step recognizing my sinful tendencies,  is to make a determined choice to live according to God’s law – His Word – rather than according to my circumstances or my fleshly desires. In Christ, we must remember that we have been untethered – set free. Paul said, “We are no longer slaves or in bondage to the old sin nature within us.”  Sometimes in order to realize that, we might have to remove ourselves from the situations and maybe the people that have influenced us to falter. Hopefully, when we turn out backs on the sinful situations, we will turn to the Lord. And in His presence we will humble ourselves, cry out for strength and restoration, and choose to live according to our new nature in Christ instead of the old nature of the flesh. But in order to do that, we have to choose to stop wallowing in the mud. And that isn’t a one-time choice. Everyday we have to choose how we will respond to the overwhelming pressure of work and responsibility. How will we respond to those who make us upset or angry? How will we relate to our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors? How and where will we spend our spare time? Each of us has many situations in which we must make a choice. Will we opt for the mud hole or soar the clear blue skies? If we can get still and quiet enough to hear the still small voice of God, we’ll hear Him saying: “Get out of the mud… It’s time to soar!”

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