This week I discuss “running your race” with grace and patience.
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Podcast Length : 11:03
Uhaul Needed
Todays guest post comes from Gregg Farah. Gregg is a Pastor at Shelter Rock Church on Long Island, he writes, pursues the perfect pizza slice, cheers for the Mets, plays sports, and makes frequent visits to the doctor (see “I play sports”).
I know that you will enjoy this post! Make sure that you click on the image at the end to view the powerful 52 Week devotional that Gregg has written just for you.
“God moved out of Manhattan a long time ago…” was all I heard. I was listening intently to Gerald as I picked at my cheese Danish at an overpriced but chic coffee shop in Lower Manhattan when that phrase caught my attention. I stopped him mid-sentence, repeated his statement for accuracy, and then pushed my chair back to give my mind room to process what I heard.
Gerald paused, waiting for some kind of response, but when it was clear my brain was stuck in gear he picked up where I had interrupted. Still, I could not stop thinking of the implications of that statement. I’m one who actually believes this is a spiritually rich season in the life of New York City. While noontime confessions and unparalleled acts of benevolence are not commonplace, I hear a sufficient number of stories and see enough prints to reveal God’s hand at work in our greater metropolitan area.
But for others, God is nowhere to be found. I breathed in the smells of the coffee shop, held my drink with both hands, and leaning in interrupted Gerald once again. “Sorry to go backwards, but tell me more about your ‘God moved’ statement.”
Gerald obliged and shared the predictable tales of church neglect and abuse, hypocrisy and aloofness, and the painfully abhorrent charge of irrelevance. My years as a student minister brought back the stinging charge of youth ministry pioneer Jim Rayburn, “It’s a sin to bore a kid with the gospel.” The same holds true for adults.
For many, God and the church are synonymous. While not theologically accurate, it is a reasonable expectation. If God is in the transformation business, shouldn’t His children bear some resemblance to His love and care and compassion and creativity and unity? But just as plenty of children blaze a trail of independence far from the paved path parents laid before them, the same is true with those in the church. So what does the church do now? If God moved, is it possible to load a U-Haul and bring Him back? I think it is. And these are the two things the church must do: love God and love people.
Surprised by its simplicity? You’re not alone. When religious leaders challenged Jesus to state the most important law of God, He offered the same 2-for-1 special, sending the leaders away with more to think about then they hoped for. Jesus’ words sound simple and would look great on a T-shirt. But living them out is a high calling. Too many faith-filled people—of any religious affiliation—view God as a tattoo, something to wear, rather than a leader, someone to follow. But if God ever does move, I guarantee the moment a person chooses to follow His leadership and stands for justice or bends down to serve, a 17’ panel truck with God’s goods will be on the road headed back to Manhattan, or wherever you reside.
Want some evidence that God still has a Manhattan address? Here are three recent God-sightings:
- Michele gives up a week of her vacation to volunteer as a counselor at a preteen camp
- Jeremy organizes a trip to bring people to his home country to serve abandoned children
- Catherine listens with care and intensity as another woman shares her pain
These examples have God’s fingerprints all over them—and they come in varied shapes and sizes and commitment levels and ability. Yet they are all signs of a spiritually fertile climate that reminds the church of its priorities in the city and around the world.
Gerald’s “God moved” statement is not divinely inspired but it is real to him and challenges the church to reflect God’s love in plentiful and practical ways. And in case Gerald ever does speak for God, let’s hope God hires a moving company, because God’s got a huge sleeper-sofa.
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Also, Follow Gregg on Twitter an visit his Blog.
This Is So Exhausting
I have been a people pleaser for most of my life. Now, not everyone was in my category of “worth pleasing”. I can also confess that my heart was to always please people for the benefit of them loving me. I did not want anything from those to who I was trying to please, other than love and acceptance.
The ones I was consistently trying to please were the influencers in my life. You could even say that some were mentors or spiritual leaders. Yes, it is a noble and good thing to serve your leader, mentor, pastor, etc. However, I attached their reaction of my servitude to my own peace and joy.
If I performed well I would get a pat on the back and they would say, “Wow, you did great tonight. We love you. Thanks for all your hard work.”
Sure, they were being kind. However, some knew that I needed that attention and used it to manipulate me into doing more for them.
Image by Matt Wade
After a few years of people pleasing I began to feel worn out. Finding approval in others is the most exhausting thing that I have ever done. I cannot tell you of a more mentally draining task than that of people pleasing. Why? The beast never gets fed enough. If you climb one mountain, you feel as though you must climb three more to maintain your relationship with people you think you need. It is a never-ending struggle, until one day you burn out and give up.
So today, I want you to make a decision to do as Galatians 1:10 suggests and begin to live your life to please God and not man. Sure, you can serve humanity as we are supposed to do, but we cannot find our self-worth, love, acceptance, and forgiveness in humanity. There is only One from which we can gain such peace.
Discussion Question:
Do you struggle with people pleasing? If so, how do you handle the inner struggle that people pleasing brings?
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Graceology Podcast #003
GRACE & PEACE
Today I am discussing the vast subject of grace and peace with my dear friend Adam Drinkard. I ask Adam three important questions surrounding the subject of free grace. I think you will enjoy – Adam is a great teacher and you will get much out of his love and compassion for the church.
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Unrealistically Human
Meet my newest pal, Trevor DeVage. I met this guy while on his sabbatical here in Nashville. He and I hit it off immediately. This is a guest post by Trevor. Follow him on Twitter. This blog is to-the-point, so buckle up.
I just want to scream at the top of my lungs, but I don’t even have the energy for that right now. I am tired of having to put on the face because the “church” can’t handle reality. We read about it in scripture and are thankful that they are all just as messed up as we are. But the moment we become human too, people freak. They can’t handle it. They want pretty and perfect, yet what they say is they want real and authentic.
I wish the church could handle real and authentic.
Image by deviant art
You know what real and authentic gets you as a pastor…labeled.
He’s a rebel.
He’s angry.
He’s too edgy.
He’s married to a beautiful woman who should wear a burlap sack.
He’s not the total package.
He’s a jerk.
He’s prideful and arrogant.
He’s entitled.
He’s not lead pastor material.
He’s not…fill in the blank.
What we want is not what Jesus redeemed. What we want is something not realistic for any human being. I am wearied of people trying to cram other people into these labels and boxes. It’s as if you have to stay there and if you don’t well then you are not ministry material.
I wonder…was Moses ministry material?
I wonder…was David ministry material?
I wonder…was Paul ministry material?
I wonder…was Adam ministry material?
I wonder…was Abraham ministry material?
I wonder…was Samson ministry material?
I wonder…was Peter ministry material?
These men were liars, adulterers, murderers, prideful, arrogant, unloving, angry individuals…who the last time I checked were all deemed qualified for ministry. We love to say that God chooses imperfect people to carry out his will. But what our actions state is that we want God to give us perfect people to run our churches so we can land blast them when they are actually what they were created to be…HUMAN!
So may we become people who will make continual allowances for being what we were created to be. May we be people who will not hold humans to inhuman expectations. And may we realize that we are all in the same boat no matter the pedestal or platform that we elevate people to.
May we be HUMAN!
Discussion Question:
In what ways do you handle those around you in their “humanness”?
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5 Ways To Spot These People
What if there were a major problem in your life for which no one would give you time and space to work it out? You know – unforgiveness that lasted for years, but you are now ready to confront it. Or maybe it’s the old porn addiction and you are now ready for freedom.
What if you have so many habits that are hidden from the public eye from which you desperately want to be free, but you can’t find a confidant to give you space to walk out your Christ experience?
Image courtesy of psdgraphics.com
Here are five ways to spot the impatient ones:
1. They do not process things like you and are unaware of your reality.
2. They probably have struggled with the same thing and want to push-off guilt.
3. They haven’t experienced the struggle that you are facing.
4. They are people who expect perfection from others.
5. They do not think it should take this long for you to walk in freedom.
If you know people like this, chances are you have been this way as well…right?
As followers of Jesus it is imperative that we give time and space to those who struggle differently. What may take a week for one may take a year for another. Drawing a line for someone is not fair to their process.
I want to challenge us all with this statement – We must be patient with people as they live out Christ’s freedom, but also have a responsibility to teach His freedom to those who struggle. Its one thing to allow someone to just do whatever, whenever. It’s altogether a different scenario to walk with someone for an extended period of time while teaching them the way that Christ wants us to live.
It is our duty to teach His life while they are learning to live theirs. One day, their life will become His.
Hear this: You or I may not be in a place where we need time and space for sin and struggle, but one day we will. So, be that person for someone else, so that you too can have the same.
Discussion Question:
What are two ways in which you give time and space to those who have had a long struggle with the same problem(s)?
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Graceology Podcast #002
This is our very first Graceology Podcast. I am excited to share this time with you.
Me and my dear friend Ketric Newell talk about the struggles of learning grace and how we can better understand and live out a life of grace.
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Podcast Length: 10 min 50sec
I am Nicodemus
I, like many have heard or read the John 3 exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus. I have read this story countless times and have never seen the passage as I do now.
There have been many salvation messages preached out of this text. And rightfully so, however, there is so much more to this story that I have never seen or heard. You probably got this a long time ago, but for me I was so elated with emotion that I could not wait to fully develop this into a blog and hopefully a sermon.
Image created by Matt Wade
Before we dive in, let me pose a question: How many times was the terminology “born again” used in scripture?
The answer? Only 3 times. 2 of those times are in the same conversation with Nicodemus. The other is found in 1 Peter 1:23.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus would use the words “born again”on a teacher of the law as opposed to a sinner? Why not the woman caught in adultery in John 8, or with Zacchaeus the unfair tax collector or even the woman at the well just one chapter later in John 4?
Jesus didn’t even use this terminology with His disciples? Why would Jesus choose a Pharisee who knew the Old Testament scripture and served God faithfully? Why a hard-nosed, teacher of the law?
In verse 10 of John 3, Jesus said, “You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things?”
Why Nicodemus?
This is the key question that I believe will lead us to a neat truth in this particular text.
Jesus chose to share this life changing truth with Nicodemus because He of course wanted Nicodemus to know a better or another way. What’s more, Jesus wanted us to know that there is something about teachers/preachers that Jesus wants to make new.
Let me back up for a moment and say this: I am not suggesting that salvation is not for everyone or just for those who teach and preach. Of course it is for the whole world. I am not saying that being born again and being saved are two different things as I know they are the same. But it is unique that Jesus only used this term one time in His ministry.
I do feel that there is a truth that Jesus was giving us in this passage that is life altering for those of us who are teachers of scripture.
As leaders, pastors, teachers, or whomever, we are teachers of the scripture just like Nicodemus. Yes, there is a major covenant difference. But just like Nicodemus, we too can become so stuck on our version or viewpoint of the message of the Bible that Jesus has to meet us in the darkness of our minds and teach us how to be born again…again as leaders.
“Nicodemus”, Jesus says, “You must be born first of water and then of the Spirit”.
Nicodemus replies with a crazy response, “How can a man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
Nicodemus, a man of the letter/law wanted Jesus to give him a very orderly, mapped out, and a to-the-point process. Jesus responds in his creative way and says, No Nicodemus, its like the wind. You don’t know where it comes from and you don’t know where it goes.
Jesus instantly tears down the system in which Nicodemus would try to limit Jesus’ salvific power.
Later on in the scriptures we see Nicodemus appear again in a unique fashion. Let’s read it. John 19:39 - After the death of Jesus we read: ”He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.”
He seeks Jesus in private, but ends up loving him publicly.
This Jewish/Pharisee leader confesses the Lord Jesus publicly by his gift at the burial of Jesus. He was a teacher of the scripture, who was finally born again.
I too am Nicodemus who must have my state of Biblical living challenged by Jesus and His “wind-like ways”. You?
Discussion Question:
What are the ways in which you have been challenged in your thinking as a teacher/leader in the last 6 months?
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