Ron Hall and Denver Moore are known for their first book "Same Kind of Different as Me." Their story centers around how Denver Moore, homeless, is befriend by Ron and Deborah Hall and Deborah's subsequent battle and death from cancer. Their second book "What Difference Do It Make?" is a continuation of their ongoing true story.
In this second volume, Denver Moore asks a probing question of Ron Hall: "Mr. Ron, all these white folks be invitin us to their Bible studies. How come none of 'em's invitin us to their Bible doins?" (p. 152)
Several years ago, a friend of mine told me of inviting a new Christian to his church one Sunday morning. When the worship service concluded, the new Christian asked my friend, "But when do we do the stuff?" He was referring to the things he had read about Jesus and disciples doing in the Bible.
Could it be that we are too busy hosting studies that we have scheduled ourselves out of doing? Just saying . . . as I sit in my office, in front of a computer writing a blog . . .
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
What Is My Job Description?
Do you ever struggle with what you are suppose to be doing today, or even tomorrow? I know that I sure do. There are days that I have a hard time remembering what my job description really is. Oh, I know what is expected of me at the job I have that provides me a salary. I am expected to relate to numerous churches and church leaders in helping them to fulfil the mission that God has entrusted to them. While that may mean the need for a variety of strategies and approaches, the specific expection is rather clear - focus all of my energy, skills, and gifts in helping them either directly or indirectly. That may mean connecting a church or a leader with another church or leader to accomplish the task.
Likewise, I am on board with my job description within my family. First and foremost, it has to do with loving my (and the Bible says "even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her."). Second it focuses on parenting children (while they are grown and married, they still have a need for a listening ear from time to time.) Third, and the most fun, it has to do with grandparenting (permissive, to some extent, but most of all available with time to play even when you have to get down in the floor - easy - getting up again is the hard part!). And the role still involves honoring parents (and age and sickness certainly have an impact here.).
But what I forget sometimes is my job description regarding life - the job description that God gives because He created me as a person. There would be many ways to phrase the description and it probably varies in wording from person to person. There are many specifics in the Bible about how I am to live. Some relate to loving God while others relate to treatment of my fellow man. Some have to do with the character and personality traits that I should develop and others have to do with the utilizing of gifts and skills. Some are specific commands composed of do's and don'ts. If not careful, the list could become so lengthy that the job description gets lost in the confusion.
Ultimately, there is one specific part of the job description God intends me to fulfill - I am to obey Him. My obedience is not based on how that affects me or anyone else. It is a freewill choice in response to God who created me, who loves me, who demonstrated His love for me by sending His Son Jesus into this world to die for my sins, and who extends to me the promise of eternal life when I place my faith in Jesus. Not so hard to obey One who cares for you like that.
"Lord, help me stay focused on my job description for life today!"
Likewise, I am on board with my job description within my family. First and foremost, it has to do with loving my (and the Bible says "even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her."). Second it focuses on parenting children (while they are grown and married, they still have a need for a listening ear from time to time.) Third, and the most fun, it has to do with grandparenting (permissive, to some extent, but most of all available with time to play even when you have to get down in the floor - easy - getting up again is the hard part!). And the role still involves honoring parents (and age and sickness certainly have an impact here.).
But what I forget sometimes is my job description regarding life - the job description that God gives because He created me as a person. There would be many ways to phrase the description and it probably varies in wording from person to person. There are many specifics in the Bible about how I am to live. Some relate to loving God while others relate to treatment of my fellow man. Some have to do with the character and personality traits that I should develop and others have to do with the utilizing of gifts and skills. Some are specific commands composed of do's and don'ts. If not careful, the list could become so lengthy that the job description gets lost in the confusion.
Ultimately, there is one specific part of the job description God intends me to fulfill - I am to obey Him. My obedience is not based on how that affects me or anyone else. It is a freewill choice in response to God who created me, who loves me, who demonstrated His love for me by sending His Son Jesus into this world to die for my sins, and who extends to me the promise of eternal life when I place my faith in Jesus. Not so hard to obey One who cares for you like that.
"Lord, help me stay focused on my job description for life today!"
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Ducks in the Swimming Pool
One of my frequent driving paths takes me through a neighborhood that has an "amenity center" for the residents. A good size neighborhood swimming pool is part of the center. During the summers, children, families, and mothers and tots, occupy the pool most of the time every day. Mothers and tots have a stronghold on the mornings, children (supervised of course) take over the afternoons, and families grab the evenings and weekends.
The management keeps the pool filled and pretty clean year round even though it is closed in late fall through late spring (yes, it does get cold enough in Texas to not swim year round - remember the snow pictures).
Over the last few weeks I have noticed that the pool is occupied once again even though it has not officially opened for the summer. The resident swimmers and sun bathers are not the usual crowd. They do have two legs but their feet are webbed. They are colorful and skilled at both swimming and flying, but seem to be a little skiddish if someone wanders too close to the fence surrounding the pool. Several Mallard Ducks have found themselves an "amenity center" well suited to their liking. They swim and then sit (or stand or maybe waddle) around the pool to keep their tan lines even, I guess. And before you ask, I don't know how the clorine in the water affects them!
What concerns me is not that ducks are swimming in a pool designed for people. Rather, I am concerned about how many things that were intended for one significant purpose are now being used for lessor purposes. A few come to mind rather quickly - guns designed for protection or for war being used for crime and random shootings; drugs developed to save lives being taken illegally and resulting in the loss of life; sex created as a means of intimacy in marriage and for the procreation of the human species being used as a profitable business or desire for popularity; and the computer created so that we could do things faster to have more time for relationships but the result has been we use the computer for everything, even emailing our co-workers and playing games or working at home instead of time with family.
Am I just getting old (I did just have another one of those birthdays go by) and beginning to complain about everything or are our improvements and enlightenments really not so improving or enlightening? The truth is that some days I think there are ducks swimming in the pool. Maybe soon I will take some time and write about getting the right use of things, afterall I just wrote five paragraphs expressing my thoughts to WHOM? Maybe just to me!
The management keeps the pool filled and pretty clean year round even though it is closed in late fall through late spring (yes, it does get cold enough in Texas to not swim year round - remember the snow pictures).
Over the last few weeks I have noticed that the pool is occupied once again even though it has not officially opened for the summer. The resident swimmers and sun bathers are not the usual crowd. They do have two legs but their feet are webbed. They are colorful and skilled at both swimming and flying, but seem to be a little skiddish if someone wanders too close to the fence surrounding the pool. Several Mallard Ducks have found themselves an "amenity center" well suited to their liking. They swim and then sit (or stand or maybe waddle) around the pool to keep their tan lines even, I guess. And before you ask, I don't know how the clorine in the water affects them!
What concerns me is not that ducks are swimming in a pool designed for people. Rather, I am concerned about how many things that were intended for one significant purpose are now being used for lessor purposes. A few come to mind rather quickly - guns designed for protection or for war being used for crime and random shootings; drugs developed to save lives being taken illegally and resulting in the loss of life; sex created as a means of intimacy in marriage and for the procreation of the human species being used as a profitable business or desire for popularity; and the computer created so that we could do things faster to have more time for relationships but the result has been we use the computer for everything, even emailing our co-workers and playing games or working at home instead of time with family.
Am I just getting old (I did just have another one of those birthdays go by) and beginning to complain about everything or are our improvements and enlightenments really not so improving or enlightening? The truth is that some days I think there are ducks swimming in the pool. Maybe soon I will take some time and write about getting the right use of things, afterall I just wrote five paragraphs expressing my thoughts to WHOM? Maybe just to me!
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