A Lesson in Humility

Have you ever noticed how the greatest apostle of the New Testament considered himself the least of them all. The Apostle Paul did not consider himself better as he matured in Christ but less and less. In fact, in his last years he wrote that he was the chief of sinners!

It seems reasonable to believe in this world that working hard and achieving goals is an honorable task. Yet this is not the ways of God. I am not saying that one should not strive to work hard, Paul says that he worked harder then all the rest of the apostles, but the difference is in whose glory you are working for. God's or your own.

Serving as a pastor creates somewhat of a fuzzy distinction. A growing church that is winning converts and discipling believers brings God glory, and the pastor involved is in the middle of all the praise. It is easy to forget that humans are a tool and that God is the glorious one. This goes back to satisfaction tension what are you working hard for?

The interesting part is that in struggling with His energy for the church and the glory of God one in turn receives more satisfaction than personal gain or success can ever bring. In the end, what one gains for himself is left behind, what one gives to the kingdom of God is eternal.

This quote from John MacArthur's commentary on Ephesians says it well,

Among the greatest dangers to the ministry, and to all faithful Christian living, are things that in the world's eyes are of supreme value - personal ambition, prestige, recognition, honor, reputation, and success. God not only chooses weak and foolish people to save, but weak and foolish preachers through whom to save them.

Those who know me well, know that I worked hard for personal ambition in FFA. But God was gracious to use those opportunities for intense and lifelong lessons that have benefited my life and ministry today and will into the future. The hard part is the Spirit teaching me to remember it is not about me, and that I am a slave of Jesus Christ, called and saved, for His purpose alone. I must trust his direction and be satisfied with his works that he has prepared me to do. But at the same time, struggle with all His energy to make those works the best they can be!

Satisfaction Tension

The day I brought my first child home with my wife was an amazing event. I remember holding him as he slept and just sitting and watching as my wife cared for him in his helpless estate. I can remember finding such satisfaction in knowing that he was my child and a gift of God. I had always longed for a child and now I had a firstborn son.

But before long he was not that little helpless babe anymore. He was a crazy little two year old and into everything. Once again the desire to have a little one crept in and we decided it was time for another child. I had not forgotten, nor loved less, my first born, yet the desire for a new little one was in tension with the satisfaction that we already had in our first son.

You know the Christian life presents us with a similar tension. We are to rest in our salvation and to be satisfied in knowing Christ and the grace that has saved us, yet with the constant yearning for something greater. Not to know someone greater but to know him better and be allowed to accomplish more through his power for the kingdom.

How this tension tears at my heart on occasions as I long to do mighty works for the kingdom and at the same time wrestle with the pride of self over the satisfaction of Christ. Do I want to be successful as a pastor so that others will see? Or, do I want to be a successful pastor because it is the desire of God to grow his church?

How I long for God to give me a driving passion for his kingdom that is centered upon his glory and not my own, that I will not confuse success with personal gain, but that success would be the increase of God's glory and the increase of his Renown. I pray that God will let me see great success and that the anointing of the Spirit will be upon my ministry! Oh how I long for his power to flow through me and minister in me.

So the tension remains! I desire to be satisfied completely in Christ and yet stay passionate for more and more. Though the truth remains, the only way to be satisfied in Christ is to know him more and more. I pray that God will give us wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him!

My works have been set out in advance for me to do, the way has already been prepared. Lord, give me the grace that I may faithfully walk in them with a total trust and dependence upon you, for you know the plans you have for me.

Mission to Manaus, Brazil

I will be leaving for the mission trip to Manaus on June 18-27. Please pray for me and the work of the team I will be traveling with from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas. We will be working with and doing construction for a youth camp just outside the city.

Building an Evangelistic Church

This summer I have the oppportunity to study under Ken Hemphill, the author of EKG: Empowering Kingdom Growth.

I am really excited about this class and have enjoyed reading the books in preperation. This class focuses on what my heartbeat is in growing the church with conversion rather than transfers from other churches. I thank God for the chance to sit under his instruction and pray that I will learn to keep the basics of expository preaching, prayer, small group bible study, etc. in mind for the rest of my ministry that God may grow his church by reaching the lost through my minsitry!

What mom is worth

This article by MSN Money gives the approximate salary of the best ladies in the world, Stay at Home Moms!

The Salary of a Stay-at-Home mom for 2007

That means I have a lot of back pay owed to Ann, plus the cost of putting up with me. It could take a while to pay that debt!