Just Frances T 
Some time ago, I was watching The Biggest Loser and the teams faced a ridiculous challenge. They had to push an empty railroad car along a length of track. As you can imagine, it took quite a bit of energy to get the approximately 286,000 pound object moving. Once the train started to move, everything went okay for a while. Pushing became much easier. It took significantly less energy. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that momentum isn’t always a good thing.
The teams were so focused on going fast enough to win the challenge that they forgot a train car was big enough to pull them once it built up enough speed. Suddenly, they were fighting against the train. Some of them couldn’t keep up with the pace and their feet scrambled underneath them until they had to let go. The single-minded focus on speed blinded the teams to the inherent danger in building up too much speed to control.
Momentum can be a leader’s biggest blessing because it minimizes obstacles, makes the impossible seem within reach, and is often the difference between winning and losing. John Maxwell (a much wiser person than I am) says that a leader shouldn’t do anything to get in the way of momentum; however, I think momentum can quickly turn into a disaster if it is uncontrollable.
We can blind ourselves to the dangers that lie ahead if the only thing we want is more speed. Sure, a train can plow through huge objects in its path with enough speed, but it can also derail itself, spilling its cargo and killing the people on board. It can go a long way in the wrong direction. As leaders, we need to have our eyes on several different factors to lead well.
I recently read of a time that Bill Hybels realized Willow Creek was growing numerically very quickly, but was failing to create the “fully-devoted followers of Christ” their mission statement envisioned. Instead of plowing on ahead, he slammed on the brakes. He knew that it wouldn’t matter if Willow Creek was the largest church in the world, yet failed to truly bring anyone to Christ.
I pray for the energy and wisdom to know when to push hard, building up momentum, but I also pray for the wisdom and courage to slow down when it’s time.
I’ve recently heard two messages back-to-back on the Good Samaritan. Both of them taught the traditional interpretation: be the Good Samaritan and don’t be the priest and Levite. That interpretation churns my stomach because it ignores a couple very important contextual markers.
1. Jesus is answering a question about inheriting eternal life, specifically, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The question drips with the Law: “How can I justify myself?” Luke even tells us that the lawyer was seeking to justify himself by asking who his neighbor was (10:29). That is to say, he wanted to hear that he was on the right track. Jesus’ answer was so far beyond what the man expected as to leave anybody disheartened, especially someone looking for “Atta boy!”
2. It’s easy to vilify the priest and the Levite, but it leaves out their obligation to the Law. The two religious leaders would become unclean if they touched a dead body (see Numbers 19:11 ff.). Further, the priest was specifically forbidden to touch a dead body, except those closest to him, as part of being consecrated (see Leviticus 21:1 ff.). Though the man was not dead, the description of him being “half-dead” indicates that it probably would be an easy mistake to make. In order to be made right with God, the religious leaders had to follow the Law.
If anything, I think this parable points out the folly of trying to do good works to be made right with God. We can easily miss the big picture in trying to justify ourselves through our actions. Teaching this parable as what Christians ought to do simply replaces the old Law (with its insurmountable limitations) for a new one with insurmountable limitations.
Replacing the law of grace with demands for good works replaces Jesus, which is a mistake I do not want to make in my life or teaching.
When I lost weight three years ago, people would ask me, “How did you do it?” They were always somewhat dismayed by my answer, “Diet and exercise.” (It’s amazing that doctors do, in fact, know what they are talking about in this matter.) Maintaining health is more of the same. It’s so simple, yet very difficult because it is a matter of being able to stay the course. I often struggle because I want to be done with being faithful in this area, but I won’t ever get to the point where being healthy is irrelevant. I won’t ever finish.
Matt and I have only one car at the moment, so we carpool every morning and afternoon. He’s had the habit of listening to Alistair Begg every morning on his way to work, so now that we drive together, I have the habit of listening to Alistair Begg. This week, he was talking about 1 Timothy 4. I was struck by this:
4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture,to exhortation, to teaching. 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you.4:15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. 4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach.Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
As I read the Bible this morning, I also read about Naaman being healed of leprosy (1 Kings 5). Elisha instructed him to simply wash himself in the Jordan seven times. Thinking that advice too simple, Namaan dismissed it. His servants urged him to listen to the advice by saying, “O master, if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task, you would have been willing to do it. It seems you should be happy that he simply said, ‘Wash and you will be healed’” (1 Kings 5:13).
I was struck by simplicity in both of these passages. As a teacher, I often want to find some new thing to teach, something that no one else has taught. Something that wows ’em with my insight. Or, I want to prove my faith in Christ through some great deed. I’m tempted to complicate my faith simply to prove that it’s there and growing.
I wonder whether God wants the same for me. Does he put up crazy hoops for me to jump through or am I putting them up (or allowing others to put them up for me)? Could it really be that the Christian life really is as simple at reading the Bible, praying, and walking obediently with God? Could it be that the most important thing I can teach is Christ? Like Namaan, I want to dismiss that advice as being too simple.
Shouldn’t I be happy that I simply need to wash and be healed in God’s presence?
I had a discussion last week about what spiritual maturity looks like with my friend/coworker Ed. In discussing the topic, I was surprised to find how difficult it is to nail down an exact definition & picture of spiritual maturity. It seems to have an “I’ll know it when I see it quality.”
Some of the ways I’ve heard to recognize it:
- Actions. It’s pretty common to hear definitions that rely on outward actions such as tithing, serving at church, serving outside the church, and giving to the poor, to name a few. It also can be defined by what we don’t do: cuss, watch R-rated movies, gamble, etc.
- Knowledge. I’ve also observed churches that define spiritual maturity in terms of knowledge about God or the Bible. The thought is the more one knows, the more mature they will become.
- Feelings. By this, I mean specific emotions that are more “Christian” than others, such as being calm or agreeable.
- Years. I’ve even observed that sometimes spiritual maturity is simply defined in the number of years that someone has gone to church.
I don’t dismiss the usefulness of the above categories entirely, but each one by itself is lacking. Many people serve simply for the warm fuzzies they feel and God has nothing to do with it. Knowing the Bible or the “right” theological answers doesn’t mean one knows God, let alone is submitted to him.
My favorite definition/picture comes from Paul’s instructions to Titus concerning elders:
Namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. (Titus 1:6-9)
As one of my professors pointed out, it’s not so much a checklist of what an elder is to do/be, but a snapshot of his (or her!) life in many areas. Of course, it still can be interpreted as a to-do (or don’t-do) list.
What definition of spiritual maturity is most helpful or appropriate from your perspective?
When I shared my thoughts about having a miscarriage, I left out one important lesson that I’ve continued to learn: what it means to live in community.
In a stroke of truly terrible timing, Matt and I sent out our Christmas letters to our friends and family telling them that we were expecting a baby the day before I miscarried. So as I was struggling with physical and emotional pain, those letters hit mailboxes and gave a wide circle of friends the no-longer-good news. Being that we send cards to several families with whom we don’t have constant contact, we continue to receive notes and calls of congratulations even now, weeks later.
Though we have the awkward conversation that follows down to a science at this point, I’ve noticed that that awkward conversation leads the way to deeper conversations about God, life, and experiences of loss. Statistics tell us that 1 in 4 or 5 pregnancies ends in miscarriage; now I know many names to go with that statistic. I’ve heard stories of loss that I never knew about people that I deeply care about.
In discussing what a church should look like, Paul says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” I thought I knew what that meant until I had such a private loss in a public arena. As I mourned, it allowed those around me to mourn their own losses. It allowed me to share my faith and how God was taking me through with Christians and non-Christians alike. It forced me to receive prayers, encouragement, and many hugs from others, when I would have rather kept people out. In short, God used it not only to grow my faith, but that of those around me.
I am increasingly convinced that a huge part of Christian leadership is simply living your faith in a public arena. What does it look like to have a God-honoring marriage in both good and hard times? How does someone who believes in Jesus deal with loss? How do they spend money, time, and other resources? The Bible teaches us these things, but living, breathing examples of Christian maturity are absolutely necessary to grow all believers. I’ve grown significantly in my faith simply by being around people who were trying to live our their faith in every day life.
I would not have chosen to have told so many people I was pregnant if I knew what was to come, but God used this experience for His glory. My prayer is that I will be both faithful and open enough with my life that I will be able to say, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
A couple days ago, I took time out of my longest work day to walk around the lake. One of my goals for this quarter is to faithfully exercise at least 4 days a week, so I typically take this walk with a friend during the week. This time, I found myself walking alone, so I came armed with my iPod. Music keeps me motivated to keep going (and not pay attention to how tired I get), but it seemed strange to walk and listen to music that day. Instead, I decided to take in my surroundings.
Spending time contemplating God in nature refreshes me and teaches me a great deal. As I walked, I prayed that God would show me himself in His creation. Normally, when I practice contemplating God in nature, I wait until I see something that really strikes me and sit with it for some time. I didn’t have that experience this time. I found my attention drawn to many things: the interesting ducks and other wildlife, the way the lake had risen from the recent rain, the sunlight shimmering on the water. Mostly, I noticed the people around me. I found myself praising God several times throughout my walk because I could see His handiwork all over. There are so many things that are truly marvelous!
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
Psalm 19:1-4
When I was going through the Dark Night of the Soul, so much of the world seemed dark and lifeless. Life was going on around me, but I didn’t have eyes to see it. Creation continued to tell of God’s glory and power, but I was deaf. Coming out of that period has been more like a sunrise than and light switch. I couldn’t see God’s work at all at first. Then I started to notice dim traces of him. As the light continued to grow, I see him more and more frequently. I find myself noticing the goodness of simple things, like the smell of cut grass or the taste of bacon. I’ve enjoyed things before, but I often wonder, “Did I really experience them as they pointed to the Creator?”
It’s strange to be thankful for periods of darkness, but I am. I think that period was training me to see God in ways I never had. It was training me to be hopeful for what I couldn’t see, to be thankful for even the faintest traces of his work when I could see. My prayer is that he’d continue to reveal himself, in order that my heart would grow ever fonder of him. May my affections be captivated only by our amazing, wonderful Creator.
“At last I see the light
It’s like the fog has lifted
At last I see the light
It’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright
The world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see You.”
“I See the Light”
In some ways, Bible Gateway drive me nuts. Don’t get me wrong, I love it as a tool for looking at different translations or finding a passage to which I don’t know the reference, but I’ve noticed that it can easily be misused to cut corners in sermon prep. I must confess that I’ve even misused it to find a verse that goes along with some topic in my own sermon prep.
There is a very famous pastor/author who is a phenomenal communicator, yet no doubt uses Bible Gateway this way. No joke, he did a sermon on physical fitness and included half of 1 Timothy 4:8: “For physical training is of some value…” while neglecting the more important second half, “…but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Sigh.
I bring this up because one verse that I constantly see misused in writing and speaking (yes, also by the aforementioned pastor) is Proverbs 29:18 (well, half of it anyway). Searching for the word “vision” yields this verse: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” It’s become the key verse for discussing vision for my life, my business, my church, my family, etc. The only problem is, it’s not about that at all. Read More
I came across this prayer in a book recently and found it incredibly profound:
O God, you are the fountain of all truth; we ask you to protect your church from all false teaching.
Protect the Church
From all teaching and preaching which would destroy men’s faith;
From all that removes old foundations without putting anything in their place;
From all the confuses the simple,
that perplexes the seeker,
that bewilders the way-faring man.
And yet at the same time protect the Church
From the failure to face new truth;
From devotions to words and ideas
which the passing of the years has rendered unintelliglble;
From all intellectual cowardice
and from all mental lethargy and sloth.
O God, send to your Church teachers,
Whose minds are wise with wisdom;
Whose hearts are warm with love;
Whose lips are eloquent with truth.
Send to your Church teachers
Whose desire is to build and not to destroy;
Who are adventurous with the wise,
and yet gentle with the simple;
Who strenuously exercise the intellect,
and who yet remember that the heart has reasons of its own.
Give to your Church preachers and teachers who can make known the Lord Christ to others because they know him themselves; and give to your Church hearers, who, being freed from prejudice, will follow truth as blind men long for light. The we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
When I’m getting into a preaching head space, I often listen to a song by Switchfoot called “Twenty-four.” It’s a song about reflecting on your life and the things that have not gone as you’ve expected and hoped they would go, but how God is nevertheless transforming and “raising the dead” in us. Recently, as I listened to the song, I was struck by a few lines:
I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled the angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause
I’ve thought of those lines often because the past few years have felt like wrestling with God. When life and ministry don’t go as I expect, I have to cling to the fact that I’m not wrestling with God to make a name for myself or to have warm, fuzzy feelings. So why am I wrestling? Read More
I’ve been silent on my blog for quite some time because I was keeping a big secret–being pregnant. God taught me so much through the physical and emotional changes, but Matt and I were keeping it a secret until we surprised our families with the news at Christmas. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to revel in being open with the news for very long when we lost our baby just before New Year’s. Suddenly everything was different again and all of my meditations on being pregnant seemed inappropriate, except for this one. Read More
Frances
Just Frances T 