Take Two: Ecclesiastes 3, Proverbs 31

Chapter 3 opens with the writer’s observation of the perseverance of life. Life continues on. There is nothing that you or I can do to alter it. Ultimately, there is an appointed system and appointed times for everything that happens (vv.1-10).

A man who seeks to understand or master these “times” will find it to be “vanity,” since it cannot occur. Man will long to do so, but still cannot (v.11). There is far more to understand about the operation of this world than man will ever fully grasp. If success in life is the acquisition of this understanding, man will be ultimately frustrated. However, if man concludes that God fully understands and simply accepts God’s way as “the Way,” then he is well on his way to a fulfilling existence.

For those who dispute this, the writer observes (shockingly) that there is no difference between man and beast at death (v.19). This is not a theological statement on annihilationism. It is not a refutation that we are made in the image of God. It is a statement of acknowledgment that, no matter how smart we become or how much we acquire, we will all go by way of death. Man cannot resist this appointment.

Note: As such, we should “skim across” and see the implication. Eternity is set in the heart of man. There is a natural cycle of life events that will persist even if we resist them. The end of the cycle for each individual is death. Our righteous God will hold to account each one for his righteousness and wickedness (v.17). All real hope then is to be found in accepting and embracing God’s Way…even when we cannot fully comprehend or control it. Apart for living according to God’s Way…man’s only profitable aim is to live for happiness in the moment (v.22).

NOTE: In my own mind I wrestle (when reading this) to avoid the extremes of “fatalism” (the position that everything is predetermined and set and unalterable), and resisting/rebelling against the assertion of the text (that I have no control… ultimately…over anything). The writer’s point is not that we should give up (fatalism) or fight against (rebel/resist) the truth; rather, that we should live in light of it. No matter what we desire to control, it is vanity. No matter where we seek pleasure, it is vanity. Our only true hope for happiness and success is found in the God alone and in trusting in His plan.

Proverbs 31:30 is the takeaway today. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Apart from salvation, there is no greater gift or clear manifestation of grace than the gift of a godly wife. I am ultimately blessed beyond measure.

Take Two: Ecclesiastes 2, Proverbs 30

As the writer continues in his catalog of attempted significance, he notes that he has amassed great wealth, but it is vanity. He pursued hedonism (living in a manner driven by the search for human pleasure) but it is also vanity. He pursued chemical euphoria (v.3), but it amounted to nothing. He even pursued wisdom…yet in the end, it was all vain.

The summary of his attempts at pleasure (v.10) and work (v.18) lead the writer to conclude, that it is better to live content in God, under God’s benevolent hand, than to pursue self-interest and self-directed goals (v.24).

He is not advocating that everyone sells everything and lives in a tent; however, he does indict those who seek to move ahead by gaining more or by being enslaved to the senses.

All that man pursues is best accomplished by the grace of God, who gives according to His good pleasure. Herein lies significance and the security of that which perseveres.

APPLICATION: If the pursuit of significance apart from God truly results in emptiness, why would we do it? Simply stated, we want God’s job. We want to be in charge. We want desperately to call the shots and for our name to be significant. This is rooted in pride and is simply nothing less than sin we have justified in our own hearts.

This does not mean that we cannot experience pleasure…it means that we choose to serve God and please Him…taking our ultimate pleasure in that. This connects for me:

On our “date day,” I always want to do what Jodi desires. This is not laborious to me. It is simply my desire for her to have the greatest pleasure in our time together. Sure, there are some things that I desire more than others…(nearly everything over say…shopping), but shopping (since I mentioned it) is not what I do when Jodi and I go to the store. I go, not to shop, but to honor and serve my wife and simply to be with her. The activity is the same as shopping, but the intent and desire is a universe away. I desire to please my wife…and in so doing, I receive the greatest of blessings.

Part of what we have learned in ministry, is we have come to value what God values as ultimate. (We’re not perfect, but generally speaking.) While we want the things most people live and die for…work themselves to death for…we would rather have those things Jesus died for because we value them more than an F250 or a Cabin in the mountains, or whatever else.

How do you become like that? As I think about it, I believe it is because we took time to understand how God values things. We decided that we wanted to value things the same way. We decided and then we began to learn how… (I know…not much help for people who like lists…)

Proverbs 30:5 is the takeaway today. “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

Take Two: Ecclesiastes 1, Proverbs 29

As we begin reading Ecclesiastes together…let me offer a word of WARNING!!! This is not the type of reading that you take in and walk away feeling great about the incredible difference you have made or can make in the world. In fact, many have difficulty reading this because, from the onset, it come across negative or pessimistic. This is not to say that the writer has no hope or joy; rather, it is a sobering evaluation of the human existence, the human endeavor, and the steadfastness and sovereignty of God.

Let me offer a “lens” through which to read this book…as an alternative to simply seeing it pessimistically. Consider reading it evangelistically or as a defense for the belief that God Himself is the greatest of all pursuits…since, in the end, only He persists. Not our wealth, wisdom, or work…only God perseveres.

v.12 defines that the author is the son of David who ruled over Israel in Jerusalem. This is a reference to Solomon. (NOTE: Some critical scholars dispute this based on the style of Hebrew used, but their arguments are lacking and are based on supposition.)

Two themes appear in ch 1 (and they will appear again in other parts of the book…much like the case in Proverbs): The futility of work, and the futility of wisdom. It is not that the Bible discounts the ethic of work; rather, since the Scripture encourages diligent and honest labor, the focus here is on self-defined endeavors that are intended to result in our (people’s) grandeur and glory.

In the author’s words, Everything is meaningless (i.e. is like breath, is insubstantial, is transient) (v.2). No matter how hard we work or how focused we are…at some point, everything we work for goes away. No one takes it with them and eventually, people even forget about the chief architect of our efforts…US. I know…we wish it were different, but who did build the Pyramids of Egypt? Who erected the Taj Mahal? Who was the man who carved out Mt. Rushmore? Who was the first man to climb the highest mountain. These great feats and accomplishments persist…but those who accomplished them…have been long forgotten by most.

You and I can work ourselves to death (literally) building our own little empires…but eventually we leave this world and someone divides our decades of work between people who may or may not deserve the benefit.

In the human spirit (the natural man) we think…maybe true for everyone else, but my story will be different. Even King Solomon noted, “that which has been is that which will be. (v.9)”

In vv.12-18 we see that the pursuit of knowledge meets a similar demise. Regardless of what we think we can grasp, in the end, we cannot even comprehend our own origin, or the outer limits of wisdom or foolishness (v.17). The great conundrum is this…the more we learn, the more we realize what we do not yet know.

So, the focus is this. Any pursuit we undertake that is not centered on God’s great and persevering purpose will ultimately be destroyed; however, every pursuit that is centered on God’s great plan will always persevere. We may be forgotten, but such is God’s plan as well. We are servants of the King, not kings in our own right. All hail the King of the Universe. May He alone receive glory and honor…as we pursue His plan as our own high calling and purpose for existence.

Proverbs 29:18 is the takeaway today. “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the Law.”

Book Review: Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life. edited by Bryan Curtis

Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life, edited by Bryan Curtis. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010). 165 pages.

Some of my favorite writings are short pieces of semi-random observations. They are like nuggets of gold that are mined from the mountains of life. Classic Wisdom is a collection of just this type of nuggets. It contains select quotes from a broad array of figures throughout human history and from all segments of society. Rarely does one expect to find quotes from Oprah, President Obama, Vincent van Gogh and John Wooden in the same work.

Curtis has compiled a great collection that are connected thematically for the professional or manager who seeks to think differently and therefore lead differently.

This is not a book to pick up and read through. It is a desk manual for a leader who seeks to sharpen himself by pausing, taking in, and meditating on some of the most profound attitudinal statement of this generation and many before.

I highly recommend this book!

You can purchase a copy at your local bookstore or through Amazon HERE.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thoughts on Competition… (part 3)

This is an attempt to answer the 2d question/observation in my article on Competition. You can read part 1 or part 2 by clicking the links.

#2, How does our understanding of purpose/mission affect our context/environment as we present God’s view?

This question has experienced far more controversy in our modern church culture than it should. Most of the controversy is due to preference and change (or the aversion to change). It has very little to do with the missional principle.

Simply stated: when Jesus spoke to farmers…He used agricultural analogies speaking in terms that were familiar to those he desired to communicate with. When speaking to fishermen…likewise. When rebuking Pharisees, He did not speak of Greek literary figures, but used the terms and context that connected with His audience.

Defining the purpose of the church is too broad for this application…so we must look at the components of the church’s activities and address the context of each. For instance, if the vision is that believers join together for Sunday morning worship to be instructed in the Scriptures and encouraged in fellowship with God and one another, then the context will reflect an environment conducive to that end. The end result should be then, that encouraged and instructed believers would then go out into the world to “live out their faith” and bear witness of Christ to all of their friends and neighbors.

Part of the issue though…is that the context of the church today in culture. Many, if not most, in our culture (speaking of the modern, western culture of America) prefer to explore the spirituality question in a context of anonymity. In other words, they prefer to hear and take in the information, experience the community, and then ask their own clarifying questions before making decisions of faith. As such the “Invest and Invite” strategy of evangelism is more attractive than the one-on-one confrontational approach. Stated differently, it is often more comfortable for the witness and the recipient to generate dialogue and then invite someone to experience the “church” as it (the church) answers some particular need in the recipient’s life.

Now, I did not design the culture to work this way. It just does. I can’t change it to be something different. It just is. All I can do, is think like a missionary and contextualize what I do to connect with the culture.

5 practical considerations on how to do this.

• I need to be careful to explain what is going on and why it is happening. In other words, I need to never assume someone is “tracking” with me. I need to assume (if anything) that this is their first time in church and among God’s people.
• I need to avoid or explain clearly “church language.” [Note, this is why I don’t refer to every man in the church as “Brother ____.” It confuses newcomers…and even creeps them out a bit I am told. When it doesn’t, it reinforces to them that they are not “one of us,” but are outsiders…since they don’t know the language.]  This became very clear to me a few weeks back. I was playing golf with three realtor types. They were discussing some changes and using real estate terms. They all tracked with the conversation, but I was more lost than my golf ball in the lake . Occasionally they would clarify for me what they were saying by using “layman” talk. I was thankful…but still a bit confused, since while I knew the words they were using, it was not my context.
• I need to reduce obstacles. Like language, there are a number of things that we (church people) can erect that impede the process for others exploring the “church experience.” My goal is to eliminate all unnecessary obstacles, so they have the maximum opportunity to encounter Jesus. This includes such popular subjects as “how do I know my children are okay in the back,” parking up close, signage, greeting teams, worship folders, screened announcements, etc. One of the most difficult to swallow…I don’t make them step out of anonymity (YET) to ask a question, receive prayer, or make a decision to progress in their spiritual journey.
• I need to aim for attractiveness. I am not attractional (meaning that what we do in itself draws unconnected people like fans to a sporting event) in my approach…but I do know that it is not enough to simply not offend. I must give people a reason to come back. They need to experience a “value add” when they visit. What I communicate should answer a question they are asking…even if I helped generate the question in their minds.
• I need to make their next step easy and obvious. For first time guests, the next step is obviously a second visit. To make that easier, we give them a gift before they leave, promise not to pull a drop-in for Monday night visitation, send a letter, and have a LIFE Group contact them that week to thank them for their visit, offer to answer questions, and invite them to come again.

Now I have only addressed a Sunday AM service (because it is my primary teaching time as pastor. I engage with more people at this time than at any other times in the week.); however, the principle is applied in all contexts. My “discipleship training” (Sunday PM has a different context. LIFE Groups have a different context. Fellowship events and “Family Time” have a different context.) I have to contextualize the environment to reflect my audience and my purpose for each event.

What do you think about this observation? Should we be sensitive to “environments” in planning for our churchwide events…or other contexts?

Thoughts on Competition… (Part 2)

A couple of days ago, I posted an article which is available HERE on defining our competition. While my particular context is church (and I write from that perspective), the applications and principles are far-reaching.

This is part #2 and addresses the first of three implications/questions I want to explore:

#1, How does our understanding of purpose/mission affect those we choose to lead in our ministry?

People pursue their passions. Period. Whatever a person’s passion is…whether he/she wants to or not…he/she will pursue that automatically. Why is this important? This being said, we must choose leaders who passionately live and breathe our purpose…or more accurately, God’s purpose.

If a person has a belief that the purpose of the church is primarily to teach those already inside the walls, he will do so without thinking. Evangelism will burdensome because there is no passion stemming from purpose. If a person thinks that the mission of the church is to reach a lost and dying world…he will default to evangelism in almost every situation. Discipleship is a strain. (Note: by extension…missions and an approach to mission is treated in the same manner.)

This is why it is critical to understand what the PURPOSE of the church (and more specifically) our church is. Once we know…we MUST put leaders in place who are passionately committed to that purpose. You can’t fake it and be successful. You have to really have a burden for it.

Two points of application:

Once we understand God’s purpose and have selected (or discerned God’s selection and affirmed) a leader, we must ensure that he can build a team that shares the passion and vision. If you are not passionate about the leader’s vision…you have to pursue it to become passionate…or leave. I know that sounds harsh…but to be passionate for a competing vision AND to be in a role of leadership that competes with the overall leader…is to create chaos, hurt the organization, and stifle growth. Recognize that if you are not “IN,” then you are “OUT” and you are influencing others to join you. Ultimately, this leads to discouragement.

Second, If you are a leader , you have to know and define the PURPOSE clearly and then require that everyone who leads…embrace it. Not every church has to be a cookie-cutter model of the next one; however, you cannot have multiple vision casters in a church casting competing visions. This sort competition does violence to the purpose and causes everyone to fail. So, as a leader, do the hard thing. Try to bring your leaders to a point of honestly buying into/ owning the vision. If you can’t or they won’t…set them free. Replace them with those who are in sync. This doesn’t mean they are bad leaders or bad people…simply that they are not the right fit for the present organization.

What is crucial is that those in the organization know where it is going. This is best accomplished when all of the voices with influence are affirming the same vision. Each leader sees his area of responsibility through the lens of the overall vision. Every decision in every level must bolster and support the overarching vision for the organization. If one cannot do that, then he should step aside from leading. If he can support the vision outside of leadership, then he should. If not, he should find another organization that shares his vision and go there. Life is too short to do anything else.

What are your thoughts?

Take Two: Titus 3, Proverbs 28

I love this chapter. Paul instructs Titus to exhort the people to live under grace and do good. Imagine the simplicity of this statement and apply it to your Christian life.

First, to live under grace. He reminds Titus that it is only by God’s mercy and manifest love that we are His children (vv.4,7), and are no longer like many of those whom we live among…who live according to their own desires, the desires of the flesh (v.3). It would be unnatural from them to act like believers, and it is foolish for believers to act as unbelievers.

We live differently because we have come to realize the love of God that was manifested toward us. So, what does living under grace look like?

We do good. We avoid the pursuits of the flesh and embrace the grace shown toward us. We then show the same grace toward others. We were undeserving and we received grace. Others are undeserving…so we (in like manner) show them grace. We do not do so to earn favor with God. We do so because we are already experiencing favor with God.

Now we live as heirs of promise with a hope of eternal life (v.7). That changes everything. Everything.

In living this way, we also avoid goofy religious discussions that serve to divide and ELEVATE non-essential traditions to the place of essentials. Honestly…we no longer care that your grandparents started the church…we only care that the Lord of the church loved us and committed to us the ministry of bringing others into His church. We no longer care that dress codes are traditional, or that someone thinks this translation of the Scriptures or style of music is more “sacred” than another. They are wrong. We don’t engage in endless debate on the matter. If in light of grace, they cannot see that it is non-essential, then we move on…recognizing that they are missing the will of God (vv.9-11).

NOTE: Chew on that a minute. I have read it a dozen times. I am mindful of SOOOOO many long conversations and meetings and disputes through the years over goofy stuff that has no biblical mandate…stuff that arises from preference or tradition rather than biblical conviction. (I am not saying there is no conviction, only that the conviction arises from something other than “thus saith the Lord.”) The Scripture says…discuss it twice with a factious man (one who desires to divide along the lines of the non-essential…drawing a distinction within the family) warning him about his wrong focus. If he will not change…reject him recognizing that he is self-condemned and is actively sinning.  [Now, I think about the times I have held up a standard based on my preferences...rather than on the Word of God. Should the content of my preaching ever be about which politician is best for our country? Immigration policies? I think not.]

V.14 is also pretty powerful. “Our people must learn to engage in good deeds…so they will not be unfruitful.” The good deeds are specifically to meet pressing needs…and generally applied to wider subject matter. When we don’t meet pressing needs, we make ourselves unfruitful. Our lack of good “doing” hurts us.

Proverbs 28:26 is the takeaway today. “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.”

TOMORROW- We move back to the OT…with the book of Ecclesiastes! See you there!

Book Review: Killing Cockroaches by Tony Morgan

Book Review: Killing Cockroaches. Tony Morgan, (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2009) 235 pages reviewed.

Killing Cockroaches is the product of Tony Morgan’s work on the subject of leadership and observations of life. Much of his work has appeared in various forms on his blog www.tonymorganlive.com or in some other similar format. Each section is short, direct, and intentionally transparent. Morgan is the Chief Strategic Officer (a strange title for a “church staff guy”) at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC (www.newspring.cc ).

Morgan’s conversation style and quick wit makes the book an easy and entertaining read. His insights serve to cause the reader to pause and consider “cockroaches” in his own life. As a pastor, I enjoyed the book. It reminded me about the tyranny of the urgent and how often I can lose sight of the big picture and get caught up doing something less meaningful.

I recommend the book to any leader, but especially those who lead in the context of church. The questions that Morgan asks will cause you to argue with the book…only to pause, raise a white flag, and look at the issues which were already in front of you.

Bravo Tony!! An incredible resource and well worth the time and money I invested to learn from you.

You can purchase a copy from Amazon HERE.

Take Two: Titus 2, Proverbs 27

Chapter 2 opens with a contrast (v.1- but as for you…) to the previous statement which ended chapter 1 (they profess to know God, but by their DEEDS they deny Him)…

POINT: Our lifestyles must be consistent with our profession if we are to have a consistent and effective witness. Those who are “defiled and unbelieving” live inconsistent lives (1:15), but a believer is to be consistent.

NOTE: Some will feel guilt when examining our lives in light of the last statement. No matter how hard we try…we will judge ourselves inconsistent in some area. The reason is…we are inconsistent in some area. As we have seen in other places (1 John for instance), the issue is not that we are perfect; rather, that our lives are progressing in grace and that we are not intentionally embracing a lifestyle that is opposed to God. We all fall; however, we can never accept that as “the way it is” and become comfortable in our fallen state.”

In vv.2-9 we find that each segment is given instruction of how to act/live, as well as how to encourage/exhort/disciple others to live. This discipleship approach involves both “modeling” and “instruction.”

Notice that the instruction here completely eliminates the approach I have heard often: “Do as I say, not as I do.” That approach is inconsistent and prompts the response, “What you DO speak so loudly that what you SAY, I cannot hear.”

Part of the instruction we convey (and a very important part) involves what we do when we don’t get it right. I am increasingly convinced that one of the best lessons I can teach my family is how to get up when you fall. Teaching them to be perfect only adds to feelings of condemnation. Teaching them to consider the weight and consequence of their actions while modeling humility and consistency…calling on God for mercy and living according to His grace…leads to a sense of awe of God and thankfulness for grace.

I also appreciate the emphasis Paul places on discipleship responsibility being primarily within the family unit (vv.3-5). No amount of a pastor or small group leader’s teaching can counter what a person learn by example within the family unit.

Why do we do these things? Because God saved us by His grace (v.11-14) which involves not only our Justification before Him, but our Sanctification (denying ungodliness and embracing righteous living).

When the Apostle spoke to Titus, he told him…focus your exhortation around these things…right doctrine, right living (application of doctrine), and consistency. Do so with all authority. I believe that effectiveness in our calling today is no more complicated than that.

Proverbs 27:14 is the takeaway today. (It makes me laugh because I was shown it by a college professor who said there were many parents of teenagers and camp counselors that were in a heap of trouble.) “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him.” [Another way to think of this: You can do the right thing (blessing) in the wrong way (early in the AM in a loud voice) and it’s value is lost (reckoned a curse).

What does it mean to “rededicate” or “recommit”

I recently received an email from a friend who asked about “recommitment” to the faith. Certainly, my friend is working through developing a theology of what it means to be “saved” and the “security” involved in that for a believer. What is proving more difficult for my friend, is navigating the complexity of “church talk” which all of us are guilty of and I am “the chief” of all violators.

I thought the question was important so I am sharing it and my response with you.

You asked, “Is it possible to recommit every week?” The answer is twofold:

Yes. In fact for me, I make a fresh commitment nearly daily. Whenever God shows me an area of my life that needs to be addressed, I “usually” commit to Him that I want to adjust to meet His standard there. In that way…my commitment renews very often.

The other answer is “no,” and let me explain. Traditionally, Baptists have thought of recommitment as a “coming back to God” after a period of rebellion. I have a couple of these times in my life that are significant for me. They affirm that I know I have walked away from God and now, under conviction by the Holy Spirit, I am repenting and returning to God. In this case, I would question if repentance was real if a person said that they repented and then rebelled immediately…only to “repent” again a week later.

I am not saying that Baptists have always gotten it right…or that they are even right on this view, but I think the view of recommitment/rededication as a milestone event in a believer’s life is practical and real. At the same time…in a similar way, I don’t know how a person could be exposed to the Word of God regularly and not be challenged to make a fresh commitment to God regularly based on a new application of God’s Word. To be a little “philosophical,” if we did make adjustments regularly, there would never be a time when we needed a major recommitment like I described above.

• What do you think about my answer?
• Is that your understanding of recommitment?
• Do you find yourself recommitting daily/weekly…or at significant milestones in your journey?
• Does this understanding change any of that for you?

Let me hear your thoughts…