Slaves to what?
The great theologian, Bob Dylan, recorded the song, "Gotta Serve Somebody" in 1979 on his album, "Slow Train Coming." The lyrics of the chorus were an attempt by Dylan to inject religion into his song:
You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
This concept is biblical, you will serve someone.
Paul writes in Romans 6:18 that those of us who are Christ-followers are slaves to righteousness and no longer slaves to sin.
Obviously the differences between slavery to sin and slavery to righteousness are evident by our actions. Before we carry out those actions, our heart takes a stand. Our hearts reveal whether we are slaves to righteousness or slaves to sin LONG before we carry out any action.
People who are slaves to sin usually ask the question: how far can I go before it is sinful?
People who are slaves to righteousness ask the question: how close can I get to God?
Being a slave to sin pulls you away from God just as being a slave to righteousness pulls you away from sin.
It all has to do with what your object of attention is. What we fixate on, will have the greatest influence in our life.
Guilty of Pew Stealing
One of my favorite memories as a teen is not centered around a overly positive experience. It wasn't really a bad experience, but more one that taught me something about human nature.
I was sixteen years old. My family had just moved from Montreal, PQ to a small city just outside Vancouver, BC. We had arrived in town just before the weekend and really hadn't got our boxes unpacked that Sunday morning when we got up and headed to church. Dad was the new pastor of a church. The biggest question of the morning: where were my mother, my sister and I supposed to sit. Mom was never the kind of Pastor's Wife that had any desire for a high profile in the church so we chose to sit in a back corner, about three rows from the back and against the outside aisle. Of course, we were in our seats a few minutes before the service began.
Just as the service began, a married couple came walking in and uttered words I'll never forget: "Excuse me, those are our seats." And then they stood there waiting for us to move. Stunned beyond words, we got the not-so-subtle-hint and moved back a row... because it was empty! As a sixteen year old who was still developing his spiritual gift of sarcasm...
But wait, that's not all!
Five minutes later, well after the service had begun, a family comes walking in... "Oh (with feigned surprise), we normally sit there. We'll find another seat - this week." The point was made! They easily found another seat a couple rows up.
You have no idea of the amount of joy that flooded my soul later in the service. The Vice Chairman of the Church Board introduced my father to the church family, and then asked if we would stand up. Before I heard welcoming applause, I heard a gasp from a few people in the rows in front of us. At the conclusion of the service, most of those seated around us gave us a hearty welcome.
That day, I learned that Pew Stealing is a terrible abomination. Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited - until you try to sit in their pew. I do not recall ever sitting in that area of that church after that day.
The Church is about change... helping people change so they can become more like Christ. Just don't ask some of them to change the pew they sit in.
Do Not be Afraid!
To more than twenty leaders, God said: “Do not be afraid.”
Leadership can be scary for a number of reasons. Leadership, by definition, involves change. Maintaining the status quo doesn’t require leadership, that’s babysitting. Letting people do what they want doesn’t require leadership, that’s ambivalence. Leadership requires that we are stepping into new places AND others are coming along with us. As John Maxwell has stated, ‘a leader who has no followers, is simply someone who is out for a walk.’
Some of the things that can be scary about leadership include:
Fear of the Unknown: Many times we have to lead headlong into the unknown. (Gen, 46)
Fear of Inability: Most times God calls us to accomplish more than we can in our own strength. Counting the cost and forgetting God’s involvement as we move forward can paralyze us with fear. (Deut. 1)
Fear of Failure: There are times when leading requires huge risk of failure. (Deut. 7)
Fear of Confrontation: There are some who just don’t like confrontation (some like it too much), there are times, however, it must take place. (2 Kings 1)
Fear of Rejection: Many times leading others puts us in the place of making unpopular decisions. (Ezek. 2)
Fear of Embarrassment: Often times our personal reputation is put on the line. (Matt. 1)
Fear of Pain or Suffering: The pain of change is one of the most common reasons that leaders stall. (Rev. 2:10)
I think it is great when I hear a leader state with unequalled confidence, it can be inspiring. The Bible also contains many references to leaders telling those who are following them, ‘do not be afraid.’
I also have a second and simultaneous thought: “Really?” I mean, if the heroes of the faith had to be told, “Do not be afraid,” is it possible for anyone to lack a level of fear?
Choosing to Cheat : Review
Book: Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley
I admit it, when Andy Stanley speaks I listen. It made perfect sense that one of the early purchases for my Kindle would be one of his writings. Choosing to Cheat offers a practical argument aimed at those who have workaholic tendencies. Andy addresses the tension felt between the drive for success in the workplace and the significance of healthy relationships at home and finding the balance point. "Work is about doing. Family is about being." We are created for both.
The underlying message is about priorities and addressing the gap between that can exist between what we say (family first) and what we do (time doing work). The title of his book comes from the premise that something has to give, and what gives is cheated. For workaholics, it is the family that is cheated. Family measures "love" by time. Too much time at work results in a family that feels unloved.
Church Attendance
Dear Pastor,
You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated:
- Christmas (Sunday before or after)--1
- New Year's (Party lasted too long)--1
- Easter (Get away for the holidays)--1
- July 4 (National holiday)--1
- Labor Day (Need to get away)--1
- Memorial Day (Visit hometown)--1
- School closing (Kids need a break)--1
- School opens (One last fling)--1
- Family reunions (Mine and wife's)--2
- Sleep late (Saturday night activities)--4
- Deaths in family--4
- Anniversary (Second honeymoon)--1
- Sickness (One for each family member)--5
- Business trips (A must)--3
- Vacation (3 weeks)--3
- Bad weather (Ice, snow, rain, clouds)--6
- Ball games--5
- Unexpected company (Can't walk out)--5
- Time changes (Spring ahead; fall back)--2
- Special on TV (Super Bowl, etc.)--3
Pastor, that leaves only two Sundays per year. So, you can count on us to be in church on the fourth Sunday in February and the third Sunday in August unless providentially hindered.
Sincerely,
Faithful Member
Categories
Archives
Blogroll
Social Networks
Subscribe
What I'm Doing...
- RT @BackstageLeader "You never know how good of a parent you r until you become a grandparent."- @DanCathy (Chick-fil-a)/ I've gr8 parents! 1 day ago
- Spent some encouraging time with a new friend and fellow servant today. 1 day ago
- City of Lancaster, PA sent me a parking ticket. I've not been there in many months! After a phone call, they've voided it. #cityfundraiser 1 day ago
- There is no such thing as small change. 1 day ago
- When intergrity leaves leadership, politics quickly fills the void. 3 days ago
- More updates...
Powered by Twitter Tools