Posts tagged serve
God is "calling"
Jun 20th
Being in Kansas the last 6 years, I have grown accustom to a literal harvest. Currently I work in the pneumatic conveying industry which caters to the middle men between the farmers and the end user of the grain products roller coaster ride. I have heard and seen the ups and downs of all parties within this uncontrollable game.
I know people who bet on the future value of a crop. I know people who put their lively hoods on the line in hopes of just breaking even. I will soon be working in the fields for the rights to hunt on a piece of property. As I think about the farmers themselves, I find myself being envious of their lifestyle. Why? Simply because their lives are never boring. They have control over nothing. They can’t control the price of diesel. They can’t control the rain. They can’t control the wind. They can’t control the dependability of their big green machines. They can’t control the man who determines the value of their product that they have labored over.
Yes, they can insure the entire operation. Have you ever had anything insured and unfortunately had to use its coverage? You only break even at best. Even if you have a stellar harvest, insurance always cuts into profit margin.
As I have tried to insert myself into the mission of God, I anticipate experiencing all the emotions that John Brown farmer understands. And this is a good thing.
I have heard so many missionaries who are stationed in foreign lands proclaim Matthew 9:37-38. ‘Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Whew! I get to sit on my butt. Man, I am glad Jesus didn’t call me out. He didn’t even say, “You.” Nope, Jesus’ instructions pertained to His disciples.
Wait a minute. Jesus’ description made it sound as if there was so much work to be done that His disciples wouldn’t be able to handle the work load on their own. And then there is the only actual instruction within these two verses. Do you see it? Jesus told them to ASK the Lord to send out workers into the field. Maybe, just maybe, these 12 men, at that moment, stopped and prayed for all believers. Maybe they prayed for future believers to take up their cross (Matt. 9:38). Maybe I was included in a prayer of Peter. You’re right, Peter never said, “Cody” in one of his prayers. But I would put my money on the fact that the disciples prayed for the future of Christ’s cause. I bet they prayed that every future believer would put their faith into action.
I don’t even want to get into Calvinism, predestination, or “getting em saved.” These arguments will always be debatable. However, there is no denying Christ in His instructions. He has called all who have been called to go into the world. Whether that is on main street or Moscow we have been called to do good works unto all men, for the soul purpose of revealing His love. Then they may be saved or then they may learn that they have been saved. Whichever floats your boat?
It’s as simple as offering a cup of water. Matt. 9:42
I feel I am getting off track a bit. My point isn’t to tell you what you should or shouldn’t be accomplishing. My point is that 3 days ago I asked people to offer a substitution for the word “call”. Not counting today, 198 people since Wednesday came across this blog either intentionally or unintentionally. And only 2 people commented. Or said differently, 1.01010101% responded on this blog to “God’s call.”
Of course I am nobody and if you read the post and didn’t comment, I am not judging you. Whether you commented or not has nothing to do with the level of your faith. But it made me think about the thousands, if not millions, of people of have read or heard Matthew 9:37-38 and Mark 16:15. Do you think the percentage who has responded to Christ’s call is the same?
I think so.
The reason, I believe, is the same reason most wouldn’t want to be a farmer. We always look at the physical side of life when we make decisions.
Nobody strives to wear overalls and smell like a bottle of Pennzoil. Being a farmer is definitely not a sure thing when comes to putting money in the bank. Farmers live a slow unfashionable lifestyle. They drive old beat up Ford trucks. They take the risk of their daughters running off with some ol’ boy with an ear ring. Farmers can not control anything. They have no idea how this season will turn out.
On the plus side, they do have land though. They get to eat a real breakfast everyday. They aren’t lazy. They continually get to breathe in and experience God’s creation. They get to drive old beat up Fords! They usually own four wheelers. They never have to call a mechanic. The have dog’s named Blue that never leave their side. The have a good woman who fries up chicken and brings them sweet tea in the heat of the day.
I guess when the day is over; living by faith isn’t that easy. The thought of being different is too much for most. But most of all, I believe when we as a society are told to do something, we instantly become selfish and believe our own agendas are more important. We must have control. And control is not an option if one truly lives by faith.
Tool Boxes
Mar 12th
I was humbled by this post.
If you read the story and I hope you do, remind yourself how simple their tool boxes are. Their arsenal is a change of clothes, bible, posters, and a bottle of water. I know, I know, that approach would not be effective in the United States. Or would it? Believe me when I tell you, I am passionate about the cause of Christ. I am passionate about the local church. I want to see every church increase the kingdom of God.
I was raised within a small body of believers. My blood has the DNA of small church. Now, I am fortunate enough to participate with a larger church. It is not a mega church by any means. But it would definitely be considered above average according to attendance stats. I am not a numbers guy. I am not a pastor.
When I was a youth pastor, I would dream of being able to do ministry like other churches. Churches that had the funds and man power to be described as, “they got it going on!” Those thoughts were completely wrong. For too long we as Americans have relied on the church to serve our communities. And when that church has stopped meeting our needs, conveniently we can just drive down the street to a different church. I say this because we get wrapped up in the processes of how a church does church. Because our minds are warped, we are attracted to the “venue” style service. We need to be entertained so that we stay tuned in. I am just as guilty. And I use the word “we” lightly because not everyone falls into this category.
We have stuffed our tool boxes with so much crap that we can’t even handle the load. Hey, I couldn’t see myself worshiping God where there wasn’t an “experience.” Actually, I believe there is a need for entertainment. I think Ed Young coined the term “innertainment for the heart.” If the church doesn’t entertain the heart, soul, and mind then it loses it’s velocity. So don’t think that I am criticizing the audio visual effects in any manner.
I am criticizing those who call a church home. I am criticizing those who let the church and it’s pastors get in the trenches while watching from the safety of the sideline. I am criticizing myself. I think most look down at their tool boxes (no punn intended) and feel that they are lacking. Others have packed their tool boxes with so much junk that they have become agenda focused.
For the kingdom to grow, we can’t rely on churches. For the kingdom to succeed, we as followers must go. If we call Christ our Lord and trust Him with our lives, then we have been commissioned. Our relationship with Christ isn’t a “how will you help me next” Dr. Phil style friendship. It is totally opposite. Christ has literally commanded all believers to GO and DO.
If we are believers, then we have absolutely every tool needed to reach those far from Christ. 1. We have His Spirit. 2. We have His Word. 3 We have the knwoledge of what He has done for us individually. Nothing else is needed but the tools we have already acquired. At the end of the world, we will not be able to hide behind the success of our churches. Nope, it will be just me, standing in front of God, looking down at His feet because I can’t bear to look Him in the eye. And He won’t even have to remind me, of all the time that I wasted, worrying about my tool box.
Stanky Chips
Feb 3rd
I just got chewed up and spit out.
Do you claim Christ? Do you tithe? Do you serve? Do you pray? Do you youversion.com? Do you all of the above? Then Read This! Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
I am seriously ready to preach! Not because I believe people need to hear this but because I needed to hear this. I ain’t sh*t. Well, I am something. I am a sinner. All that I can do is try to live like Christ. Even if from this moment on I live perfectly, my past would still haunt me.
So how do you do it? How do you live like this tax collector? It seems so ironic that the bible notes this humble man’s profession. Tax collectors are disliked today but a few thousand years ago, their presence was dreaded. They would physically knock on your door and say, “it’s time to pay the piper.” I think.
If you think about the authors audience you will grasp Jesus’ intention of noting the tax collector. Luke’s audience knew and dealt with tax collectors. Tax collectors were known to skim of the top. They were known to be crooked. It’s one thing to commit a crime against someone else but once you take my money, illegally, it’s on!
I am sure, immediately when Jesus even mentioned the word tax collector, his entourage cringed. As always, Jesus shows us our humanity in a way that “hits home”.
No matter what, I am a sinner. No matter what good I do, I am a sinner. No matter how much I tithe, I am a sinner. No matter how well I am versed, I am a sinnner.
It scares me to think that I can actually use God’s intentions for personal benefit. How? I am to embarrassed to say. I’ll say this, when I first met my wife, I played all my good works cards. Hey, I had to lay it all on the table. She’s out of my league. It didn’t take her long to figure me out, heck she probably had summed up instantly. I am not as cool as I look.
My conclusion. If you think you are all that and a bag of stanky chips, do this. Ask God.
If God’s answer doesn’t humble you. Ask your spouse.
