Preparing for New Ministry

This Sunday, I will begin working at my church as part of the Children's Ministry leadership team. It is an exciting time in my life - new apartment, new fiancee, new year and new job. It's a great blessing to be able to serve in my church that I've enjoyed so much in the last few years. Most people that are finishing up in seminary are forced to look far and wide to find ministry opportunities. It's indeed a blessing that one opened up for me at my own church!

Here's one suggestion I have to those of you who find that your friends, family members and loved ones are preparing to leave for a new ministry - be excited for them! Selfishness seems to rob us of the joy of new opportunities. Of course, it's normal to be disappointed that they aren't going to be around as much as they were. You may even feel as if they are making a mistake, or that the loss of their services may directly hinder your ability to do ministry. But, remember that God is sovereign - in control of all things. I Chronicles 29:11-12 makes it clear:

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 12 Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength. (NLT)

So, the next time you find out that someone is leaving to go to their next phase in ministry - trust the Lord. God may also be working to open a door for someone even better to come into your life and help you in your ministry!

The Spirit of Christmas

What kind of title is that? Some washed out reference to the "peace" that Christmas stands for, right? A reference to some mystical elf spirit that brings joy to all people? No, but take a moment with me to remember Christmas 2004.

This year, I was blessed to spend the holidays with my new fiancee. We have been welcomed so graciously into each other's family, it's almost like we've always belonged there. And that is certainly a testament to God's planning in each of our lives.

One of the most memorable parts of the holiday was a time of worship. Emily and I were just coming back from my parent's home, where my parents gave us some great gifts. Mom and Dad said they knew we could really need the help. And, of course, my parents were right. On the way back, with tears in our eyes, Emily and I discussed how great our God was, how wonderful He was to place such people in our lives. Even more, we discussed how our current financial situation made it impossible for us to give much more than our gratitude and love in return for the gifts. God had chosen the holidays to teach us about humility, love and generosity all at the same time.

The next day was much the same. Emily's family treated me as if I had always been part of the family. Gifts and a family dinner - and even a family talent show afterwards. Once again, I was reminded of God's blessings this year.

And, that brings me back to the Spirit of Christmas. This year, I saw it so clearly. God's gifts to us come in the form of families who love us, gifts from them that not only meet our needs, but exceed our dreams, chances to get to know new family members and to learn more about how to minister directly to those family members. Christmas is the time of year we choose to celebrate the birth of our Savior, and it's amazing how, even in the midst of our traditions, God can stop us for a moment and redirect us directly to Him. Left to our own choices, our Christmases would remain the empty exchange of gifts that seem to be what we want most. Instead, in His sovereignty, God redirects our gaze to Himself - for His Glory we are shown the true Spirit of Christmas.

Phillipians 2:4-11
4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death--even to death on a cross.9 For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow-- of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth-- 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A New Perspective on Work

Yesterday, I caught part of an interview by Dennis Rainey with a man named Robertson McQuilkin. McQuilkin resigned as president of Columbia International University in June 1990, to care for his ailing wife, Muriel. There was a question posed to him about what a drastic career change that was for him. He stated that he never looked at his work as a career. He did not consider himself career-oriented, but cause-oriented. Whatever the will of God was in your life, wherever it would lead you, that is where you went.

I thought a good bit on that, and how that would apply to my own life. It is amazing how, even as I prepare to enter full-time vocational ministry, I look at my work as a career. It's so ingrained in me to think of it that way that it's nearly impossible to have a different perspective. However, Jesus, himself, seemed to have a different perspective.

Jesus didn't enter his 3 1/2 years of public ministry with the goal to reach the top of the corporate (or ministry) ladder. He simply had a goal in mind, something that he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was God's will in his life.

This doesn't mean we stop looking toward a future, toward meeting corporate or personal goals. It does mean, however, that we remember that there are topics, issues and projects that God would have us accomplish as we are on this earth. We are here as His ambassadors, having been given the privilege to be called children of God (2 Cor 6:18 - "I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me"). And, more importantly, our causes are much greater than any career we could ever choose. Our cause is that of a living God, a Christ, who died and rose again after being born in form of a man. This season, especially, we remember, worship and rejoice in that cause.

Plunging Ahead!

Yesterday was a special day for me - a day to remember forever. I had the privilege of asking a beautiful young lady to marry me - and she said, "Yes!" I am indeed a blessed man.

As many of you are aware, having a relationship is one of God's ways of shining a magnifying glass onto your life. Everything is intensified - both the good things and the bad things. God also uses that special someone as a mirror, helping you see what is true about yourself.

James, the earthly brother of Jesus, wrote some amazing instructions concerning our daily interactions with each other:

• 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

What a wonderful challenge - listen, keep your temper in check, stop any wickedness, humbly receive God's instructions. This is important for any of our earthly relationships - whether they be with our bosses, our friends or our soon-to-be-wives.

The joyous tidings of God's love are upon us - be doers of the word, not just hearers!

Moving - When did it get so difficult?

Over the last few days, as I've been finishing up exams, I also moved to a garage apartment in Raleigh (about 35 minutes away from the seminary and church). It was frustrating and tiring to move all my things out of the house I've been sharing with another seminary student, and then either take the things to a storage unit or to the (very small) apartment. I was shocked at how much stuff I've accumulated over the last 3 years living at the house.

What struck me about the move, though, wasn't that I had so many things, but that at some point, moving changed from an exciting event to a drudgery. Once upon a time, it was exciting to move to a new town, find the best routes to work, discover where the local grocery stores were, etc. I know that with maturity, one gains new perspectives, but the more I think about it, the more I think I missed something in the process. Or, better yet, I think I've started putting down roots to an extent that moving actually is painful. I leave behind good friends (yes, even moving 30 minutes away will affect relationships with people you've lived just a mile or two from), comfortable living arrangements that I've gotten accustomed to, and any number of life issues that I've been able to act upon in autopilot - going to the grocery store, getting the oil changed, running by a friend's house, etc.

But, more than those realizations, I believe we can rest assured that our problem isn't a hatred of moving, but a lack of faith. You see, it's taken me a long time to truly believe that our great God actually has my best interests at heart. I used to think that He did want to change me, reform me, but that his reformation was done out of justice, out of a harsh taskmaster mentality that couldn't stand for my sinfulness. Now, I understand that since He is love, and He is perfect, that His acts of reformation are loving. There is nothing in this life that we'll experience that He cannot use to bring us closer to Himself. Recently in a class, we read a quote by Jerry Bridges that assured us that there was no type of suffering that we could go through that, as believers in Christ, was purposeless. What a joyous way to look at trials - that they do have a purpose!

I know that moving isn't the same as losing a loved one to a tragedy or being imprisoned for sharing the Gospel, but, how much more important is it to make sure our faith is proper when it comes to the little things in life! Scripture says that "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." (Luke 16:10) We need to understand the Gospel everyday - that His forgiveness, love, steadfastness and grace are needed to make it through ANY situation. Anything from a tragedy in life, to a struggle with your car, to, yes, a move into a smaller apartment.

Great Quote - take it to heart

Recent Quote from a professor/VP at SEBTS: "When you count your blessings, start with Jesus Himself. When you can no longer get past Him even to think of other blessings, then you will have begun to comprehend who He is." - Dr. Waylan Owens

The Semester is OVER!

Seminary is a great thing. Really, it is. However, it's wonderful when the semester finally ends - all the deadlines have been met, the papers completed and tests have been taken.

This semester finished up my 3rd year at seminary. A friend of mine mentioned in a Christmas card letter that he always figured he came to seminary to go to school, but never realized how much more he would gain. Here at Southeastern, I've gained a level of maturity, spiritual growth, incredible friends and so many lessons in being poor.

But, as always, God is faithful and has helped me through a lot of hard times (but, I have to admit, as life goes, this has been fabulous!).

Take time this season to remember the faithfulness that God has shown us. He promised a savior - done. He promised a comforter - done. He promised peace - done. He promised to discipline us with love when we made mistakes - done. A person could go on and on.

By the way - if any of my family's reading this. I love you all. God has granted me with great friends and family members.

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