Spiritual utilitarians

Seeking God experiences or insights turns us into spiritual utilitarians – we use and exploit disciplines and sermons and songs to gain a treasure – most likely one we will try to impart to others through our methodologies and marketing. If God chooses to give an insight or consolation – it can only be received, not gained. And in my undeserved state, He opens my heart to believe that I am loved, I do belong, which also gives me permission to appreciate and enjoy the gifts for themselves – not as something to mass produce. God is capable of wooing all 6 billion people on this planet without my help, though He may gift me with the privilege to do so. I dwarf my life when I meet God merely to get insight for my upcoming ministry tasks and responsibilities: O Lord have mercy on me – unmask my illusion that I am indispensible.

Eavesdropping like Matt

My friend Matt (of burning hearts revolution fame) and WSN director of the third (or is that 4th) epoch - likes to share his eavesdropping on his blog.

Today at Palio's I heard a guy say he had a miraculously bad night last night - it was a bit of an oxymoron to me, but he seemed all to eager to share the details of why it was a 3 shot morning of espresso: It turns out he got toasted and his date hooked up with a co-worker...I'm not sure which is miraculous and which is bad...you make the call.

Hope the 3 shots of espresso helped!

What will you do with your water?

No this isn't an environmental posting about clean water - A friend in class shared the following youtube video with me - thought it was beautiful and thought-provoking.



Have a blessed day

Unmasking the illusion of indispensability

I was talking with a young woman this week who was asking for my help in consulting her ministry leadership team. On and on I went - touting my experience and how I could help. What I really felt was that I needed to learn from her - she and her young contemporaries are starting a non-profit ministry to prostitutes. Now that is far more impressive than my blah, blah, blah.

Nouwen writes about how our abiding with Christ in wordless adoration helps “unmask the illusion of busyness, usefulness, and indispensability. It is a way of being empty and useless in the presence of God and of proclaiming our basic belief that all is grace and nothing is simply the result of hard work." Similarly, Evelyn Underhill says that adoration does a "disentangling" work. I have so much disentangling and unmasking to receive.

I have been taught to be indispensable because the sound of being dispensable (unnecessary, not needed, can be done away with) isn’t so appealing to my flesh. But it is not mine to choose – this being dispensable or indispensable. It is mine to choose to be obedient and the fruit of obedience is not even mine to choose (John 15:8, 16). This unselfing is good – it is what I long for. Here’s to the ongoing disentangling of my "self."

Whose Invitation?

Recently I was pondering the phrase, "I invited Christ into my life." I imagine Him contorting His body to come into such a limited and finite space. It feel arrogant to say this and I'm beginning to realize that it is not so much that I have invited Christ into my life, as He has invited me into His - which is far more abundant and thrilling!