"Church leadership is designed by God to be a reflection of His glory; the glory of Christ is reflected in the beauty of His bride. Those who lead His bride, then, must be a clear reflection of the glory of Christ. I don't have to go into specific stories and instances in our culture to point out that the glory of Christ before the world has been jeopardized by leaders in the church who aren't reflective of His glory. And the effects are devastating and the effects are eternal in many people's lives. We need to take church leadership seriously; and I say that with great hesitation because Paul says in Corinthians, "Take heed lest you fall." I know that I am just one step away from falling into the same picture that other church leaders have fallen into. And so, that leads to the other part, church leadership is designed by God to display His glory, and to be dependent on His Gospel. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is possible in a church leaders life apart from the grace of Jesus Christ in that church leader. Jesus is the head of the church, HE IS OUR LEADER, and anyone who leads, elder, deacon, pastor, anyone who leads, must align themselves with the authority of Christ. The only way that Godly leadership can be a reality is if Christ is living and working in someone, and they are dependent on His Gospel. "
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Gospel and Church Leadership
Here's a quote from Dr. David Platt, pastor at Brook Hills Church in Birmingham, AL, from his sermon "The Gospel and Church Leadership." I thought it was pretty strong for all believers, not just the 'church leader':
"Church leadership is designed by God to be a reflection of His glory; the glory of Christ is reflected in the beauty of His bride. Those who lead His bride, then, must be a clear reflection of the glory of Christ. I don't have to go into specific stories and instances in our culture to point out that the glory of Christ before the world has been jeopardized by leaders in the church who aren't reflective of His glory. And the effects are devastating and the effects are eternal in many people's lives. We need to take church leadership seriously; and I say that with great hesitation because Paul says in Corinthians, "Take heed lest you fall." I know that I am just one step away from falling into the same picture that other church leaders have fallen into. And so, that leads to the other part, church leadership is designed by God to display His glory, and to be dependent on His Gospel. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is possible in a church leaders life apart from the grace of Jesus Christ in that church leader. Jesus is the head of the church, HE IS OUR LEADER, and anyone who leads, elder, deacon, pastor, anyone who leads, must align themselves with the authority of Christ. The only way that Godly leadership can be a reality is if Christ is living and working in someone, and they are dependent on His Gospel. "
"Church leadership is designed by God to be a reflection of His glory; the glory of Christ is reflected in the beauty of His bride. Those who lead His bride, then, must be a clear reflection of the glory of Christ. I don't have to go into specific stories and instances in our culture to point out that the glory of Christ before the world has been jeopardized by leaders in the church who aren't reflective of His glory. And the effects are devastating and the effects are eternal in many people's lives. We need to take church leadership seriously; and I say that with great hesitation because Paul says in Corinthians, "Take heed lest you fall." I know that I am just one step away from falling into the same picture that other church leaders have fallen into. And so, that leads to the other part, church leadership is designed by God to display His glory, and to be dependent on His Gospel. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is possible in a church leaders life apart from the grace of Jesus Christ in that church leader. Jesus is the head of the church, HE IS OUR LEADER, and anyone who leads, elder, deacon, pastor, anyone who leads, must align themselves with the authority of Christ. The only way that Godly leadership can be a reality is if Christ is living and working in someone, and they are dependent on His Gospel. "
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Feeling Small, Being Small
Lately, in everything that I've been doing, I've felt small. Weak. Useless. Helpless. It's also been a reoccurring theme in my life, my home, and my ministry for me...I'm just not big enough and not strong enough to do what needs to get done. I get tired. I get frustrated. I get overwhelmed. And when I look to the future, to where I feel like God is leading me and my family, I feel lost. God, I can't handle the task you have in front of me right now, how could I ever take on this? How could you ever lead me there? How could you ever use me like that? Don't you see what a mess I am? Don't you see what a failure I am? Don't you see my sin? Don't you see my struggle?
Then, I read verses like the passage we read last night in youth group, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." God spends a lot of time talking about small things in the Bible. In fact, in our Sunday night study of Judges, we decided the sub-theme of the book is "God uses weak and small people so that only He can receive glory." We read about Gideon, who is a man full of fear and doubt and uncertainty, a man who has to take vastly-reduced army into battle, armed only with trumpets and torches. Why use such weakness? Why use a tiny army? Why the unorthodox weapons? So that GOD may be the one that is praised and honored and glorified. "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
That's a powerful verse that reminds us that we were not chosen because of our greatness, but because of God's goodness. As Louie Giglio said, "I don't want to make you feel small. . . . I want to show you that you are small!" God WANTS me to be small! He made me this way! Then, when I recognize my weakness, and my failure, and my insignifigance, He can step in and say, "Let me show you My power." God desires me be small so that He was room to grow within me, and become and do something great. Of course I can't handle anything right now! Of course I can't be enough and do enough. But my God can. He's big. And I can't wait to see how He's going to be big in my life!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Dry Times
It's been a long time since I've written on here, partially because of a lot of busyness going on, but partially because it's been a really dry time for me these past several weeks, and honestly, I just haven't wanted to write about what's been going on in my life. After getting back from Chile, it seems like there's been a lot of struggles and trials going on, most of them ones that I'm not completely sure how to deal with. First, there's just been a lot of struggles and warfare in the youth group. Now, most people, even most Christians, don't like to acknowledge the truth about spiritual warfare, but this is a real problem in our churches and in our lives, and we need to recognize that. Satan is constantly on the attack, and seeks to destroy those who are striving to follow God. In the youth group these past few months, this attack has taken different forms. Some of it is temptation, youth struggling with new issues, or re-battling old issues that they thought they were done with and had grown complacent about. For some youth, the battle has been through relationships, with friends and family hurting them and pulling them down, and depressing the youth to the point of a loss of spiritual focus. And for many of the youth, it's been spiritual apathy, a lack of a desire to daily put on the full armor of God and present themselves as approved and unashamed workmen in the site of God.
This struggle in the youth has been hard on me, because I'm not completely sure how to respond to each of these issues, and often take to blaming myself when these problems arise. Also, there have been other issues keeping me dry myself: broken relationships with people I care deeply about, concerns and uncertainty about the future, God dealing with me harshly in some areas of my life. . . all of these have led to a depressed spirit and a thirsty soul. In my heart, I sometimes question my effectiveness and my usefulness to God; if I can't lead these youth, and this church, then how can God ever use me somewhere else? If the youth are struggling, is that reflection of my leadership? Am I to blame?
Any of you who have read my blogs before know that this is a common question/struggle in my mind, and one that I need to resolve and hand over to God, and quickly. However, in the midst of all these doubts and struggles, there is one thing that I know, and know clearly: if I'm thirsty, then my answer is in the Living water. This blog is named Overflow because that's what I desire for God to do in my life: fill me to the point of overflowing to those around me, reaching others with the love and joy and forgiveness give first to me by God. But, if my cup is half empty, or completely dry, then I need a time for the Lord to fill me up instead. O God, you are my God, and I earnestly seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Lord, give me times of great comfort and fulfillment. Use Your Word to speak to my heart, and Your Spirit to fill me up and guide me. Let me know that You are God even when I feel distant, and thank you for Your presence that never leaves me or forsakes me.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Chile Journal Entry 3
Wednesday, July 17, 2008 - 11PM
Our first full day on the field was a great one! We were all very excited and nervous and anxious to get started wit the actual ministry today and work with the kids. We had several translators working with us today: Karen, who has been in Chile for 20+ years working in Valparaiso on the beach with college students and women as an IMB missionary from Kentucky; Camila, an amazing young lady from Santiago with a great personality and a heart to come to America as an exchange student; Jarrett, an MK who has lived in Chile for a good portion of his life (His father works as the head financial guy in the SAM region office); and Clayton, Cliff an Cinthy's younger son who is starting his senior year this year, and has grown up in Uruguay all his life with the exception of the past year.
Our first Bible club is at Betel Baptist Mission in Nunoa, which is pastored by Ruben and his wife Sandra. Nunoa is a middle class area of Santiago, so the children aren't in extreme poverty, but you can also tell that there are differences between the way they grow up and the way an average American child grows up. Betel Baptist Mission is held in an apartment complex in the community room, so we have one large room to work with, one very small kitchen, and an outdoor soccer court (assuming that our group gets to the court before anyone else does to claim it). Every day we lead music, Bible stories, recreation, and crafts. Our first rotation today was a little rough as we figured out what wasn't going to work, but soon things were moving smoothly. We are basing everything we do off of the wordless book (or the color book, using the colors black (sin), red (Jesus' blood), white (forgiveness and cleanness), gold (heaven and God's promises to us), and green (continual growth in God)); so, in crafts they made evangelism bracelets, talking about the different colors and what they remind us of. It's important in South American cultures to emphasize to them that the bracelets have no power, but they simply remind us of what God has already done for us. . . this is because of all the shrines and talismans that the Catholic Church teaches here, which causes a lot of confusion. In Bible study, we taught about heaven, and what it will be like, and used that to lead into discussing sin and how it separates us from God. They also did a great job of teaching the kids Juan 3:16. They played frisbee in recreation, and in music we sang "Yo tengo un amigo que me ama," and "I'm in the Lord's Army," along with "Hay vida in Jesus" for some of the older kids. It was a blessed time, and so great to see the children having fun and hearing about Jesus.
After lunch at Burger King (they really like avocados on their burgers here and they call it 'Italiano' because the avocado, tomatoes, and onions make red, white, and green, just like the Italian flag. . .weird!), we walked to the church in Nunoa. There we met Cristian, who works with the youth and music at the church, and Carmen Gloria, who is the associate pastor at the church and helped organize the VBS there along with Lorena. We did much of the same things here, helping them with their VBS. Thankfully Cristian was there, because the schedule got messed up, and instead of having 30 minutes with the first rotation, we had 55! We ran out of songs that we had prepared very quickly, but thankfully he was able to step in with Carmen Gloria and help us out so much!
At night, we had a great time with dinner, having empanadas, a common South American dish (though Cliff says they make them larger here in Chile than anywhere else); there were queso empanadas (exactly what you think they are), Nepolitano ones (pizza like, with ham, cheese, and tomato), and Pino (with beef, tons of onions, and hard-boiled eggs. . . interesting to say the least). Then, we prayed and planned for the next day, praising God for our great first full day of ministry!
Our first full day on the field was a great one! We were all very excited and nervous and anxious to get started wit the actual ministry today and work with the kids. We had several translators working with us today: Karen, who has been in Chile for 20+ years working in Valparaiso on the beach with college students and women as an IMB missionary from Kentucky; Camila, an amazing young lady from Santiago with a great personality and a heart to come to America as an exchange student; Jarrett, an MK who has lived in Chile for a good portion of his life (His father works as the head financial guy in the SAM region office); and Clayton, Cliff an Cinthy's younger son who is starting his senior year this year, and has grown up in Uruguay all his life with the exception of the past year.
Our first Bible club is at Betel Baptist Mission in Nunoa, which is pastored by Ruben and his wife Sandra. Nunoa is a middle class area of Santiago, so the children aren't in extreme poverty, but you can also tell that there are differences between the way they grow up and the way an average American child grows up. Betel Baptist Mission is held in an apartment complex in the community room, so we have one large room to work with, one very small kitchen, and an outdoor soccer court (assuming that our group gets to the court before anyone else does to claim it). Every day we lead music, Bible stories, recreation, and crafts. Our first rotation today was a little rough as we figured out what wasn't going to work, but soon things were moving smoothly. We are basing everything we do off of the wordless book (or the color book, using the colors black (sin), red (Jesus' blood), white (forgiveness and cleanness), gold (heaven and God's promises to us), and green (continual growth in God)); so, in crafts they made evangelism bracelets, talking about the different colors and what they remind us of. It's important in South American cultures to emphasize to them that the bracelets have no power, but they simply remind us of what God has already done for us. . . this is because of all the shrines and talismans that the Catholic Church teaches here, which causes a lot of confusion. In Bible study, we taught about heaven, and what it will be like, and used that to lead into discussing sin and how it separates us from God. They also did a great job of teaching the kids Juan 3:16. They played frisbee in recreation, and in music we sang "Yo tengo un amigo que me ama," and "I'm in the Lord's Army," along with "Hay vida in Jesus" for some of the older kids. It was a blessed time, and so great to see the children having fun and hearing about Jesus.
After lunch at Burger King (they really like avocados on their burgers here and they call it 'Italiano' because the avocado, tomatoes, and onions make red, white, and green, just like the Italian flag. . .weird!), we walked to the church in Nunoa. There we met Cristian, who works with the youth and music at the church, and Carmen Gloria, who is the associate pastor at the church and helped organize the VBS there along with Lorena. We did much of the same things here, helping them with their VBS. Thankfully Cristian was there, because the schedule got messed up, and instead of having 30 minutes with the first rotation, we had 55! We ran out of songs that we had prepared very quickly, but thankfully he was able to step in with Carmen Gloria and help us out so much!
At night, we had a great time with dinner, having empanadas, a common South American dish (though Cliff says they make them larger here in Chile than anywhere else); there were queso empanadas (exactly what you think they are), Nepolitano ones (pizza like, with ham, cheese, and tomato), and Pino (with beef, tons of onions, and hard-boiled eggs. . . interesting to say the least). Then, we prayed and planned for the next day, praising God for our great first full day of ministry!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Chile Journal Entry 2
July 15th - Santiago, Chile
I can't remember another day of such conflicting emotions before. Although I was exhausted, flying into Santiago, seeing the Southern Andes, seeing this beautiful city with its beautiful people for the first time. . . All these things set my soul singing this morning; singing songs like "Indescribable," "God of Wonders," and "Mighty to Save." I was so thrilled to be here, and assured even more about my calling to international missions in South America. My heart was touch by the people, by listening to Cliff tell me how he and Cinthy ended up in Uruguay and then Chile, and seeing their passion and struggle to reach the people of Santiago. All of these things made me so excited!!. . . .
. . . . But in just one moment, my whole attitude changed! When I went to pay for lunch at the restaurant, I discovered that my passport, credit cards, driver's license, and cash had all been stolen! I was crushed, upset, angry, embarrassed. . . and suddenly less sure about anything than I had been just 5 minutes earlier. Was my faith really so weak that this small act caused me to lose faith and doubt my calling, my future, and this trip? Am I really that shallow, that one lost blessing could cause me to turn an angry fist towards God? In the end, I had lost very little. . . some cash was missing, my passport could be replaced, and all the money on the credit cards was saved. The main thing that was gone was my pride, and my sense of self-reliance. . . . I felt shamed in front of my youth group, and my attitude that I could 'handle' South America was gone. I couldn't even handle a 10 minute bus ride. . . how can I support my family moving here, living here, ministering here?
God, I need you desperately, to guard my heart, and give me a strong dependence on You! Thank you for using trials to slowly remove my pride and self-sufficiency, and make me lean more and more on you each day!
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