aSacredRebel

Be a straight shooter…

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? (Galatians 2:11-14 ESV)

Peter was opposed by Paul for being two faced…

How many of us have ever acted one way with a certain crowd, and another way for another?

How many of us dress and act one way Sunday morning, but a totally different dress and way of acting on Saturday night?

As followers of the way we need to be straight shooters, meaning we hold no punches and we tell it like it is. We are always are self, while maintaining being all things for all people. That means we stay ourselves and do not change for others, but we are able to accept everyone where they are and to be what Christ needs us to be for them.

We should not be wearing masks, or afraid to invite our church friends out with us on a Saturday night. Be a straight shooter for God and throw your mask away!

Binding…

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:1-14 NRSV)

Wow. I remember talking a lot about this story in seminary. We all wanted to call it the sacrifice of Isaac. That is what we have heard it called in Sunday school. We learned it that way so that has to be the right answer…

But was Isaac sacrificed? If he wasn’t sacrificed how can it be the sacrifice of Isaac? Our professor in seminary said we should call it the binding of Isaac, because while Isaac was not sacrificed, Abraham had bound him and was ready to sacrifice him.

Can you imagine what must have been going through Abraham’s mind? He just told Isaac that God would provide a lamb for the offering, knowing what God had asked him to do. I can not imagine doing this to any of my children (even on their worst behavior days). The gift given by God, how can He possibly ask for me to give it back, and not only give it back but play a part in the demise?

Abraham shows a vast and profound faith that many of us do posses we just don’t want to lay claim to it. When we step out and do something because we know that it is what God has called us to do we are stepping out in faith. We may never be asked to do something like sacrificing our children, but He will ask us to sacrifice our lives. You see God knew that Isaac was Abraham’s most prized possession, and for that reason Abraham was asked to sacrifice him.

What is your most prized possession? Is it taking God’s place in your life? Can you sacrifice it so that God has His proper place in your life?

Bind your life to Him and God will always provide what you need.

Forest for the trees…

Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. (Luke 7:11-17 NRSV)

If you are a part of a tribe that follows the Revised Common Lectionary you have read and heard this story before. Jesus raised a young man from the dead. It’s a miracle!

You see Jesus and the disciples are headed for Nain and they come across a funeral procession. Jesus tells the guys to stop, He goes over the the dead man and says get up. The man rises up and the crowd goes wild! That is the whole story right?

If you said yes, you missed the forest for the trees. You see, unlike other gospel stories where the motivation of Jesus is not revealed here we have a clear indication of what made Him do this.

You see the man was the woman’s only son. Yes there is a woman in the story. And not only is the dead man her only son but she is also a widow. She now has no means to provide for herself. She is fully dependent on the men in her life and since her son is dead she has no men in her life. Jesus sees this and is moved BH compassion to heal her son. Luke wants us to get this that in verse 13 be uses the 3rd person feminine pronoun 3 times!

Jesus is moved by the injustice of the system that will now leave this woman destitute. He has to do something. Yes He is moved to allow the man to live but the motivation is for the mother not the son.

What else do we miss because we focus on the big thing and miss the wonderful details that paint the full picture?

cheerful…

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-12, ESV)

Have you ever had someone talk to you about giving money?

We have all had those calls from the Police, the Fire department, the children’s hospital, United Way, schools we have attended, the list goes on and on…

Then there is the church! How many of us have heard that we need to give more at church? It seems we are always hearing about something at church that will need our money. How do we do this?

We can easily get to the point where we feel like we are being coerced into giving, and we have to give and if we don’t then we aren’t good enough and our faith is not good enough.

That is not what Paul is saying. He is saying we need to give. So if you are a follower of Christ and you are not giving, that is a flag to look at your situation. Giving does not mean all financial either. Do you give time, and talents (as in gifts God has given you?) that is giving. If you are not think about that and pray. Work that out with God.

What Paul is telling us is to be cheerful in our giving, not to give out of coercion, or because we feel we have to, but because we have decided in out hearts this is what God is calling us to do. Giving is something we should be moved to do and do generously as we have been given, and not something that we look upon as something we have to do. We get to give, as God gave to us!

So have a heartfelt discussion with God and figure out what you need to give, and do it. And remember it is ok to say no to something if you have decided to give to something else. Do not feel like you have to give to everything, but give cheerfully, and joyfully, as God gave to you.

And God gave to each of us lavishly!

Hebrew story our story

So Agrippa said to Paul, You have permission to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. (Acts 26:1-11 ESV)

Here is Paul giving a defense of himself to Agrippa. He does not talk about who is now only. He starts with who he was, being out on trial by the Jews he has a place he came from that they know about. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees. Paul was a persecutor of the way and followers of Christ. But instead of speaking about himself in Christ alone, he links his past to his present and future. We are all called and a part of the whole story. How does Abraham feed your life?

We are all a part of the whole story. How do you fit in?

Psalm 30 Cartoon…

I found this on and thought it was worth sharing.

Joy vs Sorrow

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! (Psalm 30, ESV)

Have you ever had a bad day?

A bad week?

A bad month?

A bad year?

I think we have all been there where the world around us seems to be against us and everything is going wrong. So what do we do?

We cry out for help. Some of us will seek out a source of power we may have never went to before, or we may seek out God after a long time away.

We seek comfort in our times of trouble. That is our nature. We look for what is good for us. We are not usually worried too much with the world around us unless our lives are in order. We should always though sing the praises of the Lord and seek what is right and just for all of His creation around us.

You see the psalmist here tells us that God’s anger lasts only a moment, but His favor a lifetime, and even though we cry ourselves to sleep and mourn through the night His joy comes with the morning.

God helps us to turn around to Him and see the joy that is waiting for us. Take the joy Hi has for you and run with it. Even in the darkest times, Joy is always there to have from the one who created you and made you to help others see the love He has for them!

The Most Powerful Way to Enhance Influence

Leadership Freak

At least once in a while, forget about controlling outcomes. Build human connections.

Surrender:

Set aside the things leaders hide behind. Turn off:

Results.
Strategies.
Respect.
Vision casting.
Authority.
Planning.
Power.
Timelines.
Job titles.
S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Yield:

Take a deep breath and let go of doing, at least once in awhile. Connect by gently stepping toward people with an open heart.

Forget about what you want to do
and remember who you want to be.

The most powerful way to enhance influence
is removing your mask and being you.

“Surrendering means completely relinquishing any effort to control or manipulate the outcome. Surrendering means putting all effort into being completely authentic, real, and mask-free.” Chip Bell and Marshall Goldsmith in, “Managers as Mentors.”

Bell and Goldsmith on surrender:

Mask-removal.
Openness.
Vulnerability.
Curiosity.
Not dedicated to convincing.
Candid with the intent of helping not hurting.
Accepting candor from others.
Learning-oriented.

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10 reasons why we have trouble getting things done

Surface To Soul

Why can’t we get anything done? If we’re so well trained and so well informed, then why aren’t we a lot more effective? Here are 10 reasons why I feel that there’s a gap between what people know and what they do.

1. Doing something requires … doing something! It’s easier and safer to have conversations and gather more information than it is to implement something.

2. We train people how to create plans and programs but not how to execute them. Learning how to execute is rarely part of university management programs, and it’s certanly not part of seminary training.

3. We’re unwilling to tolerate mistakes. Congregations need to build cultures that tolerate error and failure. Ask yourself this: “If you’re going to be held accountable for every mistake that you make, how many chances are you going to take? How eager are you going to be…

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All are a part…

Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil. Do not let the foreigner joined to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and do not let the eunuch say, “I am just a dry tree.” For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered. (Isaiah 56:1-8, NRSV)

All are a part of the ministry of God, and included in the family. Just because they were not a part of the family from the beginning does not matter. The thing we must do as a part of the body of Christ is to pursue justice. We must maintain a just society and do what is right regardless of how that effects us, or if it gets us what we want or not. We are called to serve and love one another.

The foreigner and the eunuch are a full part of the community and not partial members that will be burned away later. They are not people we are putting up with now so that they can be removed later. God loves us all and calls all of us to pursue justice and to show His love to all we meet.

Do you accept everyone as they are as God accepted you? Are you helping them see and participate in the love and mercy of God?