Validation in Ministry

After working in full-time ministry for 10 years, and now not working within a ministry full time, I struggle with feelings of validation, of making a direct difference in the world and often question if I am doing enough for God or doing enough important stuff for God.

This leads me to the question: How can one's life, or the work they do be more important than another's in God's eyes?

I remember being asked to speak to a large group of missionary students in a developing country. These men and women would soon be will planting churches, enduring hardships and facing physical opposition, maybe even martyrdom. My job was to raise money and awareness for them and their families so they could eat, have a home and well, be missionaries. My job was not as exciting as theirs one could say, or as visible, but who would argue which job was more important. How about the people that supported my family while we did our work to support their families?

Looking at scripture, I read:
But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. (1 Corinthians 12)

If we are interconnected as one body, we are all interconnected in ministry. I think this means working together as one. Mother Teresa said that sometimes we have to do the small things so God can do the big things.

Going on, in Romans 12: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

What I learn from this is I must guard against trying to validate myself and just participate (be the part of the body I am) as I am led by His Spirit in other people's lives. We belong to one another.

Sometimes this participation is a cup of cold water, making a brochure, or changing a poopy diaper. It could be in Calcutta or in Crystal Lake. Sometimes the picture is clear how we all connect, but we look through a glass dimly and catch glimpses of the big picture mostly from the rear-view mirror.

Is it possible that as I aim towards where my great passion and where the worlds great need intersect, I will be doing what I need to be doing as long as I listen to the love of God in my life? Being me? I think so.

What negates all of this? If I put my passion or call for mission or ministry before people, before love. If a calling or vision to get a job done becomes more important than the people I am doing it with, becomes more important than my family the word of God is clear on that—it profits me nothing. (1 Cor. 13)

Mother Teresa said that faithfulness is more important than success. When we stand before God on judgment day will He say, "well done my good and successful servant?" No, He will say, "well done my good and faithful servant."

"Now abide in these three, faith hope and love, but the greatest of these is love."


More thoughts on Body life at this link

Clicking the Mouse WITH MY BARE HAND

My son and I were driving together yesterday and we were talking about lifting weights, genetics and what makes a person a great athlete. To top it off the "World's Strongest Man" marathon was on ESPN (and the USA brought home the title for 2007!)

He reminded me of a story I told him a few years ago about a friend of mine from Nigeria who was known in his village as "the son of a man who killed a lion with his bare hands" and how amazing that things like this actually happen. He then looked over at me with a grin and said, "I'm the son of a man who works in a cubicle."

Lately, I have been pondering what kind of legacy I want to leave for my children. When I mentioned this to a friend they reminded me my children ARE my legacy, which got me thinking.

I was talking with the president of a mission organization tonight as he was preparing to be gone for two weeks. He said that he tried being gone for longer periods of time to save money last year but his family took the toll, and it wasn't worth it to him to be gone for so long anymore. He values—cherishes time with his wife and kids.

This is quite a contrast to another fellow I know in the same position who would be gone months at a time and lament that it was a price his kids would have to pay to "reach the lost." Maybe God called him away and it was okay for his wife to teach the kids that Jesus wanted daddy to be gone so much. Maybe it's a cultural thing I don't understand. Maybe I just think families should be together more than the next guy, maybe. Although his kids have grown up to work in missions I wonder what it would have been like if he made his children and his wife a bigger part of his legacy.

What will my legacy be?

Socks on a Dog

There are clothing items made only for man. One of these, my guess at least, are socks. However, when the temperature is 11 degrees below zero and you have an indoor dog that "goes" outside, you have to put something over their paws or the cold drops them to the ground like a tranquilized elephant—and the fun of retrieving them in in your bathrobe commences.

Now, this is no big deal with a Chihuaua, Westy or even a Pitbull, but when your German Shepherd goes down in the arctic you kinda wish you would have kept the gym membership a few more months as you scamper out in the blizzard to carry the beast inside (all the time wishing you would have put up that fence last fall so this drama wouldn't have played out in your neighbors yard.)

Back to the socks. Last year we used tube socks and medical tape to suit up our canine to "tinkle in the tundra." This year we bought the real deal that has leather feet and a network of suspenders which web over her back to keep them on. Sweet? Sure, in a perfect world where you can tranquilize your dog, slip on the socks, revive them and then let them out. But after you rob man's best friend of all guard-dog dignity by showing the socks to her, you pick up one foot at a time and try to slide it in the sock being careful not catch her claws or dew-claw in the process. It's like holding a handful of butter knives and then simply attempting to slip a sock over that hand—four times—and all of this before coffee.

Let us pray for an early Spring.

Rule Number Two

I have a few guidelines that helps life be more livable. I am sure they have been said in many different ways, but who cares...this is my blog so here goes:

Rule Number One: God is in control. No matter how bad things get or how many answers we don't have, God is the final word on everything and He loves us. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more, nothing you can do to make Him love you less.

Rule Number Two: People are goofy. Sometimes there is no visible or viable rhyme or reason for the way people act except for Rule Number Two (including ourselves.)

Rule Number Three: You can only have responsible relationships with responsible people.

Rule Number Four: You never lose your investment in a good tool.

Rule Number Five: Love people, risk letting people get close enough to your heart to love deeply and even if they cause you pain...love is ultimately worth it.