A Higher Calling

Wow! October was such a whirlwind of a month for me. I spent 7 days in Orlando and 2 of the 7 were very relaxing, the others were work as usual.
October was also very trying, spiritually. I felt like the enemy did a "sneak attach" right toward the end of the month. Major drama on the job scene that left me shocked, however, God proved himself faithful. I'm reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 43:2, 5 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you...When you walk through the fire you will not be burned...Do not be afraid, for I am with you...". Thank you, Jesus for your ever-present help.
Leadership is a crazy thing! If you're destined for it, you can't avoid it. It seems to approach you at every turn in your life. I think I've been trying to avoid it most of my life because I realize the work and sacrifice that comes with it. Only now, have I begun to accept it...embrace it. That must be the "let go and let God" part. I feel like I've tried it all...leading from the sidelines doesn't work, that only frustrates the designated leader. Ignoring it doesn't work because people seem to place you in front anyway. Being silent doesn't work because then people wonder why you're so quiet and force you to speak. It also gives people the impression that you know something...often times I don't...I'm just "chillin'". I realize more and more the God-given gifts that God has given me and the purpose for which he has for them...to that I say, "Amen."...so be it. No more running or hiding.
As one who is destined for leadership, I often watch those in leadership. What I see as good, I attempt to pattern after, what I see as bad often disappoints or frustrates me. (Father God, help me to know what to do with those feelings.) God, help me to be the best leader that I can be. Help me to have humility when my shortcomings are exposed (by You or others). Help me to submit to the authority you have placed over me, despite their own shortcomings. Help me to pray for my leadership with love and compassion. Father, your mercy is overwhelming and your grace is unfathomable. I don't deserve anything you've given me, so what you've given, help me to use it to YOUR glory.

Just Venting!

It's amazing how, in Christ you never seem to "grow up" but continue growing and learning as you age. I had always had struggles with some individuals in leadership...teachers...camp counselors. As one destined for leadership (not that I'm boasting, it just seems to come very natural for me and I know it's God-given), I have a tendency to view them...judge them on a higher scale than others that are not in leadership. The problem is when they faulter without humility, I seem to loose a bit of respect for them. I want to be lead by someone who can teach me things...someone who I can aspire to glean wisdom from. When I was younger, no one ever told me that just because you're in a leadership role, didn't mean that you knew how to lead or was even mature enough to lead.
Currently, I find myself being lead by a leader with a love and compassion for souls...but not necessarily skilled in the art of communication and counsel. Matthew 10:24 says, "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.". I believe this to mean positionally and not necessarily spiritually. I say that because I think it to be unwise for one in leadership to assume that no one in his/her congregation would know more or be more spiritually mature than themselves. I also say that because of my own experience. As a corporate trainer, I have to assume whatever I facilitate, there could (be and sometimes is) always someone in my audience who knows more than I do on the topic. When I facilitate, I understand my goal to be sometimes awareness of resources or new ways of doing things and not so much training participants in something they've never heard of. Having said that, it amazes me that those called to preach and teach give more thought to their own delivery of the Word than how to successfully engage the audience so that they really recieve the Word of God in their hearts. I don't understand why some churches (including my own) hold service for four (4) hours when statistics say the adult attention span is twenty (20) minutes long. If you don't give the adult brain a break and engage the audience in an activity or demonstration, if you look around for for the next few minutes you'll notice doodling, "eyes resting", females searching for the unknown object in their purse or a sudden rustling of candy and gum wrappers. Someone has to notice how hungry and exhausted most feel after attending a 4-5 hour service. Most people want to eat and then sleep for the afternoon. I think it to be no coincidence that this happens on Sundays. Most people work an eight (8) hour day and can still be active in cooking, cleaning, shopping, taking their kids to soccer practice or a football game. Even in college, lectures were never more than an hour long! If only we could break the traditions of man and educate our preachers and teachers in adult learning theories and methodologies!
After saying all that, I know there are those who would say, "I don't put God on a time table."...and you shouldn't, however be wise and educated in your craft for the sake of the people that you minister to.

One More Try

Well, I almost cancelled the entire blog because I didn't know how dedicated I would be to writing in it. After reading my friends blog (http://www.secondtolastresort.blogspot.com/), it motivated me to try "one more 'gain".

Just as she is, I too am on the "weight loss" train. Since I went on phentermine 4 weeks ago, I've lost 6 pounds. I'm not too excited because it could all be water weight for all I know. Unlike her appetite, mine is very normal and I'm very aware of sugar and carb cravings that seem to occur at night. This may have something to do with the fact that I have other health complications (which I'll blog about at a later time).

How I lost 6 pounds and at nothing but corn dogs, I'll never know. Go figure!

God is BIG!

Well...here I go...getting on the "blog train". I figure I observe so many things in life, I may as well write about them and give the world some comic relief.
Let's talk about "church folk". Church folk range from the "pius super spiritual" folks (you know...the ones that think the color of your nail polish has a spiritual meaning to it) to the "fair-weather faith" folks (the ones who go to church on the usual holidays and when "hell" breaks loose in their lives). I must be smack dab in the middle because I have seen both extremes within every church I've ever attended.
I'm one of those individuals that grew up in a Christian household. I grew up going to church on Sundays...however my parents were never ones to "live" at church. We went to church faithfully every Sunday, however you didn't see our family again until the next Sunday. I seemed to conclude at a very young age that my parents were crazy about Jesus, however not so crazy about His followers. To my Mother, church folk were just nosey people who wanted to get into your business and my Mother made it her business to keep them out of ours. So, I went to a church who knew our family name, but didn't know us personally. I grew up thinking that was the "Baptist" way of things.
My Mother, was of course, a faithful perishener while my Father was faithful to attend Communion Sundays and some holidays. I can say that I truely learned what the unconditional love of God was through my Mother. My Mother spent time with me at a very, very young age, talking about who Jesus was, teaching me passages of scripture and prayer. One of my most vivid memories was of my Mother teaching me the "big girl prayer" (e.g. The Lord's Prayer). My "now-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep" days were behind me. Now I could say the "big girl prayer" with the other adults.
Being inquisitive as a child, my Mother quickly realized it was the way I learned. I asked tons and tons of questions and never once can I recall my Mother discouraging me from asking questions or never giving me an answer to a question. I vividly remember a conversation that went like this:
TC: "Where is God?"
Mother:"Everywhere."
TC: "Can he see me?"
Mother: "Yes."
TC: "Is he in here?"
Mother: "Yes."
TC: "Is he looking at me right now?"
Mother: "Yes."
TC: :::I began to waving my hand as if to say "hello"::::
TC: "He's everywhere?" I said, needing reassurance.
Mother: "Yes."
TC: "Is he outside?"
Mother: "Yes."
TC: "Is he in the sky?"
Mother: "Yes."
TC: "Is he in the trees?"
Mother: "Yes."
At this point, I'm finally starting to "get" this God that my Mother loves so much. At this tender age, I began to realize how big he is. He no longer was mystical or magical to me. I remember thinking, "God is bigger than magic." (Magic to me, as a child, was just out of this world!) My inquisition continued...
TC: "Can I talk to him?"
Mother: "Yes."
TC: "Will he talk to me back?"
Mother: "Yes."
At this point, I decided to test my Mother's theory. I went to my bedroom, set up my checkerboard and said, "God, do you wanna play checkers?" I waited for an answer...nothing. "I'll go first.", I said, think he was being a gentleman and waiting for me to make the first move. Nothing. Back to my Mother I go...
TC: "Are you sure he's here?"
Mother: "Yes."
TC: "I asked him to play checkers with me and he's not playing with me."
Mother: "He's probably just busy. He's got the whole world to take car of, you know."
TC: "Oh."
I then proceeded to go back to my room, put up the checkerboard and said, "God, let me know when you're not so busy." So there you have it.