W.W.J.D. - What Would Jeff Do?

I was looking through one of my old Bibles a few days ago. Inside the back cover I rediscovered something I wrote in 1986 after reading Sheldon's, In His Steps (WWJD for you younger readers). As I read what I had written I found myself challenged by a younger, and sadly more passionate, me. Here's what I wrote just out of high school.

What Would Jesus Do as Jeff Hume?

1. He would always seek the Kingdom of God first and foremost in his life (Matt. 6:33).
2. He would consider all earthly possessions not his but Gods and store his treasures in heaven (Matt 6:19).
3. Since life here is not lasting, he would use anything possible to reach the lost and regard others as more important than himself (Mark 10:45).
4. He would examine all of his plans in light of the gospel and prayer (Acts 20:24).
5. He would commit himself to spending all his time to the greatest benefit to God.

Two observations: (1) Why didn't I make a bracelet with WWJD imprinted on it? I'd be a millionaire today if only I could have capitalized on the WWJD trinkets market, and (2) I need to reconnect with the person I was back then. Time might bring wisdom (and that's a might) but it can also dampen the passion. God, help me reclaim that fire!

The Season of Giving (too much?)

Sometimes I really struggle with Christmas! I'm no Scrooge but I really can get caught up in the commercialism and focus on the wrong things. There's this internal struggle. Christmas is the season of giving, and I really do enjoy giving gifts to others, but how much is too much? When does our giving cross the line and become indulgence and sin?

Lord, help me not to cross the line!

K.I.S.S.

Sometimes blogging can be therapeutic and an enjoyable exercise in communication. And other times it's a pain. Lately, I've been avoiding the exercise for a number of reasons - busyness, laziness, and this general feeling that nobody really reads my blog anyway. However, I have decided to keep at it but in a different format.

I guess I had this feeling that I always need to be profound and eloquent in my writing, and I suppose there is nothing wrong with that. However, I've decided to forgo that pressure (which leads to writer's block and avoidance), and take a much more laid back approach to my blogging. Oh, I hope at times to be inspiring, insightful, and challenging in my writing, but just as often (probably more) I'll just ask questions, share the thoughts of others, and as a wise person once said, K.I.S.S. it (Keep It Simple Stupid).

So, I guess here it goes!

Secure Your Investments! A money back guarantee!

As the stock markets tumble out of control and financial chaos grows I'm asking myself a question. In these uncertain times, how do followers of Christ balance the management of our earthly blessings with our Lord's call to an emphasis on the eternal? Must we somehow try to separate our two kingdoms, getting down and dirty in the here and now while relegating the eternal to after-hours?

In The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard firmly opposes this dualistic approach and suggests that God calls us to live an eternal kind of life now. God's divine conspiracy is the subtle, deep, invitation to escape the wisdom of the world and to enter the school of the Master. His curriculum alone can make sense of this world and truly prepare us for the next. However, for those who choose to sit in the classroom of Christ, be prepared to be misunderstood and mocked by the "wise" leaders of this world.

Revisiting my initial question concerning the management of earthly blessings, what does our Teacher have to say. In his inaugural message to his followers(Matthew 6), Christ clearly lays out his financial curriculum for his students.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

For the Christ follower there is no reason to worry in turbulent times. Our investments are not subject to the the bull and bear markets, political bailouts, or the advice of financial advisers. Our treasure is secure and our heart is focused on what really matters. The problem occurs when our heart is turned to the wrong place. When earthly comfort, financial security, and self-centered living, capture our heart and minds, we suddenly find ourselves cold to the things of God. Jesus put it this way.

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

But so often we try to serve both. In times of prosperity it can even seem possible to do so and we begin to believe the subtle lie that maybe Jesus missed the boat on this one. Maybe it is possible to love God and still amass for ourselves the earthly comforts afforded every American. Don't we have a right to own a home, drive two (or more) cars, and have access to quality affordable health care? And God forbid that we should do without cable TV or high speed internet service. But in fact there can be no doubt to Christ's statement: We cannot love both God and money.

One of the blessings of this time of turmoil is it forces us to examine our lives. And worry can be an accurate indicator of where we are at in terms of our earthly and heavenly investments. Worry is a blinking light that flashes out a dire warning; "examine your life....examine your life...." Jesus tells us,

do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the unconverted run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So as the world is in a panic over the financial "crisis", let us examine our faith. Where do we truly put our trust? Who is it we truly serve? Are we a true believer or are we unconverted? Seek Him and find the true peace that comes from heavenly citizenship. There it's always a bull market.

The Greater Joy

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth. I have no greater joy than this: than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.

3 John 1:3-4

As a minister to students there is no greater joy than to see them live out their faith. I love to lead someone to faith in Christ. But O' the greater joy of seeing one of my students lead someone to Christ! Success in youth ministry is not measured by how many students come to our programs, the size of our budgets, or our personal accomplishments. True success must be measured on whether or not we are reproducing students in the mold of Jesus.

The Sweaty Prize

I am slowly plowing through a book I've tried to read two or three times before, The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard. Each previous time I failed to get past the first chapter, putting it down before I got into the meat of the book. It's not that it's difficult to read, but it is a book that makes you think - thus you need to be ready to invest some time and brainpower. I guess I just wasn't ready before. This time the payoff is proving to be well worth the effort.

Isn't that how most things work. You really only get out of something what you're willing to put into it. And things that are easy rarely yeild anything of real value. I enjoying sitting down to watch a movie with my family. But while a few moments of escapism can be "fun", seldom is there a real lasting payoff. The time spent with my family around a flickering screen is cheap in compairson to time spent with them around a gameboard or in conversation. Sadly, we're often unwilling to pay the price to build real deep relationships.

Over the next few weeks I'm planning on investing some time reading The Divine Conspiracy. As I do I'll use my blog to share some of the insights gained as a result of my work. I'm not an especially deep person. Most of my wisdom and insight are drawn from the wells dug by sweaty entrepreneurs who labored before me. However, I hope to share some of the water brought up from Mr. Willard's fount.

How to save more than just money!

God's providential timing always amazes me. He can take what seems an ordinary occurrence and use it for His eternal purpose. Yesterday He let me watch.

I attended what turned out to be a rather long and boring presentation on how to save a few dollars on rental vehicles by establishing a corporate account. In attendance were a bunch of fellow youth pastors and after the first hour of so we were starting to exchange yawns. As the meeting mercifully came to a conclusion, the pastor sponsoring the meeting asked the company representative if we could pray for her before she left. Suddenly the meeting changed - God revealed himself.

She asked if we could pray for her relationship with her son, a nine year old who can be out of control. As a single mom who had often been away from home, their relationship was strained and she desired for him to have a male influence. She opened her heart and shared her struggles, and God moved in our midst.

And all it took was a simple question - "can we pray for you?". How often do we miss out on seeing God work, simply because we don't take the time - because we don't ask the really important questions. Too often I stay at just the surface level.

"How are you today?"
"Great. and you?"
"fine"

Could it be that we miss seeing God work simply because participating in His work takes time and causes inconvenience to our busy lives. Isn't it much easier to avoid the real, messy parts of peoples lives? Yes, but it's there in the mess that God meets us and reveals His grace. We just have to take the time to ask and listen.

What a shame if I had learned how to save a dollar on renting a car and had missed out on seeing God work. And all it took was asking a question - and then listening.