A Compelling Calling

Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:16

It's an incredible thing when people are right where God wants them. Paul is one of those people. God had called Paul out of a less than stellar past, and set Paul off to become His mouthpiece to the Gentiles, my ancestors. If anyone had the right to boast about his ministry, it was Paul. He had planted numerous churches, won people to Christ, discipled other leaders, was persecuted, and ended up having 17 published letters in the #1 Best Selling Book of All Time. Yet Paul knew that his ministry only came from the grace of God, and because of that he could not boast in himself. In himself, Paul is Saul the persecutor of The Way. Paul tells us that their is only one thing that he can boast in, and that is the Cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14).

Paul would not boast, but he had to preach. Paul says that he was "compelled to preach".God had placed this incredible passion and desire to preach Jesus. It did not matter the city, the forum, or the crowds, Paul preached with passion and more importantly power. Paul goes on to say "Woe to me, if I didn't preach". Paul knew to refrain from his calling, would be a greivous offense against God. Who else would preach to the outcasted Gentiles. Who else would share a message of hope and salvation.

Like Paul, I feel "compelled to preach". There is no place on this earth that I feel more at home, than wherever I'm at when I'm preaching the Word of God. That is where I feel God most powerful in me. Like Paul, I find it hard to boast in something that I know God deserves the credit for. Even if I was a talented or skilled preacher, who is the giver of talents and skills? Yet, Satan is always tapping on my shoulder when a compliment comes. He helps me to think it's about me. He can help turn Godly encouragement, into selfish arrogance. Praise God for His Holy Spirit that through Him I may remain confident in God and not arrogant in myself.

Yet, as I read these words of Paul I am rebuked. Looking at the words "woe to me if I didn't preach". This past Saturday I was able to preach at the mission, but not before my inner whining of "It's the NCAA tournament, do I have to". What a petty, ungodly excuse to reject an opportunity to fulfill God's calling in my life. The realization of this pettiness happened around 11 am on Saturday, when God spoke clearly "I've called you to preach, you should envy opportunities to preach My Word". What a humbling experience. Praise God, by that evening my heart had been changed, and I was able to see it as a God-given opportunity to preach God's Word.

I still have to check myself routinely to make sure that I'm in this for Jesus, not myself. When I was asked to preach @ conference this summer I jumped at the chance. Yet, when asked at the mission, did I respond with the same eagerness? I say that my goal is to help people see Christ for the first time. Do my actions back it up? Preaching at conference is reward/status thing. At the mission, I was able to speak to people who don't know Christ, able to pray for my brother Robert, who collected the evening's offering. Praise God that He knows what's best, even if I drag my feet.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the passion you have given me for my calling. May I look at the models of Your Son and Your Servant Paul, and be a good steward of the calling You have carved out for me. Forgive my shortcomings, and empower me to fulfill your call. In the power of Your Holy Spirit, Amen.

The More I Know, Shows How Little I Know

We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.

1 Cor 8:1b-3

These words are spoken by one of the most educated men in the early church. Paul had sat at the feet of one of the most accomplished and acclaimed rabbis of his time. Paul was not a man that struggled to speak on an intellectual level. He did not feel like at community college kid @ a Harvard debate. Rather, he would have been the Einstein in amongst the Gomer Pyle's. Yet he says, "The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know". Paul had been made aware that people that put all their eggs in one basket (knowledge) with no regard to God, had only produced an inflated ego and maybe a few diplomas. These men (at that time in culture, we could definitely add women to this list) had thought they had figured out life, yet in their figuring it had pushed them further and further away from the truth. Through Paul's conversion and sanctification he had seen that love had much greater worth. Love is God centered, others centered, and therefore, is able to build each other up. Paul is not saying that education is worthless, but he is saying it is incomplete. Scripture tells us that God is able to confound the wise, yet reveal mysteries to children. Paul is saying the most important thing is love, that is God focused and others focused.

Intelligence and education has always been a struggle for me, as far as pride goes. I grew up as a son of a single mother, on welfare, and living in government housing (the projects for the small town people:). So I could never match the other kids for material things, but I always was in the top of my class when test came back. This has been true my whole life. This was how I said "I'm as good as any of you". This was what put the chip, no boulder, on my shoulder. If I was smart enough, that meant I was good enough. God has worked, and is working on me in this. Yes, education is very important to me. It did allow me many more opportunities than many of the people that grew up in similar situations. I will start my master's this fall, and my goal is to attain a doctorate before it is all said and done. However, all this pales in comparison to what the love of God did to my life and is doing in my life. It gave me direction, worth, and power. Knowledge is inconsequential without the knowing the love of God and giving that love to others. Education can't teach us how to love, it can't teach us the fullness of God, it can't teach us our worth, & it can't teach us our dreams and hopes. Only God's love can do that!

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me, even if I did/sometimes do have a boulder on my shoulder. Lord I lay my educational desires in your hands, and ask you God to keep teaching how much I still have left to learn. Bound by Your Love, Amen.

From Student to Teacher

Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be Strong and Courageous.
Joshua 10:25a

Over the last year, Joshua has been a key person in my spiritual leadership development. I look at him, and I see a model of who I want to become. Joshua had flaws, but God used him. God encouraged, taught, rebuked, and transformed Joshua, in order for him to be prepared to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land and beyond.

The words spoken by Joshua in v 25, were not originally his words. If we look back @ Joshua 1, Joshua was the recipient of these very words. Joshua was to take over the leadership of the Israelites due to the recent death of Moses. God tells him in Vv. 6&9 to "be strong and courageous." The Gadites, Reubenites, and the tribe of Manasseh end chapter 1 reminding Joshua to "be strong and courageous!". I believe what we see in Joshua's words in chapter 10 is his transition from student to teacher. He's transitioning what God is teaching Him, to what he is teaching his people.

The idea of his transition from student to teacher is flawed. Joshua, as any good leader, was a lifetime learner/student of God's. However, the point being made is that now Joshua is instilling what he is learning into the lives of the people he is leading. I believe this is one of the biggest keys in becoming a Godly leader.

So as I look to where I am to lead my family and YEC, I must first look at what God is teaching me. At this present point, God is teaching me the power of a humbled leader. How does God what me to serve my wife? How does God want me to serve my leaders? How does God want me to serve my people @ YEC? I must make the same transition that Joshua made, the transition from student to teacher.

Wonderful Counselor, you are my high priest, my first teacher. Help me transition the truths your teaching me, into truths I can teach the people you have entrusted me to. May I follow the example that your servant Joshua gave us. In Him, Amen

The Price of Arrogance

So about 3,000 men went up, but they were routed by the Men of Ai, who killed about 36 of them
Joshua 7:4-5a

As I read this passage the theme of arrogance became crystal clear to me. The Israelites had just been a part of one of the most miraculous things in the Old Testament, the fall of the walls of Jericho. They had marched around the city for seven days, they had been a part of the triumphant trumpet blasts, and they had seen the God-induced fear in the eyes of their enemies. Yet we fast forward one chapter, and now the Israelites are being killed by a much inferior army, why?

Arrogance in themselves had replaced confidence in the One, true God of Israel. When the walls came down, they had put there full trust and confidence in the Lord himself. When the 3,000 men went to destroy the Men of Ai, they were propelled by their own arrogance. They thought that they were a troop of King Midas', everything they touched God had to bless. This arrogance cost them 36 men, along with all the families that were affected by the deaths.

The line between confidence and arrogance can be an incredibly thin line, but it is a line that makes the difference between the Walls of Jericho falling and the loss of 36 men. The line is defined by the focus. Confidence is focused on who God is, while arrogance is focused on who I am.

It is so important that I lead out of confidence, that God's power can be displayed through my life. God's power will bring people to Christ, God's power will break addictions, God's power will transform families and communities. My arrogance will only leave people unfulfilled, untouched and unchanged.

Dear Lord, may my confidence in you never wain, may your glory manifest itself in my life. May walls come down, may lives be transformed through your mighty power. Lord replace any arrogance, with confidence in you. In the name of your risen Son, Amen.

Why Am I Blogging?

I have looked at blogging as a way to publish your thoughts that no one else cares about. However, I also see the immense good that can come from blogging. Thoughts are shared, debates are had, family is kept updated, and community is formed. I do not have any grand visions for my blog, and I'm not sure if anyone will even read it. But for me that is not the point. I believe the focus of my blog will be to put to words what God is teaching my heart (as well as this can be done). I also want the people of YEC, my friends, family, and any body else to have access to what God is teaching me. I believe the more accessible I can be, the greater the glory God will receive through my leadership @ YEC. If this blog benefits anyone, praise be to God! I just invite you into my head, as I follow Jesus.
Dylan 3/20/09