Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways. . . but now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). It is His birth we are striving to remember in the midst of holiday hecticness. Jesus, the Son of God-let us cling to Him and never stop trusting (Hebrews 4:14).
Never stop trusting the gift described in Hebrews.
He is the. . .
· Reflector of God's glory 1:3
· Exact representation of God 1:3
· Cleanser of the stain of sin 1:3
· Occupier of the place of honor 1:3
· Right hand of the majestic 1:3
· One greater than angels 1:4
· Taster of death 2:9
· Bringer of others to glory 2:10
· Perfect leader 2:10
· Maker of holy ones 2:11
· Unashamed of his brothers 2:11
· Destroyer of the power of the devil 2:14
· Deliverer of those enslaved 2:15
· Partaker of humanity 2:17
· Merciful high priest 2:17
· Taker away of sin 2:17
· Helper of the tempted 2:18
· Messenger of God 3:1
· Deserver of more glory 3:3
· Confidence of our hope 3:6
· Faithful son 3:16
· Key to the place of rest 4:3
· Ascended one 4:14
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive mercy, and we will find grace to help us as we need it.
To all who read these musings, may your worship of the Perfect Leader be rich and full this Christmas.
*All references based upon the NLT.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Getting the Gerunds Wrong
I have to admit that most of the time when I was in school academics was not a priority. So I could often get by with C's and B's based on my half hearted efforts at homework and tests, but because of my lack of commitment, focus and priority there were a number of holes of my own making in my educational background. Many of these would be exposed and require correction why I was in college.
For instance until I was in Greek, I had no idea what a gerund was and how it was different from an infinitive. Here's what I learned.
Gerunds are formed with ING: walking, talking, thinking, and listening
Infinitives are formed with TO: to walk, to talk, to think, to listen
Gerunds and infinitives can do several jobs:
Both can be the subject of a sentence::
Writing in English is difficult.
To write in English is difficult.
Both can be the object of a verb::
I like writing in English. I like to write in English.
But...
Only gerunds can be the object of a preposition::
We are talking about writing in English.
Here is the big thing I learned about gerunds and infinitives.
Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed::
I stopped writing.
(The writing was real and happened until I stopped.)
Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future:
I stopped to write.
(I was doing something else, and I stopped; the writing had not happened yet.)
As believers we often get the gerunds wrong. I'm not talking about the syntax of a sentence. I'm talking about the theology of "praying and doing".
It is very easy to approach life, our work, our ministries, a project, a challenge and get the gerunds wrong. Let me illustrate.
Many of us approach life by doing everything we can to succeed, working hard, planning, theorizing, strategizing, organizing, pushing ourselves. If a problem arises we throw ourselves into it, working hard to fix it, seeking to control it, striving to overcome it. Occasionally we stop "doing" (gerund) "to pray" (infinitive).
Sound familiar?
Stopping "to pray" may be little more than a token acknowledgement that you want God to bless all you are "doing." Stopping "to pray" may be triggered by stress, burn out, overload, fear of failure or even just the guilt of having forgotten to pray. Sometimes stopping "to pray" is a desperate cry for help. We stop "believing it is all on us", we stop "depending on our gifts and skills", we stop "assuming we have the answers" and turn to God "to ask for a bail out plan."
Do you see the problem? It's in the use of the gerunds.
Too often we approach everything with the emphasis on "doing" and only occasionally do we stop "to pray." The use of the gerund on what we do and an infinitive on prayer reveals our dependency upon our works, our talents, our abilities. When we are doing we are not praying. We stop the one to start the other.
I'm convinced that is not the way a leader should lead. Look at Paul's advice he gave in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Always keep on praying. TLB
pray constantly, RSV
pray without ceasing; NAS
pray continually; NIV
pray all the time; MSG
Never stop praying. NLT
It's never been about stopping to pray. It's always been about "doing and praying." It may be that the hardest challenge for any naturally gifted leader is to believe that there is a big difference between "doing and praying" and just "stopping to pray".
What about you, do you tend to just stop to ask for a blessing? Or are you leading by "doing and praying?"
This next calendar year, this leader will be seeking to get the gerunds right.
For instance until I was in Greek, I had no idea what a gerund was and how it was different from an infinitive. Here's what I learned.
Gerunds are formed with ING: walking, talking, thinking, and listening
Infinitives are formed with TO: to walk, to talk, to think, to listen
Gerunds and infinitives can do several jobs:
Both can be the subject of a sentence::
Writing in English is difficult.
To write in English is difficult.
Both can be the object of a verb::
I like writing in English. I like to write in English.
But...
Only gerunds can be the object of a preposition::
We are talking about writing in English.
Here is the big thing I learned about gerunds and infinitives.
Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed::
I stopped writing.
(The writing was real and happened until I stopped.)
Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future:
I stopped to write.
(I was doing something else, and I stopped; the writing had not happened yet.)
As believers we often get the gerunds wrong. I'm not talking about the syntax of a sentence. I'm talking about the theology of "praying and doing".
It is very easy to approach life, our work, our ministries, a project, a challenge and get the gerunds wrong. Let me illustrate.
Many of us approach life by doing everything we can to succeed, working hard, planning, theorizing, strategizing, organizing, pushing ourselves. If a problem arises we throw ourselves into it, working hard to fix it, seeking to control it, striving to overcome it. Occasionally we stop "doing" (gerund) "to pray" (infinitive).
Sound familiar?
Stopping "to pray" may be little more than a token acknowledgement that you want God to bless all you are "doing." Stopping "to pray" may be triggered by stress, burn out, overload, fear of failure or even just the guilt of having forgotten to pray. Sometimes stopping "to pray" is a desperate cry for help. We stop "believing it is all on us", we stop "depending on our gifts and skills", we stop "assuming we have the answers" and turn to God "to ask for a bail out plan."
Do you see the problem? It's in the use of the gerunds.
Too often we approach everything with the emphasis on "doing" and only occasionally do we stop "to pray." The use of the gerund on what we do and an infinitive on prayer reveals our dependency upon our works, our talents, our abilities. When we are doing we are not praying. We stop the one to start the other.
I'm convinced that is not the way a leader should lead. Look at Paul's advice he gave in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Always keep on praying. TLB
pray constantly, RSV
pray without ceasing; NAS
pray continually; NIV
pray all the time; MSG
Never stop praying. NLT
It's never been about stopping to pray. It's always been about "doing and praying." It may be that the hardest challenge for any naturally gifted leader is to believe that there is a big difference between "doing and praying" and just "stopping to pray".
What about you, do you tend to just stop to ask for a blessing? Or are you leading by "doing and praying?"
This next calendar year, this leader will be seeking to get the gerunds right.
Monday, December 7, 2009
An Identity with the Call
For over four years every Sunday morning worship service at Norwalk Alliance Church has begun with an introduction by the pastor, followed by an identity statement with the entire conversation responding.
"Good morning, I'm Pastor Bruce Rzengota, Lead pastor at Norwalk Alliance Church, and this is my wife, Cheryl. And we're the Norwalk Alliance Church and we're. . .
"Living the Call Together," responds the congregation.
Every Sunday. Without fail. Why? How we identify ourselves helps define our lives.
How the Apostle Paul identified himself defined his life. Look at 2 Timothy 1:1 in these translations[1]
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. NLT
I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God's plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. MSG
I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. He sent me to tell about the promise of life that is found in Christ Jesus. NIRV
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. God sent me to tell about the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. NCV
No matter how you read it, what Paul claimed to be (identity) defined his mission.
I'm half Polish. That's enough Polish blood to claim that I am Polish, but other than having had to endure numerous Polack jokes as a kid growing up, there are not many ways that my Polish heritage defines my life. I guess you could say I've eaten haluski, guampki, perogi, keilbasi, but I am not defined by that claim I am Polish.
Does the title you claim (identity) define your life mission? How does claiming to be a Christian, a follower of the Forgiver, a pastor, an elder, a church leader, how do they define fine you? Does what you do flow from who you claim to be?
--The Man In the Window --
-- A Follower of the Forgiver --
-- A man seeking to lead others to him --
[1] NLT - New Living Translation, MSG - The Message, NIRV - New International Readers Version, NCV - New Century Version
"Good morning, I'm Pastor Bruce Rzengota, Lead pastor at Norwalk Alliance Church, and this is my wife, Cheryl. And we're the Norwalk Alliance Church and we're. . .
"Living the Call Together," responds the congregation.
Every Sunday. Without fail. Why? How we identify ourselves helps define our lives.
How the Apostle Paul identified himself defined his life. Look at 2 Timothy 1:1 in these translations[1]
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. NLT
I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God's plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. MSG
I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. He sent me to tell about the promise of life that is found in Christ Jesus. NIRV
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. God sent me to tell about the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. NCV
No matter how you read it, what Paul claimed to be (identity) defined his mission.
I'm half Polish. That's enough Polish blood to claim that I am Polish, but other than having had to endure numerous Polack jokes as a kid growing up, there are not many ways that my Polish heritage defines my life. I guess you could say I've eaten haluski, guampki, perogi, keilbasi, but I am not defined by that claim I am Polish.
Does the title you claim (identity) define your life mission? How does claiming to be a Christian, a follower of the Forgiver, a pastor, an elder, a church leader, how do they define fine you? Does what you do flow from who you claim to be?
--The Man In the Window --
-- A Follower of the Forgiver --
-- A man seeking to lead others to him --
[1] NLT - New Living Translation, MSG - The Message, NIRV - New International Readers Version, NCV - New Century Version
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Confessions of a Jet-Ski rider
I saw a Waverunner for sale the other day. It brought back memories.
I owned a Waverunner for many years and loved the feeling of being on the water early on a calm clear day. Long before the other boats were out, when the lake Milton was just one huge mirror, I loved to throttle my Yamaha wide open and race across the surface.
Strange thing about running wide open it's only fun for so long before you get tired of it. Wide open makes every turn, every maneuver hazardous. The slightest swell is an obstacle. Splash boom. Splash boom. Wide open your body has to absorb every jarring splash as the boat skims over even the slightest waves. Wide open you can't enjoy the scenery, your eyes fixed on water ahead. Wide open you can't tow a skier, a wake boarder, a knee boarder. Wide open burns fuel at a ridiculously insane rate.
Wide open is no fun for those left behind in the wake as you speed by. It's frustrating to the other boaters, other skiers since they never know when you will turn and crash and burn. Wide open.
Wide open is all about the speed and never about beauty of the lake.
Wide open.
Wide open is too often how I want to do ministry, blazing ahead, throttle wide open, flying across the river of life. There's a rush about what comes with a wide open lifestyle, a wide open ministry philosophy. But strange thing about running wide open, you can only do it for so long, before the body tires of a hasty turn leads to a crash and burn.
Wide open.
How are you running as a leader? Have you been running wide open for too long?
Throttle back and enjoy the ride. You'll stay on the water longer.
I owned a Waverunner for many years and loved the feeling of being on the water early on a calm clear day. Long before the other boats were out, when the lake Milton was just one huge mirror, I loved to throttle my Yamaha wide open and race across the surface.
Strange thing about running wide open it's only fun for so long before you get tired of it. Wide open makes every turn, every maneuver hazardous. The slightest swell is an obstacle. Splash boom. Splash boom. Wide open your body has to absorb every jarring splash as the boat skims over even the slightest waves. Wide open you can't enjoy the scenery, your eyes fixed on water ahead. Wide open you can't tow a skier, a wake boarder, a knee boarder. Wide open burns fuel at a ridiculously insane rate.
Wide open is no fun for those left behind in the wake as you speed by. It's frustrating to the other boaters, other skiers since they never know when you will turn and crash and burn. Wide open.
Wide open is all about the speed and never about beauty of the lake.
Wide open.
Wide open is too often how I want to do ministry, blazing ahead, throttle wide open, flying across the river of life. There's a rush about what comes with a wide open lifestyle, a wide open ministry philosophy. But strange thing about running wide open, you can only do it for so long, before the body tires of a hasty turn leads to a crash and burn.
Wide open.
How are you running as a leader? Have you been running wide open for too long?
Throttle back and enjoy the ride. You'll stay on the water longer.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Answering the Call
I was reading in a military history journal [1] this last week and came across this amazing story. I was reminded of what leaders do.
January 15, 1777, in Fort Edward N.Y a tavern owner named Henry Francisco enlisted in the Continental Army. He went on to fight through the Saratoga campaign before he was discharged for medical reasons on April 20, 1778. Attached to Colonel Seth Warner's famed Green Mountain Boys regiment, Francisco saw action in the Battles of Hubbardton, Bennington, Freeman's Farm and ultimately at Bemis Heights. What was so unusual about this volunteer? He was 91 years old at the time of his enlistment.
The story is recorded that at the battle of Bennington a Captain Stafford sought to remove an old man of slender build with a slight stooped framed from the line before assaulting the redoubt [2]. Not desiring to be relegated to merely guarding the baggage, the old man came forward and addressed the captain and politely objected. "Not until I've had a shot at them first, Captain, if you please." His reply sparked a riotous cheer leading the Captain to send the men and the elderly warrior forward to the redoubt.
Francisco, an old warrior, refusing to be sidelined from the battle, inspired those around him when he answered the call.
Abraham was 100.
Moses was 80.
I'm turning 52.
As leaders, no matter what our age, may we answer the call in such a way, that our refusal to be sidelined spurs on those around us. Amen!
January 15, 1777, in Fort Edward N.Y a tavern owner named Henry Francisco enlisted in the Continental Army. He went on to fight through the Saratoga campaign before he was discharged for medical reasons on April 20, 1778. Attached to Colonel Seth Warner's famed Green Mountain Boys regiment, Francisco saw action in the Battles of Hubbardton, Bennington, Freeman's Farm and ultimately at Bemis Heights. What was so unusual about this volunteer? He was 91 years old at the time of his enlistment.
The story is recorded that at the battle of Bennington a Captain Stafford sought to remove an old man of slender build with a slight stooped framed from the line before assaulting the redoubt [2]. Not desiring to be relegated to merely guarding the baggage, the old man came forward and addressed the captain and politely objected. "Not until I've had a shot at them first, Captain, if you please." His reply sparked a riotous cheer leading the Captain to send the men and the elderly warrior forward to the redoubt.
Francisco, an old warrior, refusing to be sidelined from the battle, inspired those around him when he answered the call.
Abraham was 100.
Moses was 80.
I'm turning 52.
As leaders, no matter what our age, may we answer the call in such a way, that our refusal to be sidelined spurs on those around us. Amen!
Monday, October 26, 2009
What Does it Mean to be a Man of God?
Does it mean that I claim His name? Does it mean that my allegiance belongs to Him; that I bear the title Christ- follower, believer, Christian? What does it mean to be a man of God?
Does it mean that I rule my life in ways that avoid the moral pit falls and snares of this world? Does it mean that holiness is a battle I strive to win? Does it mean that I work at the development of "God" character, the fruit of the Spirit, in my life? What does it mean?
Does it mean that I force-feed my spirit the Word of God? Does it mean that I strive to make prayer happen interwoven into my busy schedule? What does it mean?
Does it mean that I labor intensely for the sake of the Kingdom? Relentlessly working, reaching out to the hurting, counseling the struggling, leading the willing, seeking the lost? What does it mean?
It may mean all of these things. In fact my life may often be defined by these things, but does it mean I'm a man of God?
Maybe,....
Or maybe a man of God is one who walks in grace so real, fellowship so close, communion so deep, spirit so broken, awe so inspiring, worship so lifted, that who we are becoming is like who God is.
Then the title becomes character.
Holiness a trait, not a goal.
The Word indwelt, not just studied.
Prayer a life stream, not a scheduled appointment.
Kingdom advancement an undeniable consequence, not just the focus of my striving.
What does it mean to be a man of God?
Lord, help me to be such a man.
Does it mean that I rule my life in ways that avoid the moral pit falls and snares of this world? Does it mean that holiness is a battle I strive to win? Does it mean that I work at the development of "God" character, the fruit of the Spirit, in my life? What does it mean?
Does it mean that I force-feed my spirit the Word of God? Does it mean that I strive to make prayer happen interwoven into my busy schedule? What does it mean?
Does it mean that I labor intensely for the sake of the Kingdom? Relentlessly working, reaching out to the hurting, counseling the struggling, leading the willing, seeking the lost? What does it mean?
It may mean all of these things. In fact my life may often be defined by these things, but does it mean I'm a man of God?
Maybe,....
Or maybe a man of God is one who walks in grace so real, fellowship so close, communion so deep, spirit so broken, awe so inspiring, worship so lifted, that who we are becoming is like who God is.
Then the title becomes character.
Holiness a trait, not a goal.
The Word indwelt, not just studied.
Prayer a life stream, not a scheduled appointment.
Kingdom advancement an undeniable consequence, not just the focus of my striving.
What does it mean to be a man of God?
Lord, help me to be such a man.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Chasing after other gods
I was reading in Hosea. It is always a fascinating book for me to read. Who names a girl Gomer? Who marries a prostitute and expects faithfulness? Who names their children "not my people," "no mercy", "no love"? I have often said, "thank you Lord you didn't call me to be Hosea."
In the midst of this book I was hammered by a statement, a charge God brings against the people of Israel. Hos 6:10 says, "My people have defiled themselves by chasing after other gods." Chasing after other gods-at first the statement just rolled by, then my brain tripped over the truth. It was very easy for me as a leader to chase after other gods. As I sat in the window in the coffee house, I saw clearly how easy it was for me to chase after gods.
There are no temples in my yard, no idols in my home, no false festivals on my calendar, yet I saw all the ways I so easily chased after false gods.
I saw how easy it is to replace "Christ in me the hope of Glory" for "hard work by me the hope of glory." And that was only the first of many false gods I could so easily chase. Others included "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" with "I can do all things"; "You shall have no other gods before me" with "you shall no other gods before me except for rest, recreation and pleasure";
"Meditate on my words day and night" with meditate on the words of Ed Young, George Barna, Crawford Loritts, Reggie McNeal and Andy Stanley"; "without faith it is impossible to please God" with "without faith in coaching, PowerPoint's, blackberry, social networking and websites it's impossible to please God."
It was so easy to chase after other things than Him.
In the same book Hosea wrote. "Oh that we might know the Lord. Let us press on to know Him."
What are you chasing after today? As a leader. As a man or woman of God. What are you chasing? Have other gods become more pressing than pressing on to know Him? Let it not be said of us that we "exchanged the Glory of God for the disgrace of idols[1]" even the modern ones.
In the midst of this book I was hammered by a statement, a charge God brings against the people of Israel. Hos 6:10 says, "My people have defiled themselves by chasing after other gods." Chasing after other gods-at first the statement just rolled by, then my brain tripped over the truth. It was very easy for me as a leader to chase after other gods. As I sat in the window in the coffee house, I saw clearly how easy it was for me to chase after gods.
There are no temples in my yard, no idols in my home, no false festivals on my calendar, yet I saw all the ways I so easily chased after false gods.
I saw how easy it is to replace "Christ in me the hope of Glory" for "hard work by me the hope of glory." And that was only the first of many false gods I could so easily chase. Others included "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" with "I can do all things"; "You shall have no other gods before me" with "you shall no other gods before me except for rest, recreation and pleasure";
"Meditate on my words day and night" with meditate on the words of Ed Young, George Barna, Crawford Loritts, Reggie McNeal and Andy Stanley"; "without faith it is impossible to please God" with "without faith in coaching, PowerPoint's, blackberry, social networking and websites it's impossible to please God."
It was so easy to chase after other things than Him.
In the same book Hosea wrote. "Oh that we might know the Lord. Let us press on to know Him."
What are you chasing after today? As a leader. As a man or woman of God. What are you chasing? Have other gods become more pressing than pressing on to know Him? Let it not be said of us that we "exchanged the Glory of God for the disgrace of idols[1]" even the modern ones.
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