My past is ugly. Many of the days behind me are marred by sin, shame, and impurity. Failures are scibbled across the days of calendar pages lived and discarded. My heart bares the scars of indescretion and carries the weight of my guilt.
At my best, I was clothed in filthy rags. The highest asperation I could attain to was to be a chief of sinners. On my best day I was inadequate. In my finest hour I was still broken. With my best effort, I was still a failure.
If anyone wishes to measure me by who I was, he or she would easily conclude I am of no value to anyone or to God's Kingdom.
But I am so thankful my past does not define me. My past does not dictate my present or my future. I am not bound by who I was.
Praise be to God that he did not call me for who I was. No, he called me for who I could become in Christ. I am not who I was. "I have been crucified with Christ." The life I now live I live for Christ Jesus who transforms me daily.
One of the greatest victories the cross has won for us is the liberation from our past. We are no longer defined by who we were. Our past no longer holds leverage on our future. We are free from the power of former sin and failure. We are free to "forget those things which are behind and press on towards the high call of God" for our lives.
I am truly thankful that Jesus didn't choose me or call me based on who I was but on who he is.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Reading Deep; Reading Wide
Recently I heard a leader say that if you choose not to read you are "intentionally stupid." That is a challenging statement. One I believe to carry a great deal of truth. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of reading, processing ideas, owning truths, then living them out.
A trend I see among my friends and colleagues is the tendency to read in only one direction. I know many whose reading is limited to personal development. They are constantly working to be a better leader, learn new ministry or business tools and paradigms, or improve their personal and professional productivity. By the same token I know many whose reading is intentioned to challenge their spirit and take them deeper in their walk with Christ. I like to refer to the former as reading wide and the latter as reading deep.
Much like Jabez's prayer that God would enlarge his territory, reading wide is the taking intentional steps to grow in areas God has given us influence in. We should want to be the best we can be at the things we do. Leaders should study leadership. Parents should study parenting. Communicators should study communication. We should constantly be increasing our knowledge, abilities, and experience in the roles God has placed us in. No matter what titles you carry pastor, director, spouse, or parent you should be working to grow in those areas.
That said, it is not enough for me to be miles wide and only an inch deep. I must also read to deepen my walk with Christ. The most obvious source of spiritual depth is the Holy Scripture. It is the truth of scripture which brings freedom to our hearts and takes us deeper into the reality of Christ. Along with the Bible, there are also many authors who have penned powerful works which challenge us to go deeper in prayer, deeper worship, deeper in our commitment to Christ, deeper in our discipleship process. These works spur us to take inventory of our relationships with Christ and make adjustments to the way live - laying down those things which beset and taking up those things which develop Christ in us.
I strongly believe we should be reading in both directions. To only read wide is like trying to grow an oak tree in a flower pot. You may get some reach and see some growth but there is no real roots thus there is no real strength and the tree will never reach its fullest potential. Using the same analogy, only reading for depth is a firmly rooted oak without any significant branches to speak of. Limiting our reading to only one direction is to be "intentionally small" or "intentionally shallow." However when our roots run deep into the greatness of Christ and our influence spreads wide as strong healthy branches because we are constantly developing every area our lives reach into, we begin to experience the transforming work of God in our whole being. But even better, we become catalysts for transformation on the lives of others as God uses us to lead, parent, love and live.
A trend I see among my friends and colleagues is the tendency to read in only one direction. I know many whose reading is limited to personal development. They are constantly working to be a better leader, learn new ministry or business tools and paradigms, or improve their personal and professional productivity. By the same token I know many whose reading is intentioned to challenge their spirit and take them deeper in their walk with Christ. I like to refer to the former as reading wide and the latter as reading deep.
Much like Jabez's prayer that God would enlarge his territory, reading wide is the taking intentional steps to grow in areas God has given us influence in. We should want to be the best we can be at the things we do. Leaders should study leadership. Parents should study parenting. Communicators should study communication. We should constantly be increasing our knowledge, abilities, and experience in the roles God has placed us in. No matter what titles you carry pastor, director, spouse, or parent you should be working to grow in those areas.
That said, it is not enough for me to be miles wide and only an inch deep. I must also read to deepen my walk with Christ. The most obvious source of spiritual depth is the Holy Scripture. It is the truth of scripture which brings freedom to our hearts and takes us deeper into the reality of Christ. Along with the Bible, there are also many authors who have penned powerful works which challenge us to go deeper in prayer, deeper worship, deeper in our commitment to Christ, deeper in our discipleship process. These works spur us to take inventory of our relationships with Christ and make adjustments to the way live - laying down those things which beset and taking up those things which develop Christ in us.
I strongly believe we should be reading in both directions. To only read wide is like trying to grow an oak tree in a flower pot. You may get some reach and see some growth but there is no real roots thus there is no real strength and the tree will never reach its fullest potential. Using the same analogy, only reading for depth is a firmly rooted oak without any significant branches to speak of. Limiting our reading to only one direction is to be "intentionally small" or "intentionally shallow." However when our roots run deep into the greatness of Christ and our influence spreads wide as strong healthy branches because we are constantly developing every area our lives reach into, we begin to experience the transforming work of God in our whole being. But even better, we become catalysts for transformation on the lives of others as God uses us to lead, parent, love and live.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Critical Thinking vs. Critical Attitude
I believe it is important to think. The ability to process life experience and glean knowledge and wisdom is essential. These kind of processing skills have been drilled into me for years. Every educational opportunity I have had has communicated the necessity of critical thinking. That said, I am discovering there is a vast difference between critical thinking and a critical attitude.
I have seen many instances in my life where my critical thinking crosses over into having a critical attitude. I love the gift of critical thought that makes us better. I despise the critical attitude that tears down whatever it is turned on. It is important that we recognize the difference between the two.
The critical attitude only sees the problems; critical thinking seeks solutions.
Anyone can identify the problem. Critical attitudes delight in identifying what is wrong. Critical thinking finds joy in discovering creative solutions.
The critical attitude vents frustration; critical thinking extends encouragement.
The critical attitude is focused on expressing frustration with the thing or person it is focused on. Critical thinking, while not dispassionate, is focused on bettering a thing or person and encouraging forward movement.
The critical attitude is rooted in self; critical thinking is rooted in others.
The critical attitude is self-seeking. It is focused on the affect a person or thing has on the individual. The critical thinking person considers him/herself as a part of the whole and focuses on what is best for the group.
When it is all said and done, for me the biggest difference between the two is motive. If I am motivated by a need to be proved right, I am operating with a critical attitude. If I am motivated by a heart to make something right, perhaps I am starting to think critically.
There is obviously so much more that could be said here. I look forward to hearing from you on it.
I have seen many instances in my life where my critical thinking crosses over into having a critical attitude. I love the gift of critical thought that makes us better. I despise the critical attitude that tears down whatever it is turned on. It is important that we recognize the difference between the two.
The critical attitude only sees the problems; critical thinking seeks solutions.
Anyone can identify the problem. Critical attitudes delight in identifying what is wrong. Critical thinking finds joy in discovering creative solutions.
The critical attitude vents frustration; critical thinking extends encouragement.
The critical attitude is focused on expressing frustration with the thing or person it is focused on. Critical thinking, while not dispassionate, is focused on bettering a thing or person and encouraging forward movement.
The critical attitude is rooted in self; critical thinking is rooted in others.
The critical attitude is self-seeking. It is focused on the affect a person or thing has on the individual. The critical thinking person considers him/herself as a part of the whole and focuses on what is best for the group.
When it is all said and done, for me the biggest difference between the two is motive. If I am motivated by a need to be proved right, I am operating with a critical attitude. If I am motivated by a heart to make something right, perhaps I am starting to think critically.
There is obviously so much more that could be said here. I look forward to hearing from you on it.
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