Philip Yancey is one
of my favorite authors. I believe I have read every book he has written and all
of them have impacted, challenged, and strengthened my faith system. I
appreciate his transparency in sharing his struggles in his walk. Here is one
example from his book, Reaching for the Invisible God. His instructions in the second paragraph are
excellent for anyone, especially those in ministry positions.
Rarely do I wake up in the morning full of faith. Instead, I feel a bit
like a tropical fish I used to keep in a saltwater aquarium. This fish would
excrete a poisonous sac around its body at night, then sleep in peace, free
from harassment by its neighbors. Each morning, however, the fish woke up in a
milky cloud of poison. So often my faith disappears overnight and I wake up in
a cloud of poisonous doubt. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple
and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” Paul asked the Corinthians. If God himself
lives inside me, shouldn’t I wake up with that knowledge and live in constant
awareness all day long? Alas, I do not. Paul says elsewhere that God “set his
seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come.” After an organ transplant, doctors must use anti-rejection
drugs to suppress the immune system or else the body will throw off the newly
grafted member. I have come to see the Holy Spirit as a power living inside me
that keeps me from throwing off the new identity God has implanted. My
spiritual immune system needs daily reminders that God’s presence belongs
within me and is no foreign object. Absorbing a new identity requires an act of
will. Take off your old self and put on your new self, Paul advises, as if we
“clothe our minds” in the way we make daily selections from a wardrobe. I have
found that the process requires a determined effort.
Rather than rushing from one task to the next, pause for a moment and
recognize the time between times. Before dialing the phone, pause and think
about the person on the other end. After reading from a book, pause and think
back through how you were moved. After watching a television show, pause and
ask what it contributed to your life. Before reading the Bible, pause and ask
for a spirit of attention.
THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….
COMING NEW BIBLE STUDY CURRICULUM: The
Gospel Project, for age 3 through adult, for samples and to sign up for a
free trial use - http://gospelproject.com/
FOR WORSHIP PLANNING: You can align
your worship services with The Gospel Project curriculum by using these worship
ideas: http://www.lifewayworship.com/n/gospelprojectworship
FOR ‘BOOMERS’ MINISTRY: A new magazine
just for boomers, More Living; read
through a preview issue - http://www.lifeway.com/article/more-living-new-lifeway-magazine-urges-boomers-do-what-matters?cid=rdr-moreliving
FOR MEN: Men of Honor simulcast,
Friday, June 15th; a night of teaching, worship, & testimonies
with Sherwood Baptist’s Michael Katt, Kendrick brothers and cast of Courageous,
cost is only $5 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/men-of-honor?type=events&CID=RDR-menofhonor
FOR MEN: Sleeping Giant by Kenny Luck,
an intentional discipleship process for me, moving them from ‘affiliated’ to
‘activated’ - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/sleeping-giant-dvd-leader-kit-P005469852
FOR MEN: All Pro Dad simulcast, August
25th; a unique event for dads with elementary aged kids - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Adult-Event-All-Pro-Dad-Simulcast
FOR MEN: Kingdom Man by Tony Evans;
helping to empower men to exercise their leadership responsibilities at home,
at church, and in the world – http://www.lifeway.com/Product/kingdom-man-dvd-leader-kit-P005469702
FOR YOUTH MINSTRY: There's been a
change in the Summer KNOWN eLeader guide file format in the digital
bundle. Rather than one large file, it has been split into four parts:
front matter material and the three units.
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Faith Limps by
Michael Kelley; how to deal with those spiritual questions of doubt and God’s
fairness – http://www.lifeway.com/Product/faith-limps-trusting-a-good-god-in-a-broken-world-dvd-leader-kit-P005471379
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Church Essentials by
Mark Dever; help your church members to recognize the marks of a healthy church
- http://www.lifeway.com/Product/church-essentials-what-is-a-healthy-church-dvd-leader-kit-P005467770
FOR LEADER TRAINING: Transform: Changing Lives Through Teaching
Conference, September 22, Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-Transform-2012-Dacula-GA
FOR LEADER TRAINING: Teach the Bible for Life Conference,
September 28 & 29, Nashville, TN - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/teach-the-bible-for-life?type=events
FOR EDUCATION MINISTERS: Excel 2012 Conference, September 24-26,
Nashville, TN - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-Excel-2012-Nashville-TN
