Who gets noticed in your church?

I have observed that those who get noticed in my church are usually pastors & elders, leaders, theologians, foreign speakers, MU football fans, married (or dating) couples, the visibly gifted, intellectuals, successful white-collar professionals and quite recently singles below 40.

Others get noticed for the wrong reasons or don't seem to get noticed at all.

The way I have been feeling recently made me go back to the Bible to see what it says of how we should treat our brothers & sisters in the faith. In I Corinth 13, Paul talks about the community of believers as a human body...made up of many parts - each having a specific function that contributes to the health of the whole body.

The New Living Translation puts it this way....

One Body with Many Parts

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

Could it be that many 'significant' people in our church are being given the respect and honour that rightly belongs to those we consider weaker and lesser ? If we are to take Paul's explanation seriously, then the people we ought to proudly honour and fiercely protect are the

Coffee servers

Ushers

Church workers

Janitors

Blue-collar employees

Unemployed

Single mothers

Singles

Divorced

Barren

Clerks and typists

Financially disadvantaged

Disabled

Dysfunctional

Minority group pastors

Elderly

Etc

When we do notice them, what do we do? Offer an obligatory (once-a-year) gesture of appreciation that fits neatly into an 'ang pow' packet? Treat them like a charity case? Perform random acts of kindness when we feel like it?

Honestly, how many of us take time to befriend them? Lavish our love and affection on them the way we do for the more high profile people of our church community? Defend them and protect them from the harsh realities of life? Ask them if they feel safe and loved in our fellowship? And worry if they don't?

Why? There are many reasons.

Because they deserve nothing less. Because it is just and fair. Because God commands it. Because without them the church will become self-indulgent, obese and riddled with disease. Because we are called to mirror the Christ who chose the stable, revealed himself to poor shepherds, dined with miserly tax-collectors, touched the lepers and died for sinners.

This Christmas, pick someone who is 'invisible' or rarely gets noticed. Pick someone who is 'undeserving'. Pick someone who faithfully serves without recognition. Pick a 'nobody' and then spoil them silly! I have a hunch that Jesus would like that....a lot.

He picked you, didn't He?

Enough said

I was browsing in a pay less bookstore just looking for a bargain when i came across this book entitled 'In the eye of the storm' by Max Lucado. I just flipped it open and this quote caught my eye.

"A season of suffering is a small price to pay for a clear view of God"

Profound. I think its what Job would have said too.

My darling girl

I am suffering from emotional stress. My breathing is laboured and just last week i felt it choking the very life out of me. I had to see Dr. Mike. He said i am headed for a nervous breakdown if i don't deal with it. Seems like I've been dealing with it forever. How long Lord? How long must i suffer the unjust practices of so called 'godly' men? Forgive you said. Let it go. Bury the past and don't look back. I do but i see it again & again.

What is forgiveness? It's cancelling the debt owed to you. It's choosing to bear the consequences of someone else's sin. It's accepting the pain of betrayal while releasing your offender from the punishment he deserves. It's a very noble thing to do. It is for that reason, Jesus is my hero. It's why i think Nelson Mandela is a great man. But it's so very very hard.

A counsellor suggested that I feel like this because I have not fully forgiven. Just adding insult to my injury and salt to my wounds. If I am doing it wrong, tell me how to make it right. You think i enjoy this?

I feel unappreciated, unloved, and at times hated without cause. I feel that discrimination is alive & well even in the community of faith today. I feel it's worse if you are female and single because you have none to speak on your behalf. You feel like a liability, a non-entity, a big zero. I say 'feel', coz i want so much to be proven wrong. You give and give to others and in the end your hands are empty. I ask myself, and for what? Spare me the sermons on dying to self. I think i died a long time ago. But if i'm dead, how come it hurts so much?

Last week i broke down. I told God, you had the best years of my life. Now i want what's left. And then i cried some more. I felt i had come to the end of myself. But it's funny. In desperation i called my friend and she's talking but it's his voice i hear. He calls me...my darling girl. I am so FOR you. I break down again but this time i feel his love washing my wounds...healing my pain.

1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

The Bible, Psalm 13 (New Living Translation)

10 habits of highly defective church leaders

A slip of tongue gave me the idea for this post! :o)
A friend of mine was telling me about a book he had borrowed from the library. Instead of "7 habits of highly effective people" i heard it as 'highly defective people'. I was practically raised in church and throughout my life, i've come across many ‘interesting’ characters in various leadership roles. Some of them have left what i will call a lasting impression on me and my family... I have listed what i think are the most damaging (the word defective lends to this!). I'm sure you will recognize some of these characteristics in people you personally know and perhaps even yourself? I am not putting anyone down. I am guilty too. So read and learn!

10 Habits of Highly Defective Church Leaders

(in no particular order)

1. Flattery, intimidation and manipulation are useful tools to get people to do what you want (because NOTHING must stand in the way of God's work!).
2. Constantly put others down so you can feel good about yourself (But don't forget to add, "Just kidding!").
3. DON'T TOUCH THE LORD'S ANOINTED! is useful to deflect unwarranted advice. (Unfortunately it works just as well on constructive criticism but who cares?)
4. Encourage open & honest communication, then promptly silence the one who doesn't quite 'flow' with what leadership is saying. (I'm sure Jesus will agree that nothing's more important than corporate unity!)
5. Love and cherish only those who agree with you; don't bother with people who won't back you up. (What did you say? That's what pharisees do? No way!)
6. You can always mask serious character flaws with personal charm and charisma.
7. Perform unqualified psycho-analysis on people you consider weak & problematic. (Btw, we don't call it judging coz the bible prohibits it)
8. Remember that stinginess is a true sign of godly stewardship. (If you must give it away, make sure you take the credit)
9. Readily admit your weaknesses (Once people know, they've no choice but to live with it)
10. Why have personal confrontations when you can do it from the pulpit?

This is Jesus!

This is Jesus
In His glory
King of Heaven dying for me,
It is finished,
He has done it
Death is beaten
Heaven beckons me.

Such love, such love

is this for me.

(I want us to just imagine that we're part of the curious crowd of people who followed Jesus around…)

We are impressed with his teaching and expert exposition of Holy Scriptures - such authority! Amazed at how he cleverly answers difficult questions thrown at him. We cheer when demons are expelled at his command and applaud when the lame walk and the blind see. Nothing is impossible for him! Why, he brings even the dead back to life! Do you remember how he raised Lazarus from the dead though he'd been lying in the grave for 4 days?

We're thrilled that he can feed multitudes with a few loaves of bread and still have leftovers in abundance. It warms our hearts to see lepers healed and restored to the community by a single touch. We nod approvingly as he takes little children into his arms to bless them. We marvel that he abandons protocol to mingle with tax-collectors and sinners - people considered misfits of conventional society.

We’re delighted at how he outwits the Pharisees who try to trick Him. We feel vindicated when he exposes the hypocrisy of religious leaders. We tremble at the way he clears the temple of greedy money-changers and dove sellers. What righteous indignation! A daring display of holy anger! Did you hear how he calmed the raging sea? How he walked on water? The people adore this Teacher, this Prophet, one of a kind Healer, Miracle-worker and Master over nature! Why, the crowd went wild, strewing their coats and palm branches before him as he rode into Jerusalem city. This god-man deserves to be King.

(But wait! This isn’t any run of the mill story with a Hollywood ending. This ‘John Wayne’ didn’t ride into the sunset.) We continue our journey.

 What about when he was betrayed by one he called friend? When he was unlawfully arrested and suffered the sham of a court trial? When he was falsely accused yet said nothing in his own defense? When he was sentenced to death without just cause? When he surrendered his body to his torturers to be beaten and spat on? When he offered no resistance and made no last minute appeal? When he looked sadly into the faces of the bloodthirsty crowd that had forgotten all the good he’d ever done? When he silently endured the taunts and insults of brutish unrepentant men? When the soldiers nailed him to the wooden beam where he had to remain till he drew his final breath?

What did you feel?
Disbelief? Disappointment and disillusionment perhaps? A sense of hopelessness? Grief for the way his life was abruptly ended? Anger at the injustice he had to suffer? Maybe disgust because he could not save himself?

As he hangs there, dying, we hear him speak the words that release his murderers from their guilt, 'Father, forgive them! They don’t know what they are doing'.

Our feelings give way to revelation.
Shame. Humility. Awe. Praise. Gratitude. and finally Surrender.

It is there, at the foot of the cross, looking up at his broken and bleeding body that you and I must bow our head, bend our knee and call him … Saviour and Lord.

Because at that moment, we receive an epiphany. All of a sudden, we understand the meaning of grace. And unconditional love. 

John3:16

 ¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

This is Jesus in his glory…. his limelight moment.

Words fail me Jesus.

You are my true hero.
You have shown us the way. Now teach us to follow you.

The resilient rose

I was online, searching for information on the desert rose and stumbled on some pictures. Wow! 3 words! Beautiful. Brilliant. Breathtaking! I never imagined they looked like that. The word desert itself does not immediately conjure up such visions of beauty. Think dry, dusty & dehydrated instead! Apparently, the desert rose a.k.a adenium or impala lily is a unique breed. One website said they are recognizable at a single glance coz they look like no other plant.

As i was reading .... i was reminded how last year, i was moaning to God about how much i disliked being in a period of dryness and being unproductive. You know when your prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling and life is temporarily suspended in time? (Seems as though, much of my life experiences this kind of weather.) Well, after i was done moaning (God listened quietly, coz He's such a good listener!) He offered, "I've got a new name for you - Desert rose". I asked Him, "Desert rose? Why desert rose?" He chuckled, "You prefer cactus?". That cracked me up but no i certainly didn't want to be called a cactus.

In my mind it means someone who reacts to a difficult situation by building protective defenses around them - becoming bitter & unapproachable in the process. On the other hand, the desert rose is someone who chooses to bloom regardless of what they have to endure. Interestingly enough, both plants store water in their stems to survive infrequent rains but while the needles of the prickly cactus draw blood, the rose blooms to bring pleasure (desert rose has no thorns). I know God's delays are not necessarily denials and i also know that God is right on time but it's still hard to wear a smile when the sun's out. However, since the resilient rose does not rely on the weather, i decided neither should i. I am happy to say, i survived the dry spell!

Back to the website in question, this site advocates growing the adeniums as nature intended and guarantees 'individuality of spiritual magnitude' if grown from seed. Apparently this approach yields a healthier and disease resisting plant. Uncanny! But i burst out laughing when I came across this line, 'We respect periods of dormance and dryness'.

Going down the blogging track

Yes, i am trying out this new thing called blogging! Well, new for me anyways. Meera helped me set it up, but i am still feeling my way around. i am discovering its like buying a new pair of shoes. You want something comfortable but which makes a daring statement at the same time. Know what i mean? Its got to flatter your feet without pinching your toes. The heel's got to be just right - high enough so you can strut your stuff but won't trip you when you need to hightail it out of someplace real quick! It must complement the clothes you wear but be able to warrant a conversation piece all on its own.

i wonder if it will become huggy and comfy like my favourite well-worn jeans..... (hmm there's another analogy for you..). Or will i have to stick it in the recycling bin, perhaps kiv for another day?...... Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Olé!!