3. My Critics. I know it may be hard for you to believe, but I get criticism now and then. I am committed to learning from my critics. I am not talking about the constructive criticism of my friends, Wounds from a friend can be trusted Proverbs 27:6 (NIV), but those whose motives are less helpful.
One of realities I have come to grips with is that God can use people with bad motives to say something that could be true. I always try to be open. “Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 12:15 (NLT) My one exception is unsigned notes, I pretty much figure they are from the devil, so I throw them out.
I also look for “Opposition Validation.” What I mean here is that sometimes critics let you are know that you are doing the right thing. Jesus was constantly criticized by those who considered themselves highly religious. If I don’t get that criticism, that is a caution for me.
Sometimes criticism helps me correct my path or to let me know that I am on the right one. Jesus said, Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. Luke 6:26 (NIV)
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)
“….fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
In the past few weeks at Timberlake we have gained wisdom as we have looked at the book of Proverbs. This has me thinking about the ways I learn. I am going to be exploring these in my blog in the next several posts. Here are a couple to start.
1. Daily Time with God - It says in Psalm 119 ‘ Your Word is a lamp and a light.” I find that in my daily time of bible reading and prayer that God will often speak to me about issues in my life and ministry. Sometimes this is a word of encouragement and sometimes it is a word of challenge. If you need resources to help energize your time of daily devotion send me an e-mail or leave a post and I will send you some great resources.
2. Wisdom from Mentors - I always have people in my life who help me grow. I spent some time with one of them this last weekend, Kip Jacob from Southlake Church. Some of these are older mentors, some are peer mentors, and some are specific skill mentors, (for example parenting or finance). I also have mentors from afar through, blogs and books.
One of the problems I face in being a pastor is that I am not that religious. Yes, I am not that religious. Let me explain. I was not raised in the church and so ritual is not that meaningful to me, I often find going through the religious motions a bit dry. Furthermore, I am not that interested in being part of a religious sub culture. I am much more interested in helping transform culture. (If you want to read a classic on the subject of Christians and society, read Reinhold Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture).
Here is the good news. Jesus was not much into religious ritual either. In fact he often broke with the traditions of the day to make sure that people far from God would know God’s radical love for them. That is what we are talking about this week at Timberlake Church.
Many of you know that my youngest daughter has been in the hospital. All this began a a simple appendicitis. Yet due to a initial misdiagnosis by our local doctor and a mistake during surgery it became something more serious.
Sunday Night we were looking at second surgery with a third to follow. However, by Monday morning we were planning on when she would return home. She had a remarkable turnaround! I believe this is part of God showing His grace and answering your prayers and ours. Thank you so very much for the help, prayers and support.
We are starting a new series this weekend called Baggage. We will look at the junk that we have a hard time getting rid of in our lives: Stress, Negativity, Bitterness and our desire to Control. Join us this week at Timberlake.
Ok, I am officially stressed! I know lots of good theological reasons, why I shouldn’t be stressed, but I am stressed out and frankly a bit worried.
This last week my youngest daughter has been in the hospital. My wife has been there with her round the clock. I come in during the day and at night try to repair the damage my other daughter and I have done to the house. She reminds me that, “mom just knows how to do things better than you do.” I think I need a remedial class in parenting.
The good part. I know that God loves my little daughter more than even my wife and I do. We both wish she was home watching Hanna Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place, (yes I let my kids watch those shows.) Yet that is not what is happening right now. Right now we get to do the hardest thing in the world, watch our child suffer. Do I trust God in all this, you bet. Am I still stressed, you bet.
This fall we are heading into some exciting changes at Timberlake Church. On Saturday Sept 19 we will go into some more detail at our 411 meeting, but here are at least some of what is happening at Timberlake.
1. Service Times are Changing- We are moving both Sunday morning services back 15 minutes for the fall, to 9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The Saturday Service will still be at 5:30 p.m.
2. We Opening a Preschool. We have been in process for about 6 months now and it looks like we will make our January launch, God and King County willing. (I pretty sure that at least God is willing.)
3. Adventure Club. We are starting a mid week discipleship program for kids on Sept. 23rd. It will be a great way to help your kids grow in their faith.
4. New Student Ministries Pastor, in addition to our Junior High Pastor we are adding a full time Student Ministries Pastor Paul Diaz. He is a great guy, a good leader and starts this weekend.
5. Life Group Sign Ups begin this weekend. Could not pull together the get away plans for Labor Day? Here is the good news, at least you will have the first shot at Life Groups (small groups.) For those of you who are not in a group we have 45 new groups starting in addition our existing groups.
This has been an awesome summer and I am looking forward to what God is going to do in us and through us this fall.
Last week I kicked off a new series at Timberlake Church, Dumb Things Smart People Believe. In this series we are trying to dispell some popular, yet dangerous, spiritual myths that often lead people further away from God, than closer to him.
This next week is the myth, “Let God and Let God”, the following week is the myth “God Helps Those who Help Themselves”, and the final week is “God Does Not Give You More than You Can Handle.” I hope you will join us for this important examination of spritual truths (and untruths) and their impact on our lives.
