Looking across my desk this morning, I realize that it started out very clean at 7:50 this morning. It's already cluttered. But that's not all bad. It can remind me (and you, I hope) of God's grace. Let me explain.
Working left to right, I notice the first piece of paper reminds me of something I need to cover with my staff tomorrow in our staff meeting. It also speaks to me of how fortunate I am to have such a great staff working along side of me in the cause of proclaiming Jesus.
Next to that is a page from a yellow pad which has lots written on it that is now crossed off. It was last week's "to do" list. Seeing items crossed off reminds me that God enabled me, last week, to complete a multiplicity of tasks while it also speaks of his ability to do that this week as well! God's faithfulness illustrated by pen and ink.
In addition, on that same page, are the scribbles of notes for an Advent series that I began working on last week. It reminds me of the quiet time I had last Thursday when I secluded myself in the Prayer Center here at church so I could do some advance sermon planning. God met me there, I feel, to give me some needed direction for the coming season of Advent, (which isn't that far off!).
My open calendar sits next on the desk revealing the coming week; fairly open so far, but already filling having been in the office over two hours now. To me, a reminder of the opportunities I will have this week to convey the grace of God to those who have cried out in need of some counsel. It also reminds me of my dependence on His grace; I'm insufficient, in and of myself, to give all that they will need.
I could go on, since there's more clutter. But I think I may have made my point. Not all clutter is bad; it can represent a multi-faceted, multi-tasking God who seeks to convey his goodness and grace in every situation, if we'll see it. Perhaps "clutter" is more of what we do, rather than what God does.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The View from My Window: Alarms and Such
The View from My Window: Alarms and Such: "For some folks, Mondays are tough. The start of a new week after an enjoyable weekend; the switch to responsibility after being able to lay ..."
Alarms and Such
For some folks, Mondays are tough. The start of a new week after an enjoyable weekend; the switch to responsibility after being able to lay low for the weekend is, for some, a "downer." Not for me, I love Mondays. Monday spells newness; a fresh start. Mondays for me are full of "to do" lists, beginning to pick apart a new section of scripture in preparation for Sunday, and every now and again some surprises. Like today.
After dropping my daughter at school, I drove into the church office and had just entered when suddenly the lights went out and a loud and shrill, piercing alarm went off. The room I had entered (a hint; it has the word "rest" in it) was now very dark and there was no way to find the door short of feeling along the wall until I hit it. After only a mild panic attack, I found my way out, went to the church office which was the origin of the now ear shattering alarm. There in front of me was the fire alarm pannel with various lights illuminated and flashing. My dilemma; do I call "911" or the fire alarm company? I walked around the building multiple times and when I was convinced there was no fire, I called the alarm company only to find out the real culprit was a power outage in a portion of the building, which triggered the alarm. No fire, just no power. Finally, our office manager arrived and with one simple push of a button silenced the "ice pick like stab" in my ear.
It made me think of the various alarms that go off in our minds and in our hearts. There are physical alarms that tell us that we might need to get a medical work up. There are emotional alarms that alert us to the need for better stress management. And there are spiritual alarms that signal a need to be more diligent in our appropriation of time with the Lord. For me, those spiritual alarms are subtle (unlike today's). A slight hardening of heart toward people's unfortunate circumstances, a marginal indifference to missing a devotional time, a "detectable only to me" sarcasm in response to the spiritual highlights in an other's life. The real question becomes this: "Do you ignore the alarm, or do you seek out its cause?"
I view the alarm as simply another extension of grace. God doesn't "have to" alert us when we are faltering. He could allow us to go off on our merry way. But, because he loves us, and he desires us to walk closely with him so that he gets glory, he signals when there is something amiss with the system. Are you listening?
After dropping my daughter at school, I drove into the church office and had just entered when suddenly the lights went out and a loud and shrill, piercing alarm went off. The room I had entered (a hint; it has the word "rest" in it) was now very dark and there was no way to find the door short of feeling along the wall until I hit it. After only a mild panic attack, I found my way out, went to the church office which was the origin of the now ear shattering alarm. There in front of me was the fire alarm pannel with various lights illuminated and flashing. My dilemma; do I call "911" or the fire alarm company? I walked around the building multiple times and when I was convinced there was no fire, I called the alarm company only to find out the real culprit was a power outage in a portion of the building, which triggered the alarm. No fire, just no power. Finally, our office manager arrived and with one simple push of a button silenced the "ice pick like stab" in my ear.
It made me think of the various alarms that go off in our minds and in our hearts. There are physical alarms that tell us that we might need to get a medical work up. There are emotional alarms that alert us to the need for better stress management. And there are spiritual alarms that signal a need to be more diligent in our appropriation of time with the Lord. For me, those spiritual alarms are subtle (unlike today's). A slight hardening of heart toward people's unfortunate circumstances, a marginal indifference to missing a devotional time, a "detectable only to me" sarcasm in response to the spiritual highlights in an other's life. The real question becomes this: "Do you ignore the alarm, or do you seek out its cause?"
I view the alarm as simply another extension of grace. God doesn't "have to" alert us when we are faltering. He could allow us to go off on our merry way. But, because he loves us, and he desires us to walk closely with him so that he gets glory, he signals when there is something amiss with the system. Are you listening?
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Inaugural Post
The view out my window...
Here at Wabash Church, the view out of my window in the pastor's study has as its central focus a large wooden cross. I don't know when it was placed there, I don't know by whom, and I have no idea of when it was positioned any thought was given to it's proximity to the office window, but from where I look, it is central.
As I began to consider the whole concept of writing a blog each week, and I began thinking of a title, I recalled a title similar to this (The View Out My Window) but remembering that was not the prime motivator. Truly, my thinking went something like this: "When I look out the window of my office on the busy street, the parking lot which at times is teeming with folks, and even the cloudy skies and rain, the central focus needs to be the cross." It's what we are to be all about; Christ centered...completely.
That can be tough at times. We've got lots that competes for that central focus. As I mentioned in my sermon yesterday, we all too often settle for relegating Jesus to the "spoke" category as opposed to hub. The process of moving Jesus to the center is the practical side of sanctification.
With this inaugural post on this blog site, I invite you to join me in that challenge!
Here at Wabash Church, the view out of my window in the pastor's study has as its central focus a large wooden cross. I don't know when it was placed there, I don't know by whom, and I have no idea of when it was positioned any thought was given to it's proximity to the office window, but from where I look, it is central.
As I began to consider the whole concept of writing a blog each week, and I began thinking of a title, I recalled a title similar to this (The View Out My Window) but remembering that was not the prime motivator. Truly, my thinking went something like this: "When I look out the window of my office on the busy street, the parking lot which at times is teeming with folks, and even the cloudy skies and rain, the central focus needs to be the cross." It's what we are to be all about; Christ centered...completely.
That can be tough at times. We've got lots that competes for that central focus. As I mentioned in my sermon yesterday, we all too often settle for relegating Jesus to the "spoke" category as opposed to hub. The process of moving Jesus to the center is the practical side of sanctification.
With this inaugural post on this blog site, I invite you to join me in that challenge!
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