What do you Measure?

I’m preparing for a mountain bike race in May. I have competed in this race in 2005 and 2006. The results of those races are not worth bragging about. 2005 I completed the race in 1 hour and 4 minutes. 2006 my race time was, I hour 5 minutes and 35 seconds. That’s right, it got worse. So what’s the goal? Compete in as many races as possible, or to improve on my previous race times? My goal is to break 60 minutes.

This week I had an opportunity to go to a Chaplaincy luncheon/workshop, at the Sheriff’s Department. The workshop was great. Most of the Chaplains there were also pastors of churches in S.C.

Lunch time was pockets of clamor about how much money these churches give to different Baptist organizations, how many people were in their congregations and so on. I think you get the picture. Then I was asked about LifeSong. As I began to share the vision and passion of being missionaries were we live work and play, the clamor almost stopped and I thought for a moment that I had said something wrong.

I shared many of your stories of how God has changed your lives. I shared how going through the Purple Book together as a church has caused many of you to get excited about reading God’s word. I shared about our time and money that is invested in the community and that most of you are sharing life together through Lifegroups. That’s one Pastor spoke up and asked, “are other congregations talking about you?”

Hybels says, that when you get serious about your walk with God, and that impacts the church, and the church begins to impact the community, that the biggest critics will be other believers, other congregations. Example: Jeff Hickman is crazy about Jesus, and is passionate about reaching the Precious. That sometimes can cause a stir.
LifeSong Partnership is approaching 200 and we are seeing about 300 each week in worship. I don’t give much concern if we have 200 or 2000, but that YOU experience God in a way that you have a career change. Full Time Foot Washer.

So if you ever have the urge to “brag” about LifeSong Church… don’t. Let’s share the love of Jesus Christ and His amazing Love, Forgiveness, and Grace. I don’t want a cup cake to get in the way of improving my mountain bike race time… don’t allow measuring the wrong thing to cause you to lose focus of what God is doing in you and LifeSong Church.

Gather, Grow & Go
Pastor Tim

Wisdom

It’s so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and don’t say it.

Here are some more favorite quotes about wisdom:
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, “where did I go wrong”. Then a voice says to me “this is going to take more than one night.
Charlie Brown

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.
Abraham Lincoln

The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.
C.S. Lewis

James Chapter one urges us Christ followers to ask for wisdom:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I have made plenty decisions in my life without wisdom. The thing that bugs me the most about those times is that wisdom was available to me, but I had no patience, my faith was weak, and I was too consumed with doing things my way.

I encourage you to ask for what you may be lacking… Wisdom

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim