Gifted and Talented!

Bonnie Richardson is a high school junior at Rochelle High School in Texas. But she is no ordinary high school junior. In fact - she recently did something no other high school girl has ever done in Texas (and probably anywhere for that matter!). All she did was go out and win the state 1A team track championship ALL BY HER SELF! That's right. She won a total of 42 points in five events (firsts in the high jump and the 100 meter dash, seconds in the 200 meter run and the long jump and a third place finish in the discus). This was enough to give her high school the team title - in spite of the fact that she was the only athlete from her high school competing! Richardson is truly one gifted and talented athlete!

Speaking of gifts and talents, all of us in the family of God are gifted and talented. Sure our gifts and talents differ in both content and extent -but none the less each one of us is uniquely shaped by God. Scripture makes this clear in Ephesians 2:10 where we read, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." The word "workmanship" is a translation of the Greek word "poiema" from which we get our English word "poem." God is the one who has crafted us (and is continuing to craft us according to Philippians 1:9!) in order to use our gifts and talents to do the good works which he has laid out for us to do. You see, our gifts and talents (i.e. our SHAPE) is to be used for God and His kingdom. So - how are you currently using your SHAPE to serve the Master who is crafting you?

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

Think on This C. S. Lewis Quote . . .

C. S. Lewis is one of the most quoted writers of all time . . . and there is a reason for that. He is one of the most insightful writers of all time, especially when it comes to matters pertaining to Christianity and how it intersects with life. So as we approach yet another weekend, here is a C. S. Lewis quote to "chew on". . .

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. (From Christian Apologetics)

Question: Would people looking at your life see that Christianity is of infinite importance???

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

On Being Relevant…

I first posted the following on August 23, 2005. I thought it was worthy of a re-post. Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

I hear and read a lot these days about the need for the church (and Christians) to be “culturally relevant.” The dictionary defines the word “relevant” as “having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand.” In effect, to be culturally relevant is to have a bearing on or a connection with our culture. This means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Many, I am afraid, in the pursuit of cultural relevancy have emphasized the wrong things and lost sight of the main thing. (Are you with me?)

My approach to the Christian life is the K.I.S.S. approach (Keep It Simple Smitty). So as I consider the need to be culturally relevant (and it is a need – no one will give us a hearing if we walk around like Ork from Mork!), I believe it boils down to the main thing. If we pursue this main thing – we will ALWAYS be “culturally relevant.” So just what is this “Main Thing?” We find it in Matthew 22. Jesus was asked to identify the greatest commandment in God’s Law (The Jews believed there were 613 of them!). In Jesus’ response we find what I believe is the main thing. If we practice this main thing – we WILL be relevant. Listen to what Jesus said about the greatest commandment: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39)

So there you have it. Do you want to be “culturally relevant?” Do you want to have a bearing on and a connection with the people around you? Learn to love God with all you are and have – AND love the people in your life as you love yourself. As you do this – God will work through you to impact your world.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

Microwaves Are Great - Usually!

One night last week I was really hungry and for supper we were having one of my favorite meals - leftovers! (and it helped that the leftovers included turkey - I love turkey!). So I piled my plate high with turkey (and veggies, of course) and then placed it in the microwave. I hit the 2 minute tab and hit "start." When the buzzer sounded, I took the plate out all ready to dig in. But Houston, we had a problem! In spite of being nuked for two solid minutes, the food was still refrigerator cold. Hmm. Microwave must be on a wrong setting. So I checked the micro out and tried again . . . and again the results were the same - cold food. The micro was BROKEN! And I ate a cold turkey dinner (still, I must a admit - a cold turkey dinner is still enjoyable in my book!)

Now although I did not expect our microwave to break down, it did not surprise me that it did. Things like microwave ovens break. It is part of the package of life. They break and either we get them repaired or we get them replaced. No big deal. But what do we do when life breaks down and we feel broken beyond repair? Unlike a microwave we can't go out and order a replacement self! This is when we must turn and focus on our Maker. God knows us through and through. He knows what makes us tick. And when we are struggling, He knows exactly the whats and the whys behind our brokenness. What does it mean to turn and focus on God? For starters, we must get into his Word. It is through the truth of Scripture that God will change us and begin to "repair" us. As we get to know and understand God's Word AND then begin to apply it in our day-to-day living, God works his "repairs" in us! Sometimes, though, our brokenness is so deep and we are so shattered, we need someone to help guide us through the process. Sometimes a good trusted friend is enough, but other times a pastor or counselor is needed. But whatever the case, the follower of Jesus never has to be hopeless. For the God who began a good work in his child will finish it (see Philippians 1:6).

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

Lean on Me!

I noticed this morning in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal what seemed to me to be a larger than usual number of obituaries. A quick survey of the Intell's obituary column of the past week confirmed my observation. Today's column listed 26 individuals, ranging in age from 17 to 93. What got my attention was that three of these individuals who died were in their fifty's (one of which was MY age!) and two others were in their forty's.

Now you might be wondering why I was reading the obituaries. Well I don't do it for the reason that some people give - to check to be sure their obit is not in the paper! So why do I read the obits? Having lived here in Lancaster for almost 19 years, I have become acquainted with many people. So I look to see if there is someone I "know." Someone I can pray for ... someone whose family I might be able to reach out and touch with the love of Jesus.

This is what Jesus calls us to do, isn't it. In Galatians 6:2 we are called upon to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Coming along side of a hurting person is one way to help carry their burden. Next fall here at Grace, we will be offering Stephen Ministry training for anyone who wants to become better equipped to do just that - help a person who is burdened to carry whatever it is that is weighing them down. To find out more about Stephen Ministry, click on the Stephen Ministry tab on our home page.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

Don't Fall Asleep on the Job!

The lead story on the news the other night was the incident in which a security guard at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant was suspended for "being inattentive on the job." But really, this is not good for any employee on any job. If a person is being paid to do a certain task, then he or she needs to give himself or herself fully to that task. Of course, in the case of an inattentive nuclear power plant security guard - the results of such inattention could be disastrous! (perhaps this is why the Federal government has established rules stating that critical nuclear power plant employees must be attentive at all times - which, by the way, seems silly that the government felt it had to establish such rules!).

Just as it is crucial that critical nuclear power plant employees be attentive to what they are doing - it is crucial that we as followers of Jesus Christ be attentive as well. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16). Paul makes it clear that how we behave and what we believe are both of utmost importance. And so we must watch them closely. How about YOU! How is your life and doctrine these days? How do they measure up against the teaching of God's Word?

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

On This National Day of Prayer: Pray As Jesus Taught Us to Pray!

In 1775 the first day of prayer was declared when the Continental Congress "designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation." Then on April On April 17, 1952 President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law. Today all across the United States, people will be gathering to pray.

As you spend time praying today (and other days I trust!) - there is no better guide for our prayers than the prayer Jesus taught his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray. It is most often referred to as "The Lord's Prayer." In this paradigm for prayer, Jesus teaches us that we must begin our prayers by reminding ourselves of just who it is to whom we are talking. "Our Father, in heaven" tells us that the God to whom we pray is our Father (that makes us His children - wow!) and he is in heaven (and what is God doing in heaven? Sitting on this throne, ruling the universe!) Allow those first six words of this great prayer to sink in for a moment and you will begin to appreciate what a great privilege we have in prayer!

After the address, Jesus goes on to give six petitions. The first three ALL center and focus on God. Consider: "Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." As we pray today (and any day for that matter) we need to pray that God would answer our prayers in a way that will bring honor to HIS name, advance HIS kingdom and accomplish HIS will. This is a powerful reminder from our Lord that our prayers must be GOD-CENTERED! Ouch! When I think of my prayers I see that they are often anything but God-centered!

The second set of three petitions concern our needs. Again consider: "Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (or the evil one)." God is concerned about us! So Jesus instructs us to pray about physical and spiritual needs that we all face. And note that he tell us to pray for OUR daily bread and for the forgiveness of OUR sins and for deliverance of US from evil. Prayer is not just about ME and MY needs ... it is about praying for the wider community of which I am a part - my family, my church family, my community and my world.

I encourage you to set some time aside today for an extended time of prayer. Not only will you be obedient to God in doing so - you will be blessed!!!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj