can’t wait for sunday service this week. we will finish the book of Ruth + we have a volunteer lunch immediately following service. i am praying for a great day and would love for you to join us.
a progression, not a list
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Ezra 7:10
if you ask a young enthusiastic follower of jesus for a ‘life-verse’ this would be one of the most common answers. this framing of Ezra’s life paints 3 pictures of how maturity happens.
but i wonder if we understand that this is a progression, not just a list?
learn
practice
teach
study
do
tell
know
be
share
perhaps nothing is more wearisome than the person who leaves their 3rd therapy session and starts lecturing their friends about trauma + projection. to be sure the impulse is likely a desire to share what has been helpful, but someone who barely knows is not the ideal vehicle for rigorous help.
if your oldest hasn’t yet reached puberty, probably not the right time to release a parenting curriculum. if you aren’t married yet, probably not time to drop advice on your newlywed friends. we can all know biblical concepts, but until we have a long season of living them out, we should chill on the immediate commodification + monetization of our learning.
first we must learn. study. understand. enlarge our perspectives + minds with fresh revelation + increased knowledge.
then we must do. the process of taking what i know about eating + sexuality + marriage + reading the bible and building habits that repeat good behaviors and limit bad ones. many of us get stuck here for a long time. the process of growth can be long and painful.
then, and only then, should we turn our focus to teaching. helping others learn + do what we have know developed expertise in knowing + doing. this is what Paul is getting in 1 Corinthians 11.1
be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
one of the reasons our world of celebrity endorsements and quick fix magazines is so hollow is that we often look to people for help, who cannot actually help.
only those with a demonstrated track record of knowledge + practice should be SOUGHT OUT for advice.
and only those with a demonstrated track record of knowledge + practice should be GIVING advice.
Have you ever met someone who was entitled? Wherever they went, whoever they encountered their posture was one that suggested that they are God’s gift to the world and that you are honored to be in their presence. Anyone come to mind?
From my experience, nothing I am going to do can solve that problem, but I can choose gratefulness myself as well as try my best to raise four grateful children. Let me tell you, we are on the journey! Often, I find myself saying a sentence like, “thank you mom for driving me to practice,” and having them repeat after me so that the thought and action is engrained in their heart. And one of the rare moments when I feel like I have arrived as a parent is when my kids are grateful on their own accord. When a meal hits the spot, their laundry was done in time for practice, or they get to go to a friend’s house and they see my effort and experience enjoyment and in addition verbalize it; it brings me great joy. My gut tells me that God feels the same! That when we enjoy something he allowed in our lives or created that he wants us to point back to him with gratitude. Even more so when things aren’t going well in our lives but we choose to see even the minute ways in which God blessed us in a particular way, I think that brings him great delight.
God’s Word continually points us toward thanks to God. It says…
to sing thanks for who God is (Ezra 3:11, Psalm 7:17, 106:1).
to give thanks for all God has done (Psalm 9:1).
to thank God as the church (Psalm 35:18).
to give thanks because God is worthy of my praise and gratitude (Psalm 95:1-3).
to have a heart attitude of thanks (Psalm 100:4-5).
to give thanks even when it requires sacrifice (Psalm 107:21-22).
to give thanks in prayer (Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2).
to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
to abound in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:7).
to be thankful (Colossians 3:15-17).
to recognize an eternal perspective brings thankfulness (Hebrews 12:28-29).
I want to encourage you in your journey of thanksgiving to God; these look like commands to me but also a heart attitude that we can reflect.
I want to close by sharing about my little ponies. Felicity is absolutely obsessed with them and she can tell you all of their names and just about anything about them. But, the thing that distinguishes the many my little ponies from one another is that they each have what’s called a cutie mark. I think in our world it is so prevalent to hear what is wrong, to use social media as a soap box for what we are upset about but it takes great courage to have gratitude always. I think that the cutie mark that God calls us to as Christians includes gratitude. We can’t change the ungratefulness around us or others complaining but we can delight in what God allows us to enjoy (no matter how simple) and point to him to bring him glory he is due. I think gratefulness distinguishes us as his children and we can represent him well in this way. What are you grateful for today, this week, this month? Have you told Him lately?
Cup of Leadership
what-about-ism doesn’t help
my boys are the kings of what-about-ism. when brother #1 is caught stealing brother #2’s cookies .. his inevitable complaint: ‘but what about when he stole my socks ????’ it’s a cycle of blame where un-defendable behavior is justified by the complaint that my opponent is worse.
in partisan politics and struggling marriages and most any type of rivalry, there is a temptation this strategy. the ‘other side’ does it too or does it worse.
did i flirt with a guy at work? well did you know what i found in my husbands browser history?
those guys at the capitol building? well did they say anything when cities and buildings were being burned down?
did i cut corners on my taxes? well did you know what my neighbor did?
this is simply not useful and not helpful. we think we are justifying our position by the eloquence of our argument against the other side, but to a discerning person, we are revealing that our thinking is not based on moral conviction but pragmatic expedience. said more simply, if my reason what i did is ok is nothing more than my ability to convey how bad they are, i have already admitted to not loving my neighbor as myself.
laying down my rights and being willing to be wronged without responding in kind is at the heart of what Jesus taught and practiced. the race to the bottom that was has been on display for the last few years in so many places simply didn’t help make anything better.
that feeling so many people have that someone is getting away with something isn’t inherently wrong, it’s the belief that once i have that belief my poor behavior is justified that is problematic.
it’s never right to do the wrong thing. it’s never holy to be vicious to one of God’s children. if you are wrong in the way you express your rightness you are still wrong. what-about-ism makes nothing better.
Weekly Video
Super Christian Guy
Saturday Morning Book Review
strengthening the soul of your leadership: seeking God in the crucible of ministry –ruth haley barton
if i’m being honest, i don’t usually read books others recommend. is that hypocritical given that i spend space here each weekend pushing a book on you? probably. but a new friend of mine Will (who is just launching a new church in Orange County) mailed this to me with a strong recommendation. really glad he did.
in helpful, not condemning ways, the author pushing us to become better by really understanding our patterns + ways of thinking. by tracing Moses experience of leading the church of Israel, the reader is given biblically informed therapeutic pondering. i found this book really challenging, i bet you will too.
Things to Click On
as the weather turns cooler, i seem to see more people posting about drinking. the atlantic has a long story about the pendulum swings our country has moved through in consumption. i found it useful
if you are looking for some new music as the weather turns cool .. our fall playlist of folk/gospel tunes is for you
have a great weekend…
luke + kristen