Hindsight: Add Value

 I'm older today. Though not exactly old. This last year has brought a few unexpected, yet God-ordained, transitions that have been wonderful blessings in their own right. I've learned a lot of stuff in my life. But it all boils down to this.

Learn how to add value to people's lives and you will never be without friends, job, cause to live for, something that matters, purpose that wakes you up in the morning, and a reason to keep on breathing.

Life is about more than just yourself. Life is about more than having the latest things, wearing the latest things, driving the latest things, knowing the latest things. Life—and the only thing that really matters right when you boil it all down to the bare essentials—is all about connecting to others, and helping others connect to God. The best, broadest, purest, and the simplest way is to learn to live, love, and add value to another person's life.

Life lived for yourself is a roller coaster, up one day and down the next—good and bad, great and worse. But life lived for others is never about you. It keeps the eye on the prize. It keeps the main thing the main thing.

You can never go wrong not living for yourself. You can never go wrong putting others first.

Another word we use for that sometimes is humility. Sometimes people think humility is about thinking less of yourself. That's not true. Humility is about thinking of yourself less.

What could be more humbling than a life lived in pursuit of adding value to the lives of others. Agree? Thanks for reading. God bless.

October 16 - A Great Multitude

Luke 23:26-31

And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. (Luke 23:27 ESV)

I used to always have this image of Jesus being crucified as a rejected messiah who was only finally revered after his resurrection from death. But Luke's telling of the crucifixion scene is remarkably different than how I had always imagined it.

Jesus was rejected, but it was by religious people. There was a mob at his farce of a trial, but they were hand picked pretenders with no credibility, no evidence, and no case. As Jesus was led away to his death a throng of people, a great multitude, followed him mourning for the horrors to come.

Jesus was always followed. He gathered people to himself like no other. People were drawn to his life-giving spirit and humble authority. He was fun. He was earnest. He was loved.

October 2 - Antipas' Anticipation

Luke 23:6-16

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. (Luke 23:8 ESV)

The Herodian Dynasty was a puppet government established to keep the Jews in check during Roman rule. Herod Antipas was the king during the time of Jesus' public ministry. And, having heard much about the mysterious Galilean teacher, Herod was very interested in seeing Jesus for himself.

Herod even asked the right questions. Was Jesus a king? Did Jesus have the power perform the supernatural? The tragic truth of Herod's investigation lies in the reality that he asked all of the right questions without any of the right motivations. Herod was not interested in finding God. Herod was concerned with finding out if this self-proclaimed "Son of God" could help Herod. Much like the Pharisees and scribes before, Herod wanted to see a sign. He wanted a magic trick. He wanted proof laid before his eyes that Jesus' claims were legit.

I have talked with a number of people in recent years who's views are eerily similar to Herod Antipas'. They are interested in Jesus as a kind of intellectual discovery. They want to know if he can prove himself to them. I believe he can, and often does, but typically only when one is willing to remove their pride and look at the world with some humility and objectivity.

It is pretty safe to say that Herod's anticipation ended with disappointment. But Jesus is only disappointing to those who refuse to see him for who he is.

August 25 - As the Youngest

Luke 22:7-30

But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. (Luke 22:26 ESV)

One of the biggest flaws I fall into sometimes is thinking I am more awesome than I actually am. I just have a natural tendency to think quite a lot of myself. The problem with that kind of thinking is that it is rooted in pride. And it pushes me toward selfishness rather than selflessness.

In the Upper Room Jesus stressed the importance of selflessness to his disciples. He knew that once he was no longer there to physically walk them through every step those guys were going to need to be selfless. The spread of Christianity would count on their willingness to put the message, and the hope it brings, ahead of their own selfish tendencies.

The youngest among Jesus' disciples was a guy named John. Some theologians believe John was only about 17-20 when he travelled with The Lord. And the Jewish culture of that era was not always one that esteemed the opinions of younger generations. Still, Jesus thought it pertinent to compare leading and serving to becoming like a young man.

The authority of leadership is not inherent in a position, it is a gift from the Father. Position is not had to garner esteem, but it is brandished to enable selfless acts of servanthood. For a wise old leader to be effective, he would have to humble himself, and realizing the source for all he has and does, he must become as the youngest.

Venezuela 2013: Shirt Off My Back

We've all heard it. "I'd give you the shirt off of my back." Tonight that really happened. It would be impossible for me to adequately articulate just how special the people at Iglesias Filadelfia made our team feel this week, and especially tonight. They celebrated us and the work we have done together to the glory of God in a remarkable way.

Tonight as we concluded our time with them the church threw us a special going away party. There were so many people at the church that it was impossible for everyone to fit into the alleyway where we were hosted. Dozens of people waited for pictures with various members of the team as email addresses, mementos, and social media info were swapped.

During this time a young man about twenty years old approached me with his friend who translated. He had been especially blessed by the nightly services we were able to take part in. He wanted to offer me a token of his appreciation. And so, he literally gave me the shirt off of his back because it says "Venezuela" on it.

I was touched. Admittedly, I feel as though my contributions have been small this week. I am mostly here to encourage and document. I offer pastoral input when the opportunities present themselves, but in the grand scheme of this adventure I am a behind-the-curtain kind of guy. Still, he insisted on giving me his shirt. It was an incredibly humbling gesture.

What it taught me is that what I may see as small others see as magnificent. What I might see as routine could be something that is life-changing for another. The next time someone tells me, "I'd give you the shirt off of my back" I'll have to tell them about this dear fellow I met at a place called Filadelfia in Venezuela.

February 20 - Decrease

Read: John 3:22-36

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 ESV)

John the Baptizer had already explained numerous times over that he was not the messiah. He had been baptizing people in droves when someone pointed out to him that Jesus had also begun to baptize people nearby. John was not jealous. He was ecstatic. The final fruit of his ministry was drawing near. Jesus was taking the forefront even as John was diminishing. Jesus was increasing in fame, following, and favor as John was decreasing.

John had the right of it. Even aside from his part in God's redemption story for mankind he knew that in order for his life to achieve its full potential he must decrease as Christ increased. The same thing is true for us today.

If you and I are to find fullness in Christ we must relinquish control of our lives. We must take the humbly reverent approach that looks first to Jesus for answers. This brings a unique sense of joy to life as we learn to lean on God. Over time we replace our selfish wants with selfless wants. We reject arrogance for humility, and insecurity for steadfastness. We decrease. Jesus increases.