YGT: Jesus, the Alpha Male

Picture this: 

You're at work. 

A grown man walks through the hallway preaching. 

He comes up to you and says "Follow me". 

What do you do?

Its hard to imagine quitting your job because some prophet walked by, but this is precisely what happened in Matthew 4.  Christ's first disciples were summoned by two words.  When compared to our opening scenario, this sounds completely implausible.  What was it about Jesus' personality that allowed Him to convince these men to follow Him?  Did He threaten them?  Did He bribe them?  Did He share His resume?  No, Jesus had confidence because He was the Son of God. 


This gives us a glimpse into Christ's leadership style . Like an alpha male, he led a pack of followers. Yet, He had a servant's heart. He didn't lead by fighting or using flowery words.  No, He simply walked in His anointing, others saw it, and followed Him.  


What a lesson in leadership for us today!  We don't have to convince others that we are worth following.  We don't have to list our achievements and qualifications.  We need to know ourselves in a way that places value in who sent us rather than in who follows us.  Through Christ, we see that being a strong leader is less about one's intimidation and more about one's self-awareness and confidence in God.  




Lord, please let us lead others as You have led us.  Thank You for the example of Jesus.  He could have came and summoned us with a sword, but He did it with His love.  Please teach us that the only qualification we have comes from You.  You are our great God, our Lord, and our Redeemer.  Amen.




Howling,
j.a.g.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 4:18-22

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peterand his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 

22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

YGT: The Frustrating Burdens of Artistry

Artists have a knack for taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary.  They can take a mountainside and make Mt. Rushmore.  They can take three chords and make the blues.  They can take discarded bottle caps and make this:

Steven Beatty and Laurel Kurtz collected thousands of bottle caps
to depict the impact of waste on the environment.

Oh, the joy of being an artist.  It allows you the freedom to create...  But being an artist is also hard, burdensome work.  It should be said that most artists are attempting to capture a glimmer of a glimpse of an idea that darted across their minds.  They nurture this spec of creation and often become enraptured, dedicated to the idea of the idea.  The artist becomes willing to sacrifice time and energy, simply to witness this chance of success.


Then they are confronted with the unforgiving reality of biology: artists are human - therefore, they live in bodies.  Bodies require food and water to survive (and accomplish things).  Food and water costs money.  Money (often) requires work.  Oh, and the art you want to create?  Those discarded caps?  Someone has to BUY bottles for you to make that.  Sheesh.  The sad truth is that the artist is saddled with finding resources.  For example, the bottle cap production above required the artists to solicit caps from friends, family, and even on Craigslist!  


Ok, so once the artist has the resources to create what they think they thought they saw, they are faced with another frustrating burden: exposure.  Now, the artist must present their work to the public.  Like emerging from a dark room into the sunlight, they must now experience the blinding rays of critique.  They must watch others make judgments on the piece that they suffered so incredibly to make.  In an instant, what once was an intimate, personal moment is now a spectacle.  In a moment, your dream can be dismissed.


Artists travel this journey constantly.  I wonder what the great psalmists' motivations were when they penned their poetry.  How they struggled to access resources in war times.  How they now watch as some of their words are barely read (Psalm 45), while others are celebrated (Psalm 23).  To be an artist is a great calling filled with immeasurably high highs and inevitably low lows.  Thank you to those who sacrifice time and time again so the world may witness glimpses of the divine.


Lord, thank You for the blessing of creativity.  Please don't quiet our minds.  Please allow others to come alongside us and support our work.  Please give us the courage to chase our ideas even when we are poor or when we don't get the responses we desire.  Let us create as unto You.  In Christ's name, Amen.


Clay,
j.a.g.




--------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 45:1
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

YGT: Singing in the Rain (A New Baby!)

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

Matthew 5:45b

In life, there are moments of intense pain, loss, and tragedy; the car accidents that rob parents of children or the diseases that stubbornly evade a cure.  Then there are moments of great joy; walking across a stage at graduation or the birth of a child.

In my family's life, we have recently experienced great pains and great blessings.  We continue to hope for relief for our Granny's Alzheimer's.  Like many, there always seems to be more month than money.  At the same time we are also celebrating the news that we're having another baby soon... (wait, what?!) Yes, we're pregnant!!!!!

Of course, this is AMAZING news.  We're overjoyed and can't wait for the next addition to our family (who is due this December).  However, it's sobering to remember that many people don't have the opportunity to have children, have complicated pregnancies, or struggle to raise their children.  How can I be ungrateful about what happens in my life when I've been so blessed?  If I don't complain about the joys why do I complain about the pains?  (Many of my complaints could likely be classified as "first world problems" - thanks T.K.)

When disappointment rains down, rather than opening an umbrella of pity, why not just let it fall on us?  If it's gonna fall anyway, why not try singing in the rain?  I sing because relief is on the way.  I sing because rain is a sign that God is still on the throne.  I sing because new life is on the way!  

So, back to the title... when it rains, open your mouth and sing!!!  Need a song?  How about the classic "I Won't Complain".  Here's a version by John Legend...

Lord, please forgive us for complaining about what we go through when others suffer so much.  Thank you for the gift of a new life.  We're blessed to be stewards of Your glory.  Please reveal Yourself to us again.  Until we see Your face, we'll be singing while You reign... Amen.

Saying thank You Lord,

j.a.g.

YGT: Watch the Throne

Excerpt from a recent sermon:

1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 

2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. 

...When Josiah was born, his grandfather, Manassah, reigned as king of Judah. Manassah was evil and then turned his life around and followed God. Manassah reigned fifty-five years and was buried in his palace. (check out II Chronicles 33)

When Josiah was six, his father, Amon, reigned as king of Judah. Amon did what was "evil in the sight of the Lord". He never repented. Amon was killed in his palace by his own servants after reigning for two years.

Josiah was made the king of Jerusalem at eight years old. I imagine he had to decide what kind of king he wanted to be. Would he be like his grandfather or his father?  Josiah chose to follow the example of his grandfather and follow after David.  I believe this is because Josiah remembered how his grandfather ruled and how Manassah had turned his life around.  This had a profound effect on Josiah.

If we want revival in our youth, that revival must start in us!  Our children are watching the throne to see who is ruling in our lives.

...How powerful would it be if we told our children: I'm going back to school.  Or we're going to pray together every night before we go to sleep.  Or (hold onto your seat) I’m going to stop using the N-word?  (Whoa!)  ... Our children are burgeoning royalty.  They're looking to the throne to decide what kind of rulers they want to be.  What kind of legacy are we leaving them?...

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.(Ephesians 1:18-23 NIV)

Squinting,

j.a.g.