YGT: Administration Idol

Critiquing administration in a church is a lot like judging American Idol - anyone can do it.  You don't have to be a great singer to hear another person sing and immediately know "They CAN'T sing".  Likewise, we don't have to be good at administration to know when others aren't good at it.  When we attend church, we know immediately whether the administration is good or not.  We observe the orderliness of the ushers, the organization of the service, and even the parking situation!  We cast our vote immediately for whether a church can "sing" or not.  


It's helpful to observe Acts 2 to see what administration for the first church must have looked like.  They had lots of administrative headaches and yet they completed them with gladness, sincerity, grace, wisdom, and the Spirit.

• There was the exchanging of money between the rich and poor (someone had to be counting the money and distributing it) - v. 45 and Acts 4:33-37
• Lots of people were being fed everyday (someone was cooking and others were serving) - v. 46 and Acts 6:2-3
• There were people being added to the church daily (perhaps through baptism and/or teaching) - v. 47 and Acts 6:1

To be completely honest, I've often overlooked administration.  I would rather idealize, create, and do.  But over time, I've come to realize that effective administration is crucial to ministry.  It was critical for the first church to succeed and it's even more critical today.  Some of the worst testimonies of the church are from poor administration.  Almost everybody knows of a church that has experienced financial mismanagement, grumpy servants, or unorganized teaching.  


This is not an indictment on any particular church, but a calling to see administration as a spiritual gift.  If we are indeed a body, administration can be compared to the muscles.  They're usually never seen (and when they are, that means there's a serious problem).  However, the better the muscle is, the more that can be accomplished by the leg, arm, waist ... or voice.  When that happens, we can all readily agree, "That church can sing!"

Lord, please forgive me for overlooking administrative tasks.  Please help me to be better at responding to emails, meeting deadlines, and organizing my life.  Thank you for the people you have given to the church to help disciple your people.  For every trustee, usher, and secretary, thank You.  Please grant them each the grace, wisdom, and love that they may administer in Your Spirit.  Let all things be done decently and in order.  In Christ's name, Amen.  

Repenting,

j.a.g.

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Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

Acts 4:33-37
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all
34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.


Acts 6:1-3
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

YGT: Wading In

When beginning to consider the first post in this year of great thoughts (YGT), I stopped.  Or maybe I was stopped...

If we are seeking after great thoughts, for the great treasures of the Spirit, we must wade into deep waters.  This journey is like the difference between a pool and a beach.  There are pools where you can simply dive directly into deep waters.  However, in order to get to the deep waters at a beach, you must cross over the warm sand, enter into the chilly waters, and walk as the waters continue to rise around you; first to your ankles, then your knees, then your waist and chest, until finally, your feet leave the ground.

This idea of wading reminded me of the words Duke Divinity School Chaplain Sally Bates.  During a spiritual retreat, she explained that getting to a place of intimacy with God is not like flipping on a switch, but it requires deliberate and patient waiting.  While we know God can act immediately, God also reveals Himself through times of reflection, consecration, and prayer (interesting how the "suddenly" of Acts 2, occurs after the constant prayer of Acts 1; see below).  Let's not rush into greatness, but instead take time to wade into the deep.  Have a blessed week!

*Prayer below adapted from Howard Thurman's The Inward Journey:

While we wait in Thy Presence, search our spirits and grant to our minds  the guidance and the wisdom that will teach us the way to take.  Without You there can be no peace and no confidence anywhere.  Please teach us how to put at Your disposal the fruits of our hands, the products of our minds, the wealth of our land, and the resources of our spirit.  Lord, we desire You grant unto us the courage to follow the illumination of this hour to the end.  This is the simple desire of our hearts which we ask in quiet confidence.  Amen.

Chilly,

j.a.g.

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Acts 1:13-14

¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Acts 2:1-4

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

On the Low Days

Growing up, I remember not having much. Never the nicest clothes, never the nicest shoes, never the nicest anything. My loving mother worked hard to provide all we did have, but as a child, we never quite understood the significance of her sacrifice. Because of that there were many days where I felt low. Days where I felt lower than low because of what we didn’t have. Looking back, those low days cultivated other qualities that I am only now coming to understand fully. While reading Proverbs 11, the scripture spoke to me that there are lessons in being low. Low days can bring:

* God's Wisdom (Proverbs 11:2, below) – Someone who is struggling knows intimately what it feels like to struggle. They have an insight to tough times that is genuine and can possibly understand the situation enough to provide possible solutions for others. They can approach things as God would, empathizing with the person in need while discerning potential obstacles.

* God’s Respect (Psalm 138:6, below) – God’s RESPECT? Wow. Someone who is having a low day, moment, season is respected by God! This is a powerful concept. Respect can mean to be esteemed, but it also means to be considered (www.dictionary.com). God in his glory, looks on those who are low as perfect candidates for His grace and fellowship. His hand stretches out to them, acknowledging his concern and considering them for His provision.

* God’s Reward (Luke 14:10-14, below) – This passage in Luke reminds us that God is not about self-glorification. He doesn’t reward degrees, titles, or resumes. He honors humility. The person who humbly learns from their low times is someone who God can exalt and reward. The person most qualified for a feast from God is not the healthiest, but the hungriest.

All this said, in a twisted way, I am now happy for the things that I DIDN’T have growing up. Those low moments have helped me appreciate every opportunity (or piece of clothing or pair of shoes) I have now. Prayerfully, the low days that I experience today continue to bring the same maturity and growth. Every day will not be a bed of roses (cliché, I know, but true). However, there is a lesson in every high and every low. As creatures with good days and bad days, let’s remember that God's wisdom, respect, and reward come when we learn from our low days.

God, I need to trust You more. I think I do sometimes, but I often only trust You with things that are easy. Please let my faith explode enough to trust You in the low times. The times when all hope seems gone and the fight seems lost. At those low points, I want and need to trust You more. Please forgive me for times I have not done this. Remind me and all of us that there are lessons in the pain we go through. As we mature as Christians, we will see that You respect and reward us when we surrender all to you.

Digging,

j.a.g.

Proverbs 11:2 - When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Psalm 138:6 - Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Luke 14:10-14 ^{- 10}But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. ¹¹For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. ¹²Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. ¹³But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: ¹⁴And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.