Lovin' to Keep It Simple

Rose, Martha and Anis - Some of the dear island students whom I love.

I had read the chapter numerous times and even memorized it a long time ago, so I didn't really expect to find something "new."

But God's Word, which is living and active, pricked my heart - in the deepest part.

There is a question I frequently mull over - "How can I be most effective here?" Then I add other musings - "Is what I am doing making a difference?" "Is doing this or that the best way to reach this group of people?"

Such questions had been making circuits in my brain when I came to the "Love Chapter" in my Bible reading. Yes, I Corinthians 13, consists of only 13 verses, but it is a passage with incredible depth and truth.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." (vs. 1-3)

Truthfully, sometimes I feel like I am sacrificing a lot being here - 1000s of miles from my dear family and friends, possible missed chances on meeting the "Right One," comforts and pleasures of my home culture, worshiping in my own language, avoiding daily contact with mosquitoes, innumerable flying insects and other pests, etc., etc.

Yet, though I make "sacrifices" even as great as giving up my body and possessions - without love, I gain nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Ouch.

And if I have great faith and can pray for healing and restoration for others, but do not exhibit love, I am nothing. There's that word again. Ouch.

Even if I have remarkable and admirable spiritual gifts, such as studying and teaching the Word of God in an effective and memorable way, but I am not walking in love, I am nothing. Gulp.

It was as if God was reminding me that effectiveness in ministry or even in living the Christian life is as simple as walking in love. 

"If I want to know how I can be more effective in my life, work, ministry, relationships, I need only ask, 'How am I showing God's love?'" I jotted down those words after meditating on this chapter.

"If I am failing to show love, then I am not being effective. I either need to change what I am doing or how I am doing it...I need to let two questions guide me: 'Why am I doing this? How I am doing this?'"

The chapter concludes with these remarkable words:

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (vs. 13)

Wow, love is listed even above faith! What is done in love will endure - forever. What is not done in love will die, fade away, be burned, be forgotten. It will not last.

Do you want to make sure that what you are involved in will endure forever? Bathe it, submerge it, infuse it with love - love for God and love for others.

Anis and I. Love this girl!

Even Jesus summed up all of the law and the prophets with those two simple commands. Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27)

We can complicate life. We can complicate ministry. We can complicate relationships. We can complicate a lot of things, yet God wants to us to keep it simple - Love Me, love others.

Get 'er Done!

 "Get 'er done!"

This must be the unofficial theme of most of the western world or at least most of America.

The problem is, it doesn't translate well here in Uganda.  Hardly anything moves too quickly, thus the term the "African amble." 

I say "hardly" because Kampala, Uganda's largest city, teems with 1.6 million people living within 68 square miles (that's about 23,500 people per square mile).  It can be pretty crazy.  People and vehicles are everywhere, thus I avoid going there.

Oh, and the crazy taxis are just that - c - r - a -z - y.  Wailing down the road, seemingly carelessly navigating potholes and speed bumps, passing other vehicles any chance they can get, on whatever side of the road or shoulder is open. But other than Kampala and taxis, not much here moves at what you would call a "fast pace."

I like being busy.  I like accomplishing tasks.  I don't like wasting time.  So living here has taken some adjustin'.  I have learned (am learning) to go with the flow, to try and be patient, to not push but instead to wait, and to take a book pretty much anywhere I go.  I have read quite a few books lately. ; )

But busyness does not equate effectiveness.

This is perhaps one of the most neglected, but most needful "secrets" of the Christian life.

Much of our world emphasizes hard work, diligence, individuality, doggedly pursuing one's dreams and goals. 

But this intense “drive” can run perpendicular to Jesus’ ways. 

There is something to be learned from Ugandan culture – relationships always come before duties.  If someone drops by, you put aside whatever you are doing and invite the person in.  They may stay a few minutes or a couple of hours.  But as long as they are there, they are the priority.  Chores or whatever else you were doing before comes later.

Jesus also emphasizes the relationship over the performance.  For He said apart from Him I can do N-O-T-H-I-N-G.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch.  John 15 emphasizes abiding - being, not doing.  Unless I am in Jesus all of my doing is really pointless, it is for nothing.

Let me just say, Jesus does not encourage laziness (not doing what you know you should), but purposeful rest and abiding. 

 

Perhaps this is a common struggle for most Christian workers, but I can speak only as a missionary.  

Ministry is about doing, right?  Amazing testimonies, riveting ministry reports, rising numbers of salvations and baptisms – these all prove you have been busy and "effective," right?

This year I have moved beyond my “honeymoon” stage here in Uganda.  The excitement, the adrenaline, the newcomer’s vigor have all worn off.  The rubber has hit the road. I have been feeling quite empty, dry and without vision.  I also have been questioning my "effectiveness" lately.

I realize I have been trying to operate most of the time apart from my Source.  Abiding fuels ministry, not vice versa.

“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.’” - John 4:13-14  

 Ah, that sounds so satisfying, so refreshing.

I preached a sermon awhile ago and opened it with the following:

“Jesus does not want you to live the Christian life.”

I repeated it several times to make sure people heard me.  Poor Mama O who was my translator had to ask me if she heard me right.  I could see the congregation’s quizzical looks.  

Before they could throw me out of the church, I added: “Jesus wants to live the Christian life through you.”

Jesus Himself is the Living Water He spoke of in John 4.  I am to be a vessel (literally a “hollow container”) to be filled, satisfied, refreshed and then overflow so that Jesus (not my ministry!) eternally impacts the lives around me.  Why, I can't even fill myself!  He has to do it!  

He fills my mouth, my heart, my being - I "swallow," I absorb, I rest in Him.  He continues to pour, I overflow with His Living Water.

He pours His life through  me.  I am only a vessel.

S - l - o - w  down and drink deeply of the Living Water.

Photo Source: Microsoft.com

Available: Weakness

"There are only two kinds of people in the world: the weak ones who make themselves available to God and the weak ones who don't." 

~ By Greg Livingstone - From Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, pg. 741

Whose directions are you following?

I believe there is a fine line in ministry. A line between accomplishing "necessary" tasks and goals, and being with and meeting the needs of the people around you. Sometimes the two mix, sometimes they don't.

Are you a task-oriented person ((TOP) or a people-oriented person (POP)?

I am a task-oriented person and an introvert. While I enjoy people, I can also spend hours alone, fixated on a project. After spending any substantial time with people, I often find it necessary to get away and "recharge." I realize God created us differently - in personality, in giftings, and in the issues and people which stir our hearts.

Lately, I have been thinking about the focus of my ministry here, or rather the Lord's ministry that He has invited me to be a part of in Uganda.

My involvements and responsibilities have increased since I returned to Uganda two months ago. On one hand, I am grateful to be busy and active. On the other hand, sometimes I become weary after trying to accomplish my "work," that I don't have enough energy remaining for people. I put "work" in quotes because I have a hard time using the word as it can suggest something like a 9-to-5 job, which is not how I want to portray what I am doing here.

Sometimes I wonder how Jesus did it during His ministry on earth. I am sure there were certain things and tasks that had to be accomplished as part of His mission, yet He always seemed to take time for the people - the hungry and pressing crowds, the sick and despised individuals, the minimized outcasts, the needy disciples, the "sinners." How did He do it?

Jesus testified over and over again that He was on earth to do His Father's will, not to accomplish His own agenda. Here, the incarnate Son of God, willingly placed Himself under the authority and direction of His Father - reflecting their perfect unity and divine eternal relationship.

"Jesus gave them this answer: 'I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.'" - John 5:19-23

Each step, each word, each act of mercy, each encounter of the Son was directed and inspired by the Father. I believe they were in constant communion. Jesus accomplished all that the Father had given Him to do because He was never out of contact (aside from the few hours surrounding His sacrificial death).

How do I know what is good, better or the best of what God wants me to do? How do I know if this task or that person is of the highest priority? Knowing myself, I know I need to put more emphasis on the people around me. The souls of people are the only things that will continue past this world. And, God has called us to play an important role in sharing the incredible Good News of His amazing love and salvation with the souls around us.

Yes, God made us differently - introverts, extroverts, A-type and B-type personalities, varying spiritual gifts, abilities and experiences, and more. Obviously God did this on purpose, but in all, whatever our makeup, we must remain submitted to the Father and the directing of the Holy Spirit. This may mean allowing "interruptions" or the rearranging of our schedules and to-do lists for the "divine encounters."

Whether you're a TOP or POP, let the Father be your Guide in all that you do.

May we say as Jesus said, "I can do nothing by myself."

Ambassadors of Reconciliation

Sickness, family problems, loss of loved ones, unemployment - the needs are so real. And, when people you care about are facing them, your heartstrings are drawn taunt.

As I sat and listened  to these "prayer requests," I was reminded that people around the globe need the hope and encouragement found in Jesus Christ.

You see, these needs were being verbalized, not in Uganda, but here in Oregon.

Distressed, run-down, discouraged and "poor" folks are everywhere. Chances are, if you live in this fallen world - at some point in time you have fit one or more of these categories and very likely know others who have been there, too.

I was reminded today of the definition of "poverty" in the book, "When Helping Hurts," (which I highly recommend). "Poverty" is the result of broken relationships, whether our relationship with God, with others, our self, or creation. And, we all fit somewhere in there.

Just as I am frequently saddened by the ever-present state of poverty in all its forms throughout our world, I am just as much encouraged by Jesus' ministry of reconciliation. I love the passage in 2 Corinthians concerning this.

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (vs. 18-20)

It is mind-boggling to me that not only does Jesus reconcile us to God, "not counting our trespasses" against us, but includes us in His incredible ministry as "ambassadors of reconciliation."

Just as I was deeply touched by the needs I heard shared earlier in the week, I have also been so encouraged by the ministry going on at home by Christ's ambassadors.

We need ambassadors at home and abroad. Your neighbor, your relative, your co-worker, your student, and the stranger in the grocery store all have very felt needs. And, they need to hear of Christ's love, forgiveness and restoration power.

You may be the exact person God has sent to deliver the message.