God Goggles

Last year when I turned 41, my eyes decided I was old enough to get reading glasses. It felt like overnight I went from seeing just fine, to "playing trombone" with whatever reading material I had, trying to get it into focus. I had always had really good vision, but now I need readers to get me through the day.

About a month or so ago, the Lord challenged me to see things with spiritual eyes. I try to, I really do, but my spiritual eyesight has become dim. My Quiet Times are more often than not perfunctory, not powerful. My worship distracted, not fully engaged. While I do pray throughout the day, praying in the Spirit is less frequent than I'd like. I see things in the natural, but I'm missing Spiritual insight into what is really going on around me.

Here's an example from my recent trip to Guatemala. On the bus ride back to Belize, there was a group of teenagers and their chaperone. The kids were well dressed, fresh haircuts, excited to be traveling. Their chaperone was conscientious, always making sure his kids were on time to re-board the bus and making sure they had food to eat. I watched them and figured they were on a school trip somewhere. It wasn't until I was almost home that my traveling companions explained that those boys were migrants, accompanied by a "coyote" or smuggler.

On the road, we had been stopped by Guatemalan soldiers several times- Immigration, Narcotics, even checking if we were transporting fruits. Each time the soldiers boarded the bus the passengers had to show our identification papers. Each time the coyote disembarked, paid the officials and we were on our way again. How did I miss this? How was this all happening and I was so oblivious? I, who had worked with undocumented youth for years? I, who had fostered 8 teens who had been trafficked into the US? I had eyes, but failed to see.

Jesus addressed this type of spiritual nearsightedness with his disciples in Mark 8:17-18

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?"

This return trip from Guatemala was a wakeup call; there is so much I could be missing if I'm not looking with God goggles. He places me in situations, not just to passively observe, but to engage, to be a light, to push back the darkness. I have been asleep and I need to wake up. I need to put my goggles on every morning and ask God to show me what I cannot see. How bout you? Will you wear your God goggles today?

Whose Job is it Anyway?

Last week a Facebook friend of mine asked, "...Who provides pastoral care to the pastor and his family when they go for surgery? ...Pastor, train up your congregation to offer pastoral care. Church, who provides pastoral care for your pastor? Pastor, open up and receive that care, let others work out of what they have been gifted and equipped to do."

Recently, in our Wednesday night group, we've been talking about service and how we are each called and equipped to serve the local Body. So often we forget that those who serve us have needs as well. Who is caring for the pastors, the leaders and elders? Have they simply become part of the scenery, like a lamp or hymn book? Do we see our leaders as people who tire, who hurt, who get discouraged? All those verses that talk about loving and encouraging our neighbors apply to our spiritual leaders as well. Do we think that since God called them to ministry, they're somehow removed from the same hurts and hang-ups that we face? If anything, being in ministry creates an isolation from others that can be very lonely and dark.

A very real burden for pastors here in Belize is finances. Very few pastors are able to live off a church salary here, sometimes due to how little their members earn, sometimes due to other factors. It's human nature for people with limited funds to withhold them. Instead of being obedient to God's command to tithe, they may give token offerings instead. There is also a fear that donated funds will be misused, so they don't give their tithe to the church. They may find other good projects and needs to donate to, while their pastors are struggling to keep their families fed and the church doors open. They may figure, if God has called them to ministry, He will meet their needs (it's not my job). The Bible shows clearly that His plan is to meet their needs through the local Body.

1 Timothy 5:17-18

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

1 Corinthians 9:7-12

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

I Corinthians 9:13-14

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

We are supposed to meet our ministers' needs; I'm not talking about extravagant wealth. We are supposed to be faithful in our giving. In God's Kingdom every need is met, every person provided for, and those who serve are to be honored. How have we lost sight of this principle?

As a young child our family attended a large church that was missions-focused. When missionary families came through during their furlough, the church would roll-out the red carpet. They were billeted (housed) with families from the church, taken out to eat, given funds to pick up items they couldn't get overseas, sometimes even lent a vehicle while they were in town. While they were in the field, they had people praying and writing to the missionaries, so they would feel connected and stay encouraged. That church knew how to care for their missionaries. Nowadays I think the same mentality is at work regarding missionaries as pastors; "they signed up for this, God will meet their emotional and financial needs magically- it's not my job."

As a Body, we need to do better. As a Church we need to do better. We are His hands and feet. It is our job.

Humble Fumble

Fumble is defined as using one's hands clumsily while doing or handling something. People can "fumble the ball" or "fumble in the dark." As missionaries, as Christians, it is so easy to fumble in the things that matter.

"Fumbling the ball" describes when a teammate is attempting to pass a ball and, for whatever reason, the person drops it. Dropping the ball is often very public and very humiliating. There are spectators rooting for and against you, and teammates counting on you complete the play. As a missionary and youth worker, I have people believing in me, cheering me on, and hoping I won't drop the ball. The pressure is on.

So often when youth become more independent, their independence draws them away from the nurturing womb of their home church. They grow up in a protective cocoon of supportive adults, and then the time comes to shed those confines and spread their wings. They go out in search of new ideas, more relevant teachings, excitement, community. Sometimes they return, sometimes they don't. In my work with young people I am just one of the players on the field, in the company of the mentors and Sunday School teachers who came before. When the play calls for me will I fumble?

I feel the weight of responsibility as I meet up with young people; similar to the feeling of being on the field and hoping I won't mess up. I want so much for these young people! I want them to understand the benefits of Christian community. I want them to cultivate a personal spiritual life. I want them to connect with the God who formed them and has a plan and purpose for them. Will I say the right words? Do I text them enough? Too much? When I lead a Bible study, is it engaging? Is it relevant to their lives?

1 Corinthians 3:7

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,

but only God, who makes things grow."

I am reminded, lest I forget, that it is God who gives the increase. I may fumble in the delivery or the method, but the greater fumble is to think it's all up to me. I am to do my best- to work as unto the Lord; the results are ultimately out of my hands. To know my role and stay humble, lest I fumble.