My Epic Journey

Just read this from Tony Morgan at www.tonymorganlive.com.  Very challenging and fitting.  Good read for all leaders.

Several weeks ago I was thinking about how little we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christ-followers. I began to consider how I live out my life, and, I was convicted…which, by the way, is one indication that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. I thought it might be good to consider the conversation here especially as it relates to leaders in the Church. Based on that, here are…

10 Signs that We Don’t Believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit

1. We are experiencing anxiety and bitterness in our lives rather than joy and kindness. (Galatians 5:22-23)
2. We can’t remember the last time we prayed for the people we lead. (Romans 8:26)
3. The churches we lead aren’t growing and reaching more people. (Acts 9:31)
4. The churches we lead aren’t outreach focused. (Acts 1:8)
5. We think it’s our responsibility to convict people of sin. (John 16:8)
6. We are stuck in sinful patterns rather than pursuing the things of God. (Galations 5:16:17)
7. We think we have the power to change people. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
8. We are more concerned about the rules than we are our freedom in Christ. (Galations 3:2-3)
9. We think we can explain the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
10. We are creating division and aren’t promoting unity within the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

It might be good to begin the week and this next season of ministry by studying and praying through this list. My prayer is that your life and your ministry would continue to experience its fullest potential in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This year’s CHILL was designed to help our students become ONE with God and each other.  After our first night’s talk by Tony Pingitore, one our junior girls, Cailin Coane, penned this poem during a SOLO time:

Soul –shaper, heart-breaker,

How long before the dark pain ends?

You said you’d fix me, feed me, show me,

Now I’m waiting for your promise to send . . .

When will the healing begin?

Broken, bruised, and battle-weary,

I came to you to heal my soul

But wounds and scars were rediscovered,

Heartache, sorrow left uncovered

Blood and tears drained out fill up my bowl

When will you give me control?

My own hands broke my heart in pieces,

A scattered life worth less than jagged glass

I glued it together, torn and tattered,

Fragile, weak, ripped and shattered

And watched tears fall as it broke again

And so I offered it to you . . .

You tore me up! You smashed me down!

You ground the points into my suffering

But you take my shame and guilt, my story,

Into a mosaic worth your love and glory

And so now it’s my offering . . .

The artist’s hand knows better than

The work of art could ever know

And so now I take my shattered life

And I finally give you control.

Cailin Coane. February 13, 2010

There are a few posts I don’t dare miss a daily visit to.  Tonymorganlive.com is one of them. 

If you are a leader this is a site you need to bookmark.  Here is a recent post about parenting his first teen child that I thought would be great for all parents:

"Emily has been reading several books on parenting teenagers. She’s not doing that because we’re having trouble parenting our teenager. She’s reading these books because we’re parenting our first of four teenagers and we’d like to get it right the first time. It’s led to some great conversations between Emily and me and with our teenage daughter.

Part of the coaching that has been consistent in each of these books is the recommendation to “seek advice from a friend, counselor or a pastor.” Being a pastor, let me just say that’s about the stupidest advice a book could provide. Good counsel doesn’t come with position. Good counsel comes with experience. And, frankly, I know very few pastors that have successfully raised teenagers.

If you need advice, first ask the question who has walked through this same situation and come out the other side in a healthy position? Personally, I try to find coaching/counsel that’s coming out of a person’s success rather than a title behind their name.

Also, this should be an encouragement to folks that are struggling with specific issues in their lives. I have friends who are dealing with parenting, weight, sleep, financial, career challenges, etc. There are days right now where you’re probably thinking, “I wish this problem would just go away.” The reality is that you are walking through an experience that will ultimately put you in a better position to help others take their next steps toward Christ.

By the way, this same advice applies to personal challenges and ministry challenges. Just because a church is bigger than yours or more well-known than yours doesn’t mean their leaders are the best folks to give counsel.

What’s your specific challenge? Who has successfully walked through that challenge? Talk to that person."