A Random Flow of Thoughts

The "m" key on my computer now takes extra pressure to make it work. I have a laptop...so this is a problem. If m's are missing from some of my posts from now on...please understand. My spelling was bad before...now it will be attrocious.

I don't get leadership in the Christian culture. I had a student tell me a while back that he wanted to make a difference in his youth group, so he volunteered for the leadership team and made it. Now he plans programs. We have a "leadership class" at the school where I teach, made up of student class officers and such. What do they do? Plan things. That's what it boils down to...leadership is planning things. Abraham Lincoln...that Civil War thing? Just one big event that he planned. Ghandi...apartheid in South Africa and British Imperialism? All it needed was a program, and he was the coordinator. Jesus...put in place the first discipleship program. He did pretty well...he only lost one in twelve. Of course, that guy betrayed him and committed suicide...but hey, nobody's perfect....uh...well...never mind. I asked the leadership class the other day, "Who are you leading?" They didn't know how to answer that question, so I put it in terms they could understand: "What do you do?" They were then able to answer enthusiastically. "Right now we're planning a pizza party for the 8th graders [this is a high school class] so that they know we're interested in them and are excited about them being in high-school next year." Do we really think these events have any such value? That a party is going to show someone such things? Here's a challenge to those of you in ministry or in charge of a group of "leaders", try to have them not do anything but spend time with people the next 6 months. Your "leaders" will probably be better people because of it and then they might actually be ready to lead.

I'll post more about where this came from later, but I would like to make something clear to all Christians who read this post. Don't do something stupid, cheesy, idiotic, etc and then call it persecution when people laugh at you or think you are stupid, cheesy, idiotic, etc. I know that makes you feel better to think that it's persecution, but it's not and that's okay. It doesn't mean you're a bad Christian because they're making fun of you and not Christ.

Christians...your title has something to do with Jesus. Remember that...something to do with Jesus.

I don't know what to do with things like "Turn the other cheek"; "Sell your possessions and give to the poor"; "I came not to bring peace but a sword"; and "Don't worry about tomorrow"? I don't think Jesus was kidding, so what the heck I'm I supposed to do with it all?

We are so quick to judge. Next time you're tempted to think a bad thought about someone, just remember you don't know what they are facing in life and you don't know what you might be like if you were in their situation. Take the time to know someone's story, then, when you might possibly have the right to judge you probably won't want to anyway.

What would it be like if the criteria for telling someone about Jesus was that you must be willing to die for them? What would that change? Paul said that if his being cut off from Christ meant that his Jewish brothers could find salvation, he would do it...can you imagine that?





posted by Jimmy at 9:19 PM | |