Posturing - Hmmm.

I am prone to a mid-back that is not easy to adjust. I am also prone to a neck that seems to get out of whack at some very inopportune times. This summer my regular chiropractor (witch doctor as I affectionately call him) was out of town while I was in dire need of some adjusting. I was able to make it to another fine chiropractor who helped me tremendously, but it was not the same. He did a good job, but he did not know my posture only because I was a new patient to him. It is best when everything is in its rightful place because my posture tends to correct itself when things are where they belong. We will go to great lengths to get in the right posture because we think that pain will go away when we have the right posture. Barney Fife is a good example in this pic and in the show he was always posturing to get himself to look better than he actually was though. He was always funny, but always trying to be someone he was not.

There is another kind of posturing that is a whole different story. I find it interesting, mesmerizing, unbelievable, crazy, and somewhat sad when I notice that I am intentionally trying to put myself in situations to make myself look better for the sake of trying to "position" myself to look better to someone that I actually am. I have been guilty of that too many times in the past.

I find myself watching a few others right now who appear to posturing for a position. This honestly is not an attempt to judge those who may be posturing and really serves to show me what I look like when I am intentionally posturing for a certain role, position, etc. It is not pretty. I know all too well because I am a repeat offender. It is one thing to show others what you are capable of doing using your God-given talents/giftings, and it is another altogether to oversell yourself, speak up when one should be listening, and demanding service rather than serving. It really is not a fine line between the two. Both are intentional, but one is about what God wants to do with/in/through you rather than what one things he ought to do whether God has been consulted or not.

Yesterday's passage in bible study was Luke 923-26 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up my cross daily and follow me. I don't like that verse or that passage because it demands that I surrender. I cannot surrender and posture at the same time. I cannot surrender and play out my own agenda. It is impossible for me to stay the way that I am and go with God. It is a daily struggle for me. I guess that is why Christ said I had to take up his cross DAILY. He knows me and loves me enough to not allow me to stay the way that I am. I long for His posturing in my life. It is the only posture that really matters.

What Am I Missing?

I have the opportunity to come along side many people who are in ministry in local churches, hear their stories, listen, encourage, and learn from them. I honestly cannot believe at times that God allows me to do what I get to do. Most of you know that I work for a very large Christian publisher and have for almost 19 years. It is a very good place to work. It is a ministry funded by business and I get to work alongside some of the greatest people I know. No kidding. They are great folks. They push me to be better at what we get to do collectively.

This week we hosted about 250 youth leaders at our place and we offered them opportunities to hear from people like Pete Wilson, Kelly Minter, Jess & Thom Rainer.We even mixed in The Skit Guys and my friend Jake Gulledge along with The Chris White Band. It was a great "platform". So many of those in attendance are wonderful people. They love Christ, they love students and they love ministry.So many of those who attended shared with me and with others how much they appreciate the conference that we hosted. They were encouraged, challenged, loved on and even led to confess shortcomings and sins in their life in a safe environment.

Why is is that ministers have to come away from their churches for these things to occur? Do not get me wrong, I am not bashing the church. It is the bride of Christ. I understand that. I do think however that the church has in many ways become a place for perfect people who think that to belong to our church (club) you have to act a certain way, believe certain things and choose not to do some very bad things. Notice I said very bad things because all of the people in all churches sin and fall short of the glory of God.

Am I helping people fall in love with the person of Christ or the teachings of Christ? No wonder people leave the church if all we busy ourselves with is telling people how to do all the right things without ever telling and showing them how to fall in love with a person, who is the Christ.

I am wrestling with this. I am guilty of this too many times. I am determined to place my life in the middle of doing all I can to help others fall in love with the person of Jesus Christ. I am starting with me. I think that is what I have been missing.

Holding Onto What? (again)

I posted this a year ago but it is one that I need to be reminded of and one lesson that I have yet to learn.

Saw this video again from Francis Chan and the way I too many times hold on to stuff that hinders me from being all that Christ has created me to be. Is it really right that I live life in balance? Or, is the Christian life designed to be an "all out" kind of life? I know the answer. I struggle with the action.