Three Dollars Worth of God

by Matt | Sep 11, 2017 | Blog

“I would like to buy about three dollars worth of gospel, please. Not too much– just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted. I don’t want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust.

I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture. I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation.

I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races– especially if they smell.

I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged. I would like about three dollars worth of gospel, please.”

– by Wilbur Rees, as quoted by D.A. Carson, Basics For Believers: An Exposition of Philippians (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996/2005), pp. 12-13.

For my son

by Matt | Jun 23, 2017 | Blog

What can I say about a young man who has explored astronomy and conquered the Rubik’s cube? Who is a proficient drummer and an avid reader? Who loves being at home with his family but is not afraid to travel the world? Who can code a computer and is half way to earning a black belt in karate? What can I say to my son who has accomplished all this, and so much more, before he finished the eighth grade?

I say, “Son, you excel at anything you put your mind to.” I am amazed at your wide variety of interests. You have earned gold medals for soccer, karate, and robotics. You have learned to ski, code a computer, and point out constellations in the night sky. I pray you will continue to explore new areas, consider new ideas, and reach for new heights.

I say, “Son, your courage inspires me.” You were barely ten years old when you began coming on mission trips with me. I will never forget the way you prayed with a child to receive Christ in Lima, Peru and helped organize a Salvation Army in Tyler, Texas. There are ski trails and roller coasters I would never have explored if it weren’t for you. I pray your courage continues to grow and enables you to empower many others.

I say, “Son, your character amazes me.” You have a fiery passion for God and a tender compassion for your sisters. You are guided by a strong desire to do what’s right even when it isn’t easy. You only say what you mean, and you mean every word you say. I pray you will never allow the world to squeeze you into its mold, but that you will instead allow the integrity of your character to shape the world around you.

I say, “Son, you are enough.” Your passion for excellence means you earn high grades and can produce great results. It causes you to do your best and go the extra mile. It also means you frequently underestimate the quality of your own work. There comes a time when you need to put down the pencil, step away from the computer, and say, “It’s enough.” I pray you will always remember that your best is enough, regardless of the results.

Most of all, I say, “Son, you are loved.” While there have been moments of frustration and minutes of anger, I have loved you from the moment we began to expect you, and regardless of what the future holds, I always will. I am grateful that God awakened your heart at a very young age to know the love he has for you in Christ. I pray your knowledge and experience of God’s amazing love for you will continually increase.

Son, I love you and I am so proud of you. I am amazed at how much you have grown in so many ways over these few years. I am in awe of what the future holds for you. Congratulations on successfully completing the eighth grade.

Spiritually Plateaued Leadership

by Matt | Dec 20, 2016 | Blog

I am currently reading “Organic Leadership,” by Neil Cole. I didn’t have to read very far before I was really struck by his description of leaders who have plateaued spiritually and are no longer growing. These are leaders who are educated and trained to be responsible for the growth of others. They spend their lives meeting others needs and maintaining the organizations they started rather than growing themselves.

Terry Walling developed a list of characteristics of a spiritually plateaued leader. They are as follows:

1. A spiritually plateaued leader avoids relationships of personal accountability.
2. A spiritually plateaued leader rarely applies the truths of God’s Word to himself or herself personally.
3. A spiritually plateaued leader has replaced his or her joy, peace, and love with envy and resentment.
4. A spiritually plateaued leader frequently looks for greener pastures in other places.
5. A spiritually plateaued leader finds faults in others more often than in self.
6. A spiritually plateaued leader is burned out from lots of busyness that has been substituted for simple intimacy with Christ.
7. A spiritually plateaued leader compromises on ethical principles once held dear.
8. A spiritually plateaued leader stays within safe areas of expertise rather than branching out into new learning endeavours.
9. A spiritually plateaued leader is unable to acknowledge the wisdom of others.
10. A spiritually plateaued leader has reduced the Christian life to a routine.

Too many of these items have described me at one time or another. How about you? Which one of these have you struggled with? How did you breakthrough that plateau?