a work in progress.

I’ve recently been reminded of a course I had the opportunity to take while on staff at a former church.  The course was called Spiritualities: Spiritual Gifts as Manifestations of the Trinity’s Grace offered by the Logos Institute in Canton, OH.  While I’ve always had a general understanding of the elements and workings of Spiritualities (or spiritual gifts) as the body of Christ this course took a holistic, in-depth exploration of them.  Near the end of the course and after exhausting the Scriptures we took an intense analysis of ourselves and the ways Christ re-lives His life through us as spiritualities.

First, our individual assignment was to explore by ourselves and with those closest to us (spouse, family, friends) which spiritualities inherently and supernaturally were manifested in us through the Holy Spirit.  Second, we each had a session with our class/church staff to share our list and tweaked the original list.  Third, we met with the professor/founder of the Logos Institute and built a diagram of how Jesus may supernaturally live through us.  Lastly, we considered this diagram in prayer and intentionally watched it evidence itself in our lives.

For the record, I’ve taken many spiritual gift surveys and had my “top 3″ that I went by but I’ve never explored them quite like this.  The diagram is pictured at the right that we drew up.

The main circle reads, “Life Coach of Faith.”  This was made from the pastor and faith spiritualities. The circle that flows out of the main one is prophecy.  The prophecy circle encompasses wisdom, exhortation and teaching.

So, why have I recently been reminded of this?

My occupation has always been working at a church with teenagers and music.  It has never been shock to me when a teenager has asked me for advice on a certain circumstance or direction for their lives.  It was my job-title and age group I invested in.  There have been those couple teenagers that I’ve worked with in the past who’ve called me up later in life to ask for my advice on a life-altering decision.  While I couldn’t believe they were calling me out of the blue to involve me in a huge decision, I shrugged it off as, “They’re calling me because I’ve been their youth pastor at some point in their life.”

But recently (when I say recently I mean in the last month or two), I’ve had adults who have an established career, a family to care for and who have a few more years on me in life involve me in a life-altering decision as a voice of reason.  This has been absolutely CRAZY to me!

Here’s what I’ve noticed during and after those conversations:

First, they asked me…of all people, they asked ME.  I don’t deserve to be let into their lives or these decisions and I’m completely humbled by the fact that they would think of me.  I noticed myself guiding them, pastoring them.  Second, I noticed that everything I spoke was about faith but never using that specific word.  Lastly, I noticed reasoning and questions coming out of my mouth that weren’t things I’d normally say or questions I’d normally ask.  (Honestly, I’m pretty average when it comes to smartness.)

A Life Coach of Faith, speaking words of wisdom.

It’s only by grace through Jesus that I’m privileged to have that sort of intimate role in somebody else’s life.

I have also recognized my weaknesses in these experiences and how much I need the whole body of Christ around me.  There have been questions regarding things like discernment, knowledge and mercy that I’ve not been able to answer or lead through.

As I mature in life, ministry and spiritualities–I know I need to make these things more at the center of my identity than my occupation or what I do.

Below is a list I’ve compiled over the last year and a half that I’ve not held an “official, full-time” leadership position in a church.  As I’ve rested eagerly on the sidelines, God has taught me a lot about leading people as I’ve reflected on things I’ve done well in the past and things I need to work on, should I ever be “back in the game.”   I’ve also had the opportunity as an aspiring leader to observe other leaders and the way they lead people.  My observations come from multiple different leaders and multiple different settings, including myself.

Invest: The idea behind investing is to sacrifice a little now for a greater return later.  In this instance, I’m talking about the church investing in people.  ”Discipleship” or “mentoring,” whatever you want to call it, takes a lot of time and a lot of resources.  But this is probably the single most important thing for a ministry, it builds depth and a foundation.  In fact, as Christians, it’s what we’re called to do–make disciples.  Take the time to pour into people what God has taught you, take the money to meet with people over food (it’s where great conversation happens) and pay for things that encourage and refine their gifts and talents like music lessons, retreats, conferences, an accounting class, etc.  If we make these initial small investments that yes, may be sacrifices, there will be a greater return for the Kingdom later.

To conclude this idea, I may need to step-up on my soapbox…take it or leave it.  I’ve been part of churches that pay musicians to play on Sunday mornings.  I’m talking about bringing in musicians fore the sole purpose of filling the holes in the band.  I’ve been on the receiving end of this and I consider it a blessing every time.  But I’m not sure that it’s the wisest investment for the church to make in people when that musician only comes to collect a pay check and is not part of the community.  Take that cash and invest it in somebody who is part of the community that may be “just okay” at playing drums, guitar or piano and pay for their lessons.  Eventually, that person will be proficient enough to sit in on a more permanent basis.  I think this principle probably applies to a lot of different areas or holes we try to fill by “bringing in the professionals.”

Empower: As you plan, create, build and execute along with being faithful to the “everyday” tasks, your time is stretched thinner and thinner as ministry continues.  You can’t do it all!  Also, to instill a bit of humility, some of the things you’re doing now–others can do much better.  Fortunately, the Church is made up of many people with many different gifts and talents.  Believe it or not, there are people out there that love doing the things you hate doing.  Empowering also gives ownership and when you give ownership the ministry/church moves from being your thing to our thing.  People tend to be much more excited and on-board about our thing.  Quit maintaining the sub-par and let others own it and make it extraordinary!

Accountability: This is a two-way street.  Not only should you be accountable for your words and actions to the people you’re leading but they should be accountable to you too.  In a church, I know volunteers aren’t paid but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be held accountable for the things they’ve committed to or their words and actions.  I’ve seen a lot of leaders (myself included) settle for let-downs and let things that were promised slip by.  Lead by example, ask the hard questions, hold people to their word.  Most people will appreciate it and it will sharpen the Church.

Be available: First, let me explain what this doesn’t mean.  It doesn’t mean to let the church and people run your life.  There’s a song out there by a band called Arcade Fire that sings, “Working for the church ’til your family dies.”  That is not at all what I’m presenting!  What I am saying is that most people aren’t available during the weekdays between the hours of 9am-5pm.  The nice thing about most ministry positions is that they’re pretty flexible.  Structure some of your hours during the week where you’re around when people are available.  Go in late that day or take the afternoon off, carve out an evening or two that you can simply be available to be with people when they’re available.

Listen: I’ve heard it said this way, “You’re only a leader if people are following.”  Makes sense right?  But how is a leader to lead if they don’t know who they’re leading?  Sure, you can have a vision “to go” somewhere but knowing the context of the people you’re leading establishes the “how” you’ll get there.  And the only way to know who you’re leading is by listening…otherwise, there won’t be anybody following therefore, nullifying you as a leader.  What are you listening for?  You’re listening for the pain, let-downs, confusion, hopes, desires and what God is ultimately saying and doing among the people you’re leading.

**The real reason I’m writing this is for me to remember but I thought it may be of interest to somebody else and may be a tool useful to sharpen leaders in the church.

It’s funny how God speaks.  Sometimes it’s loud and clear, other times it’s in a whisper but it’s always in His timing.  Sometimes He speaks through Scripture, other people, nature, prayer–there are so many different ways.  However, I’d have to say He’s never spoken to me quite like this before.  He spoke to me through a sign…yes, a literal sign (Pictured on the right).

There’s a nature reserve within walking distance of where we live.  We often walk, play or I ride my bike through it.  I’ve taken this same path and passed this same sign numerous times while riding my bike.  But the other morning it was different.  I don’t know what it was about this time–maybe it was the quiet morning or the coffee I drank.  While those could have been factors, I have no doubt it was also God’s timing.

The part of the sign that caught my attention was the title that read, Restoration in Progress.

Last fall, I remember walking to this park with my daughter and finding it to be irritatingly closed.  There was another sign at the park’s entrance that stated, “Controlled Burn.” As I read further, I found out that they do controlled burns in forests to extract and kill off the unnatural, imposturous bush allowing the forest to replenish or restore itself with organic, natural plantation.

See where I’m going with this?

I wish it were not so but often times I notice the characteristics that are not of the original God-like image I’m created in slowly creep into my being.  If my being is the “forest,” then these ungodly traits are the unnatural things that slowly grow into existence.  Unnoticed at first, but as they grow one by one, they begin to takeover, strangle and dim the natural, radiant beauty that God has created in me that reflect who He is.

During these times, I become increasingly aware of how I’ve made myself the center of attention, the star of the movie or the king of my own life.  It’s also during these times that I’m left unsatisfied, ungrateful, and discontent.

Here’s the stark contrast I find in Scripture between these two realities of the unnatural (flesh) exchanged for the natural (Spirit):

Galatians 5:19-26
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

I find restoration to be a process, a journey and a progression that are cyclical.  Like a controlled burn in a forest, the results are temporary.  The burn has to take place again and again.  In our own lives, when we allow God to burn the unnatural and restore the natural, the weeds and imposturous bush of our soul creep back in until we find ourselves reliving the devastation we were in once before.  It may not be the same foreign species that has overgrown the soul previously, but it results in the same central pride that suffocates the intended God-like qualities.

There are two basic schools of thought regarding this overgrowth and restoration of the soul.  One side says that it’s possible to reach holiness or perfection in this lifetime.  The other says it’s impossible to become completely blameless and this cycle will occur over and over until the next lifetime.  I’m not sure what I believe when it comes to theological debates such as these.  I don’t know if either of these views are really the point anyways.

What I do know is that I want to allow God to search, restore and refine me as often as needed.  I know when I’m in that depressing self-centered state that I’m a terrible husband, father, son, friend and agent of the Gospel.  I will continue to strive toward what is right and good and who knows what will happen…maybe someday in a surrendered state of being I’ll be made whole in Christ Jesus.

Until then, I have this promise to hold onto:

Revelation 21:5
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”