Ministry Musings

Adversity

Yuck.

Medically I have not had a fun year. The medical professionals are able to have a nice lifestyle thanks to me. I'm just glad I could be helpful, I guess.

It seems I have now torn my left rotator cuff. Bad. Real bad. Surgery followed by six weeks of sling then stretching and 6 to 8 months of rehab. Sounds like fun.

Now I suppose I should look at the bright spots. I have insurance. I have a good doctor. I have all the support I need. It really will be okay. Painful, but okay.

What bugs me really is the way I react to adversity. My initial response is to play through the pain. Then I'm the good soldier who fights on not worrying about my own wounds. What follows then is an impatience that I'm not better in my time frame or I'm not "the way I was." then what follows is a low sense of self and then self pity.

That's what really bothers me about this year of medical adversity. I do not want to go down the path of "poor, pitiful me." Besides being kind of pathetic, it is just not a faithful response. I mean, worrying about what is wrong or painful is to just lose focus on what God might do through the dark time. When else will I, or any of us, be ready to recognize the power of God other than when we feel pretty powerless?

So, I guess I better figure out what God wants to do during this time of my powerlessness. I guess I will need to pull my focus away from my dissapointments (not being able to dove hunt for one) and fears (like how I will manage Sunday mornings) towards how God is going to use this to move his kingdom plan forward.

I heard one of the summer camp counselors say yesterday that one of is main learnings this year was to come to understand that God wanted his ministry offering but didn't need him.

Pretty profound.

God wants our ministry offering. We were created to do "good works" (Eph. 2:10) but God doesn't need you or me. We are not indispensible to God's plan. But we are a part of God's plan.

Confusing? Yep. For me too. But here's what I know tonight: God's plan of salvation involves my participation no matter what adversity I am facing in my life. I also know that God's plan of salvation includes you too no matter what adversity you are facing. In fact, we have a God who will take whatever we offer - including our offering Him our adverse situations - and will use them to bring about His salvation.

Painful as rotator cuff surgery and rehab will be, I doubt I will suffer more than God as an innocent man, His only Son, hung and died on a cross. And if God can bring a whole new, redeemed life from that, you and I should be okay in spite of whatever life tossed at us.

1/100th

Wow.

1/100th of a second.

Micheal Phelps is an amazing swimmer. More than that, he is now a living Olympic icon. What he has done so far is a beat down of all competitors. What Phelps has done, especially tonight, is downright magical. He defines this Olympic Games American superstar.

He deserves it. More importantly, he has earned it.

I can only guess at the number of hours he trained. Some will say that his skill is a gift and that he was born to swim (these folks will point to the angle of his feet!). I guess they are right. He has been give a physical gift from God.

But this physical gift means nothing without early morning swim practices all his young life. This physical gift gets wasted if he opts to watch TV over swim team meets. His God-given talent gets wasted if he and his family don't intentionally devote themselves to perfecting his talent. The sacrifice they make is the price of Gold medals and Olympic glory.

You and I have been gifted by God as well. We might never win a gold medal at the Olympics but our reward is just as precious and glorious. As we hone and use our spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the benefit of others we participate in God's work in the world. Our sacrifice and hard work in this life helps us to prepare for the joy-filled Life to come.

Phelps reached out and won his 7th Gold in an amazing finish.

Jesus opened his arms wide on the cross so we be within his saving reach. And Hr did to just in time.

Idle Island Thoughts

Sand, surf and wind.

What else could be better?

I know that there are some who would say mountains, snow, rivers, lakes or any of a number of places would be better than getting too much sun, beaten by waves, having sand get into your swimsuit and dodging seaweed.  They could make a compelling argument.  However, for me the beach, especially that portion of the barrier island around Corpus Christi, is more than a place to visit.

This part of the beach with its not-so-white sand and over-abundance of sargassum seaweed brought in on the everpresent current is a spiritual home base.  I grew up here.  I spent many-a Saturday and Sunday on this sandy coastline along the Gulf of Mexico fishing, swimming and eating cold breakfast tacos and cold cut sandwiches.

Many mornings I watched the sunrise over the gulf with a rod and reel in hand and fish nibbling on the bait.  I spent much time with my thoughts about the Creator of all that I was enjoying and wondering about this God and His role in the world.  I wondered what role I had to play in this world which was, in those pre-internet days, so vast and so unknowable.

I resist the temptation to call it my church.  We did not go to church during this time in our lives.  It wasn't for unbelief.  It was for reasons known only to my parents and about which I could only offer guesses.  So I won't say why we did not go to church but I do know that had we I might have gotten some grist for my thought mill.

Today, as I sat on the beach, got beat up by the waves and had my youngest son poured sand down my swimsuit, I knew much more about this wonderful God, Creator of Heaven and Earth and Provider of all that I have and will ever have.  I am pretty clear about what role I am to play in the lives of my wife and children and the people I serve.  And I have a church.  A community of Jesus-believing, Christ-following brothers and sisters who walk beside me and I them as we "seek first the kingdom of God."

God has been generous.

God has given abundantly.

God is good!