Thoughts.com

Thank you, Lord I say
For this day
Come what may
for, come what may
It's another day
For me to say Thank you, Lord

John Newson (5/2012)

     What do YOU think about when I mention the word Stewardship? (employee, accountability, servant…)Here is a different take: Stewardship is not primarily about discipline or responsibility or curses and blessings. Have you ever thought about stewardship in terms of relationships?
     Stewards as they are mentioned in the bible are essentially people who have been entrusted with authority, responsibility and resources. Jesus talked about this kind of relationship in his parable of the talents in Matthew 25.  To put it in modern terms, the story could go something like this:
     Suppose you had been working for Bill Gates (pick your favorite billionaire - one who seems to own almost everything) for quite a while and he sat you down with two others and said, 
     “I’m going away for a while, but I will return.  I want you to run my businesses while I’m away. And while I’m gone I am entrusting to each of you some money (one of you $1000 (1 talent), to another $2000 and to another $5000 according to your ability).  This is my money, but I am putting you in complete charge (authority, resources). When I return you will give and accounting for what you have done with the money (responsibility)."  (we all hope we are the $5000 guy).
     So we get the money (resources) and we start thinking about what to do with it authority.  We know we can’t just spend it on pizza and video games because it is not our money.  We certainly don’t want to lose it or waste it.(responsibility) And because we love and respect our boss, we want to please him.  As we think about what we should do with the money, one question seems to make the difference between those who were successful in their stewardship and the one who was not:  “What would Bill Gates do with the money?” Here is the relationship – He is the owner.  It all belongs to him; we work for him.  He takes care of us – pays us a wage – gives us a career, etc.  Now he has given us authority over his resources and makes us responsible for how it is used.
     Back to the story – after a long time, the boss comes back and calls in the servants.  The first servant brings $10,000 and says, “I took your money and doubled it by putting it to work like you would.  Great job!  You have done your duty well and know you will experience more of my generosity, authority and resources!   We come to him and tell him, “Even though I only received $2,000, I also doubled the money by sound investing and good stewardship.”  We get the same commendation!  “Great job!  You have been faithful over this little amount!  Get ready for more!"
     Then the poor guy who just doesn’t get it.  His fear of losing his Boss’ money caused him to lose his job.  He brings the $1,000 back in a dirt-covered briefcase that has been buried the whole time and acts like he is doing the boss a favor.  “I didn’t lose one cent!  Here is the entire amount you gave me.”  And we know this makes the boss angry. He says essentially, “If you really knew me, you would have done with my resources what I would have done with it.  You would have put it to work so it could grow and produce something of value – at least you could have put it in a bank so I would get interest on the money.  Because you have not passed the test, (a la Donald Trump) you’re FIRED!"
     Now Jesus gave us this parable as he was discussing what the Kingdom of God would be like “at that time” (25:1) meaning the time of Christ’s return.  If we are not careful, we will focus only on the judgment part of this story – What will happen to us when Jesus appears?  But don’t forget that Jesus is not just telling us to fear the end; he was telling us how to live until the end!
     We are his servants – the one who made himself our servant.  He will give us equal share in his eternal inheritance – then – if we live in the proper relationship with him now!
     Relationship – when you view your possessions, time, talents in terms of relationships, you begin to realize that how much you have, make or do is not as important as how and why you are doing it.  If Christianity is just a responsibility to you, you may do lots of stuff, (tithe, give, serve). But in Jesus’ eyes, what’s more important is why and how?  Do you love me, he asked Peter 3 times.  "Then…(command to do something).
     It’s not about money.  We should see ourselves as trusted managers of God’s resources.  God has entrusted us with all of the resources of our lives (our very lives themselves). He brings us into relationship with himself and with other Christians. We are the GM’s of our lives on earth. (entrusted with authority, resources and responsibility)

1 Peter 4:10
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. KJV
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. NIV

Do you realize what that makes us?  You are a GM and I am a GM – not a general manager, but a GRACE MANAGER!  We are stewards, managers, administrators of all the grace that God has give to us – to use it, put it to work, and bring increase to God’s kingdom!

Comedian Louis C.K. has a popular youtube video about the ingratitude and impatience of our technologically advanced society.  The catch phrase he uses is "Everything's amazing right now, but nobody's happy."  The video was of him on the Letterman show and it was pretty good.  In a humorous way he points out the difference between the speedy phones we now have versus the old rotary style of not too long ago.  If our cell doesn't connect quickly we get upset and he reminds us that the signal is going into space..."Will you give it a second to get back from space?  Is the speed of light too slow for you?" He continues to mention things like banking in the old days versus ATM's today, flight delays and the wonder of human flight, etc. Check it out, although the language might be a littel offensive to some.

"Everything's amazing right now, but nobody's happy." I do not take this as a slam against technology, but as a reminder to be thankful for what we have.  We are blessed, especially here in America.  As bad as it is for some people today, we are still richer than over half the world that lives on less than $2/day!  Here's the challenge with blessings:  the more you have, the more you expect.  The more you expect, the less satisfied you are with what you have!  The less satisfied you are with what you have, the more ungrateful you become.

Gratitude is certainly an attitude that will lead to greater satsifaction and contentment.  I would say that most people ARE grateful for the good things in their lives...their blessings, such as relationships, health, jobs, etc.  There is even new research that proves people, including children and adolescents who have an attitude of gratitude experience a number of positive emotional and physical health benefits. (Beck, Melinda, "Thank You. No Thank You,"  The Wall Street Journal 911.23.10)) What I think we could do better is to express that gratitude more often and effectively.

Psalm 100:4b says, "Be thankful unto Him and bless His name."  Genuine gratitude will lead to an expression of thanksgiving to the One responsible for the blessings in our lives.  We do not bless God or anyone else with our feelings of gratitude.  Blessing comes as we express our genuine gratitude to others for their positive impact on our lives.

True expressions of gratitude (blessing others) must give honor to God and others; not to ourselves.  "I am so glad I am so handsome, smart, talented...etc." is simply a backhanded way to glorifiy ourselves.  That's not gratitude; that's pure selfish ego. 

There is much to be grateful to God and to others for.  We should express our gratitude for little things, big things and eternal things.

Little things:  food, shelter, clothing, money, gifts that enrich our lives through their convenience or their ability to entertain us in positive ways...(what would you add?)

Big things:  health, jobs, friends and family, great experiences...(what would you add?)

Eternal things:  don't forget to thank God for things like life, the hope of salvation, peace with God and ourselves, joy in His presence, healing, and help in times of trouble...(what would you add here?)  These are the things that we CANNOT do for ourselves and which will outlast all the challenges of our earthly lives.

So don't forget to be thankful AND bless His name!  Gratitude is of little value unless it is expressed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What do you think?

"God I'm crying out tonight
Cause I've given you my life
But I'm tired and I'm missing what's behind
So once more here's my life"

-Barlowgirl, "Here's My Life"2007

I was listening to this song on their album, "How Can We Be Silent".  I have listened to these songs many times, but this time the words arrested me attention.  I think it had something to do with the fact that I was half way through a 35 minute workout on an elliptical exercise machine, but more because of the realization of my diminishing youth. (Isn't that much more appealing than saying "my increasing age?")

I can no longer do the many of things I used to do.  Instead of being active for fun, most of my activity now is to try to stem the tide of age and gravity and many years of letting myself go.  I miss being able to play ball like I used to.  I miss the years I spent without a single worry about my physical condition.   Now, with 50 coming at me like a runaway train, my pyhysical issues (rising blood pressure, stats on LDL/HDL, BMI, etc.) make me think about the larger picture.  And maybe they should.

The larger picture is about more than health, although this is a very important consideration, as it addresses our quality of life issues like no other, except one.  There is also the spiritual component that, in my opinion, is the single most important factor in determining quality of life, satisfaction, contentment and a positive view of the future.  When you have hope, you can endure a lot.  When you are content with the big picture of your life, you do what you can to improve it, but you don't sweat the things that are inevitable.

We Americans spend so much time missing what's behind.  We worry and fret about our lost youth, aging skin, diminishing virility and our apparent loss of signficance.  Part of this is natural.  While I think I am wiser now, I still miss the days when by sheer energy and passion I had more visible results for my work.  What is not natural is to let the past paralyze us in the present.  I am learning that energy spent trying to go backwards to hold on to things we can't really recapture robs us of the necessary energy to be fully functional in the present.   While looking back, we miss some of the great things at work around us in the present. We can long for the past, but that's why the call it the past - it's over!  My life is not over, just yesterday. 

When I am tired and frustrated with the challenges of today, I often find myself looking back to more carefree days of the past.  At least, that's the way I remember them.  But when I think long enough and honestly about them, those days had their challenges, too.  We tend to romanticize the past, don't we?  I liked being in shape and playing football and baseball, but not the constant worries about acne and academics that were as much a part of my life at that times as sports.  We can all fall prey to occasional bouts of unreasonable nostalgia.  But what do we do about it?

For me it seems my help is coming from prayer and rededication of my life to Christ.  I cry out to God.  I am finding "the Serenity Prayer" one of my favorites these days, along with the old tried and true standards, "The Lord's Prayer" and the 23rd Psalm.  It is amazing the effect turning your pain into prayer can have on your everyday life.  By paying attention to the spiritual side of our lives, we are opening the door to making positive contributions to the "now" in our lives while remebering the "then" in our lives with gratutude and not so much grief.

I gave my life to Christ many years ago.  I have had to lay my life at his feet over and over again.  As I contemplate the future, I realize this act of rededication will of necessity be a constant and happy feature of my life.  By reminding myself I am living for more than myself, my life takes on new dimensions of purpose and possiblity, no matter my age or physical condition.  "So once more, here's my life."   I am grateful for 3 young ladies who wrote and sang a song that encourages me at this stage of my life.  Thanks, Barlowgirl!

The Bible also has a lot to say about the progression of life, purpose, hope and peace.  Check these out and think about how they mighy apply to your life:  Philippians 3:13-14; 4:4-13; Psalm 37 (especially verse 25); Psalm 92:12-15.  What other scriptures have been a help to you in your journey?

What do you think? 

A few weeks ago my son was bemoaning the challenge of relationships with the opposite sex.  We were going somewhere in the car and he was sharing something challenging about a relationship.  In an instant, that DVR in my head kicked in and yet another scene from Star Wars (episode 6) gave me inspiration to respond to his confusion.  Remember when the Emperor tries to win Luke over to the dark side by telling him to kill his father?  Luke, of course, refuses to kill his father.  The Emperor begins to torture Luke with lightning bolts from his fingers.  It was one of the Emperor's lines here that I adapted and gave to my son: "Alas, poor Andy, only now at the end do you begin to understand the power of the dark side." 

He didn't get it.  But he will!  :)