Comments on: What Would You Do . . . ?

By: Patrick Mead

Patrick Mead — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:16:25 +0000

I would do exactly what I am doing now. I do it now because it is important. I don’t like failing from time to time and it would be cool to know that when I walked into a room to pray with someone, when I stepped up into the pulpit, or when I stood up at a youth rally, I couldn’t fail. But even though failure is always an option, I plan to keep doing this. I think you would have a similar answer about your current ministry with the bereaved.

By: cwinwc

cwinwc — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:57:30 +0000

I’ll take the 70′s child approach unlike most of the folks that left a comment – Dude, its only a question. I would answer it by dreaming big, perhaps:

1. I would build and run a Bible Camp.
2. I would build a Family Life Center for our church.
3. I would sponsor a ministry that helped families who lost their homes to find another one.
4. Here’s one – “World Peace.”

By: Larry

Larry — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:24:49 +0000

As you know, worship is what you do every day not jsut what you do on Sunday. Knowing what I know about you, I’d say you are probably doing just what God would want you to be doing. How many people can minister to the hurting, the way you do every day? A banjo and a violin???…..Sure.

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:45:32 +0000

I think it can be a both/and instead of an either/or. There have been times in my life where I have felt like I was totally in my element and doing “my calling.” In fact, I think that all of our life is a calling from God in a sense. I heard someone say that when we do whatever we do, with God at the center of it, He blesses my life. That’s not to say that all things work out like we want them to.

However, lately, (if you read my blog you should know this), I have felt the call of God to do the extraordinary. I don’t think that makes me special, but it has really gotten me out of my comfort zone in many ways. Faith is never a matter comfort, but a matter of trust and trust is never comfortable when you don’t see the end result, which is another way to define faith.

I wonder too is failure is even a part of the whole faith thing. Do we serve God because we trust or do we serve Him because we think we won’t fail. And how do you define failure anyway? Just because we don’t get what we want–does that mean we failed or the God failed or that anyone failed? In a sense we all fail because of sin.

Bottom line: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” (Hey, that would make a great song!)

By: Philip

Philip — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:33:11 +0000

this was your best blog… ever. I needed this today. Thanks.

By: Janice Garrison

Janice Garrison — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:39:09 +0000

How can we fail if we are serving God with a sincere heart? Someone else may do what I do 100 times better but does that make me a failure?

Great thoughts as usual! Your blog is like my morning coffee. I don’t want to go through the day without it.

By: Lance

Lance — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:56:06 +0000

……I think all I would be worried about is my lack of dancing skills too….not!
Maybe what I want to attempt to do for God in…my life…. is NOT what he wants to attempt with….my life. Just a thought.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:40:24 +0000

I think you might be over analyzing–from one preacher type to another. That’s one of our gifts, isn’t it? Just tell them what you really like to do and go for it! I think you are already finding your niche by playing in the praise band and that might become a more regular position–hopefully giving you the opportunity to Lynard Skynryd things up more. Eventually, I have to think they will urge you to do some teaching/preaching in some format, God knows. But most of all, sounds like you all are getting more and more connected to God’s family there. On a less serious note, when are you going to help them understand the deeper meaning of Romans 16:16!
Peace.

By: Meowmix

Meowmix — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:57:08 +0000

First, I am SURE that many people left Long Beach inspired after hearing one of your sermons!

Second, I’ve been meeting myself coming back the last several days, and have not been diligent (second time I’ve used that word today!) about commenting. Sorry…………I’ll do better. I know how much comments on my blog mean to me, and I want to encourage you and others, as well.

Third, maybe it’s just me, but I’m on the side of the guitar thing not working!! Seriously………………I wouldn’t know how to answer that, either. To me, it kind of falls into the “what would you do if you won a million dollars thing.” If JUDY cannot fail, then what has God got to do with it? And, let me tell you, Judy can do some big-time failing! But with HIS enablement, I can do a lot. Or maybe I should say, HE can perform miracles through me if He so chooses.

By: wallysdad

wallysdad — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:47:38 +0000

That’s an interesting question. In some ways I don’t think it is relevant. If I knew I couldn’t fail in some spiritual endeavor, then is it really faith? God seems often to call and use people who are remarkably unsuited for a particular task (at least, by our reckoning). A zealous Pharisee isn’t who I would call to share the Gospel with the gentiles, a man cowering in a winepress might not have been my first choice for a general of God’s army. The list goes on. If anything, it seems that the people God calls, He equips for the task, not because of their natural ability. That way it is evident that He is the source of power and victory.

That kind of leads to spiritual gift surveys. I have found they are more about my spiritual interests than gifts. In fact, the word gift implies that it is something that I don’t possess. It is something that is given to me by God for His purposes, Maybe the next time I fill out one of those surveys I should just put “no spiritual gifts, but I’m willing to be used.” Just a thought.