Calling

I’ve been counselling a bunch of young adults recently about their callings. Most of these discussions come out of people frustrated with a lack of faithfulness in their lives. It’s amazing how rare and uncommon disciplined faithfulness is amongst young adults. I’ve also really really wrestled with faithfulness this past decade (my 20s are coming to an end next month).

As I’ve been thinking, I find that there’s much in scripture about living a life worthy of the calling we have received. Paul prays for the Thessalonians that God would count them worthy of his calling. And then context of God finding them worthy is in fulfilling their purposes and acts prompted by their faith.

The more I think about it, I realize that it doesn’t take much faith to live a life of mediocrity. I think it takes a lot of faith to really, intentionally live in our callings in Him. Hebrews says to us who share in the heavenly calling, that we should fix our thoughts on Jesus. As if to say - focus on him and not the challenges before you.

I was reading this great blog today and the dude was blogging about Pareto’s Law. Here’s a few of his thoughts (with my emphasis added):

This law is known as Pareto’s Law. It is named after an Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It is also known as the 80-20 rule. If you run a business, 80% of your business probably comes from 20% of your customers. If you are a creative person, 80% of your awards/ recognition/income will come from 20% of your output. So how can knowing this principle help you? Well, start by looking at your day. See where you spend most of your time. The likelihood is you will find out you spend most of your time on the things that you are not that good at. [...] This is called The Law of Oterap. (Pareto backwards). This is where you spend 80% of your time on the things you are least good at. And where you can make the least difference. You don’t need more time in the day. You don’t need to work longer hours. You don’t need to work weekends. You just need to spend more time on what you are brilliant at. And less time on all that other stuff.

I think the reason why most of us aren’t really fulfilling our callings is that we keep getting bogged down by all the junk of life and (if we’re honest) we aren’t really faithful in the stuff that matters and the stuff that opens doors for us.

So, let’s be faithful and do what God has put before us. Here’s some encouragement from 2 Peter 1:3-11
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

on 2009, Michael Jackson, Obama, and Tiger Woods

Reflection time, my peoples. As I've been thinking about 2009 over the past few days, I've come to the obvious conclusion that this has been a difficult year for the western world. I blogged about Michael Jackson's death because I felt that it incapsulated so much of what was happening in our society. We have become worshippers of idealism and enemies of realism. We have forgotten that we are just human and need a loving God to carry us, forgive us, and be in control.

I think people looked to Obama as a saviour and have been disappointed. He's a good man with decent ideas but not a saviour. Having said that, I think he's doing a fantastic job as America's leader; with all the difficulties, challenges, problems, two wars, a crippled economy, and opinions about how he should lead, Obama has presented some strong leadership. He's taking his time in leading change but I think he's doing it effectively and as we all continue to pray for him, I believe he will lead well.

and then there's Tiger. People worshipped Tiger Woods as a man of perfection. We idolized him and were again let down by human failings. I was reading the New York Times this morning and found a great quote about the huge distinction between the public Tiger and the one behind the scenes:

What’s striking instead is the exceptional, Enron-sized gap between this golfer’s public image as a paragon of businesslike discipline and focus and the maniacally reckless life we now know he led. What’s equally striking, if not shocking, is that the American establishment and news media — all of it, not just golf writers or celebrity tabloids — fell for the Woods myth as hard as any fan and actively helped sustain and enhance it.

We adored him and his discipline... unfortunately, we also elevated him to the position of a God and ended up feeling conned. In fact, Tiger didn't con anyone. We just seen him now exactly as we all are - flawed and in need of grace and a saviour. I don't condone his behaviour or excuse it at all... but in the same way Father God doesn't hash out our faults and sins with us, I think Tiger Woods could benefit from God's grace. I think people who are deeply angry with Tiger are actually annoyed with themselves - now seeing their faults through the mirror of Tiger's mistakes.

Let's share the grace we're addicted to with our circles of influence. "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved" (Acts 15:11), right?

Eve

Genesis 2:18-24 -

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs [b] and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

I think God knew our propensity as humans to push away community, relationship, and pursue independence. It's interesting that God brought Adam all the other created creatures and no suitable helper (or, as it's sometimes translated, partner) was found. God knew that Adam would need someone created as his equal (not the same as him but equal to him) to be his partner or helper.

It's also interesting that God took a part of the man's side for Eve to be created. I believe that God's choice of body part was highly symbolic. He didn't use Adam's foot, which would have symbolically put Eve below Adam. God didn't use a part of Adam's head, which would have put Eve above Adam. God chose a part of Adam's side (traditionally, his rib). I believe this symbolically put Eve beside Adam in the things of life, under his arm for protection, and near his heart.

In contemporary society, we praise independence and we pursue casual relationships that cost us little and have nearly no benefit to our lives. God's plan for us is that we would live in families and communities that were close-knit. In these environments, accountability flourishes, deep friendships bless us, and we are given a safety net in case of life's upsets.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There's something about October & November that prevents me from blogging.

With that said, it's time for my annual Christmas list. I know, I know; you've been racking your brains for the perfect gift. Nearly every year that I've had this blog, I have created a list for my faithful readers (two years ago, I was planning to propose... so, you can imagine, I had other things on my mind). Here you go:

1. One Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Limited Edition. It's a nice watch. A very nice watch. (est. $6000-8000)

2. One Algonquin Round Table Experience. It's an ultra-exclusive dinner with a bunch of world-class writers. Just for fun. (est. $200,000.00)

3. A His & Hers ICON A5 sports aircraft. This is a gift for both Sarah and me... so, whoever picks this one up first is smart. (est. $250,000.00)

4. Because I need to get to work: one 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged. Supercharged 5-liter V8 with 470 horsepower, GPS and climate control systems via touch screen or by speaking commands, a Bowers & Wilkins 1,200-watt premium sound system with Dolby ProLogic IIx Surround Sound (20 speakers), massaging front seats, electric sun blind, heated steering wheel, four-zone climate control, etc. (est. $105,000.00) OR one Koenigsegg CCXR Special Edition. It has all the bells and whistles of the Jaguar and 1018 horsepower as well. (est. $2.3 million)

5. One Bosendorfer 290. Beauty, in piano form.

6. A set of these beautiful Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 9 speakers so when Sarah and I watch 30 Rock, we can hear Tina Fey's hair growing.

Since the financial situation globally has improved significantly, I'd ask you not to partner up with someone else. Only 35 shopping days left! Have fun!

*Beautiful bokeh from here.

why i didn't like 500 days of summer

Call me crazy.

I do, I know everyone loved "500 Days of Summer". They all told me about how wonderful the lead actors were and how they loved the movie's playful-artyness, its hipster-coma-inducing soundtrack, it's post-modern-omniscient narrator... But I didn't like it.

Well, I did like the above elements... but as a movie, I didn't like it. Here's why:

Even thought the movie tells us, in the first few seconds, that the relationship it features won't work out... I didn't like being taken in. I felt like the entire movie was an inside view of this quirky relationship; we were exposed to its cuteness and had (almost) no choice but to fall in love with the idea of them. And then, swiftly, they had ended things and (spoiler alert) she was engaged to another man.

This blog put it well:

500 uses its high concept design and totems of a romanticized long-lost counterculture (Joy Division t-shirts, conversations about The Smiths) as cover for a rendering of the rules of the romantic game that’s as deeply shallow and and ready-to-eat safe as any studio product.

Ahhh, and there it is. I think the thing that most frustrated me was this movie's clear depiction of current relationships. People start dating, become incredibly physically connected, occasionally delve into some level of emotional connection, and inevitably move on. Except that they can't move on.

I'm not really wanting this post to be about soul ties. I do think that cultural norms that are highly destructive (like the "deeply shallow" game of romance happening around us) need to change.

When Sarah and I began dating, we decided that it would be marriage or bust. There was no potential to just play around and then move on. I wish that same approach to relationships could be the norm.

Hmmm, I'm rambling now. Would love to know your thoughts.

Why Not Men?

I've been thinking a great deal about men in church leadership recently. I know there has been lots of debate regarding the role of men in leadership and many areas of the church deem men invalid for church leadership. There is much debate regarding scriptures and the nature of men; I wanted to provide some of my perspective on this controversial issue.

Everyone agrees that women's natural abilities do make them fantastic pastors. They're naturally highly emotive and encouraging which helps us connect at a heart level with what God is doing. They have an innate nurturing ability which allows new things to grow and encourages spiritual development. Woman are typically also excellent communicators, making them highly effective at sharing scriptural truths in a practical manner.

Now, we all know that men, on the whole, are not naturally as nurturing or sensitive as women. This could mean that men don't meet the requirements/should not be permitted to enter church leadership. And so, many men attempt to take on these female qualities in order to make their ministry opportunities viable (ex. passive-aggressive behaviour or indecision). Now, I'm not saying that men shouldn't be nurturing or sensitive at all. In fact, Jesus' life displayed these qualities many times.
However, I am saying that although men do, on the whole, have different qualities than women, I think that this shouldn't disqualify men from church leadership.

In society outside of the church, we celebrate men who are driven, tough, and aggressive in their pursuit of goals. We admire the politician who sticks to his cause amidst harassment and intimidation. We applaud the CEO who cuts staff in order to save a business. We cheer on the athlete with "killer instinct". We are thankful for the father who firmly and lovingly disciplines their child. Why shouldn't men carry these prized qualities into the church?

One of my favourite books on church leadership is Mark Driscoll's "Confessions of a Reformission Rev." (I'm not on board with everything he says but there is a ton of great content that has informed the way I lead). Here's a fantastic quote that relates well to this topic.

[speaking about his two founding pastors, who were sometimes confrontational]: "Both were older men than I and had years of ministry experience, and they were good fathers, loving husbands, and tough. Too often this last point is overlooked, but when Paul said that a pastor must fight like a soldier, train like an athlete, and work hard like a farmer, he had in mind the manliest of men leading the church (2 Tim. 2:1-7). Sadly, the weakest men are often drawn to ministry simply because it is an indoor job that does not require heavy lifting."

I LOVE THAT QUOTE. If anyone's still reading, I would like to propose something revolutionary: let's allow men to be men and women to be women within the church in order for us to really flourish, move forward, and be in good health. I think the days of neutering men or women should come to an end.Hmmmm.... I think there's more to come but that's it for now.

PS. Sarcasm and reference to Loren Cunningham's book is intended :-)

PPS. If this irritates, irks, infuriates, or enlivens you, please leave your comments!

hope

Thinking about hope recently. Thoughts:

The verse, "why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God" appears three times, almost in succession, in Psalms: Psalm 42:5, Psalm 42:11, and Psalm 43:5.

This had me thinking about Jer. 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I looked into it and, interestingly, the Hebrew word that translates into hope is tiqvah.

The most readily used definitions for tiqvah (from Theological Word Book of the Old Testament) are:

1. cord
2. hope, expectation
-hope
-ground of hope
-things hoped for, outcome

This blew me away. Hope is a cord. It ties us to what we expect/desire to come. Sarah remembered the verse "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

As I was falling asleep and thinking over these things, God said to me, "you know, Andrew, you're tied to me. I'm the vine and you are the branch. I'm the source and you draw from me everything you need..." Our hope in him is like an umbilical cord, feeding our hearts and allowing us to move towards him.

One of my favourites:

HOPE is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I ’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
--Emily Dickinson