Barnabus turned out to be a much more emotional topic for me than I expected.
The story of Barnabus the encourager, the patron saint of second chances, can be found in Acts Chapters 4-15.
We first hear of him by his Jewish name, Joseph, when he sells his land and donates all the money to the disciples for the good of the Christian community and mission.
His life and ministry of generosity and faith touched me deeply. He appeared to dedicate his life to spreading the good news of Christ's love and mercy to people that others found unworthy. And he did it not for the personal glory or satisfaction but because he understood how much people needed both encouragement and second chances.
I have been fortunate in my life to have generous, loving people to encourage and support me. Since being in ministry, I have found that God always sends me a balance of encouraging and "wait a minute don't get too big headed!" moments. When I am feeling pretty satisfied with myself, something happens that reminds me that I don't do this alone. Without God, I would be incapable of pastoral care much less preaching. By the same grace, when I am feeling so down on myself, that I think I should go work in a book store, someone comes and reminds me that God has indeed touched someone through my words or actions.
Because I have had such wonderful mentors and friends, I try and pass on the gift to others. I have mentored seminary students, college students, and youth. Currently, I am acting as a mentor for people just starting the ordination process. I also try and encourage other staff members to grow and to take advantage of new opportunities.
One of the issues you face in being a mentor is that sometimes your "mentee" out grows you and moves on to greater ministries than you know you will ever achieve, just as Paul out grew Barnabus. From a human point of view that can be difficult. I remember once a long time ago, a young woman that I worked with at the bank thanking me for mentoring her because she had found other women in business treated her as a rival instead of someone who needed to be encouraged.
However, when we remember that the goal is not our own careers but bringing the kingdom of God to earth, we rejoice with every accomplishment of those around us.
When have you been mentored? Look around you. Who could benefit from your wisdom and experience?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
King Saul
Saul's story can be found in 1 Samuel 9 - 31.
Saul's story is difficult. It is full of violence, jealousy, and betrayal.
But as John told us yesterday, at the heart of the story is a very human person - Saul.
Saul is anointed by God for a job (King of Israel) which he neither sought nor was prepared to execute.
He started out with good intentions. He wanted the best for his people and wanted to please God. But along the way, fear and jealousy, pride and ambition get in the way leading to a tragic end.
Perhaps none of us would like to admit to being like Saul but if we are honest we can all find a connection to our own story.
I feel like I constantly walk a line between having enough confidence in myself to go out and do what God has called me to do and yet not beginning to think too highly of my own skills. Luckily, God seems to help me out with this. Just about the time I start thinking - "wow, I really have this ministry stuff down," I make some stupid mistake. Then about the time I am so down on myself that I think "I have no right to be doing this," someone tells me how something that I have done has made a difference in their life and I think "God has not deserted me" and I keep trying.
When had God called you to do something you felt unprepared to do? How did it turn out?
Saul's story is difficult. It is full of violence, jealousy, and betrayal.
But as John told us yesterday, at the heart of the story is a very human person - Saul.
Saul is anointed by God for a job (King of Israel) which he neither sought nor was prepared to execute.
He started out with good intentions. He wanted the best for his people and wanted to please God. But along the way, fear and jealousy, pride and ambition get in the way leading to a tragic end.
Perhaps none of us would like to admit to being like Saul but if we are honest we can all find a connection to our own story.
I feel like I constantly walk a line between having enough confidence in myself to go out and do what God has called me to do and yet not beginning to think too highly of my own skills. Luckily, God seems to help me out with this. Just about the time I start thinking - "wow, I really have this ministry stuff down," I make some stupid mistake. Then about the time I am so down on myself that I think "I have no right to be doing this," someone tells me how something that I have done has made a difference in their life and I think "God has not deserted me" and I keep trying.
When had God called you to do something you felt unprepared to do? How did it turn out?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Esther
Meaning in the book of Esther is multilayered.
On the surface it is a comic historical novella. Perhaps created to give a religious meaning to the Jewish festival of Purim. Perhaps to remind the Jews in the diaspora (scattered throughout the Near East) that they are still a community with a covenant relationship to God. Perhaps as a counter balance to the exclusive message of Nehemiah and Daniel.
For centuries, church leaders both Jewish and Christian have tried to either remove Esther from the Bible or to add passages to it to make the book more overtly religious and Esther a more pious Jewish woman. Martin Luther wanted it removed because he said it contained "heathen naughties."
Beneath the comedy of the prose there is a dark side - young girls taken into the king's harem with little choice in the matter, women treated as if they were property, the persecuted minority using the violence of the majority to kill 75,000 people.
Inbetween the comedy and the darkness, there are lessons for us all.
Lessons like the truth that God uses ordinary people to work for the good of the community or that we experience God's grace through each other or that God sees beyond the obvious to who we really are and who we can become in God's love.
When have you experienced an unexpected gift of grace from an unlikely source?
When have you felt that God worked through you to bring a gift of grace to someone else?
On the surface it is a comic historical novella. Perhaps created to give a religious meaning to the Jewish festival of Purim. Perhaps to remind the Jews in the diaspora (scattered throughout the Near East) that they are still a community with a covenant relationship to God. Perhaps as a counter balance to the exclusive message of Nehemiah and Daniel.
For centuries, church leaders both Jewish and Christian have tried to either remove Esther from the Bible or to add passages to it to make the book more overtly religious and Esther a more pious Jewish woman. Martin Luther wanted it removed because he said it contained "heathen naughties."
Beneath the comedy of the prose there is a dark side - young girls taken into the king's harem with little choice in the matter, women treated as if they were property, the persecuted minority using the violence of the majority to kill 75,000 people.
Inbetween the comedy and the darkness, there are lessons for us all.
Lessons like the truth that God uses ordinary people to work for the good of the community or that we experience God's grace through each other or that God sees beyond the obvious to who we really are and who we can become in God's love.
When have you experienced an unexpected gift of grace from an unlikely source?
When have you felt that God worked through you to bring a gift of grace to someone else?
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