Kaleidoscope

We spend our entire life learning new things. We learn what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s appropriate, what helps, what hurts, all the things I guess we are supposed to know. We have been taught to analyze all situations, to give them meaning.  Why?  It seems that in every instance that we have finally come to a conclusion, and feel we have a grip on the situation then it changes.  Something new always comes in to change the situation. It portrays a picture that looks nothing like ours. It makes us ask, “Have we learned anything? Why are we here? What is our purpose? Is there a purpose at all?” That is when you realize that life is like a kaleidoscope, always changing, never staying the same.  Is it possible to learn how to deal with something that is always changing? Is it possible to cope? 

I guess the answer is found by staring into the kaleidoscope of our life. While we watch all the colors forming new designs, we gaze in awe. Trying to find our own place in the mass of color. Then as you stare, it strikes you, forcing you to take a step back.  Looking at the whole picture you see it, the one thing that never changes: the outline of a man hanging on a cross; blood seeping from the wounds upon His hands and feet, a crown of long thorns digging into His head. He is hanging there for us. He didn’t have to.  He is perfect and is always there. He will always love us. He will never leave us. He will never change. He tells us, “Cast your cares on Me, take my hand, and I will set you free.” He is the constant in our kaleidoscope, showing us life’s meaning, helping us find our way. 

Geremy

Direction

Have you ever gotten lost? Or should I say, remember all the times you have been lost? Did you ever think about how you got lost so that it won’t happen again? Or do you avoid the self-examination to keep your self-esteem at an acceptable level? Do you keep getting lost your own little secret? Or do you let everybody know about your lack of any sense of direction? Has getting lost ever gotten you in trouble mechanically, or getting stuck or ending up in the wrong part of town? So, at what point do you realize that you are lost? Do you figure it out, or does someone have to repeatedly point it out to you? At what point do you ask for or seek help? Are you embarrassed to admit that you are lost or are you embarrassed to ask for help? Are you lost and don’t even know it? Are you tired of the people who are trying to help help you find your way, but they only lead you in the wrong direction? 

I have found that I need a map. I need that map to know where I am going and how to get there. I need a map to know the detours to avoid and the obstacles that will get me into trouble. I need my map to know who to trust when I ask for help before I get lost again. I have found I need help and there is no shame in asking for it. I have found that I was lost but now I am found.  Here's My Map.

Geremy

Wet Hook or Dry Hook

Some people say I am obsessed with fishing, I however, would say I am dedicated. There is a difference.  For me, I talk with God best in the symphony of God’s creatures and creations produced in the outdoors where I can listen to Him and not the noise of the world.  When I fish I slow down, put things in perspective, see what is important, set new goals, and learn to accept what God has given me.  A wise old fisherman once told me, “You can’t catch a fish without a hook in the water,”  As a kid I took him at his word. One time in high school I fished for 38 hours straight, only to catch 2 small perch.  Since then, I have also learned that it is also important to fish in the water where the fish are.  For me, a dedicated fishermen, I need to be willing to go where the fish are, fish with what He has blessed me with and have joy in the catch He provides.  When I leave this world I pray people will say, “There was a man that always had a hook in the water.”

Geremy

Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.

Mark 1:16-18 (The Message)

Success/Failure/God

I’ve been absent in my blogging for the last few weeks due a time in the wilderness. I’ve been asking some tough questions, looking at some tougher goals, and dealing with impossible expectations. 

I had the opportunity this fall to take Dan (10), Peter (8), and Sage (10 months) duck hunting for the first time at the beginning of October. We got to the pond early one morning, set our decoys, had to sit still, and enthusiastically watched hundreds of ducks flying around. As a father, I had idealized memories of my first successful duck hunt; expectations of the boys hitting every duck they shot at, and ducks coming in to the decoys just like the videos we’ve been watching at home preparing for this day. So at the end of the day, we were tired and only got two ducks. I couldn’t call in a duck to save my life. The boys went through two boxes of shells, and I almost had to go swimming because the dog didn’t want to get the first duck. In short, the day was nothing like we originally imagined. So I asked the question, “Was the day a failure or was it successful because we finally got two ducks after 10 hours or was it God?” It’s ironic how closely this experience mimics our aspirations in our churches and ministries. You know, the times you try to replicate for others a meaningful experience in your past and it doesn’t meet your expectations. Was it a failure? A success? Or did God work in the situation and you didn’t see it? 

You see, God calls us to do His will and not our own. He cares for each one of us enough to work in unique ways because He understands who we are. He can do this because He is perfect and cannot fail, but He has chosen us to fulfill His works in His own time. 

That day of duck hunting, my boys got to spend a day with their dad. Dan killed his first two ducks while talking about life and the wonderful world God created for us. For the boys, they learned who God is in a unique way with their dad, regardless of expectations or goals. What we all need to learn is to follow God’s leading by the Holy Spirit, trusting that He will work as only He can. We need to realize not to ask if we have failed or succeeded, but to thank God for what He has done, is doing, and yet to do. Then ask God, what next.

Geremy

Attributes

A leader: 

1. 1.Understands their first and greatest priority is to their people.
2. 2.Grants authority that is equal or greater to the responsibility given.
3. 3.Fairly applies criticism and encouragement to better their people, building them up, never tearing them down.
4. 4.Clearly defines expectations that are realistic for that person’s ability and the project at hand.
5. 5.Supplies the resources needed to achieve responsibilities with pride.
6. 6.Inspires people to use their strengths and to rely on others for theirs.
7. 7.Expects more from people than they think they can give, but not more than they are capable of giving.
8. 8.Knows how to laugh and never takes themselves too seriously.
9. 9.Understands the relationship and application of grace and justice.
10. 10.Protects their people no matter what the cost.

God, help me be a leader that is a reflection of You for all to see. A leader who leads with fairness, integrity and grace. Take away my pride and replace it with humility, filling my heart with compassion and understanding for those who I lead. Grant me the wisdom needed to make difficult decisions that are not popular but that are right according to Your Word. Allow me to lead in a way where You can use me to change lives as only You can. Amen.

Geremy

Real Needs

A couple weeks ago, a pastor and I were sitting down over lunch discussing church growth.  The conversation centered around meeting people’s needs. This was one of those spirited, fun conversations where each of us played devil’s advocate. I made the observation that if we are not meeting people’s needs then we are not following Jesus’ example. His reply was that it’s not our responsibility to meet people’s needs. The trouble is, we are both right. The bigger issue is the lack of understanding of what real, spiritual needs of people are. Many people leave churches and organizations because their “needs” are not met. But when you sit down and talk to them, they define “needs” as items that are really personal preferences: like music styles, sermon delivery, service length, order of service, time of service, schedule and so on.  The real definition of “needs” is something you can’t live without. Can you really and truly survive without it?  An interesting phenomenon in churches is that growth happens in the first 3-4 years and then plateaus. The reason for this is that when people start a church it’s because they are led to do so by the Spirit. When we follow the Spirit we meet people’s spiritual needs.  We also have a vision, one that is shared by the entire group. One example of a need is best described by a man who wrote a letter to his church simply asking why no one ever invites him fishing. It would be easy for us to dismiss this as someone who’s just pouting, and some people do that. But if we jump to conclusions on our own what are we putting our focus on? Are we allowing the Spirit to show us this person’s real need, or what we think the problem is. I think the simplest definition of our real needs is summed up in faith, hope and love. This man doesn’t really need to go fishing, he needs someone to love him, give him hope and share their faith. When you understand what real needs are and you have the tools, vision and motivation to meet those needs, and are following the leading of the Holy Spirit, people’s lives are changed and churches grow. So, if you are a church who is wondering why you are not growing, are you meeting people’s real needs? Do you have the vision, tools and motivation that the Holy Spirit provides? If not, now is the time to start.

Geremy

Motives

We live in a world of broken dreams and promises and we don’t need to go far to find someone hurting someone else just because they didn’t get their way. A while back I was having one of those days, you know, when nothing seems to go right. I felt like people were trying to hang me with my own rope. That’s when the guy I was working with said,  “I don’t know how you do it, you’re so calm.” The response that most people are used to getting, is one of anger and frustration. If I acted that way, would it have changed anything? The answer is no. Now, I’m no saint, in fact, I think he just caught me on a good day. But the point is still the same. When we demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control  we stick out in the world. The reason for this is that human nature is to be selfish. It takes loving something more than ourselves to stop being selfish. You see, the reality is, it isn’t what we do, or how well we do it, as long as God has asked us to do it and we do it because we love Him. Regardless of how proficient we are in our careers, we need to allow the Spirit to lead us in all decisions, no matter how small. I’m not saying you have to stop everything and have a prayer meeting before every decision, but what I am saying is that we need to be in tune with God, understand what He’s told us through the Bible and listen to the Spirit as we make day to day decisions. By loving and listening to God, we will help people instead of hurt them. We will meet their needs instead of focusing on our own selfish desires. The question is: what is your motivation? Why do you do what you do? 

Geremy