Use it or Lose it

when i was growing up, there were a couple of key phrases that our pastors seemed to use frequently while looking for volunteers. . .
"Use it or Lose it" - directed at those with musical/teaching talent.
and the general call to everybody. . .
"We'd rather burn out than rust out! And all God's people said. . . Amen!"

i started playing piano at our Wednesday night service while in 3rd grade. this was not so much a credit to my ability as it was a sign of desperation - back in the day, we Baptists didn't open the church doors without singing at least the first, second and last verse of at least 3 hymns - loudly and with gusto.
i remember telling my mom that i didn't like playing for prayer service. she sent the pastor after me. . ."Karen, you have been given a talent to play the piano. God expects you to use it for Him or He can and will take it away."

ok, i'm nine years old. i get it. "use it or lose it."

and in the midst of some huge all church work project, or missionary conference, or AWANA/Sunday School recruitment would be the litany of "burning out over rusting out". . . which can lead one to the conclusion that spirituality can be measured by busyness - especially busyness in the church.

wow! and if we don't buy into busyness = spirituality, then there is always the question of so MUCH to be done and who is going to do it if we don't???

now, if when reading this you find yourself defending your "hectic schedule for Jesus" - then you need to slow down and consider reading Mark Buchanan's "The Rest of God." we chat about this one later. . .

and, if when reading this you have no idea what i'm talking about - please go see your pastor.
do not pass "go" and do not collect $100. . . just go see him and ask him how you can help.

seriously, very few of us fall in the middle - either we are attempting too much or we are doing too little. . .

sabbath rest

i won't be posting regularly this week. . . i am on a retreat - retreating from my responsibilities and schedule and the zaniness of life - to seek after God.

wow, that sounds really pretentious. . .

i think it would be more honest to say that i came away from my "life" to have my compass re-set.

i need to have a spiritual compass that i can trust to always point due north, which in my head is "Godward." and unlike a real compass, my tends to get de-magnitized or something more often than i would like to admit to. . . so coming away to read, and rest, and think, and write, and listen. . . well, for me, re-sets it. i can then re-enter my routine - or lack thereof - knowing that i have a sure reference point.

we all need a sure reference point. . . what are you doing to keep yours pointing due north??

the start of something

i really hate beginnings. . . i just read a bumper sticker that said "beginnings are beautiful" - not sure what they were referring to. . . but. . . blech!
beginnings are hard.
you don't even know what you don't know. and you hope that the process will get easier as you go along.

ok, well, that's my hope and prayer - that i learn what i need to know - keeping a healthy appreciation of what i don't - and that this gets easier. . .
ummm, i guess i'm blogging because i don't enjoy public speaking.
public speaking = being nervous, nauseous, and overly concerned with public opinion on appearance, topic, and delivery.
i enjoy meeting someone for coffee and a chat - two way conversation that flows and takes us places we never imagined. . . and hopefully, we both walk away a little different - a little wiser, a little encouraged by the exchange of life wisdom.

i just got back from a trip behind "the cheddar curtain"(that's illinois speak for wisconsin) to talk with a group of women about "entitlement." i enjoyed being with them and sharing what i am learning and listening to what they are learning BUT in the 6 and some hour ride home, in the privacy of my rental car, God and i discussed my obedience. . . or rather lack of. . . and well, this blog is a partial response to that discussion.

i think it's true that a lot of Christians don't share their faith because of fear of rejection. . . but i also think we don't share our faith because we are having a bit of trouble living life to the fullest. why would we encourage someone to become a Christian when we're overwhelmed by all the things we're supposed to be doing AND we're not finding it all that satisfying?
AND very few people are admitting to being overwhelmed and under satisfied.
instead, we find someone that is worse-off than us and receive some consolation in encouraging them - without addressing our own emptiness.
ok, enough of that. time to be honest about quiet times, prayer, fasting, and getting along with each other. time to be honest about adhering to a prosperity gospel in practice that alienates those who are hurting from those who are not.
you do realize that "they'll know we are Christians by our love" and not our clean houses, perfect children, or examplarary bible knowledge, right?
let's talk. . .
kmc