Life · Ministry · Faith

Month: February 2018

What do you want to be when you grow up?

man and child on railroad tracks

What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a fun question when you are four but by the time you reach my age the question gets a little annoying. I recently asked a group of kids how old they thought I was. Most put me in my sixties. Aren’t kids great? I am NOT that old! While I may not like being asked what I want to be any more the truth is I still have the same heart of four-year-old that dreams of what could be. We all do. It’s just as we get older we push it down deep out of sight. Wherever, you have stuffed them it is time to drag out those dreams and dust them off.

If you want to achieve your dreams or become someone or something there is a basic principle of life you need to follow: act like those who have it. It is really that easy.

Do you want to be wealthy? Then find out what wealthy people do and do it. I.e. don’t have a car payment. Pay cash for everything. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Never use a credit card.

Do you want to be an Olympic snowboarder? Then find some snow and start practicing. You won’t get there surfing the cushions of your couch. Potato chip grease makes a terrible board wax.

Do you want to run a marathon? Then train like a marathon runner.

Do you want a college degree? Then go to class. Complete the assignments. Do the work.

Do you want to run your own business? Then find a successful business owner and learn how they did it and what they do.

Do you want to lose weight? Skip the midnight infomercial products and find someone who lost weight and do what they did. Hint: It probably involved eating less and exercising more.

Do you want a marriage that lasts a lifetime? Don’t ask your single friends what to do. Don’t get advice from your neighbor who has been divorced eight times. Go find that couple that’s been married fifty, sixty years and find out how they did it and then do what they do.

Do you want to have a vibrant spiritual life? Find a saint. Someone who has lived through life’s best and worst and do what they do.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Whatever it is there is someone who is already there.

Blessings,
Stephen

 

Hone Who You are For God’s Glory

So I will admit it. When I am reading through the Bible I do great at the start, but around about the middle of Exodus things get rather bogged down and crawl to a near halt at the descriptions of skin diseases and bodily discharges of Leviticus. My morning coffee begins to taste funny and quickly I decide it might be just best to skip breakfast.

Toward the end of Exodus, the people of Israel are starting to be formed into a self-governing nation. Their existence as slaves is being peeled away and they are taking on their identity as children of God. Essential to this is the construction of the Tabernacle along with the tents and articles that will used in this place of worship and sacrifice for the nation.

Reading these descriptions I was suddenly struck by the words at the opening of Exodus 31.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. (vs 1-5 NIV)

Jeweled HeartBezalel has been given by God the gifts and abilities to fashion the articles needed for the worship of God. When were these gifts given to him? When did he hone the craft? It must have certainly been while he was living as a slave in Egypt.

Had Bezalel built a successful business designing exquisite pieces of jewelry? Did his work sit on the tables of Pharaoh and his officials? Did the young women say of their betrothed “He went o Bezalel’s?” We will never know, and it all might be a little bit of an exaggeration to think such, but I do wonder. What gifts and talents have we been given? Perhaps God has a grander purpose than we could ever imagine.

Prior to his becoming the leader of World Vision, Richard Stearns was the CEO of Lenox China. He had built a career on selling luxuries to the world’s wealthiest. God used him and the wealth of his position in amazing ways to support the work of his kingdom. Richard thought this was his purpose in life. What he did not know was that God was honing and equipping him to serve the world’s poorest.

What about us? What talents and opportunities has God given to us? Are you in a place of leadership? Do you have musical abilities? Can you fashion things of beauty? Are you able to build the tallest buildings and widest bridges? Whatever you have been given and wherever you are, hone those skills for God’s glory. Become the very best of the best but don’t be too surprised to find that the path you thought you were on to use these talents is not the one God actually has you on.

What do you think?

Blessings,
Stephen

Are you having fun?

Are you having fun in church?

Funny Goat with GlassesThe more important something is, the more serious and life-altering the reality, the more essential it is that we are able to laugh at it. Do you know who is more likely to survive a cancer diagnosis? The one who can laugh at the absurdity and indignity of the disease and the treatment regimens.

Ultimately, is there anything more serious, more important, more significant than eternity? No. At the end of the day, the decision is pretty simple: smoking or non-smoking.  Follow Jesus and submit to him or not.

So next Sunday, go ahead and have some fun, because eternity and Jesus are deadly serious:

  • bring a water balloon to church and threaten to throw it at the band, to see if you can throw them off.
  • wear silly glasses during the sermon to try and confuse the pastor.
  • send a text message, to everyone in the church, asking what that bible reference was the pastor just said, to see who didn’t put their phone on vibrate.
  • color your hair and put on face paint to show your support for your favorite team.
  • slip some candy and a triple-shot espresso that kid who just won’t sit still.
  • fill the offering plate with Monopoly money.
  • during the greeting time, jump up and steal a microphone, and start leading everyone in Father Abraham.
  • stand in the parking lot and give a balloon to every kid as they come in.
  • did you know you can sing Amazing Grace to the tune of any song? For offeratory, do it to the tune of Gilligan’s Island . . . as an instrumental.
  • laugh, smile, relax and have fun together with your church family.

Yes, I know, there are times for quiet reflection and moments for deep contemplation. Order and structure are good things. God also made us with the capacity for pleasure. Let’s put it to use!

Blessings,
Stephen

© 2025 jumpingjersey

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑