CONSCIOUS AWARENESS

How many times have you been asked this leading question? "How is your prayer life?"

If you are like me, the answer to that question immediately creates a little bit of dissonance.

I have to sift through in my mind what the person is asking. Are they asking how much time I spend praying each day? Are they asking if I am a good prayer warrior? Are they asking me if I really connect with God or just going through the motions? Are they asking me if I am getting some great answers to prayers? Are they asking me if I keep a journal? The list goes on.

What does a good prayer life look like for those of us who want to be healthy? The fact of the matter is that it will look different for each of us. God has uniquely created all of us to relate to Him somewhat differently. For many it will be in our prayer closet. For some it will be lengthy prayer sessions on our knees, and for some it may be one liners throughout the day.

The bottom line is this: Are we living our lives so that all the words we speak will be said with the conscious awareness of God's presence? That sounds to me like the essence of a what a good "prayer Life" should look like.

So the question I want to leave you today is this: Has your prayer life become something so compartmentalized that it has become a to-do list?

HEALTHY ELDERS

For months now I have been discussing the need to be a healthy pastor. In order to be healthy, each pastor must be continually transformed as stated in in Romans 12:2. This shouldn't stop with just pastors. Elders need to be continually transformed as well. A great way for this dynamic to take place is to have elder meetings that are more than micro-managing the church.

Micro-managing the church is not the first priority of an elder board. There must be time set aside for personal growth and development of each elder. The elder board should be a close knit brotherhood of men who are willing to be vulnerable with each other. If the elders are not held accountable for their own spiritual transformation than how can we expect the folks in the pew to be transformed.

There must be a high degree of trust and unity in order for the elders to function in a healthy way, not only with each other, but with those who represent the staff. When there is tension between the staff and elders it demonstrates deficiencies in the spiritual and emotional maturity of the individuals involved.

With these thoughts in mind let me leave you with some questions that need to be answered:

1. Do you look forward to elder meetings, or have they become a necessary evil in your ministry life?

2. Have your elders demonstrated transformational growth as a member of the board?

3. Do you take time in your meetings to equip and challenge your elders to spiritual growth.

4. How much time do you spend in elder meetings micro-managing the business of the church rather then giving spiritual oversight?

5. Is there a deep trust between you and the elders.

6. Is there an atmosphere of transparency and love for one another on the board?

7. How much time do you spend praying together for the church and each other at your elder meetings?

Living out my spirituality uniquely

I have recently been reading Ortberg's book, "The Me I Want to Be". It has resonated with something that has been on my heart for a long time. We have done a dis-service in Evangelical Christianity by putting people in boxes of performance to measure their spiritual maturity.

We have dangerously externalized ones spiritual maturity into a bunch of rules just like the pharisees of old, thus not honoring how God has created us uniquely.

In Ortberg's book he illustrates the individuality of becoming intimate with God by quoting Gary Thomas's book "Sacred Pathways".

The following are ways we can all uniquely find our pathway to God:

Naturalist- find God in nature

Ascetic- is drawn to disciplines

Traditionalist - lives historical liturgies

Activist - comes alive spiritually in a great cause.

Caregiver - meets God in serving

Sensate - senses God through five senses

Enthusiast - loves to grow through people

Contemplative - is drawn to solitary reflection and prayer

Intellectual - loves God by learning

"It is good to be familiar with each pathway, but you will find that one or two are the most gripping for you. When you do identify which ones you resonate with most, you will also find that they are the most sustainable for you, because your desire for them will be highest."

Let's seek God uniquely together!

"

RISK REQUIRES FAITH

Healthy things grow, growing things change, change requires risk, risk requires faith, and faith keeps you healthy.

Acts 16:5 tells us, "So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew daily in numbers".

The word strengthened is used in Colossians 2:7 where Paul writes, "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught".

What kind of faith was strengthened in the early church?

First there was a courageous faith.

In Acts 4:29 it says, "And now O Lord hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching". Courageous faith is a necessity for healthy leaders.

Secondly there was a generous faith. The early church stopped at nothing when it came to sharing their possessions. There was a clearly a motivation for meeting the needs of those around them.

Third there was a tenacious faith. Acts 14:22 Paul tells the church to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter in to the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.

Finally we see that the church exercised miraculous faith. Acts 2:43 says that a deep sense of awe came over them as the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

It is obvious that exercising our faith is the very thing that makes us strong and vigorous.

(HEALTHY) AND HEALTHY THINGS GROW!

CHANGE REQUIRES RISK

So far I have said that, "Healthy things grow, growing things change, change requires risk". Risk is the X factor in any changes that need to be made along the way. The risk the apostles took was to identify with the message of grace that Jesus introduced into the establishment.

The traditions of the past were being revolutionized by a new relevant message of grace. New wine was being put into new wineskins.

The pharisees tried to do everything they could to stop the progress of the gospel. Threats were made, along with the Roman government becoming more vigilant in stomping out the Way.

Whenever there is change you always risk opposition. Opposition can come in all shapes and sizes , from active to passive. This typically is when the boo birds come out with the "we never have done it this way" slogan. Not only are there always opposers to change but there is a risk of failure with the new direction or philosophy that is enforced. However, without these risks the early church would would have stagnated into oblivion. Praise God for healthy leaders who were willing risk their lives for cause of the Gospel.

Courageous leadership is willing to take a risk. The greater the risk often the greater reward. The greater the risk the greater the conviction of the Holy Spirit must be present.

Scripture tells us to count the cost before we build a tower. I am sure that accounting includes all the risk factors.

What is God asking you to risk as you seek to grow stronger as a leader?

GROWING THINGS CHANGE

A fact of nature is that when things grow they change. Change doesn't often come easy however.

Most resist change because it makes us feel uncomfortable, perhaps insecure, and takes a lot of effort. It is a lot easier to maintain the status quo.

We see how exponential growth impacted the early church as the Greek speaking widows were not being properly cared for. The influx of the gentiles caused a need to change their outlook on circumcision. So logistical and traditional matters were being challenged. Fortunately the apostles were flexible enough and knew how to set their boundaries. It was also exciting to see how the early church had great men of God waiting in the wings to serve.

Change is good for us when we are forced to ask the right questions. Such as:

Are the present ministries being effective in their present state?

Do our ministries align with our vision and values?

Is there a more relevant or effective way to do ministry?

What are some of those modern day changes that affect a growing church?

- Change of influencers. Homesteaders get invaded by squatters. This can be a vulnerable

time in the life of the church.

- Change in polity. Growth can force structural changes to create greater efficiency.

- Change in strategy. Such as two services, small group ministries, etc.

- Changing traditions. Dealing with those sacred cows.

- Change in vision. Setting a new course. Dreaming new dreams.

- Change in leadership style. Maybe more empowering and letting go.

Remember, healthy things grow and growing things change.