It has taken me many years to have a more heavenly perspective on money. I am still in process on this. I have always had a level of gladness to be able to give. But I grew up with a very limited understanding of money management and seeing money as a tool. I have struggled with poor attitudes about resources. It is a balanced perspective indicated in Scripture. There is great wisdom in planning and saving. The worth of investment and risk is Biblical. On the other hand, a willingness to share and give freely is also valued. Thus, it may be seen as a balanced or diverse outlook toward money.
Considering these principles, money really is regarded as a tool or resource in the Bible. People understandably esteem it as security and place it above other priorities. It is a major and "delicate" issue for most of us. We all know of the saying, "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). When we are able to get beyond the struggle of loving money--which is a process, we can get to a place of just enjoying giving. It usually takes time and practice. To get started in this, it may hurt. You may realize you are going to have to override selfishness...again and again.
If you want to be a giver, it will be a great joy. There is something very good about blessing people. I am still on the learning curve, but I am so thankful for what God has taught me. This past weekend, the girls had a lemonade stand. A couple pulled up in a pickup truck with two kayaks in the back. The girls were charging 25 cents a cup. This guy gave them a 20-dollar bill and told them to keep the change. Jenn told him he didn't have to do that, but he insisted. This act of generosity surprised me and made me think about giving. Much more could be said about the matter, but it really is a way of getting someone's attention and saying, "I care." And that is a way of loving your neighbor as yourself.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Alaska 2016 - This Time It Was Personal
I had a different and unique experience on this mission trip. Having had some time to reflect on the week and to have a little perspective with real life back in front of me, God's blessing and beauty in individual lives rises up as a foremost effect in this team of people. We certainly did work, and we had an amazing team with skills and a good work ethic. We accomplished a lot around the property. Yet in the testimonies I have heard since the trip, God was up to showing each of us His love and desire to change and even wow us.
Without doubt, we accomplished our goal of preparing Redemption for fish camp, and we blessed Rod and Teresa. I am so thankful for that. Above that, however, were amazing testimonies of redemption, healing, and extravagant blessing. Kim speaks of gaining ground over fear. Melanie was drawn fully in to God's arms after some difficult trials in life. Two people were baptized. Jennifer was given a precious time of rest she desperately needed. Andy realized on the trip God was allowing him to check off a "bucket list" item by seeing volcanoes on the Ring of Fire. For me, it was a time of redemption, as my dad was a part of the team. In many ways, it is a miracle we could have this time together (and I don't say that lightly). It is simply the mercy and provision of God. For others, it was a special time with family.
While there are personal themes like this on most mission trips, the personal nature of these stories stands out to me. It was a time of abundance and rejuvenation. We were surrounded by overwhelming beauty, we enjoyed rich fellowship, we laughed a lot, we heard amazing stories, we worked hard, and we felt God's love. Commit to a short-term mission trip if you can. Start saving and trust Jesus for the provision. You won't be disappointed. It won't be easy, but it probably will change your life.
Note: I will follow this blog up with a second response that details our work in Alaska and the progress of North of Hope.
Without doubt, we accomplished our goal of preparing Redemption for fish camp, and we blessed Rod and Teresa. I am so thankful for that. Above that, however, were amazing testimonies of redemption, healing, and extravagant blessing. Kim speaks of gaining ground over fear. Melanie was drawn fully in to God's arms after some difficult trials in life. Two people were baptized. Jennifer was given a precious time of rest she desperately needed. Andy realized on the trip God was allowing him to check off a "bucket list" item by seeing volcanoes on the Ring of Fire. For me, it was a time of redemption, as my dad was a part of the team. In many ways, it is a miracle we could have this time together (and I don't say that lightly). It is simply the mercy and provision of God. For others, it was a special time with family.
While there are personal themes like this on most mission trips, the personal nature of these stories stands out to me. It was a time of abundance and rejuvenation. We were surrounded by overwhelming beauty, we enjoyed rich fellowship, we laughed a lot, we heard amazing stories, we worked hard, and we felt God's love. Commit to a short-term mission trip if you can. Start saving and trust Jesus for the provision. You won't be disappointed. It won't be easy, but it probably will change your life.
Note: I will follow this blog up with a second response that details our work in Alaska and the progress of North of Hope.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Alaska 2016 - Reflections on Past Missions Experiences
It is now less than a week from our departure to Alaska. This week, we will be packing and making final arrangements. As I imagine this year's experience and the beauty of Alaska, I also think of other missions experiences of which I am aware. A group from Riverview Baptist Church is in Cleveland now. A large group from the same church is headed to Guatemala this summer. Other missionaries are headed to Brazil for the Olympics.
Similarly, I ponder an opportunity I considered years ago. My wife and I drove to Newark, New Jersey, to consider being part of inner-city ministry there. At some point, I became aware of World Impact, a ministry devoted to the urban populace, particularly the poor. Since God showed me an understanding of inner-city life and related socioeconomic realities, I had an interest in inner-city ministry. We began to support World Impact financially. Later, we decided to check into an opportunity to serve in Newark. It did not work out.
Nevertheless, I value people who make significant sacrifices to reach people, whether that is in Alaska, Los Angeles, or Newark. While we eagerly anticipate an exciting opportunity on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, I remember our visit to Newark. I appreciate all who serve in urban or cross-cultural missions. Your devotion and sacrifice is making an eternal difference!
Similarly, I ponder an opportunity I considered years ago. My wife and I drove to Newark, New Jersey, to consider being part of inner-city ministry there. At some point, I became aware of World Impact, a ministry devoted to the urban populace, particularly the poor. Since God showed me an understanding of inner-city life and related socioeconomic realities, I had an interest in inner-city ministry. We began to support World Impact financially. Later, we decided to check into an opportunity to serve in Newark. It did not work out.
Nevertheless, I value people who make significant sacrifices to reach people, whether that is in Alaska, Los Angeles, or Newark. While we eagerly anticipate an exciting opportunity on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, I remember our visit to Newark. I appreciate all who serve in urban or cross-cultural missions. Your devotion and sacrifice is making an eternal difference!
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Alaska 2016 - 2nd Update
We are about a month away from departure, and last night we had an orientation meeting. It was a chance for members to meet each other, go over travel information, and briefly discuss projects. We had pizza, prayed, and discussed different aspects of the trip. I believe we have a good team, and our work is important.
We will be making final preparations for fish camp. Pastor Will indicated that last year more than 1000 pounds of salmon and approximately 2000 pounds of halibut were processed there. The meaningful effects of fish camp are chiefly two: helping folks catch and process fish and building relationships with them in a camp-like setting. This has led to opportunities to speak about Jesus. Pastor Will indicated through Rod that a very significant part of fish camp is time spent after a long day around a fire pit talking and singing. It allows for ministry through relationship.
Fish camp begins July 5. We will be there the week prior to that. Our team has the maintenance/construction/production experience and guidance we need for our projects. Some of the work items include the following: installing soffit, exterior painting, spreading gravel, putting in a couple windows, beginning build out of a mobile kitchen, making wooden toys for an outreach in Anchorage, placing "blocks" or something on rafters, and others. The list may change slightly.
We will experience a beautiful part of Alaska. While it won't be Virginia summer weather, we are prayerful for a few sunny days. We have seen quite a few pictures of sunsets behind Mt. Redoubt. I look forward to that. We will be prepared for cool, wet conditions as we work. There will be a leisure day, but there aren't specific plans for that, yet.
For those of you who have supported us by donations or buying gift baskets, thank you so much. Our trip is paid for. You have been very generous. We want to give you the opportunity to see what we are doing. I may put one more update here before we leave on June 24. We will try to offer brief updates on Facebook while we are there. That depends on cellular service availability. If there aren't Facebook updates, then it will be because of limited cellular service. Following the trip, I will again provide a report or two here about the trip. We are one of more than 10 teams supporting North of Hope projects in Alaska this summer. You can see other pictures and updates on the North of Hope Facebook page. Thank you again for your support.
We will be making final preparations for fish camp. Pastor Will indicated that last year more than 1000 pounds of salmon and approximately 2000 pounds of halibut were processed there. The meaningful effects of fish camp are chiefly two: helping folks catch and process fish and building relationships with them in a camp-like setting. This has led to opportunities to speak about Jesus. Pastor Will indicated through Rod that a very significant part of fish camp is time spent after a long day around a fire pit talking and singing. It allows for ministry through relationship.
Fish camp begins July 5. We will be there the week prior to that. Our team has the maintenance/construction/production experience and guidance we need for our projects. Some of the work items include the following: installing soffit, exterior painting, spreading gravel, putting in a couple windows, beginning build out of a mobile kitchen, making wooden toys for an outreach in Anchorage, placing "blocks" or something on rafters, and others. The list may change slightly.
We will experience a beautiful part of Alaska. While it won't be Virginia summer weather, we are prayerful for a few sunny days. We have seen quite a few pictures of sunsets behind Mt. Redoubt. I look forward to that. We will be prepared for cool, wet conditions as we work. There will be a leisure day, but there aren't specific plans for that, yet.
For those of you who have supported us by donations or buying gift baskets, thank you so much. Our trip is paid for. You have been very generous. We want to give you the opportunity to see what we are doing. I may put one more update here before we leave on June 24. We will try to offer brief updates on Facebook while we are there. That depends on cellular service availability. If there aren't Facebook updates, then it will be because of limited cellular service. Following the trip, I will again provide a report or two here about the trip. We are one of more than 10 teams supporting North of Hope projects in Alaska this summer. You can see other pictures and updates on the North of Hope Facebook page. Thank you again for your support.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Alaska 2016 - 1st Update
As of May 2, I am thankful to report that we have provided, earned, or been given just over $2400 toward the total trip cost. We are very close to paying for our amount owed. While this does not include some extra costs such as baggage fees and food for travel days, we have been amazed at the provision. Again, we thank each of you who have donated. Also, thanks to those who bought gift baskets and those who will be praying for us and the team.
We will have a team meeting later this month. This will be a good time of fellowship and getting a little more information about the work we will be doing. I think we all are aware of the special opportunity we have. To be able to do missionary work in a location of tremendous beauty is a treat. This will be my third such opportunity to serve people on the Kenai Peninsula, and I am so appreciative and humbled by the opportunity. May God amplify our impact and grow us spiritually!
We will have a team meeting later this month. This will be a good time of fellowship and getting a little more information about the work we will be doing. I think we all are aware of the special opportunity we have. To be able to do missionary work in a location of tremendous beauty is a treat. This will be my third such opportunity to serve people on the Kenai Peninsula, and I am so appreciative and humbled by the opportunity. May God amplify our impact and grow us spiritually!
Monday, April 11, 2016
Alaska Preview - 2016
I am so excited to have the opportunity to return to Alaska to serve people there. The beauty of the land is almost beyond description. With the popularity and proliferation of various television shows about life in Alaska, many people now know life there has numerous unique challenges. In two previous trips to Seward, Alaska, we had the opportunity to help Seward City Church prepare a building. In doing so, we met and partnered with local people who welcomed us and shared with us. It was memorable, and we know God was giving us an opportunity to sow into the community. Thus, it is a blessing and joy to get to know some of the people. Further, it is an honor to try to help them.
This year, we will be on a different part of the Kenai Peninsula near Homer. We will be very close to Anchor Point. Our team from The Bridge church in Christiansburg continues to partner with North of Hope and Rod and Teresa Koop. Other teams from the "lower 48" will be working on other projects this year. Much work has been done on Prince of Wales island. On the Kenai Peninsula, we will be supporting an outreach with which the Koops are personally involved in their community. It has been called the Redemption Fish Camp. The outreach in July helps those who need assistance catching and processing salmon during the salmon runs. We will be doing final projects and finishing touches for this year's fish camp.
In addition to that, we will be talking to people involved in a church plant in Homer. This will be an opportunity to discuss ideas about the different aspects of ministry in a local church. I don't know very much about this yet, but I am looking forward to it. Church planting is very challenging but exciting.
This is the third time in four years The Bridge will be sending a team. It is good continue this partnership. I consider it a privilege and special opportunity to see such awe-inspiring natural beauty that is Alaska and, in addition to that, serve the people of Alaska. I am thankful my wife and father are planning to be part of the team. This theme of family is repeated with other team members. It is a great possibility of missions. I will be posting additional blogs about this upcoming trip (June 24 - July 2). I likely will provide one more update before we leave. I will follow up with one or more blogs after we return, as well.
This year, we will be on a different part of the Kenai Peninsula near Homer. We will be very close to Anchor Point. Our team from The Bridge church in Christiansburg continues to partner with North of Hope and Rod and Teresa Koop. Other teams from the "lower 48" will be working on other projects this year. Much work has been done on Prince of Wales island. On the Kenai Peninsula, we will be supporting an outreach with which the Koops are personally involved in their community. It has been called the Redemption Fish Camp. The outreach in July helps those who need assistance catching and processing salmon during the salmon runs. We will be doing final projects and finishing touches for this year's fish camp.
In addition to that, we will be talking to people involved in a church plant in Homer. This will be an opportunity to discuss ideas about the different aspects of ministry in a local church. I don't know very much about this yet, but I am looking forward to it. Church planting is very challenging but exciting.
This is the third time in four years The Bridge will be sending a team. It is good continue this partnership. I consider it a privilege and special opportunity to see such awe-inspiring natural beauty that is Alaska and, in addition to that, serve the people of Alaska. I am thankful my wife and father are planning to be part of the team. This theme of family is repeated with other team members. It is a great possibility of missions. I will be posting additional blogs about this upcoming trip (June 24 - July 2). I likely will provide one more update before we leave. I will follow up with one or more blogs after we return, as well.
Baptism
We had an inspiring and emotional baptism service yesterday. More than ten people were baptized in the Sunday service. This was truly moving, a time more impacting than I would have expected. It was a great way to follow the Easter service of two weeks ago. The baptisms revealed the sincere beliefs of these people; it represented a commitment and acceptance of the mercy and grace offered by Jesus Christ.
I extend these thoughts not because I want to enter into a discussion about the meaning and history of baptism. Obviously, the act is important--foundational--since there was a John the Baptist who baptized Jesus before his public ministry. The effect for me yesterday regarded the individual's willingness to be immersed publicly, emerging soaked and chilled, and desiring to move ahead spiritually with God. It is, simply, obedience. And it is trust. There was a singular focus on doing what God directed them to do.
Each person has a unique story. There was a range in ages and life experiences. The commonality was the arrival at a point of acknowledgment. It is a public act. It is mostly done among those who love and support them, yet it is such an individual moment. I really enjoyed seeing these baptisms, but I was mostly caught by the power of God in this unique symbolic act.
I extend these thoughts not because I want to enter into a discussion about the meaning and history of baptism. Obviously, the act is important--foundational--since there was a John the Baptist who baptized Jesus before his public ministry. The effect for me yesterday regarded the individual's willingness to be immersed publicly, emerging soaked and chilled, and desiring to move ahead spiritually with God. It is, simply, obedience. And it is trust. There was a singular focus on doing what God directed them to do.
Each person has a unique story. There was a range in ages and life experiences. The commonality was the arrival at a point of acknowledgment. It is a public act. It is mostly done among those who love and support them, yet it is such an individual moment. I really enjoyed seeing these baptisms, but I was mostly caught by the power of God in this unique symbolic act.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Fellowship and Accountability
Last night I had a meeting with some guys I have gotten to know quite well over the last couple years. We had worked through an in-depth study about an aspect of Christian living for about 18-20 months. This required a commitment and honesty for this process to really impact my life. Recently, our study ended and our regular meetings ceased. It had been a few months, and we made a plan to get together and chat. After that time, I realized how much the fellowship time encouraged me and strengthened me.
I had missed this fellowship time, but I had especially missed the discussion and the spiritual fine tuning. A few weeks ago, there was a men's meeting at church. The meeting was informal with the agenda being open discussion and prayer. Once again, I really enjoyed being around these other people who had a desire to fellowship, grow spiritually, and share a little of life with each other. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 27:17. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." This applies to men and women, although interactions will vary according to personality, the matter at hand, emotions, seriousness (and honesty), and motive. In other words, there has to be a purpose for improvement.
The bottom line is that focused fellowship and accountability definitely help lead to encouragement and progress in areas of weakness in our lives. The question I revisited last evening was this: How serious am I about this matter? This can apply to a myriad of things. Yet even the mere act of being in the presence of people who are positive, encouraging, and caring is helpful. When a focused intention is added and deliberate attention is given to the matters of the heart, such fellowship is an environment for breakthrough or advancement.
I had missed this fellowship time, but I had especially missed the discussion and the spiritual fine tuning. A few weeks ago, there was a men's meeting at church. The meeting was informal with the agenda being open discussion and prayer. Once again, I really enjoyed being around these other people who had a desire to fellowship, grow spiritually, and share a little of life with each other. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 27:17. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." This applies to men and women, although interactions will vary according to personality, the matter at hand, emotions, seriousness (and honesty), and motive. In other words, there has to be a purpose for improvement.
The bottom line is that focused fellowship and accountability definitely help lead to encouragement and progress in areas of weakness in our lives. The question I revisited last evening was this: How serious am I about this matter? This can apply to a myriad of things. Yet even the mere act of being in the presence of people who are positive, encouraging, and caring is helpful. When a focused intention is added and deliberate attention is given to the matters of the heart, such fellowship is an environment for breakthrough or advancement.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Birthday Reflections -- An Occasion for Worship
As I am always blessed by birthday greetings and some gifts on my birthday, I am grateful for great family and friends. As I age, though, my birthday is not the occasion for excitement it once was. This year, I thought of my birthday in a different way. I have been given an existence, and I am fortunate enough to have a life of much abundance. I was so glad and thankful for having the opportunity to be an influence, to try to glorify God, and to behold all He has done.
I realize I am more fortunate than so many people, and I hope I do not take that for granted. I should be appreciative of who I am, since God had something important in mind allowing me to be. Rather than this being a time of selfishly getting "mileage" out of it, a birthday can be a time of being thankful for oneself. Each life has the potential to be a brilliant reflection of Christ. Further, each birthday is a marked occasion to praise God for the opportunity we have to know God and be in His presence.
I realize I am more fortunate than so many people, and I hope I do not take that for granted. I should be appreciative of who I am, since God had something important in mind allowing me to be. Rather than this being a time of selfishly getting "mileage" out of it, a birthday can be a time of being thankful for oneself. Each life has the potential to be a brilliant reflection of Christ. Further, each birthday is a marked occasion to praise God for the opportunity we have to know God and be in His presence.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Keeping Focus at Christmas
Each year, at my favorite time of year, I think of trying to really honor the reason for this time of celebration. I see and know that busyness, materialism, and the desirable obligation of visiting with family can obstruct my simple meditation and focus about Christmas. Now as the holiday season wanes, I ponder how I honored God and His expression of love through Christ. I guess I did about what I usually do, and I am not happy about that.
We fret about how much money we are spending, and this discomfort and struggle epitomizes a mistake some of us have made with this occasion. Then, busyness enhanced by various obligatory gatherings leaves us wanting for that careful, personal contemplation of this wonderful celebration. I really get sad thinking about it. I love the great hope of Christmas. It is the great great truth and meaning in my life. Finally, my celebration is a mix of traditional, secular ideas about Christmas and a sincere honoring of the birth and life of Jesus. Personally, I find this a bit disappointing.
While I do not think I have dishonored God, I see it as representative of my casualness at times about my faith. I have too often allowed the importance of this Christmas season to be diminished to the level of other human expressions of the holiday. Despite these concerns, God's grace and compassion are as great as ever. His mercy abounds. The love and peace of the season still transcends all distractions. This precious and powerful truth makes me long for (already) the wonderful anticipation of Christmas that begins to grow soon after Thanksgiving.
May God bless you in this new year, and I hope the truth and Spirit of Christmas abides with and captures your heart throughout the year! God is good and His grace is amazing.
We fret about how much money we are spending, and this discomfort and struggle epitomizes a mistake some of us have made with this occasion. Then, busyness enhanced by various obligatory gatherings leaves us wanting for that careful, personal contemplation of this wonderful celebration. I really get sad thinking about it. I love the great hope of Christmas. It is the great great truth and meaning in my life. Finally, my celebration is a mix of traditional, secular ideas about Christmas and a sincere honoring of the birth and life of Jesus. Personally, I find this a bit disappointing.
While I do not think I have dishonored God, I see it as representative of my casualness at times about my faith. I have too often allowed the importance of this Christmas season to be diminished to the level of other human expressions of the holiday. Despite these concerns, God's grace and compassion are as great as ever. His mercy abounds. The love and peace of the season still transcends all distractions. This precious and powerful truth makes me long for (already) the wonderful anticipation of Christmas that begins to grow soon after Thanksgiving.
May God bless you in this new year, and I hope the truth and Spirit of Christmas abides with and captures your heart throughout the year! God is good and His grace is amazing.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Conflict in the Church
Conflict in the local church. It happens. I was reminded of this today. I am employed by a local church, working in a Christian school. I work in a very effective school, a ministry of a very successful, influential church. I work with great people, and that includes dedicated, professional teachers and caring pastors who value children's ministry. It is in this setting that conflict and controversy can very readily arise. How could it be?
Well, simply put, there are two problems. Imperfect people and Satan. God's work is vehemently opposed in the spiritual realm. In his ministry, Jesus cast out demons from people. Those agents of Satan did not just disappear. Just look at some of the terrible news stories each week. Meanwhile, well-intentioned people fail, and people get hurt from others' imperfections. Hey, that is just truth. We have all been wounded, and we have all done the wounding.
I once was fired from my job at a church. I can honestly say my position was eliminated or, at least, reduced. However, the way I was dismissed was hurtful to me. I was told, "The Lord told me to give you 30 days." This is not the usual explanation for one's loss of a job. Now I knew the Lord was with me and working in the situation. God spoke to me during this time to assure me things would work out. I forgave my pastor (Whether he was wrong or not, I needed to do that.) and trust I do not have a grudge. I realize there may have been some small things I did or did not do to contribute to the breakdown. This experience, though, really hurt, and it hindered me from being very involved in ministry for some time. I did not want to open myself up to the possibility of this hurt and disappointment. And this is part of the enemy's strategy.
John 10:10 is very clear. There is opposition to the church, and Satan is the accuser who wants to thwart all God is doing. Yet our own shortcomings also can be the trigger or the impetus to cause strife or division. Also, we just aren't good at following Matthew 18:15; most people hope and pray their problems with other people will somehow go away without a personal confrontation. This is unlikely. We must be willing to see our flaws, and we need to have amazing grace for the imperfections of others. We are subject to disappointment by anyone in our lives. How we handle these delicate situations will be evident in the fruit of our ministry and in our testimony. With God's grace, may there be a positive result.
Divisions in the church do not happen by accident. There are problems even in the best ministries. This is not by chance. Conflicts result from the volatile combination of evil and human imperfection. The sinister intent is to reduce or diminish our effectiveness as Christians. When we recognize this, we can see things a bit differently. We then can have a desire to pray, reconcile, and move on toward growth and maturity as believers. Life is hard and it does get messy. But God knows about it all, and He was aware these trials would arrive. I think of Proverbs 14:4. I like this poignant verse. I hate my imperfections and selfish tendencies, but I love that God has given me the abilities and opportunities to serve Him. I pray I may do it well and better, and I hope God will correct me even when it hurts. Song of Solomon 2:15 mentions the "little foxes." As God knows all the details of our lives and the intricacies of our hearts, he also will give us the wisdom and strength to deal with the "little foxes" in our lives.
Well, simply put, there are two problems. Imperfect people and Satan. God's work is vehemently opposed in the spiritual realm. In his ministry, Jesus cast out demons from people. Those agents of Satan did not just disappear. Just look at some of the terrible news stories each week. Meanwhile, well-intentioned people fail, and people get hurt from others' imperfections. Hey, that is just truth. We have all been wounded, and we have all done the wounding.
I once was fired from my job at a church. I can honestly say my position was eliminated or, at least, reduced. However, the way I was dismissed was hurtful to me. I was told, "The Lord told me to give you 30 days." This is not the usual explanation for one's loss of a job. Now I knew the Lord was with me and working in the situation. God spoke to me during this time to assure me things would work out. I forgave my pastor (Whether he was wrong or not, I needed to do that.) and trust I do not have a grudge. I realize there may have been some small things I did or did not do to contribute to the breakdown. This experience, though, really hurt, and it hindered me from being very involved in ministry for some time. I did not want to open myself up to the possibility of this hurt and disappointment. And this is part of the enemy's strategy.
John 10:10 is very clear. There is opposition to the church, and Satan is the accuser who wants to thwart all God is doing. Yet our own shortcomings also can be the trigger or the impetus to cause strife or division. Also, we just aren't good at following Matthew 18:15; most people hope and pray their problems with other people will somehow go away without a personal confrontation. This is unlikely. We must be willing to see our flaws, and we need to have amazing grace for the imperfections of others. We are subject to disappointment by anyone in our lives. How we handle these delicate situations will be evident in the fruit of our ministry and in our testimony. With God's grace, may there be a positive result.
Divisions in the church do not happen by accident. There are problems even in the best ministries. This is not by chance. Conflicts result from the volatile combination of evil and human imperfection. The sinister intent is to reduce or diminish our effectiveness as Christians. When we recognize this, we can see things a bit differently. We then can have a desire to pray, reconcile, and move on toward growth and maturity as believers. Life is hard and it does get messy. But God knows about it all, and He was aware these trials would arrive. I think of Proverbs 14:4. I like this poignant verse. I hate my imperfections and selfish tendencies, but I love that God has given me the abilities and opportunities to serve Him. I pray I may do it well and better, and I hope God will correct me even when it hurts. Song of Solomon 2:15 mentions the "little foxes." As God knows all the details of our lives and the intricacies of our hearts, he also will give us the wisdom and strength to deal with the "little foxes" in our lives.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Alaska Reflections - Part Two
I hadn't laughed so much in a long time. Sure, maybe I have laughed harder a few times, but this team was good for consistent fun. Really, we had a great team in Alaska. Many of us had known each other for several years, but there were a few people I did not know well. These people really added a lot of skill and hard work to the team. The benefits of teamwork and being "pre-prayered" really showed on this trip. We accomplished a lot. Max had to get another load of drywall, and we installed all of it.
Meanwhile, our free day was Tuesday. A few went fishing and returned with a modest catch of approximately 100 pounds of fish, including several halibut. After processed, they flew home about 50 pounds of fish. Fortunately for the rest of us, a gentleman in the church named Todd, followed through on a pledge to send a box of salmon back with us to share. I have since had some of that salmon, and it is awesome. The rest of us went on a half-day cruise into Resurrection Bay with Kenai Fjords Tours, one of the national park vendors for Kenai Fjords National Park. We could not have asked for a better day.
According to the captain, we were very fortunate. We saw a humpback whale, several orcas ("killer whales"), sea lions, a relaxing sea otter in the middle of the bay, bald eagles, and many birds, including puffins. To add to that, we had an amazing lunch at Fox Island. This was a very good tour, and if the weather is decent, I highly recommend it. We all were tired after the fun day, and we wondered how productive we would be on Wednesday. Nonetheless, our progress continued at a great pace.
We met great people in the community, and our friends at Seward City Church were amazing hosts and a joy to be around and serve. Also, Rod really served us and made our visit seem like a visit with a friend--which I realize really is the case. Look at other projects and the ministry of North of Hope on Facebook. Our last day was Friday, June 14, and several of us went and worked as long as we could to finish up the drywall and make a little bit more progress. The whole team really worked together well to accomplish much. Spiritually, I know we felt like we are connected to Seward City Church. We are excited about the future of the church.
Through Rod's stories and other stories, we learned life is not easy in Alaska. We enjoyed the beauty of the place and terrific weather. We did not see the harsh winter and its effects. We did not experience darkness around the clock and people struggling to get by. My hope and prayer is that Seward City Church will flourish more and be a place of encouragement and strengthening for that community. I was glad and thankful to have the opportunity to do some of the physical work that will lead to greater spiritual fruit before long.
Note: I also will add an entry on my educational blog mrbartley.wordpress.com to detail Kenai Fjords National Park.
Meanwhile, our free day was Tuesday. A few went fishing and returned with a modest catch of approximately 100 pounds of fish, including several halibut. After processed, they flew home about 50 pounds of fish. Fortunately for the rest of us, a gentleman in the church named Todd, followed through on a pledge to send a box of salmon back with us to share. I have since had some of that salmon, and it is awesome. The rest of us went on a half-day cruise into Resurrection Bay with Kenai Fjords Tours, one of the national park vendors for Kenai Fjords National Park. We could not have asked for a better day.
According to the captain, we were very fortunate. We saw a humpback whale, several orcas ("killer whales"), sea lions, a relaxing sea otter in the middle of the bay, bald eagles, and many birds, including puffins. To add to that, we had an amazing lunch at Fox Island. This was a very good tour, and if the weather is decent, I highly recommend it. We all were tired after the fun day, and we wondered how productive we would be on Wednesday. Nonetheless, our progress continued at a great pace.
We met great people in the community, and our friends at Seward City Church were amazing hosts and a joy to be around and serve. Also, Rod really served us and made our visit seem like a visit with a friend--which I realize really is the case. Look at other projects and the ministry of North of Hope on Facebook. Our last day was Friday, June 14, and several of us went and worked as long as we could to finish up the drywall and make a little bit more progress. The whole team really worked together well to accomplish much. Spiritually, I know we felt like we are connected to Seward City Church. We are excited about the future of the church.
Through Rod's stories and other stories, we learned life is not easy in Alaska. We enjoyed the beauty of the place and terrific weather. We did not see the harsh winter and its effects. We did not experience darkness around the clock and people struggling to get by. My hope and prayer is that Seward City Church will flourish more and be a place of encouragement and strengthening for that community. I was glad and thankful to have the opportunity to do some of the physical work that will lead to greater spiritual fruit before long.
Note: I also will add an entry on my educational blog mrbartley.wordpress.com to detail Kenai Fjords National Park.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Alaska Reflections - Part One
As we flew in toward Anchorage, I could begin to see the snow-covered mountains and glaciers. I was excited and looking forward to the end of a long plane ride. Soon, we all would reunite after a long travel day which split our group, sending four of us through Phoenix. Our layover there had been long enough to leave the airport, feel the 110 degree heat, and see a little bit of Scottsdale. Now, we were on a ride from Anchorage to Seward. It was 2:00 a.m. local time, and it was not dark. By the time we all lay down to sleep, it was after 4:00 a.m. The next day, we started work late but did hang our first sheets of drywall.
We had a good day Saturday. Sunday, we had a great service at the Seward City Church, held at the Seward Middle School, the site of our accommodations for the week, as well. It was great to see the people of this congregation. We met many of them. Several of them provided lunches for us throughout the week. The food we had was plentiful and delicious. Our host and leader of North of Hope, Rod Koop, prepared some fine meals including a halibut dish I will remember for some time. Anyway, back to the mission. We did some work on Sunday afternoon. Monday, it seemed to take a while to get into a groove, but we continually made good progress. Tuesday would be our fun day with no work, and it would represent a midpoint of our effort in Seward.
Seward is located in a beautiful spot on the Kenai Peninsula. At the beginning of Resurrection Bay, Seward is referred to as a gateway to Alaska. Some mornings, a cruise ship was docked there, and hundreds if not thousands of tourists would wander around town. We spent time in downtown Seward a few times, being wandering tourists ourselves and looking for the right souvenir. We learned about Alaskans coming into town to camp on the weekend to fish. Salmon runs peak in late spring and/or early summer, and many people depend upon this natural resource to make it through the long winter. Overall, we really enjoyed Seward and met some great people. We were blessed with amazing weather; it was great enough the locals were talking about it. It was sunny and warm most of the time. To me, this could be a metaphor for God's blessing upon our team and our work.
We had a good day Saturday. Sunday, we had a great service at the Seward City Church, held at the Seward Middle School, the site of our accommodations for the week, as well. It was great to see the people of this congregation. We met many of them. Several of them provided lunches for us throughout the week. The food we had was plentiful and delicious. Our host and leader of North of Hope, Rod Koop, prepared some fine meals including a halibut dish I will remember for some time. Anyway, back to the mission. We did some work on Sunday afternoon. Monday, it seemed to take a while to get into a groove, but we continually made good progress. Tuesday would be our fun day with no work, and it would represent a midpoint of our effort in Seward.
Seward is located in a beautiful spot on the Kenai Peninsula. At the beginning of Resurrection Bay, Seward is referred to as a gateway to Alaska. Some mornings, a cruise ship was docked there, and hundreds if not thousands of tourists would wander around town. We spent time in downtown Seward a few times, being wandering tourists ourselves and looking for the right souvenir. We learned about Alaskans coming into town to camp on the weekend to fish. Salmon runs peak in late spring and/or early summer, and many people depend upon this natural resource to make it through the long winter. Overall, we really enjoyed Seward and met some great people. We were blessed with amazing weather; it was great enough the locals were talking about it. It was sunny and warm most of the time. To me, this could be a metaphor for God's blessing upon our team and our work.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Alaska Mission Trip...Coming Right Up
It is now less than two weeks until our team departs for Seward, Alaska. Last Sunday, the pastor at the Seward church, talked about the church and the work we have to do. In the video, filmed at some of Seward's docks before a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, Pastor Max is carefully explaining the story of the church and their gratefulness for our visit and effort.
Having seen the framing in the building, it looks like a LOT of drywall to be installed. Our team is not too big, and it is not mostly young, strong men. By the way, I do not consider myself a strong young man. That is no disrespect toward anyone on the team or to myself. It just seemed like a lot of work to do. In spite of that, I am confident God will bless our effort, and I expect to be impressed by our progress. Of course, we will need to thank God and praise Him for the blessing upon the team. I expect it to go well, aside from the minor usual "hiccups."
We have our last group meeting tomorrow evening. We did just one new team member with drywall experience. That is good. I have watched one drywall instructional video online, and I will do some more homework so I know at least a little bit about what to expect. I have never done drywall work, although I have done some other labor-intensive jobs. I expect some long days.
A few other notes I will mention. I have been asked to share a brief testimony or word of encouragement with the Seward congregation. Some of us have been asked by the mission pastor to do so. I have thought about what to say, but I am not totally sure what that will be. Also, we do have a fun day on Tuesday, June 11. Most of us are doing a half-day cruise into Resurrection Bay. At least two members of our team are fishing. I wanted to do this, but it was more costly. Also, I thought taking it easy might be preferred amidst the long drywalling days.
Having seen the framing in the building, it looks like a LOT of drywall to be installed. Our team is not too big, and it is not mostly young, strong men. By the way, I do not consider myself a strong young man. That is no disrespect toward anyone on the team or to myself. It just seemed like a lot of work to do. In spite of that, I am confident God will bless our effort, and I expect to be impressed by our progress. Of course, we will need to thank God and praise Him for the blessing upon the team. I expect it to go well, aside from the minor usual "hiccups."
We have our last group meeting tomorrow evening. We did just one new team member with drywall experience. That is good. I have watched one drywall instructional video online, and I will do some more homework so I know at least a little bit about what to expect. I have never done drywall work, although I have done some other labor-intensive jobs. I expect some long days.
A few other notes I will mention. I have been asked to share a brief testimony or word of encouragement with the Seward congregation. Some of us have been asked by the mission pastor to do so. I have thought about what to say, but I am not totally sure what that will be. Also, we do have a fun day on Tuesday, June 11. Most of us are doing a half-day cruise into Resurrection Bay. At least two members of our team are fishing. I wanted to do this, but it was more costly. Also, I thought taking it easy might be preferred amidst the long drywalling days.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
My Last Group Mission Trip
In 2000, a group from Good News, our church at the time, went to Tijuana, Mexico, for several days. While there, we distributed clothing in a poor community, constructed the foundation for a very small house on a hillside, did some work in a community school, and served some of Tijuana's poorest in a landfill. While the poverty and way of life were hard to comprehend, it was an experience I still have great memories of. One of the great things about the experience is the bond created with the other team members.
For this trip, we flew to Los Angeles. We stayed at a halfway house there before and after we drove to Tijuana. Sadly, there was a homicide just up the street at a convenience store while we were out to church. In Tijuana, we gave medical attention to scavengers at a landfill. We also removed and replaced toilets at a Mexican school. We also drove down the coast and had a nice dinner at a restaurant in Ensenada. We saw a few sights in LA. What an adventure it was!
I now look forward to a different experience in Alaska. We will be in a beautiful place. There will be hard work to do as is usually the case on a trip like this. We will be serving and working alongside people of a different place and culture. I am excited. I am expectant we will be very productive, and I hope for opportunities to encourage and impact people spiritually. I know I will be impacted in a positive way. Long-lasting memories will be snapshots of a story I can tell years from now.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Alaska Mission Trip- Intro
I am excited about the opportunity to help rebuild a church damaged by heavy snow in a recent winter. The support letters are about ready to go. The cost of the trip is $1150, and I will be glad to have some folks invest with me in this work. We are going to Seward July 6-14. We have a good team and our first meeting is tomorrow evening. I am looking forward to making a difference in Alaska. I will put on this website more information about what we will be doing later.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Learning to Relax
Vacation should be partly defined by gaining peace and rest. One must relax and enjoy this time of freedom. This is hard to do. Have you ever noticed that? It is especially true for me. Perhaps this challenge is attributed partly to one's personality. For me, angst was a learned modus operandi, unfortunately.
I have thought many people have a hard time really letting go of the pressures and expectations of life. It must be a widespread difficulty to relax in true peace and enjoyment. Sometimes, it takes a deliberate conscious effort involving self-talk to truly relax and be at ease.
There are many things to oppose this interest. It could be our own tendency toward perfectionism. It could be simply selfishness. It can be challenging to accommodate children as they grow up. It could be a lack of contentment with oneself. Perhaps it is something else.
In any event, I now challenge myself to let down my guard. I want to enjoy whatever the moment has to offer. There is something great to see. It may not be just for my own enjoyment. I will allow peace and relaxation, knowing that those moments of leisure are okay and meant for boosting one's soul. Vacation means the opportunity to celebrate freedom and family, and I will value that with ease. I need to enjoy such time and not fret that it is fleeting. I am trying to learn to relax, truly relax.
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Thrill of Serving
This summer, our church has begun a community outreach to some needy families. After purchasing a truckload of reclaimed food, we spent a Saturday morning helping sort through pallets of various food products. Everything was organized for the grocery store format we are using to allow families to come in and pick up what they need. We have been looking forward to this meaningful opportunity.
One retired couple, specifically, has spent more than a year already getting the program started at a local school. The food backpack outreach puts food in the home of some of the neediest children each week during the school year. The faithfulness of this couple and some other folks put the church in a position to be able to expand the service opportunity.
Our new pastor had the previous experience of operating a food ministry in the Orlando area. He was able to skillfully implement the larger vision. Additionally, the vision was to involve everyone in the church willing to serve. I know I was looking forward to it.
Our whole family went to the gym adjacent to the church to sort the food. It was warm in there. Some food had to be thrown away. It took a while to organize a system to make the process efficient. It was hard work. And it was not exactly clean. Who knows where some of the food had come from or been stored previously? Nevertheless, I had a great time. It was so much fun for me to be able to give my energy to this project. My daughter remarked that she enjoyed the work, too. I remembered again how much fun it can be to serve.
On this past Sunday, I filled in to watch the toddlers in the children's ministry area. It is hard to teach them, because they either do not understand or do not care what I am saying. We communicate some bits about the lesson and trust some of that goes into their minds. We just play with them and keep them safe and love them. This is not as thrilling to me, though. It is harder, because the results are not so visible. When I finish serving in the toddler room, however, I realize it was good.
The opportunity to serve and work with other people to accomplish a task or fill a need really is often a fun time. It is amazing. When I think of all the leisure things I like to do, there is usually minimal benefit. There may be some physical exercise or some relationship-building with someone. Generally, frivolous activity has as the primary benefit my entertainment. I have seen again that serving other people with the great hope we all will grow spiritually and secure or advance in faith in Christ is really worthwhile. Using my energy and abilities in a capacity that helps other people is a great thrill, and I thank God for that.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Faith in Something True
It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the home team was down by one run. There were two outs, and no one on base. It was game three of a best-of-three series, and the winner was headed to Omaha for the College World Series. Two very good baseball teams had worked hard in the offseason, played a long season, and won a lot of long games to get to this point. As I sat in the outfield bleachers, I was feeling distraught. I am a fan, which is an abbreviation for fanatic. I had followed this team all season, and I knew the talent and skill they had. I knew they belonged at the College World Series, the ultimate destination for college baseball teams. I had great faith they would persevere and achieve that goal. Now, it seemed a dream about to die.
The odds were totally against the home team, and it would be a great disappointment to those guys. Several of them had been drafted to play professional baseball earlier in the week. They had been the top-ranked team in the country much of the season. They were very talented and had the best pitching. And, they were about to lose game three of the Super Regional at home, again, for the second year in a row. Or so it appeared. Nonetheless, they had faith in each other. The head coach had demonstrated faith in his players. Even some of the fans still had a "mustard seed" of faith.
Could they possibly score a run to tie the game with two outs and no one on base? That would send the game to extra innings. Then, the next batter had two strikes. This was sad. Some people behind me already left. On the next pitch, the batter hit a hard grounder up the middle of the field for a single. The next batter also hit a grounder up the middle. It hit the pitcher's foot, and rolled toward the shortstop. He could not make a play. Substitute runners were put into the game for the guys on base. The other team's coach checked on his pitcher to see if he was okay. He stayed in the game. Well, he walked the next batter on four straight pitches. The bases were loaded. Two outs.
The next batter stepped up to the plate. Spectators were standing throughout the ballpark. Could this really happen? The batter hit the ball, a grounder. It went back toward the pitcher, through the middle of the field, just past the glove of the diving shortstop. Two runs scored, and the team won the decisive game in a most improbable fashion. Fans jumped, cheered, high-fived, hugged, and otherwise celebrated the amazing win. The team dogpiled, hugged each other, and ran around the field, high-fiving fans in the bleachers.
What does it have to do with faith? The young men on the team had faith in each other, and they did not give up. They did what they had done all year. The used their skill and training to compete and play hard for nine innings (more or less in a few cases). When they fell behind by one run in the top of the ninth inning, it did not look good. I had faith in this team, too. They had superior talent. They knew how to win games (They set a school record for wins in a season.). Statistically, they were very impressive. By all measures, they deserved to be in the College World Series as one of the best college baseball teams in the country. Something seemingly miraculous had to happen for them to get there. They had faith in their ability, they did all they could do, and, in this case, good things happened. It sounds simple, but it is not easy.
Similarly, God is fully able. All things are possible with God. He is worthy of our faith. He really wants to come through for us. Of course, our desires and prayers should be according to His will. He is true to His Word. Sometimes, we are in a bottom-of-the-ninth-inning-two-outs-no-runners-on-base situation. Defeat is imminent. Then, faith matters. It is a question worth asking. Does faith really matter? Yes! If you read through the gospels, the first four books of the New Testament, you will see Jesus places a great value on a person's faith.
The object of one's faith is crucial. I know I need to put my faith in something or someone true and able to legitimately expect good results. If I ask my daughter to wake me at 6:30 so I can get up and ready for work, that might not work out. If I go another step and put faith in her to do it, that could be considered unfair and foolish. She is a child, and I should not depend on her for that. She may not be able to do it. One's faith must be invested into something or someone worthy and true. Of course, with people, there is a risk since we are prone to fail at times. With God, if we understand what we can know about Him through the Bible, our faith can be properly and justifiably placed. He is completely able and dependable.
We can all find reasons to have doubt, unbelief, and pessimism, but we can also make a choice to develop and practice faith. Faith can open the door to amazing experiences and blessings. Victory can be snatched from the jaws of defeat, as someone once so poignantly said. We know life's circumstances are rarely so trivial as a baseball game, but the elation of a great ending in one of life's great trials can be much more meaningful. We have all been stung by life's hardships, but choosing to put faith in something true is far better than always expecting the worst. Sometimes, our faith is rewarded in a most thrilling and amazing way.
The odds were totally against the home team, and it would be a great disappointment to those guys. Several of them had been drafted to play professional baseball earlier in the week. They had been the top-ranked team in the country much of the season. They were very talented and had the best pitching. And, they were about to lose game three of the Super Regional at home, again, for the second year in a row. Or so it appeared. Nonetheless, they had faith in each other. The head coach had demonstrated faith in his players. Even some of the fans still had a "mustard seed" of faith.
Could they possibly score a run to tie the game with two outs and no one on base? That would send the game to extra innings. Then, the next batter had two strikes. This was sad. Some people behind me already left. On the next pitch, the batter hit a hard grounder up the middle of the field for a single. The next batter also hit a grounder up the middle. It hit the pitcher's foot, and rolled toward the shortstop. He could not make a play. Substitute runners were put into the game for the guys on base. The other team's coach checked on his pitcher to see if he was okay. He stayed in the game. Well, he walked the next batter on four straight pitches. The bases were loaded. Two outs.
The next batter stepped up to the plate. Spectators were standing throughout the ballpark. Could this really happen? The batter hit the ball, a grounder. It went back toward the pitcher, through the middle of the field, just past the glove of the diving shortstop. Two runs scored, and the team won the decisive game in a most improbable fashion. Fans jumped, cheered, high-fived, hugged, and otherwise celebrated the amazing win. The team dogpiled, hugged each other, and ran around the field, high-fiving fans in the bleachers.
What does it have to do with faith? The young men on the team had faith in each other, and they did not give up. They did what they had done all year. The used their skill and training to compete and play hard for nine innings (more or less in a few cases). When they fell behind by one run in the top of the ninth inning, it did not look good. I had faith in this team, too. They had superior talent. They knew how to win games (They set a school record for wins in a season.). Statistically, they were very impressive. By all measures, they deserved to be in the College World Series as one of the best college baseball teams in the country. Something seemingly miraculous had to happen for them to get there. They had faith in their ability, they did all they could do, and, in this case, good things happened. It sounds simple, but it is not easy.
Similarly, God is fully able. All things are possible with God. He is worthy of our faith. He really wants to come through for us. Of course, our desires and prayers should be according to His will. He is true to His Word. Sometimes, we are in a bottom-of-the-ninth-inning-two-outs-no-runners-on-base situation. Defeat is imminent. Then, faith matters. It is a question worth asking. Does faith really matter? Yes! If you read through the gospels, the first four books of the New Testament, you will see Jesus places a great value on a person's faith.
The object of one's faith is crucial. I know I need to put my faith in something or someone true and able to legitimately expect good results. If I ask my daughter to wake me at 6:30 so I can get up and ready for work, that might not work out. If I go another step and put faith in her to do it, that could be considered unfair and foolish. She is a child, and I should not depend on her for that. She may not be able to do it. One's faith must be invested into something or someone worthy and true. Of course, with people, there is a risk since we are prone to fail at times. With God, if we understand what we can know about Him through the Bible, our faith can be properly and justifiably placed. He is completely able and dependable.
We can all find reasons to have doubt, unbelief, and pessimism, but we can also make a choice to develop and practice faith. Faith can open the door to amazing experiences and blessings. Victory can be snatched from the jaws of defeat, as someone once so poignantly said. We know life's circumstances are rarely so trivial as a baseball game, but the elation of a great ending in one of life's great trials can be much more meaningful. We have all been stung by life's hardships, but choosing to put faith in something true is far better than always expecting the worst. Sometimes, our faith is rewarded in a most thrilling and amazing way.
Motives--From the Heart
Recently at a church meeting, Robert prayed that our motives would be right. He prayed that our effort in an upcoming ministry would be for the glory of God. This prayer aligns with the Bible, and it is a consistent occurrence in the Bible that God is (to be) glorified. Since we are made in God's image, most people like some praise and glory, too. If one holds the Christian faith to be his or her truth, though, true worship is reserved for God. Often, if one seeks personal glory or recognition, this can affect the end result in a detrimental way. In a related note, motives were prominently addressed in the ministry and teachings of Jesus.
I want to think my motives are good and right. Of course, that is not always true. Robert's prayer got my attention. It served as a reminder to consider my own motives. I think motives are from the heart. They reveal our deeper desires and intentions. I am still thinking about this prayer; now I am writing about it. Sometimes, I might question my motives too much. I know it is better to question my motives than to ignore the issue completely. Motives are good indicators of the heart, a section on a spiritual report card perhaps.
We know about some of our wrong motives. Each of us has impure motives from time to time. If I recognize it, I must then self-govern and address the matter. Also, I need to ask for God's help. The Holy Spirit can help me here. I really want to know and keep my proper place in the Kingdom. I want my motives to be good and right.
I want to think my motives are good and right. Of course, that is not always true. Robert's prayer got my attention. It served as a reminder to consider my own motives. I think motives are from the heart. They reveal our deeper desires and intentions. I am still thinking about this prayer; now I am writing about it. Sometimes, I might question my motives too much. I know it is better to question my motives than to ignore the issue completely. Motives are good indicators of the heart, a section on a spiritual report card perhaps.
We know about some of our wrong motives. Each of us has impure motives from time to time. If I recognize it, I must then self-govern and address the matter. Also, I need to ask for God's help. The Holy Spirit can help me here. I really want to know and keep my proper place in the Kingdom. I want my motives to be good and right.
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