Impact

"Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as we make use of. One person gets a week's value out of a year while another person gets a full year's value out of a week."

Charles Richards

We, as a local church, have just come off of one of our most anticipated events of the year: Pastor Luis Martinez' visit from Guatemala. Luis is the pastor we worked with in 2009, and the one we're preparing to work with again in 2011 (contact me if you're interested in building homes, clothing children & sharing the Gospel with us!). His ministry is called, IMPACTO, because they are committed to impacting the lives of both the people in his country and in ours through interaction on behalf of God's purposes.

I couldn't help but link his ministry to the above thought, though I confess, I don't even remember where I first saw it. Mr. Richards strikes on one of the key truths of life: our impact is largely determined by us. In other words, what we get out of life is more often than not determined by how we approach it.

Who hasn't known someone who was a master of idleness? Someone who could take more time doing less work than anyone you've ever known (hopefully this isn't you). One of the challenges I've always given to my kids was originally left with me by my Dad: Give an honest days work for an honest day's pay and you'll never be unemployed for long, if at all.

At the core of this counsel is the observation that a huge number of people are looking not to do the above, but to do as little as possible while making as much as they can. They have yet to discover the almost magical truth of Mr. Richards...and the Bible (see Luke 16:10-12). These are the ones who get a week's value out of a year.

By God's grace, this dare not be us as Christians! May we be among those who can "do twice the work in half the time" - not because we're a "whirling dervish" - but because we embrace each day as an opportunity for impact and refrain from pursuing a degree in idleness.

So, how many days are left in your year? The decision and the power are yours, granted to you by Almighty God. What you do with what is given to you will make all the difference in the world...and in the world to come. Let's make an impact today!

"Good" Or "Godly"?

"The true expression of Christian character is not in good-doing, but in God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit divine characteristics in your life, not just good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly."
Oswald Chambers

I confess that this thought from Oswald Chambers brought me up a little short - as it should - and has caused me to do a great deal of "pondering" over the last few days...maybe it will do the same for you?

There is an enormous emphasis in our culture today on "good-doing," manifested in countless ways by many highly visible people. But for the Christian, while admirable, this is not enough. We dare not be only good humans exhibiting good human characteristics.

Think about it: many people can give good things to others, but only the Christian, by definition, can give Christ, and thus the things that go with Him. So what is the difference between "good characterisitcs" and "divine" ones?

Scripture makes it clear that, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control" (Galatians 5:22-23). These don't come by being a "good human" but from having the Holy Spirit's transforming power working in us.

For my own thinking, I did a little "re-phrasing" of this list, and have come to believe that the non-negotiable "divine" characteristics for the Christian are:

• Unconditional Love
• Irrepressible Joy
• Irrational Peace
• Unlimited Grace & Forgiveness
• Unrelenting Compassion
• Sacrificial Generosity
• Consistent Self-Control

That does not mean that we have these mastered, but that they are "divine" characteristics that should be growing in both quantity and quality in our lives. No amount of being a "good human" will accomplish these - only God's Spirit in us can.

Now, the moment of truth: Am I known only as a "good human" or as "God-like" in the characteristics of my life? God forbid that after my life is lived, all that anyone will be able to say is, "Kirk was a good person." No, I cannot settle for anything less than to be like Christ Himself, full of divine characteristics that no one can explain away and that draw others to Him! How about you?