I am usually pretty tired this part of the year. I have been interviewing many people. I really have enjoyed many of the people I talked to, as is the usual, which is why I love my job so much.
I met one woman, who has been a christian for five years and in that time has been to communist Asia for an extended time to help equip the believers, share the truth of Jesus with her family and now they are followers of the Truth, is a Bible study small group leader at the university, is highly respected by her peers, is about to graduate and is asking if she can work at the camp. I am asking her not to come work for me but to continue her ministry at the place where I do mine. Partners in ministry. Isn't that what it is about? Sitting with her outside a Starbucks, on a beautiful winter day after an intense storm, was the most refreshing spirit filled time of conversation in a long time.
I am having another conversation with a youth pastor who is asking how Calvin Crest can put our staff in the boys and girls areas during free time so that his youth group will not do any more pranks and are safe. They are the ones doing the pranks.
I got a call from a young woman who is looking for an opportunity to teach at CC this summer so that her resume will look good when she begins her search for being a teacher..
I am having conversations with people who have served on staff about their public foul language and excessive drinking as they inquire if they can be in leadership next summer.
A biweekly Bible Study that I lead where 2 out of 22 adults bring a Bible.
I just heard that a man that has been on my case for many years because I challenge the church, is a part of a group who is leading his church to leave the PCUSA.
I wonder about all the conversations, conferences, meetings, and other times together where we have talked about christian behavior but never bore fruit of the Spirit. We are very excited about attending meetings where we know some well known people of Christiandom will be the keynote. The ones who just put out the book on what is the latest movement in the church. It is sad if we think that the latest movement is happening and no one is seeing the fruit of the Spirit somewhere in the first few weeks of it.
If the fruit isn't there, I ain't following. If it involves looking into Ikea catalogs and not more into Scriptures, I can't do it again. The more that it is about technology and less about relationship and hope, it is through.
"Test everything, hold on to that which is good." How do you know if it is good, check for fruit. Not signs and wonders. Fruit.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...
I have to ask myself, am I more concern about shopping or being?
6 comments:
TB--I'm glad to see you re-emerge in the cyber world. I've missed your discerning voice....
This is a great word:
"If the fruit isn't there, I ain't following. If it involves looking into Ikea catalogs and not more into Scriptures, I can't do it again."
This was really convicting and refreshing for me. Rarely do those two things occur at once in me. Good...good...word. I question it in myself, and you know what else? I have no idea why I keep looking at people waiting for the fruit to show. Leadership people especially. If it isn't there already, why do I keep staring at/listening to/waiting for it?!
Keep it up my dear friend....
Tony,
I was sitting at my desk today and the most random thought went through my head, "I wonder if Tony Biasell has a blog?" I can't tell you how refreshing it was to find your blog. I hope you keep posting. "The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope" (Col1)
Brad Bishop
Email me, Brad with your contact info.
progdir@me.com
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Rom 5:5
When a farmer sows a seed, he knows the tree will not spring up instantly tomorrow. There is a period of patiently waiting with joyful expectancy, knowing that what is sown will grow- first as a sprout, then into a sapling before it becomes a tree that bears fruit over the years. Similarly, as "spiritual farmers" we must keep watering, fertilising and waiting with a good attitude of hope. Patience is not just about waiting and waiting... it is about waiting joyfully and anticipating God's goodness to come through. Let us not be deceived that fruit comes about from how hard we tilled the ground, how much water we watered, how often wew fertilised the soil... Paul made it clear, only GOD causes people to grow. =)
It may seem to be taking forever, but if you have prepared these hearts and sown good seeds of God's grace, mercy, goodness and love into these hearts, then know this - the fruits of the spirit will pop up. =)
When you feel weary, remember to go back to the well that doesn't run dry- the Scriptures. Be fed and edified by the Abeer- the food of the champions- that drip off its pages. As you feed others, remember to be fed yourself.
SHALOM!
Praying for you and your dear ones from Singapore,
Geri
I was thinking the exact same thoughts as Geri’s post the other day!!!
I remember at Calvin Crest standing amongst the Giant Sequoias and marveling at the great disproportion of the size of the seed to the size of the Sequoia. Looking at the seed only, I say, “No way!”. Looking at the seed and the Sequoia together, I see “assurance” of the things hoped for and I see “evidence” of things unseen.
We know Giant Sequoias exist in small, seemingly insignificant, seeds and that we have this Kingdom of God Treasure in knowingly insignificant earthen vessels. “The power of an endless life clothed in the likeness of sinful nature” (Heb)
Reimagining the “Groves” of God’s promises…
Brad
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