Do the work at hand

In 5 months, we hope to be zipping our suitcases for a long trip across the Pacific. Before we go, there's work to be done.

The meeting before the meeting: friends visiting
and catching up on Christmas events

W's begun his final semester at the university, so this was a busy week of preparation. The class syllabi and websites are done; he's ready to teach on Monday morning. Meanwhile we're hosting guests twice a week and itinerating on the weekends.

Today we're spoke at a seniors lunch before heading across Snoqualmie Pass. The torrential rain and occasional snow were foul but the roads were only slushy for a few miles. God answered Jean's petition for safe travels, gripping my hands in prayer before we left Creekside Church.

Tomorrow we preach together in the Sunday morning adult class and service in Kennewick. W and I have notes on many scripture passages. Integrating what we have and what we're learning together is a lively process. Back and forth. Writing notes, deleting extra material, talking it through. What a privilege to do God's work together.

What is the work God is calling you to do? 

Seniors with a great sense of humor and pragmatic thinking:
why exhaust friends before Christmas when
you can keep celebrating into the New Year?

Here are a few questions that help me evaluate work, confirming that we're not filling time with things that don't matter:

• Do we sense God's approval on this opportunity? "Would Jesus be comfortable doing this?"
• Does this work need doing? Sometimes we're assigned things that are diversions or someone's hobby horse. Sometimes we're the only ones within hand's reach of an onerous task that is important but not desirable. "Just do it!"
• If it needs doing, are we the best person to do it? Is there someone else who would learn from/ enjoy/ thrive on doing this? However, we can't just shove a chore to someone else because it's menial or "beneath us." After all, Jesus served in low and high tasks.
• How can we best serve God and others in completing this? What spiritual gifts (serving, helping, teaching, etc.) could help us do a good job?
  
  The outcome might include benefits to us: developing spiritual discipline, good character, or skills. Maybe we need God's grace to do something with a good attitude or light heart. Some things may be easy, while others may take great effort. "Whatever you do, do it with all your might as serving the Lord."

The next time you are handed an opportunity or are asked to undertake something, pause to think about the wonder of God at work in the world - through you and me.

Read more:
*As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. Psalm 103:13 NEV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17 NKJV

*In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 ESV

Moravian Prayer: What a wonderful and awesome God we serve! You sacrificed your pure and sinless son for the sake of the world. We cannot thank you enough. Accept our praise, love, devotion, and worship for we can never, ever repay this debt. Glory and honor to you, Lord. Amen.

31 Days in December #29: Speaking together

Two heads = one message

W and I preached together for the first time today, filling in for a pastor while he's gone. We've spoken together, but never been assigned a scripture passage to preach together.

We're planning to lead this way in Indonesia. What a joy to anticipate the future. What we're learning about working together:

1. Two can be better than one. Though it's a model we don't often see, preaching and speaking together as partners keeps the listeners engaged and focused. 
2. Flexibility is key. One's preferred style doesn't always work for a team effort, either in process or delivery.
3. Conversations between us expand our own insights. W and I approach scripture from different angles: he is a theologian, while I read from a pastor's POV.
4. Trust is important between partners. Neither of us worries that the other will come up with a wild rabbit-trail. Neither cares to hog the spotlight, either. After 36 years of marriage, we are confident in each other.
5. Prepare carefully and improvise wisely. Public presentations are a pleasure when you're not locked into perfectionism. He'd rescue me if I got stuck and I'd do the same for him. 
6. Trust God's Spirit to speak to the community of faith. This kind of presentation can be riskier than the traditional one-to-many lecture (one person in control of the content and delivery.) We shared what God gave us and invited listeners to respond publicly; that opened the conversation: the congregation shared their own comments and questions. What was God saying to them? What have they heard? In the process, the Spirit spoke to the whole community. (That thrills us!)

Collaboration requires
a steep learning curve

Have you collaborated with someone you trust and respect? 

• How did the partnership work for you? 
• Were you flexible enough to maximize your strengths? 
• Was the outcome what you expected?
• What would you try, improve, or omit the next time around?

Read more:

*I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. Psalm 143:5 NIV

*I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us. Isaiah 63:7 ESV

*(Paul wrote:) I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11-12 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, our Incarnate God, you are the wondrous gift that awes us. Continue to reveal to us your gospel, so we may always be drawn to meditate on it and proclaim it. Amen.