Update #162 - Filled vs. Led

“So then, my friends, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to. For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live. Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children.” Romans 8:12-14

Po Lin Monastery Viewpoint, Hong Kong

How do you make decisions? What process do you follow when analyzing a situation? From whom do you gain, garner, gather input?

We, at The Institute, have asked this question a lot – and the answers vary. Most of our clients get an idea or ‘unction’ (while exercising, in the shower, talking to others, at church) then chat with their staff, spouses, family, friends about the idea and its probability; after the ‘due diligence’ stage the executive team, husband/wife, leaders make the final decision.

I think this is a pretty normative process – proposal, research, decision – whether it is for a new pair of shoes or a departmental addition. Common sense and best practices usually are the guiding parameters.

The next question we usually throw out on the table is: Where is God in the process? Where do you pause to pray, obtain his opinion, understand his viewpoint?

Some of our clients look at us in wonderment – even though they are “Christian” companies – they are stymied at the thought God would be interested in whether they implement a new HR training program, purchase a new asset for the office, or hire a new driver for the CEO. Others say they pray God would guide the process but after the initial request don’t check back to ask God’s opinion; in essence they are saying “Bless the process God – bless what we are doing.”

I can only imagine God, more aptly, Holy Spirit is a bit miffed by this.

When we give our lives to Jesus, when we surrender ourselves into his care, his lead, his kingdom, he gives us a gift; Holy Spirit enters our lives and takes up residence. He doesn’t come and go, he doesn’t take breaks, he doesn’t sleep – he is alive and active 24x7. We are triune beings – spirit, mind and body – but most of us live a dual reality.

We take incredible care of our physical body (eating, exercising, exfoliating) and mind (acquaint, ascertain, absorb) – pouring time and money into their improvement and upkeep. Developmentally they are like supreme bodybuilders. In contrast, our spiritual maturity is puny, unexercised, underdeveloped and wimpy. Because of this asymmetry, on the rare occasion the spirit does throw something into the ring for consideration the bodybuilders become bouncers and throw it out.

“That is crazy!” “What are you thinking?” “Where did that ludicrous idea come from?” “That has never been done before – where is your common sense?” “You didn’t really think that through did you?” “Have you been drinking?”

God doesn’t always make sense. In fact, more often than not what he proposes is a bit crazy, over the edge and unhinged from our human point of view. But, as time passes and our spiritual robustness improves the well-tended bouncers have more and more difficulty eradicating input and preventing action. Spirit-led lives most likely will not stay on the “normal” track – and they are anything but boring!

So, I ask you again: How do you make decisions? Are they common sense, best practice led? Are they bouncer bound? Is the Spirit asked for its opinion? What keeps the Spirit from having greater input? Fear? Are you Spirit-filled but not Spirit-led? If yes, what steps can you take to improve your spiritual robustness? What fun adventure are you missing while keeping the bouncers happy?

Updates:

Travel – I’m safely home and dealing with jet lag (again). It isn’t too bad, most of the time I am sleeping well, but last night after just 4 hours I was staring at the ceiling. I was mighty productive before 6am!

Work – Thanksgiving Holiday tomorrow then off to the Call2All conference in LA on Monday for a week… if you are attending, look for me at the rep booth!

Personal – Camera is still dead. I am going to take it in to see if it can be repaired after I get back from LA… I can hope!

Requests:

Travel – safe drive to/from LA, air tickets to Seattle

Work – for traffic at our Call2All booth – nothing like standing there for HOURS with no one to chat with!

Personal – my camera to be healed, and for my jet lag to be fully, finally abolished (80% there!)

Update #161 - Friendship Defined

“No longer do I give you the name of servants; because a servant is without knowledge of what his master is doing: I give you the name of friends, because I have given you knowledge of all the things which my Father has said to me.” John 15:15

Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong

In September of 2006 I asked God what exactly he meant by calling me his ‘”friend” (John 15). I understood my relationship to him in terms of “Savior”, “Redeemer”, “Master”, “Lord”; but “Friend”? That had me baffled.

How does a friend of God act? What does a friend of God do - especially when this “friend” is Lord, Creator, Supervisor of the Universe?

After a lot of pondering it was like God and I had the following conversation:

“Picture your friend Kim.”

Pictured.

“When you are with her and you notice she needs something, do you ask her if you can meetthat need or do you just meet it?”

“I just meet it.”

“Do the same with me, you notice a need and you meet it”

“Oh, ok. I can do that.”

“Picture your friend Kim again”

Pictured.

“She calls you and asks if you can help her with something, a ‘if you can’ type thing.

What do you do?”

“Well, I see if I can meet her need.”

“Do the same with me. If I ask something of you, see what you can do to meet it.”

“Oh, ok.”

After pondering some more I think “Whoa Jesus. This sounds just like service. How is being your friend different from being your servant?”

Threshing through the scripture again I discovered the difference. Friends have access to all the knowledge God has given Jesus. Servants just do, friends know why. Now, the “why” may not be immediately known – but as Jesus’friends, we can ask.

I decided I could do the friend thing: “Ok God, it’s cool. I can do the friend thing.”

Then came a flood of questions:

“Hey God, just, how do I notice your needs? Let me rephrase, I mean the ones I am supposed to meet? Ya know, needs are everywhere! And I am a bit overwhelmed, I can’t look out my window without noticing a guy standing at the bus stop in the rain needing an umbrella, the lady needing a 50 pound bag of dog food taken to her condo, the guy whose car never starts on the first try…the list goes on and on and on. Which ones do you want me to meet?”

“The ones you are able to.”

“Ok. Um, I don’t have an umbrella - that is out. I have a cranky ankle today and can’t carry much weight for a distance - that is out. I have NO mechanical expertise at all - that is out. Ok Lord, I have just disqualified myself from all the needs I just noticed. Um, now what?”

“Pray for them.”

“Ok. I can pray for each of them. Praying, yep, praying I can do. What do I pray for them? Do I ask for their needs to be met? That you will be known to them? That they will have a good day? That you will bless them?”

“Yep.”

“I can do that!”

I think it boils down to this…meet the needs you can and pray for the rest. That is what being a friend to Jesus all is about.

I think I can do that, can you?

Updates:

Travel – We have a team in India finishing their first venture week – read about what they are up to: http://repurposing.biz/fall-india-venture/. Linda is in Indonesia while Brett, Lyn and I are in Seoul, South Korea teaching Transforming Society, Repurposing Business, Repurposing Capital, Convergence and a bit on LEMON Leadership – we are here until the 20th.

Work – Fun and crazy! See above… and several of us head to the Call2All conference in LA the week after Thanksgiving.

Personal – My camera is wonky! I am not sure what happened – took a few snaps at a lovely ancient palace and then a lavender/grey/golden leaf-like design appeared across the screen and it is now unresponsive. Sigh. I really would like God to fix it so I can take pictures while I am in Seoul!!!

Requests:

Travel – Save travel for me, Brett / Lyn, Linda and the Chennai team.

Work – For continued forum bookings, book sales, and for our upcoming January training’s roster to fill; also for new cars.

Personal – my camera to be healed, and for my jet lag to be fully, finally abolished (80% there!).