Windows On The Soul

Two of the more difficult tasks at work are trying to hire the right people, and laying off the wrong people. Apart from the basic technical skills for a job, the factors that make the difference between hiring and firing, relate to character. High on the list comes co-operability, being a good team member, adaptable to the group, teachable and manageable. Then of course there is honesty, not just in dealing with customers and the company, but honesty about oneself - to me, a danger sign is when a person has a too high (dishonest) opinion about themselves. When Jesus calls followers, we are called to discipleship (students/apprentices) [ Mt.18:3 ], to an honest, sober opinion of our sinful standing under God's judgement [ 1 Jn.1:9 ]. Accepting Jesus as Lord, means submitting our life to His management [ Jas.4:7 ] - totally, no divided loyalties [ Mt.6:24 ]. And of course we are called to membership of His "body", the church, to be a team member [ Rom.12:5 ], fulfilling ou...

What a six weeks the disciples must have gone through - first the despair of the crucifixion, then the disbelief and slow-dawning joy of the resurrection. Now notice how in anticipation of His 2nd leaving (ascension), Jesus turns the disciples vision outward with the command to " Go into all the world ", to " Feed His sheep" . Not only that, but Jesus promised an abiding "comforter" through His Holy Spirit, as well as the source of power and drive to fulfill the "command". How appropriate then that our Missions Month spans this same period, drawing to a climax on Pentecost Sunday. For surely attempts at missioning without the power of the Holy Spirit is an exercise in futility, and a life "filled with the spirit" without a mission is a contradiction, for it is the Holy Spirit that gives drive and direction. ---===X===--- Acts 2 "On the day of Pentecost...they were filled with the Holy Spirit...they spoke as the spirit gave ...

One of the greatest inhibitors to personal and church growth is the FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt). After the horror of Christ’s crucifixion, the incredulity then ecstasy of His resurrection and His times of sharing with His disciples, Jesus ascended to heaven. What did the disciples feel then? I’m sure they must have felt very “flat” after their mountain-top experiences, and probably uncertainty and doubts crept in - “ What do we do now?” , “ Why has He left us like this?” . In many ways, these phases in the birth of The Church mirror the phases in the birth and growth of our children. The teenage years are times of much questioning, of moving out from under the sheltering presence of parents, to discover one’s directions and goals in the ‘real’ world - these are the “Why?” years. Then the young adult blossoms, the world is at their feet and they are prepared to take on anything, with courage and determination. Just as parents must hold back in order to release thei...