Wrapping it Up - Fear of Looking Foolish

It's been a great study! As a lion chaser, it was encouraging for M. Batterson to treat the art of lion chasing as a positive and sought after life character. Often in my own life, I have wondered why I was geared toward living on the edge when so many in our culture choose the safe, less risky life. It is because I've discovered a stronger presence of God while on the edge then anywhere else. It requires faith and the appearance of foolishness to live this life. It is where I choose to be.

"Faith is the willingness to look foolish" M.Batterson

Consider David and Goliath. Without God, David not only looked foolish but was foolish. He had no experience in giant killing. He only had minimal weaponry. He was undersized. Underprivileged. Underencouraged. He was just about 'under' everything. But, there was one thing for sure. David did not lack confidence in his God and lived life to the max. David knew what it was like to take a lion and a bear by the throat and squeeze the life out of them. He knew what it was like to sleep on a bear skin rug and wear a lion skin coat to tend the sheep.

David knew humility in tending the sheep and David knew courage in training for the big kill. Goliath was going to go down! How's the verse go that says, 'Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world'? David appeared foolish running at Goliath. So foolish that Goliath may have thrown his head back laughing. That's when his armor protected forehead was exposed and David let his rock fly. Whack! Goliath goes down! David faith goes up! God grins.

We as "support staffers" have a unique role to play in the life of our church and the lives of our pastors. We are to be compassionate for Christ and build that compassion into our jobs. We are to hold up the arms of the pastors when they tire by being quick to encourage and help. We are to love the work we do and enthusiastically embrace the work we'd rather not do. We are to serve without fear of appearing foolish.

Christ was not normal. He lived his life without fear. We must work passionately for Christ in our staff support roles without fear. We are to be confident God is at work in us to produce the highest quality product possible with the talents He has blessed us with. We are to serve without fear. We are to serve God who has given each of us a unique set of skills and talents. There is no one like you to better serve faithfully and uniquely foolish as you.

Playing It Safe is Risky

Being a lion chaser, it is difficult for me to imagine playing it safe. I know what I think it might look like. It might look like being in the military during peacetime. There is structure. There is discipline. There is authority. There are defined expectations. When I joined the military, my dad's advice was, 'never volunteer for anything'. If you are not a lion chaser, this might seem like good reasonable advice. But, is it really? What will our work environment look like if there are no volunteers?


Consider Peter. Was he a risk taker? You betcha! When Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water. He was taking great risk. The story doesn't say he had a safety line tied to him. It says he stepped out with Jesus' encouragement. When Peter cut off the guards ear, he was taking a great risk. In fact, in both examples Peter was risking his life. What is fascinating for me is that Peter likely did not give the initial action even a second thought. He just did it. Peter likely had a life time of risk taking behind him. First, baby steps. Then, as he grew in faith he naturally took bigger steps. At work, might we consider what baby steps we can take to grow in faith while taking risks.

God's word tells us to count the cost before we start a project. The highest cost we might pay would be the failure of disobedience. This is really the core truth of lion chasing. God wants our obedience and faith. They go hand in hand. Because He is who He says he is and His character doesn't change, it is highly likely you will have many opportunities to demonstrate your faith in obedient acts before the Father. With your obedience, you will be chasing a lion in a pit on a snowy day. This goes with the author's thought that no risk is by far riskier than taking a risk.

From this perspective, it is encouraging to know we are all running the same race. God desires us to be obedient in our risk taking. He will be there, just as He was with Peter with His hand out. Jesus has come to serve and to save. We are to be Christ-like. In the work place, how should we react to risk takers?

LION CHASING IN THE WORKPLACE

THOUGHT: “The lion encounter was as unplanned as a toothache”. Mark Batterson

Have you ever wondered how much of your faith or Christianity plays into your daily workplace activities? It would seem, all that is required of you as a Christian would be courtesy toward others, don’t steal, don’t slander, etc. But what if there is much more? If you believe the author’s premise that we are guaranteed uncertainty in life, then it has to spill over into work. How much of your success at work is determined by your ability to deal with uncertainty? What are some examples of uncertainty in your work?

Some people are lion chasers. Some people run from lions. Some people ignore lions. Some people structure their lives so as to avoid lions and others structure to guarantee they will have lions to chase. What type of person are you? How does this impact your opportunity for success in the work place. What are your employer’s expectations? Does your employer want you chasing lions?

This raises a key question: what is success at work? Raises. At-a-boys/girls. Promotions. Better position. More freedom. More authority. Can success be defined in terms of abundance? If so, you need to intently consider what the true definition of abundance is. I believe it to be, “God’s perfection of His will and purpose in your life”. Is it likely God’s will for you to chase lions at work? One gains strength in the struggle.

How do the following thoughts by the author impact you at work?

1> Embracing uncertainty is a component of faith. If you want to reach your God-given potential and fulfill your God-given destiny, sometimes you have to run from security and chase uncertainty at work.

2> Lion chasers challenge the status quo at work.

3> Plan your career, but be watchful for the lion. It may be the biggest challenge with the greatest pay back.

4> Do we really believe God is sovereign when events seem to dictate otherwise at work.

Live Your Life With a Story to Tell

Pastor John asked the question, "Are you living your life in a way that is worth telling stories about?" I am afraid of needles. No, that's not right. I am afraid of the pain that needles bring. When I was young, I got real sick. My mother took me to the doctor and he said, 'this shot may hurt a little'. It was bad. It was real bad. It really hurt. It was one of those shots where you see the pain in the face of the nurse giving it. So, I carry that fear with me. The anticipation of the pain the needle is going to bring me.

Last week I cracked a tooth. Have you ever tried to keep smiling with the pain from a cracked tooth always present in the forefront of everything you are doing? Smiles aren't cheap. They cost when the pain from a bad tooth is making the whole side of your face hurt. The solution is easy. Right? Just run to the dentist and get the problem taken care of. You might not have the ready cash to spend, but it is necessary so it makes sense to just whip out the credit card and make the pain go away. But there was a problem....

I had made a decision earlier in the year to take the Bible verse literally, "Neither a lender or borrower be". Cora agreed that would be a good thing. Well I didn't have the money for a dentist, so I (friends and family, also) began praying. I don't know what others prayed, but I prayed for God to heal my tooth. After 3 days of incredible pain. God did not heal my tooth and my prayer changed to, "God it hurts too bad to know what to pray. Please help me to pray such that I experience your abundance in this painful situation". I was in the pit with a lion on a snowy day and I wasn't coming out until God saved me. This was appropriately on Thanksgiving Day. I believe this to be in the humor of God.

So Wednesday Pastor Dave feeling compassion on me, gives me a name of guy who is a dentist and his personal cell number. I called him from the church on Friday and left a message. I'm not sure exactly what I said. But, it contained the information that I had little money and a big tooth ache. Maybe he could help? I prayed a bit and continued working while thinking I'd really wanted God to heal my tooth, because I am chasing God. I believe God is the same today as He was thousands of years ago and we serve a miraculous God. I want that God to be a part of my life and I don't want to miss anything. But, I am beginning to wonder if the lion will be the one climbing out of the pit on a snowy day.

Dentist Rob picked up my message and in God's humor immediately pushed the erase button on his cell phone. Then, I guess thought, "whoops"! So he surfed to the Grace Point website and found my email address and shot me a message that he wanted to talk. He thought he might be able to help. I got the message and gave him a call. Have you ever called a doctor or dentist and said you didn't have any money and would they treat you? I didn't expect the conversation to last very long. At this point in the adventure I don't know who Rob is and frankly my expectations are not very high, but the lion is breathing down my neck.

Paraphrased, I tell Dentist Rob on the phone, that I don't know where his beliefs are when it comes to God, but I am on a quest. I want to see God at work. I've prayed for healing and the tooth still hurts. Finally, I figure out who Rob is and his faithful walk with God. What an encouragement that was. God was at work! Rob asked me where was I? I said I was at the church and he said good. He would pack up his stuff and come right over. Do what? Yep! He said he would pick up the stuff he needed and come right over. Get the picture? I bet he's bringing needles, also. Ha!

I set up a chair in the hallway behind the stage and borrowed a spot light and mic stand to hold it. Dentist Rob showed up with a hand full of sterile tools, needles and whatever. He borrowed some rubber gloves and said he thought the stage spot light was a great idea. He said it'd be about a ten minute process and I'd be done. Awesome. I sat down. Tilted my head back and he shot me up with deadener. I lost count how many times, but I can tell you I was praying. I was praying for God's grace and an easy tooth extraction. After about an hour and in God's humor, Dentist Surgeon Rob says, "well it's time to go to the hospital. If I had a hammer and chisel I could get it out, but will need the air drills at the hospital. Let's go." Did I mention, I had little money and refused to borrow my way out of the problem?

So back to the pit with the lion on a snowy day. I made a choice to live debt free, regardless of the cost. In the pit, the cost seemed high. I had plenty of time to pray in the pit as Rob wrestled with the Lion. I wonder if he knew he was in the pit?

Before the extraction, I prayed over and over again, "God this really hurts. Thank you for the times when the pain subsides. God, please heal my tooth. But God if you choose not to, I understand you are God and whether you heal my tooth or not, I know and am confident you can. So God, please don't let me miss the truth that I will learn from this experience. God please help me to pray the prayers that will be a blessing to others."

And you know what? God is faithful. Rob and I came out of the pit and share the coat of a lion on a cold day.......

The Art of Reframing

"The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a Heaven out of Hell and a Hell of Heaven". John Milton

Mark B. says, "opportunities often look like insurmountable obstacles". The opposite of this statement would be, insurmountable obstacles often look like opportunities. So which one is it? Does it matter? Reality versus perception. I like the idea of insurmountable obstacles being considered first, because the obstacle is considered for what it is: insurmountable.

Then, you accept God for who he is and His promises of being able to do what He says He will do. The insurmountable obstacle becomes an opportunity. It's not an opportunity upfront. It becomes an opportunity by the grace of God and His promises. To consider the event as an opportunity upfront seems to belittle size and ferociousness of the lion. Lions are predators and have big teeth. They also travel with friends.

Lion Chasers Defy the Odds and ......

"Lion chasers defy the odds and make their Father proud." I've chased a lot of lions in my life. The chase has involved some incredible adventures. I need to consider the possibility as the book says, "that the Father was proud every time I chased a lion".

What about when I (out of stupidity) grab the lion by the tail and am dragged into the snowy pit. Can you hear me crying for help? Can God hear me? Will God save me?

This one thing I know for sure, God can save if He chooses!

Purpose of the Blog

The Grace Point support staff is being led by Pastor John Walters in the study of a book titled, 'In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day' . This blog will provide a convenient forum to share Spiritual insight, thoughts and impressions as you feast on the content of the book.

The first chapter of "Locking Eyes With Your Lion" was captivating. Be encouraged to jump in and contribute your thoughts and chase your first lion. It may be your biggest opportunity!