Sunday, May 18, 2014

What is the proper goal of my ministry to others?




If the biblical goal for every man is to be a disciple-maker, then every man must be ministering to others.

What is the proper goal of a man’s ministry to others?

o   Not attendance in an activity—but I can seek to increase it.

o   Not solving everyone’s problems—but sharing them is part of normal Christian community.

Proper goal is that people I minister to are growing in their personal relationships with Christ (something I cannot (and should not try to) directly control; although, I can first model it, then encourage it and seek to facilitate it, and mostly pray for it).

What, then, are the parameters I would use to identify such growth?

1.  Joy and discipline in personal time in Word and prayer (Ps 119:97, II Tim 3:16-17)

            Time in Word should be producing both knowledge and insight.

2.  Awareness of His presence and conversation with Him (I Thess 5:17)

3.  Becoming Christ-like in relationships (John 13-34-35)

4.  Developing a servant heart (Mark 10:45, Phil 2:7, Mark 9:35)

5.  Control of the flesh through the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16)

6.  Identifying and dealing with idols (Ex 20:3)

                                    Time and money
        Indicators:        Source of refreshment/ recharging

                                    Thoughts/ fantasies/ “dreams”

7.  Sharing faith with unbelievers and encouraging Christians (Matt 4:19, Heb 10: 24-25)

8.  Committed to a local church—using gifts  (Eph 2:21-22, Heb 10:24-25))

9.  Stepping out as  leaders/ initiators

o   A faithful man (II Tim 2: 2)

o   Led by Spirit (Rom 8:14)

o   Of proven character (Rom 5: 3-5)

o   Loving in deed and truth (I John 3:18)

 
 

 

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Mountain Aire


 Mountain fiddle,
whammydiddle.

let cove ring and high bald tremble.

Front-porch Celtic cousins stare, mingle, whittle,
te-dum-rinktum-hi-me-yo.


 
Through gap and holler, foller
dulcimer tones,

bagpipe drones.
banjo rankle, plunk, canter.
 


Flowers sing,
the highland fling.

Moss-covered ridge rock turning
in the rhythm.



                                                    Cabin at Tannehill State Park
                                               (Watercolor by Bob Cofield)

                                                                         
                                                                             Cosby, TN
                                                          (Photograph by Bob Cofield)