Holy Discontent

Well, it didn't take long for the first test of this commitment to come along. Waking up at 4:30 a.m. with thoughts that needed to be written down ... so here goes!

Holy Discontent. Bill Hybels spoke about this at a Leadership Summit some years ago, and it made quite an impact on me then. Bill Hybels calls "Holy Discontent" the "Popeye Effect," because when pushed, Popeye would respond with "That's all I can stands!" What is our "Popeye moment?" What does it take for us to get to the point that we just can't take it anymore, we have to stop being frustrated about it and do something?

Yesterday I attended an apologetics.com workshop at Bay Farm Community Church. "Apologetics" comes from the Greek word "apologeia," which means "to defend." Christians are exhorted to be ready at any time, any place to be prepared to give a defense for what they believe, but to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). The speaker, Richard Park, made a statement that echoed what has been MY Holy Discontent ... Christians are called to be a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). You know, the secular world might call "holy discontent" a "pet peeve," although that's not quite a strong enough sentiment. For me, it completely drives me crazy that most churches set apart those called to "full time ministry." We are ALL, let me repeat ALL, called to full time ministry. Whether you are a pastor, public school teacher, small business owner, corporate executive, or stay-at-home Mom, God has called each and every one of us to a certain purpose. We serve Him through that purpose no matter what that might be. Hybels goes on to ask, "what is so important to you, that asking you not to do it would be like asking you not to breathe?" It totally gets under my skin to see Youth A who has made the decision to go to seminary and into church ministry brought before the church, prayed over, given church scholarships, and by their actions lauded as a "better Christian" than Youth B who feels just as called to go to culinary school and open a restaurant! Or become that public school teacher, small business owner, corporate executive, stay-at-home Mom ... well, you get the picture. We need to bring EVERY youth before the church and pray over them whether they are going to a Christian university, secular university (they need the prayers more than ANY other!), graduate school, etc. All Christians are in Christ's ministry, wherever we have been placed.

There is a Part II of this Holy Discontent for me. Seminaries do not prepare pastors to be leaders. They go to seminary and they spend LOTS of time learning how to understand Hebrew and Greek ... and how to prepare and deliver sermons ... but only a handful provide any type of instruction on how to effectively lead a church. No courses on organizations, conflict resolution, team building, crisis management, etc. In fact, many churches run away screaming in the other direction when you even MENTION these kinds of things, because those are "of the world."

I have a PhD in public administration and public affairs. I have worked with many graduate students in dealing with issues at their organizations, and I have personally consulted with organizations that are struggling with those kinds of issues in growth, change, crisis. Many years ago, when I attended my first Leadership Summit, God spoke to me through a message by Bishop T.D. Jakes. He said, "do what you do for Me." So for years I've been planning on doing just that ... God blessed me with an amazing opportunity to get education and training, and that education and training is just as valuable to Him and His work, as it is to the public university where I teach. I've allowed discouragements from the faith-community to derail me; but no more. This year is going to be about moving forward, letting go, and letting God.

The year begins

Recently, I underwent a major life change. My military husband received orders that transferred us from the East Coast to the West Coast! That meant leaving everything familiar for everything unfamiliar! It also meant being completely on my own for the first time in my life. Since my daughters are older (19 & 22), they made the decision to stay in Virginia, which has been very difficult for me. My husband got underway within a month after we arrived in California, and just days before our household goods arrived to move into our new home. So I got to do that all by myself! This was, actually, a blessing in two ways. One, it kept me busy! Not much time for sadness! It also let me put things away and organize as I wanted. I'm sure you ladies out there (and some guys) can truly appreciate that :-)

So here I am completely on my own in a new place, a new city, and what feels like a new culture! Thankfully we are living in an area that isn't quite the culture shock that some of the other cities around me could have been!

I've had a lot of time to think. I'm getting ready to start a First Place 4 Health group next week, and started reading some of the material recently. A certain phrase just kept grabbing me - "Give Me a year." So, I'm giving God my very best for the next year. Mind, heart, body, soul. Commitment to learning. Commitment to the small group. Commitment to exercise. Commitment to eating right. Although, I've also been convicted about the eating part. After reading lots of things, I don't think the low fat-low cal-low carb is the way to go. I think our life is all about balance, and I think it is about enjoying what God has given us. So I'd much rather have a small portion of something I really like that tastes really good, than force down a large portion of something nasty that won't satisfy and then I'll eat junk later to make up for it! I think God's creation is good and He wants us to enjoy it all ... in moderation, of course. But I'm trying very hard to avoid any foods with preservatives or things I can't pronounce. For example, my peanut butter is from Trader Joe's and it has organic peanuts and sea salt. Doesn't get much better than that. :-) So, I'm scheduling exercise a month at a time as much as possible. Then everything else can work around that. And I'm trying new things, like shadowboxing and afro-bellydancing! I think variety is important, and fun. It is all about an active LIFESTYLE. And letting my life be all for Him! When I do that, I've found everything else seems to fall in place. It's how I met my amazing hubby!!! :-)

I'm also participating in a "Biggest Loser" competition with the East Bay Coast Guard Spouses Club. So a little extra incentive doesn't hurt. In fact, since arriving in California at the end of June, I have lost 14 pounds. The journey has begun.