Archives For November 30, 1999

What if God wants us IN the way? 

Charles Kiser —  May 12, 2016 — 4 Comments

You’ve probably heard or used, like I have, the popular phrase “I’ve just got to get out of the way” and let God work.

The sentiment of this statement, I think, is that in any given situation we are prone to be self-absorbed, self-centered, self-focused. Our selfishness keeps us from being available to opportunities God gives us to grow or help others. 

To the extent that this is true, we definitely need to get out of the way. 

But I sense this phrase is also used in a different way: as a subtle shirk of responsibility; as a form of disengagement. “I don’t know how it’s going to happen so I’ll just get out of the way.” “If anything is going to happen it will have to be God.” And so what sounds like humble self-awareness might actually be another form of selfishness masquerading. 

The flip side of this idea is that God most certainly wants us IN the way. God wants to form us, to shape us, and to use us. Isn’t that the whole point of this cosmic project? The early church missionary Paul said that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. We are designed to be instruments of blessing in the hand of the Almighty. We are designed to be in the way of what God is doing; not as an obstacle, but as a conduit. 

So get in God’s way today. 

What are your reflections about this oft-used Christian phrase? 

In Uncategorized
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Welcoming Children in Missional Community

Charles Kiser —  September 2, 2015 — Leave a comment

Kid

Recently I read an article entitled “The #1 Reason Why Students Leave the Church Could Surprise You.” The title is click bait for sure, but for good reason — many people realize that students are leaving the church at an alarming rate. In fact, the 20-year youth ministry veteran interviewed in the article mentioned that good research indicates that at least half of students leave church and faith in young adulthood.

Something about the way most churches approach student ministry isn’t working.

What was the youth ministry veteran’s #1 reason?

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In Children, Discipleship, Missional Community
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Dwelling in the Word

Charles Kiser —  August 13, 2015 — Leave a comment

pitcher-5

Dwelling in the Word is a spiritual practice of taking a text of Scripture and meditating on it over an extended period of time. Neil Cole observes that many Christians are “educated beyond obedience”. They know a lot about the Bible, but they actually practice a small percentage of what they know. Dwelling in the Word helps believers to simmer and stew and marinate in one section of Scripture in order to work out its implications in their lives — so that they begin to intentionally practice what they sense God saying in the text.

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In Discipleship, Scripture, Spiritual Formation
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Sometimes the Devil Sounds a lot Like Jesus

Charles Kiser —  August 5, 2015 — Leave a comment

Baby sleeping

I’ve been reflecting lately on the temptations of Jesus in Matthew 4. The temptation that grabs my attention right now is when the tempter takes Jesus to the highest point of the temple – the center of religious and spiritual life in Jesus’ day — and challenges him to jump off and let God’s angels catch him.

The devil even quotes Scripture to Jesus, from Psalm 91, about how God commands his angels to keep his chosen one from dashing his foot on a stone. Temptations wouldn’t be so significant if they didn’t sound good; if there wasn’t a dash of truth thrown in there. One of the lines in Ben Rector’s song “If You Can Hear Me” says: “Sometimes the devil sounds a lot like Jesus.”

The heart of this temptation for Jesus seems to be the invitation to prove himself. To show, in the middle of the crowds at the temple grounds, that he is someone special. To start his ministry off with a spectacular, miraculous bang. Who wouldn’t respect Jesus and listen to him if they saw angels rescue him in mid-air as he launched himself off the top of the temple?

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In Discipleship, Identity, Spiritual Formation
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3 Ways to Discover Your Calling

Charles Kiser —  June 17, 2015 — 2 Comments

Listening

Mack was a tall man – really tall. He had a deep echoing voice…Darth Vader material. And he was opinionated. The combination of these qualities made him quite intimidating, but they also helped me listen to him. Mack told me that he had been a successful businessman for several years but his heart wasn’t in it. His real passion was kids. So he quit his job and started working as a school administrator. What I won’t forget is what he said next. “Charles, don’t choose a job for the money. Do something that you love and the money will sort itself out.”

Do something that you love. That’s the stuff of calling. That’s what the word “vocation” actually means — hearing a call to do something you were meant to do. It’s not limited to what you get paid to do, though the two can overlap in different ways. Sometimes a paying job supports a broader calling beyond the job. Sometimes we get paid to pursue our calling. Sometimes it’s a combination of both over time.

For disciples of Jesus, regardless of compensation, calling always relates in some way with the mission of God to make all things new in the world that have been ruined by the reign of sin and death.

So how do you find your calling? Consider these three actions that I have found helpful in discovering mine.

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In Discipleship, Mission, Work
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