Are You a Storyteller?
Revelations 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”Are you a story teller? The other day I was watching a show about a Native American Indian. He was talking to some young boys about an upcoming Indian festival in which he was asked to share stories about the past. He went on to tell them that the art of storytelling is a much-respected position among tribes and is usually reserved for the elders of the tribe. The distinctive work of the storyteller is that of acquainting the children with the traditions and beliefs of the tribe. It is reserved for storytellers to repeat the ancient tales with dignity and authority, so as to lead the child into the inheritance of the stored-up wisdom and experience of the tribe. The children develop self-awareness and self-esteem as they provide a sense of one’s place in the world. He also went on to say that even though storytelling was a much respected position, he was sure to address the “honor” that came with being a storyteller. The honor was due to the story itself that he was able to share, not because it was about the storyteller. Read more
God wants you to be a Loner!
I once heard that there was study conducted with teenagers and the power of peer pressure. The study took 15 teenagers and put them in a room. 14 of the teenagers were in on the study and were told what answer to give. The 15th teenager was not told anything about the study and thought he and the other teenagers were all on the same page. The instructor had two colored cards that he held up for them, one was red and one was blue. The 14 teenagers that were told how to answer the question were told to say both cards were blue when the instructor asked what color. So as the experiment started, the first 14 teenagers said that both cards were blue when asked…when it got to the 15th teenager, 76% of the time the teenager would say both cards were blue, instead of saying one was blue and one was red.
Can you have a deep down core change on your own?
“The Great Commission is not just a commission to be for self. It is a command to be obeyed. God has called us to go; there is no other option,” she said. “What would your life look like if you had nothing to lose? What would your life look like if you had nothing to prove? That’s the call of God on your life.”
-Heather Mercer
As I listened to Heather Mercer and revisit a couple of the questions she asked during her talk…“What would your life look like if you had nothing to lose? What would your life look like if you had nothing to prove?”…Wow, those are tough questions to think about and be honest with yourself. Why? Because in reality I do have something to lose and things to prove! At least the human side of me does. I think for many of us, myself included, we continue to look at a relationship with God completely in the wrong perspective.
If I was honest with myself and 100% completely sold out to God, then I truly wouldn’t have anything to lose or prove. However, in my daily thinking I have not surrendered to this fact. My thinking is I do have something to lose and prove. I have places “I” want to go. Yep, it is still all about me. I wish it wasn’t, but I just cannot seem to shake that way of acting deep down at my core. Let me clarify, I do not walk around conscientiously thinking this way, but if I stop and get honest with what is deep inside, then this is true.
Are U Considering becoming a Spiritual Mentor?
Currently, our church is running a series that is talking a lot about Big Brother and Big Sister type relationships within the church. This concept is where more mature Christians lead or mentor younger Christians and so on. I have been having a bit of a struggle with this as I have not seen this type of relationship lived out, even within the current circles that I participate. I certainly understand that the process can take some time to develop or mature and that in any relationship you open yourself up to vulnerability, but when some of those leading the charge are the ones violating the trust…I take issue with that.
This concept has been very successful within the secular realm of Big Brother’s and Big Sister’s mentorship program. Research shows that children matched with a mentor are more likely to succeed in school and in life. Children matched with Big Brothers or Sisters are:
52% less likely to skip a day of school
46% less likely to start using illegal drugs
64% more confident of their ability to perform their schoolwork
I do believe that the mentorship philosophy can be equally successful in the spiritual context as well. However, just as in the secular version of this concept, if an adult Big Brother or Sister violates that trust with the younger child it could have a huge impact on the outcome of that child’s life. I think the piece missing for me in the spiritual mentorship program is the lack of proper screening, teaching and realization of the HUGE responsibility this is. Not properly handled and it could have REAL lasting impact on spiritual growth for the younger Christian.
Taking on a Big Brother or Big Sister role within the church, in my opinion, is one of the biggest responsibilities you can undertake and it ABSOLUTELY should not be taken lightly or for one’s own gain. Some that I have observed around me do not fully realized the responsibility that this type of role requires.
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