Find Your Purpose in Life in About 20 Minutes?!?!?

That title caught my eye today as I opened my browser to look up a few things online. It got me thinking (and yes, it did hurt, the thinking part I mean) about this topic again, especially since this is exactly what God was revealing to me over the last 2-3 months. Now you have to remember, that article above is from a worldly perspective, so I can't make any claims for it. If you want to read the whole article, follow this link. Basically the author purports that you can discover your life purpose by taking a sheet of paper, clearing your mind, writing down some short phrases that pop into your mind. Do this until a phrase makes you cry - this will be your purpose in life! Of course this seems very simplistic and idealistic and just downright hinky to me (and yes, 'hinky' is a word - look it up)! I am not saying it can't work, I just have my doubts as to its validity.

In any case, it got me to thinking about what my purpose in life is, or my calling as we believers will often say. What is my calling? What's yours? Do you know? Do you even WANT to know? Do you even care?!

For me it has been a 12-year process of God showing me step by step and piece by piece - much longer than 20 minutes! Of course I am not saying that it will take you 12 years to find out, but I think it will be a bit longer than 20 minutes. ;-)

Anyways, the two verses that made my calling and gifting clear to me are 1 Cor 3.5-8 and Titus 1.5. In that passage in 1 Cor 3, Paul writes to the Corinthians - 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.' Then in Titus, he writes to him - 'For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you'. And that is the main focus for me/us in our ministry - not to plant churches or pioneer ministries like Paul. But to come in after someone like Paul and to water and set in order the things that are lacking, like Apollos or Timothy or Titus.

Now I have to admit, it was hard at first to accept. I wanted to be the Paul, the pioneer, the church-planter. Or at least try that out. But the more I prayed about it, the more it was obvious that it was mostly my flesh - I wanted the recognition, the fame. I wanted my name to be lifted up on high and admired. Being an Apollos or Titus or Timothy, your name is often just listed along with others. And that convicted me and humbled me - I wanted my name to be more recognized than the Lord's?!?! Wow, such fleshly pride! Who am I anyways, but an empty vessel for Him to use!

So now I am content and even excited to get a clear answer as to my/our calling in ministry and in life. And as I look back at the last 13 years of ministry, that is exactly how God has used and is using us. First in Germany, taking over as pastor of CC Freiburg, then while in SoCal, taking over as pastor in the Spanish Ministry here at CC Murrieta. And now, as we are taking steps to move to New Zealand and to take over a Calvary that was planted 5 years ago. I'll share more about New Zealand in the next post, but let me end with the rest of the passage from 1 Cor 3...

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (v7-8, my emphasis).

to be continued...

Find Your Purpose in Life in About 20 Minutes?!?!?

That title caught my eye today as I opened my browser to look up a few things online. It got me thinking (and yes, it did hurt, the thinking part I mean) about this topic again, especially since this is exactly what God was revealing to me over the last 2-3 months. Now you have to remember, that article above is from a worldly perspective, so I can't make any claims for it. If you want to read the whole article, follow this link. Basically the author purports that you can discover your life purpose by taking a sheet of paper, clearing your mind, writing down some short phrases that pop into your mind. Do this until a phrase makes you cry - this will be your purpose in life! Of course this seems very simplistic and idealistic and just downright hinky to me (and yes, 'hinky' is a word - look it up)! I am not saying it can't work, I just have my doubts as to its validity.

In any case, it got me to thinking about what my purpose in life is, or my calling as we believers will often say. What is my calling? What's yours? Do you know? Do you even WANT to know? Do you even care?!

For me it has been a 12-year process of God showing me step by step and piece by piece - much longer than 20 minutes! Of course I am not saying that it will take you 12 years to find out, but I think it will be a bit longer than 20 minutes. ;-)

Anyways, the two verses that made my calling and gifting clear to me are 1 Cor 3.5-8 and Titus 1.5. In that passage in 1 Cor 3, Paul writes to the Corinthians - 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.' Then in Titus, he writes to him - 'For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you'. And that is the main focus for me/us in our ministry - not to plant churches or pioneer ministries like Paul. But to come in after someone like Paul and to water and set in order the things that are lacking, like Apollos or Timothy or Titus.

Now I have to admit, it was hard at first to accept. I wanted to be the Paul, the pioneer, the church-planter. Or at least try that out. But the more I prayed about it, the more it was obvious that it was mostly my flesh - I wanted the recognition, the fame. I wanted my name to be lifted up on high and admired. Being an Apollos or Titus or Timothy, your name is often just listed along with others. And that convicted me and humbled me - I wanted my name to be more recognized than the Lord's?!?! Wow, such fleshly pride! Who am I anyways, but an empty vessel for Him to use!

So now I am content and even excited to get a clear answer as to my/our calling in ministry and in life. And as I look back at the last 13 years of ministry, that is exactly how God has used and is using us. First in Germany, taking over as pastor of CC Freiburg, then while in SoCal, taking over as pastor in the Spanish Ministry here at CC Murrieta. And now, as we are taking steps to move to New Zealand and to take over a Calvary that was planted 5 years ago. I'll share more about New Zealand in the next post, but let me end with the rest of the passage from 1 Cor 3...

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (v7-8, my emphasis).

to be continued...

Rolling Trusses and Rolling Thunder

While we were visiting Becks' family in Oklahoma, I got the chance to help her dad do a room addition to their house. It was a pretty good size room - almost 500 sq. ft. It was fun - this was the first time I did trusses so it was good to learn from a couple experienced guys how to stand/roll trusses.

And all this in some pretty intense weather - there were days when it was about 103 F, in the shade. Add the humidty and the heat index went up to 110 F. On top of that, working on the roof, in direct sunlight, with the sheet metal roof reflecting everything back in your face, it was probably close to 115-120 F! I could only work until about 11.00-12.00 before it got way to hot and humid. And of course, it being thundersttorm season in Oklahoma, we had to come inside whenever it stormed. Which then made it even more humid afterwards!

Anyways, it was fun, and challenging, especially crawling around on the trusses and slats 18 ft up above the ground (almost 2 stories high!). Doesn't sound very high until you're up there looking down! Here are a few pics...

Rolling Trusses and Rolling Thunder

While we were visiting Becks' family in Oklahoma, I got the chance to help her dad do a room addition to their house. It was a pretty good size room - almost 500 sq. ft. It was fun - this was the first time I did trusses so it was good to learn from a couple experienced guys how to stand/roll trusses.

And all this in some pretty intense weather - there were days when it was about 103 F, in the shade. Add the humidty and the heat index went up to 110 F. On top of that, working on the roof, in direct sunlight, with the sheet metal roof reflecting everything back in your face, it was probably close to 115-120 F! I could only work until about 11.00-12.00 before it got way to hot and humid. And of course, it being thundersttorm season in Oklahoma, we had to come inside whenever it stormed. Which then made it even more humid afterwards!

Anyways, it was fun, and challenging, especially crawling around on the trusses and slats 18 ft up above the ground (almost 2 stories high!). Doesn't sound very high until you're up there looking down! Here are a few pics...

Grand Canyon

On our way back from Oklahoma, we stopped by the Grand Canyon, saw the sights and had lunch there. It was the first time for the kids to see this awesome wonder. They were all oohhing and aahhhing over the whole panorama. It truly is amazing to think that all God has to do is speak and things, anything, even the Grand Canyon can come into being. Imagine the power of God!

Anyways, here are a few fotos - maybe next time we can stay longer and visit some of the other sights at the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon

On our way back from Oklahoma, we stopped by the Grand Canyon, saw the sights and had lunch there. It was the first time for the kids to see this awesome wonder. They were all oohhing and aahhhing over the whole panorama. It truly is amazing to think that all God has to do is speak and things, anything, even the Grand Canyon can come into being. Imagine the power of God!

Anyways, here are a few fotos - maybe next time we can stay longer and visit some of the other sights at the Grand Canyon.

Fishing near Mammoth

Here are a few pics from our fishing trip up near Mammoth. We spent 4 days with Jesaiah's godparents (the Nielsens) up near Mammoth Lakes, camping and fishing. We all had a great time, even when we didn't catch so many fish! But there was enough for one night of grilled trout! I don't normally like fish, but that wasn't so bad. I could probably eat trout again...when there isn't anything else to eat. ;-)

Camping with the Spanish Fellowship

As promised, here are the pics from the camp-out we did with the Spanish Ministry back in the third week of June. We had so much fun - climbing, eating, running, eating, playing games, eating, fellowshipping, eating, singing, eating, studying the Word, eating, laughing and oh, did I mention, eating lots and lots of Mexican food!? In fact, the owner of the ranch where we camped slaughtered one of his sheep (or was it goats?) for us and BBQ'ed it up really nice. Best meat I ever had! Ummmmm! We truly had a blast with the fellowship and just wanted to share a few of the memories.

Fishing near Mammoth

Here are a few pics from our fishing trip up near Mammoth. We spent 4 days with Jesaiah's godparents (the Nielsens) up near Mammoth Lakes, camping and fishing. We all had a great time, even when we didn't catch so many fish! But there was enough for one night of grilled trout! I don't normally like fish, but that wasn't so bad. I could probably eat trout again...when there isn't anything else to eat. ;-)

Camping with the Spanish Fellowship

As promised, here are the pics from the camp-out we did with the Spanish Ministry back in the third week of June. We had so much fun - climbing, eating, running, eating, playing games, eating, fellowshipping, eating, singing, eating, studying the Word, eating, laughing and oh, did I mention, eating lots and lots of Mexican food!? In fact, the owner of the ranch where we camped slaughtered one of his sheep (or was it goats?) for us and BBQ'ed it up really nice. Best meat I ever had! Ummmmm! We truly had a blast with the fellowship and just wanted to share a few of the memories.