A few weeks ago we had Pastor Glyn Barrett with us at NCLC. I have to say that I believe Pastor Glyn is one of the most phenomenal pastors in the UK at the moment. He not only has an amazing teaching capacity but also is a real strategic thinker and church builder. So we had a fantastic weekend with Pastor Glyn and I feel that we grew because of his visit to us.
I feel we grew as a church but I also feel that God challenged me in a very specific way. As Glyn told the story of where they had come from and where God had brought them to, I began to slip into an old way of thinking. I was surprised that it was still there as it hadn't shown it's ugly head for quite some time. I began to compare myself with Pastor Glyn and compare our churches.
WOW! Where did that come from?
Unfortunately that wasn't the worst of it. I then began to give reasons why I am not Glyn Barrett and why we can't have a similar influence and ministry as a church. In my head at the time they were reasonable. The problem was none of them held any weight or credence. They were not reasons, they were EXCUSES!
I haven't had the training he has had.
He has got more money coming in.
I could go on but the last thing you need to read is my whining in your head.
I hear people making the same excuses when they compare themselves to our church. We all have our insecurities and need to rely on God deal with them. Its not always a painless process. I was reminded of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader where Eustace had become the dragon and Aslan had to rip his skin off to make him human again. An extremely painful process.
When God chooses to put his finger on parts of our life that we have not fully dealt with, it sometimes involves Him stripping away areas of our life that are so ingrained that it becomes extremely painful to remove them.
Comparison is one of those deeply entrenched ways of thinking in my life and God is not satisfied that it is still there. I am thankful that God's love for me extends to bringing discipline into my life, even if it does come through a Man City supporter.
The process of becoming more Christ-like involves becoming less like ourselves. I am thankful that God has placed Pastor Glyn Barrett in my life and that I will continue to learn from him but Christ wants me to be like Him not make excuses why I am not Glyn Barrett.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thank you for being so transparently honest son. More of us need to follow your lead. We have all done the same but would not have admitted it.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we all trust you at NCLC because you are so honest. Proving you are not so full of yourself. We all have them thoughts like why is he or she better than me. But as you told us at Teesside this Sunday with being married or single. none is higher than the other. You have people looking up to you also. So just keep what you are doing. Your doing a great job in helping us being Christ-like.
DeleteThanks Dad. Thanks Trevor.
DeleteI have those same feelings about myself a lot too so thank you for being so honest. I have to constantly remind myself that God doesn't want me to be someone else. He just wants me as I am. He has placed me where I am for a reason. Not to try and be someone else.
ReplyDeleteVery true, we are the right person at the right time in the right place.
DeleteI think you've really struck a chord here with your honesty thanks, Jon. I seem to fall into the same trap so often and it inevitably robs me of the confidence I should have in God's strength and plans for my life. It's a lesson so many of us need to learn, and it's encouraging to learn that leaders we admire are still human and have the same things crop up.
ReplyDeleteHey Pete,we all face confidence issues. Hopefully letting you into my head will help not hinder.
DeleteLove this. Thanks so much for setting the example of keeping it real.
ReplyDeleteFaithfulness and honesty are much underrated values even in Christian circles. Being who God made us to be rather than trying to be someone you're not is what's important. Ministry is not push button - if you follow this scheme or this path you'll have success. It is about using the gifts and abilities God has given as the Body of Christ used with love and integrity to further the Kingdom's Reign. God is responsible for the growth scripture reminds us. Thanks again for your honesty again it is one of those great qualities of leadership.
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