Ministry Match results

Just finished a process called Ministry Match. It is a tool that a ministry called Center for Church Effectiveness uses to help church staffs find their talents, strong sides and leadership styles among other things.

I have put the Definitions Booklet online along with my results. According to this tool, the areas in which I best serve in the Kingdom of God are discipling/mentoring, faith, cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal communication. Character evaluation, expediting (?), and self-management are also strong points of mine.

Ministry values which were highlighted as most important to me are: mobility, creating/innovating, pioneering, risk, influencing/impacting, teaching/training, cross-cultural ministry, designing, overcoming challenges, hard work, working with people, developing potential, persuasion and performance.

For clarification or more information on these, download these files and read it all:

My Ministry match results: http://www.bighouse.org/kellyblog/khshattuck_report.pdf

For the Definitions Booklet (explanations of each of the ministry values, gifts, etc.): http://www.bighouse.org/kellyblog/definitions_book.pdf

I’d appreciate any feedback on this!

The Sunflower -- forgiveness

I’m reading another book -- No, I haven’t finished all of the other ones listed in an earlier blog, but I am making progress!

This book is entitled “The Sunflower” and is written by (if I recall correctly) Simon Wiesenthal. It is the story of a Jew in a concentration camp who is faced with the dying request of an SS officer to offer him forgiveness for all of the travesties he committed during his short life (21 years old) as a soldier and SS officer.

Simon wrestles with the question (I won’t tell you his decision -- it’ll spoil the book) with some others in his community. One man argues that Simon did not have the right to forgive the SS officer for all of the travesties he committed against other Jews, but that he could forgive him for any that he committed against Simon.

The book brings up an intriguing question: Can we as believers in Jesus Christ rightfully offer forgiveness to anyone for any crime, sin, horror, etc. committed against anyone? Do we have that right? Or are we imbued with the right to forgive only those who have offended us? And the right to forgive anyone for anything committed against anyone else is left in the hands of our Savior and God, Jesus Christ?

What do you think?

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Does it really matter?

Talk about a controversial topic! WOW! In some circles of evangelical Christians, to wish them “Happy Holidays” is the same as cursing them!

What is the big issue here in the midst of this controversy? I could be wrong or way off target, but I think that the issue is that Christians feel like Jesus is being squeezed out of Christmas when people use the phrase “Happy Holidays.” Uh, is that such a big surprise?

Since when has the general society within the borders of the USA really celebrated only Christ during the Christmas season? Maybe some view that using the phrase “Happy Holidays” is the final straw, the last bastion, the Alamo so to speak of a Christian holiday.

I tend to view it from this perspective -- and it may not be anything new to you. Christians have always been, are currently, and always will be, persecuted for taking a stand for Jesus Christ. However, we shouldn’t foist upon the general society our values & traditions.

Let me clarify this... We can’t legislate morality. We can’t legislate philosophy. We can only set a foundation upon which we build our society.

Legislation -- political legislation -- only works insofar as people uphold the law. As good citizens, we have the right (& responsibility) to vote and put into office the best men/women for leading our country. We Christians have to realize that they will not always make decisions commensurate with our desires. Another factor to keep in mind is the sovereignty of God. It is possible that He has reasons unknown to us to allow changes that are not to our liking to take place in order to accomplish another part of His sovereign plan.

Let’s face it, folks. This “controversy” is just another ploy by Satan to create a greater divide in our relationships with those who don’t know “the Reason for the season” -- and it’s working!

Instead of communicating the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Christians are fighting for “their rights” to display nativity scenes, wish people “Merry Christmas” and more. A wise saying that I heard many years ago goes something like this: “Choose wisely the hills upon which you’re willing to die.”

I choose not to be offended by someone wishing me a “Happy Holidays” or “Happy Hanukkah” or “Merry Christmas.” I choose to see the heart inside the individual granting me the heartfelt wish.

Sure, I wish everyone experienced a relationship with Almighty God through the Lord Jesus Christ like I am blessed & privileged to live. Sure, I wish everyone held the same morals, values and priorities that I have (doesn’t everyone?). But that’s not reality. That’s not the USA. And it never will be.

Rather than burning bridges over issues that are symptomatic of deeper issues, let’s use these kinds of controversies to open dialog & discussion and opportunities to introduce more people to the Savior of the world - the Lord Jesus Christ, the heart of Christmas (whether others acknowledge Him or not.).

So much for my musings today....