I am willing and able….well, ok…Im just able.

Have you ever had someone throw out a blank offer, one which you know they never expect you to take them up on? “Hey, let us know if you ever need any help” followed by a quick shuffle and then almost a sprint out the door as they run before you can say “actually….we could use you on Friday”.

Sometimes I feel ministry is full of those blank offers. Im guilty of doing it myself. We make ourselves open by saying we are willing and able, when in truth we are, at best able, but certianly not willing. I think over the course of the year we had 6-7 dinner invitations extended to us, and only one was ever followed up on. I think I offered to hang out with some of our girls upwards of a dozen times and maybe followed through on half of the occasions. There is something in us that feels if we extend the offer we have done enough.

This year we had a family offer to help us out whenever we needed it, and they truly meant it. They changed plans and brought thier whole family with them, but they did whatever it took to make it work. We were so so thankful for these people. Another couple offered there time and although they were not able to make it because of previous engagements, they prepared everything in advance and had it waiting for us when we got there. We appreciated thier help so much.

On the other hand, you have those times when you actually follow someone up on these offers, and they quickly and strategically manuever themselves out of the initial invitation. Or sometimes they forget that they even offered, or we have even had people selectivly chose which actvities they would help with and which kids they could handle. My favorite are those who think they have made themselves available, but have never actually spoken to you abotu it.

But, my oiint was not to tell stories, rather to define true willingness. I need to do more reasearch, but I think true willingness is displayed pretty well by a few huge bible peeps; the disciples, Ruth, Paul, Noah, etc…

After thinking abotu this, I decided that when I extend an invitation or an offer of help from this point on, I am going to make
sure that I :
– can follow through
– can make it specific so that I can follow through
– look the person in the eye
– have time to discuss the possible times/dates/locations

I want to make sure that I am not just able to help, but that I am truly willing as well.

Radio

As I was on a bit a shopping tangent today, I found myself switching between radio stations much to frequently for my liking. My usual station was playing some lame super emo-pop lyrics, while my next choice was making the most of the grunge phase. So next on the dial was the country station. Although at one point in my life I had sworn that I hated country music, I got over my foolish pride and realized that I did like the drawling twang of artists like Garth, Faith, Tim and George. Anyway, that is besides the point.So, I turned the station on just in time to hear George Stait’s hit “I Saw God Today”. If you haven’t heard the song before, Strait sings about a lone flower growing in the cracks of cement, a newborn baby, and a young couple in love. Typical country music topics. But the part of the song that caught me was how George Strait sees God in all of these area’s.As a christian, sometimes I limit myself to hearing or seeing God in strictly “Bible-y, Christian-y” things like scripture, worship, or church sermons. Yet, after listening to this song, I was reminded of how incredible God really is. He has made humans with utter precision, blesses relationships and his creations never cease to amaze me. A pastor once told our congregation in response to complaints about loud children in the morning service “Those children are proof that the Church is growing”. In a fitful child’s scream we can hear the future of Gods church! Whoa.This past weekend I attended a young adult conference and was challenged by a speaker to look for the Fingerprint of God in everything. But I guess Mr. George Strait just reminded me again.Peace