no longer i

Humility

The most important attitude when doing any ministry: humility.

The people I get to serve with are the products of other pastors, churches and ministries of their past. I am the recipient of their work and fruit. And I am one servant that God provides in the long line of people who serve God's people.

Without others, in the past and present, I would not be able to serve the people I get to serve.

But in the past, I thought that my ministry is the best thing that could've ever happened to the people I served. No other ministry would be as timely or good. In the past, I thought that once people left my ministry, they would never experience the best again. What (unsaid) pride. What a fool.

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2).

Prayer and John Knox

Pray because of God's infinite goodness.

Costly Grace

Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession.... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship)

gospel math

Gospel as math equation: sin < grace

Or: sin << grace

Or: no matter how much more sinful we realize we are, God's grace through Jesus will always be that much more.

[If someone makes a shirt, my size is medium.]

gospel invites, challenges, transforms

no longer i

With the thought that being part of the wider discussion (online and otherwise) would be good, here's my blog. Last time I blogged was a few years ago (on narnia.us). Facebook is good for connecting with acquaintances et al. However, it doesn't suffice for "conversing" in greater depth (no matter what the topic may be). The domain name "no longer i. us" was the domain name for our wedding info. Liked it enough to use it again. [And just to add a graphic element to this post, above is a photo that seems to look cool. from jivefresh.org]