Hearing the Music

Burn Out or Rust Out?

Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, made it clear that she "would rather burn out than rust out." This attitude has often been interpreted in Christian circles as the life of a "true believer".  Though, it should be noted, that it is not only Christians who adopt this as a mantra to live by. In fact many attribute the notion of burning out over rusting out to rocker Neil Young and his song "Rust Never Sleeps." Whether specifically Christian or not, burning out represents a passionate and dedicated pursuit of something, even if it leads to exhaustion, while rusting out symbolizes a life of inactivity and stagnation.

Of course generations of Americans did subsequently burn out pursuing all sorts of ideals, Christian or otherwise, with all sorts of attendant consequences (burnout, broken families, etc...). This then gave rise to the pendulum swinging back the other way, boundaries being set, Netflix dates kept, and the notion of rusting out pushing to the fore. In this anti-burnout world, busyness is no longer a virtue, even if it comes at the cost of no longer serving others.

You may be thinking that those are broad generalizations, both of two ways of living and of past or current times, and of course you are right. My point in setting the table this way is more or less to lay out the extremes as we consider this little vignette from Mark 6:30, 31, "The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat."

Here we see both sides of this pendulum. On the one hand, the disciples and Jesus were, as they often did, working and serving to the point of exhaustion. While on the other hand, Jesus is setting a boundary, calling his disciples away to rest and re-create themselves in fellowship with him. How are we to interpret this or apply it?

I suppose there is a lot that could be said, and we will be looking at the whole of the passage from Mark 6:30-44 this coming Sunday. For now, let me plant this thought and hopefully some fodder for reflection. Many want to talk about balance when discussing burning out or rusting out. However, if by balanced we mean a perfectly aligned, tepid lifestyle, that never gets too hot or never gets too cold, I think we are missing the mark. But if by balanced we see, as I think we see in Jesus' own life, intense periods of laying down your life for a (Gospel) cause to the very point of exhaustion and alternate times of intense, intentional retreat, to rest and re-create with our Savior (Sabbath anyone?) -- then I can get on board. As I said, I hope that there is some fodder for personal reflection there?

Trusting in God's Faithfulness

I hope this message finds you well and warm! I am writing this from up North, with snow falling all around, like a snow globe. There is a roaring fire in the fireplace, music playing in the background and the sound of a baby jabbering away as she plays with her toys and takes delight in everything around her, clapping her hands and grinning with excitement! Oh to have the innocence and joy of an infant, not worried about anything because she has the watchful eyes of her parents, grandparents and uncle to keep her from all harm and meet her every need. In many ways, we are called to have that same childlike trust in our Heavenly Father, yet we let worries enter in and we forget. 

This week Sunday, our daily devotional from Paul David Tripp takes us to Numbers 28-30, a passage that reminds us of the deep and abiding faithfulness of God. In these chapters, we see God's instructions to His people about their offerings, vows, and festivals. While the Israelites were called to remember God through their sacrifices, the truth that stands out is that our hope is not in our remembering God, but in His remembering us. God is not distant, and He has not forgotten us. In fact, He is always present, ever faithful, and His promises endure from generation to generation. 

As we reflect on His faithfulness, we can take comfort in the reality that our mission is not about our perfect memory or our perfect obedience, but about trusting in God's unchanging love and commitment to us. He has not forgotten His people, and He is ever working to bring His Kingdom to fruition. 

In this light, I also want to highlight the role of women in our church family and the importance of our Women's Ministry as part of the broader mission of God. The ministry to women is an integral part of nurturing the body of Christ and extending His love and grace to others. Our vision statement is to help women encounter God through Bible study and discipleship, enfold women in the life and work of the church, encourage women in their walk with God, and to equip women to serve and to grow in love for God and others. Our gathering and service together, whether through Bible study, outreach, or fellowship, is a way for us to remember the calling God has placed on our lives—to be vessels of His love, to serve those around us, and to encourage one another in our walk with Christ. 

I encourage each of you, women and men alike, to consider how God is calling you to be a part of His mission. Let us all be reminded that He remembers us, and through His remembrance, we are empowered to remember others, to serve, and to be witnesses of His grace. 

I look forward to seeing how God will continue to move through our community as we step forward in faith together. May we all be encouraged by the truth that, while we may forget, God never does. He remembers us, and He is always at work in our lives. 

Seeing Christ in Others

Does it ever make you feel awkward to give other people genuine, heartfelt compliments that go beyond surface level? We’re often afraid that it would come across as cheesy, or brown-nosing, or that it might lead the person to become prideful. But what if there was a way to compliment others that actually was glorifying to God?

For the last few weeks I have been taking a continuing education class on pastoral counseling. A recent assignment was to take time to tell others how you see Christ at work in them. This is actually something I’ve been trying to do for a few years (with ebbs and flows in how often I think to do it) ever since I read the book Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree. In it, he argues that praising others is actually a way of affirming the work that God has done and is doing in their lives. For many of us this is a massive paradigm shift that opens the floodgates to seeing Christ in others.

As you begin to go on a grace-hunt in the lives of others, you’ll not only grow in your gratitude for how God is at work, but you can use your words to encourage others who may be so stuck in a difficult season that they don’t see Christ at work in their lives in all the ways that you do. 

Another thing to remember is that it works both ways: instead of starting with something about God and finding it in others, you can start with something you see in others (their creativity, their hospitality, their compassion) and be reminded that those things are reflections of God’s character. You can even encourage people who don’t yet follow Jesus because the common grace things you see in them come from them being image bearers of God.

So give it a try this week! Find someone you know, look for ways you see Christ at work in them (or things about them you appreciate and see how they connect with God’s character and work), and tell them. You can write them a note or tell them in person. You can include Scripture or keep it short and sweet. Just start with “I see Christ at work in you when you _____” or “The way you do ____ reminds me of ____ about God’s character.” And pray that it may even open the door to further conversations!