Resembling God

Precisely by not being God is when you resemble God. Hans Urs Von Balthasar

A Prayer

The oft-quoted and apparently anonymous Franciscan Benediction

May God bless us with discomfort

At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships

So that we may live from deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of God's creations
So that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless us with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with just enough foolishness
To believe that we can make a difference in the world,
So that we can do what others claim cannot be done:
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and all our neighbors who are poor.
Amen.

Positional Authority

There is positional authority and personal authority. In spite of what scripture teaches (Rom 15)... and what a host of extra-biblical, newer, leadership writers promote (Control, Ego, Respect, etc)... the inclination for most leaders, in this flat-world we live in, is still to glorify the positional over the personal. It's the fault line that all of us are drawn to build upon.

Not to mislead you. Positional authority is important. It has to be exercised periodically. But don't be fooled into thinking that the person in charge is the person with the most influence. (King Herod in Matt 2 is a classic example. Here's a powerful, positional leader spending his time trying to kill a baby... the antithesis of power. He was in charge but the baby had the influence!)

What are you pursuing? Power or influence? Positional or personal respect?

Substance & Style

Substance is enduring, form is ephemeral. Preserve substance, modify form. Know the difference. Dee Hock

So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.