Cover

Recently, Apple's CEO Steve Jobs announced a solution to some signal problems with Apple's Iphone 4.  The solution is a free protective case.  Some expected refunds or perhaps something of significant value such as some free Itunes would have been a preferred method.  While I don't know how common this problem is, the fact that Consumer Reports would not recommend a purchase is significant. But here's the problem.  The case only covers the problem.  It masks what the problem is which is the design of the antenna on the phone.

Thousand of years ago, there was a man and a woman who lived in a perfect world.  They had everything they wanted.  Perfect weather, food, and just a perfect life.  Then one day, they gave into temptation.  They ate of the fruit from the tree of knowledge.  When they did, they noticed something different about themselves.  Their minds had been altered and they would never be the same.  They could no longer look at themselves with purity and holiness, instead their minds became full of sin.  So in order to hide their sin, the Bible says this:

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.  ~Genesis 3:7

They tried to cover their sin themselves.  But the sin was still there.  We try to cover up our sins.  We make excuses, mask the symptoms, blame others, and deny we have problem.  We hide them by saying we are "saved" or that we are a "Christian", we "go to church", we "pray" but in reality God knows that your sin is still there.

The solution is not to cover your sin, but to change your life.  In order to do that, you need Jesus.  You need a new life.  2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says:

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

Don't "cover" your sin, let God create a new life in you.  Jesus wants to give you eternal life, all you have to is to admit your sin, believe in Christ, and confess your sins to him.  Steve Jobs still has a problem with the phone when you take the cover off.  Do you have a problem you are covering up?

Acts 6 - People Problem

Have you ever had a people problem? Where there was just so many people you couldn't meet the needs of all of them? It may have been overwhelming and you may have been unprepared it happens.

Sometimes in churches growth can be a blessing, but ministry opportunities can be missed. It has been said that people will often make their decision to return to church within 5 minutes. We must not miss an opportunity to serve all people and we must figure out to deal with the problem.

Such was the case with the early church. They had explosive growth. Acts 6:1 says, But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

There were probably almost 10,000 people in the church and some people were being neglected. Intentionally or not, they had a legitimate gripe. So it looks like the Pastor's were going to get involved and start serving these people food. NO! In fact, listen to what they said. We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word. Acts 6:2-4 (NLT)

Here is the point. God assigns people to serve. He gives you the talent to serve. He uses people to serve people. Sometimes the "people problem" is us. The church. We are too busy to serve, that we don't seek solutions but seek prayer. Prayer is used as an excuse instead of acting on what people need.

How do you tackle people problems? Do you wait for others to solve them? Do you "pray" that God would send someone? Do you not act? Maybe the people problem is you!

Leadership Void-Act 1

I attended a major California university (aka CSUF....Go Titans!) and enjoyed my business management courses. As I took each class, I began to discover that business practice originated in the Bible. No doubt! For any buisness practice I saw, I can see where this came from.

One encounter that churches and businesses encounter is a leadership void. Whether it is an owner, key manager, or lay person leadership voids need to be dealt with. In Acts chapter 1, we see that was the very first issue that needed to be addressed. How do we fill the void?

We see that they had gathered together and one of them (a key leader named Peter) spoke up about the problem when he quoted Psalm 109:8 in verse 20,

May another take his place of leadership

We have a problem. We have an important role that needs to be filled. We must find someone who shares the same experiences and shares the direction that we are being told to go. We must "choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time..."

In leadership, it is important that the problem be defined and addressed. Once they discovered they were going to choose another leader, it was a group (team) effort. Leaders must recognize that it is important to have teamwork. It is important to have unity in decision making.

Verse 23 says, "So they proposed two men...". Together they made some recommendations. Worthy and respected people were nominated and the decision now relied on God's hands.

Ultimately, God knows the leaders. We must recognize what our roles and responsiblities are in leadership. Once we accept them, we must trust God and follow through and apply the principles he teaches us.

A good leader can make things go and run well. A great leader can make thing go, run, and grow. That's the difference. Growing together...growing in God. What void do you need to fill?