measuring discipleship

reacting to the statement: "The measure of a church discipleship effort is the number of new leaders in ministry in the church and community".

at least it's got me thinking. initially, this statement rubs me wrong. it seems to place a lot of value in the product and little in the process. theoretically, if the number of new leaders in ministry was the measure of success for your discipleship effort then it opens the door for the end justifying the means. and how do you measure those leaders? is it slapping a label on a new disciplee? like, congrats, you've arrived! you're a leader!

and what about those who will never become "leaders". i know the case can be made that we're all leaders in some capacity, but it seems like this is born out of our culture's obsession with inciting everyone into leadership (a tendency i'm afraid the Church has bought hook, line and sinker). (for a interesting perspective on this, check out joe stowell's followership)

but it still begs the question, how do you measure discipleship?

let's just say i'm in the disciple-making business (just the thought of referring to it as a business makes me queasy, but for the sake of the arguement...). how do i know that i'm being effective? how do i know if God is using me? how do i know if my "business" (ministry just sounds so much better) is successful?

and aren't we all in the disciple-making business whether we signed the paperwork or not? that's what Christ called us to in the great commission. His main command was to make disciples. the "go" was inferred...like, "as you're going". you're already going...and you've got a job to do while you're at it!

so how do we know if we're being effective at our job ("calling" sounds better in my conservative brain)?

won't the ultimate job review come at the end of this life when we hope to hear our Savior say, well done good and faithful servant?

so maybe a better question is, how do i make disciples?

and i totally get it that it's got to be God who causes the growth. we might plant the see, water, etc...but it is God who causes it to actually grow and flourish (1 Cor. 3:6).

maybe behind the labels and programs is a better understanding of what Christ meant. which leads to the more foundational question:

what is a disciple?

someone who looks, lives, acts, thinks, talks, breathes like Jesus.

oh man. ok, so maybe my "disciple effort" in the church shouldn't be focused on building people towards a position, but pushing them to the person of Christ.

still, how do you measure the effort?

thots?

God is good.

so saturday night was our first trip to the ER with Jolie. anyone who knows my little red-head knows that she can't sit still for more than 3 seconds, so that afternoon we could tell something wasn't right. she was so lethargic and wanted to lay her head down and fall asleep. we were at a friends house that evening for dinner and just kept an eye on her, but by the time we got home we could tell she wasn't feeling any better and she was starting to feel very warm. temp said 102.5! woah!

she's never been sick before (other than a little runny nose a few months ago), so this was a shocker. we had the docter paged, who immediately told us to just take her to the ER because it had to be some kind of infection and it couldn't wait another day.

all of a sudden the emotions were running high and carissa and i had to fight back the panic.

while carissa was on the phone with her mom, i just sat there in the dim light of Jolie's room holding my baby girl. i felt helpless. her little body had some kind of infection that she couldn't fight off...and there was nothing i could do to help her. i remember asking the Lord to just let me take the pain and infection...i would gladly deal with it so my little girl didn't have to.

there was just so much that i can't express in words that i felt then.

i'm her dad. i'm her protector. and i couldn't do a thing...

but in that moment...this dad had a Father to turn to.

what comfort to know that i have a Heavenly Father who is in absolute control. He is a GOOD God. and He cares for me...and for my little girl. praise God! He is good...all the time! All the time...

so we were off to the doctor. but before we left, carissa held her and we prayed to our Heavenly Father who cares. He gives peace in the panic.

it ended up being an ear infection. and after the antibiotics she's on the mend and getting into everything again. thank You, Lord! and there will be more days of sickness ahead. we know. but this was a first for the hoenshell home...and it will always be another mile marker of the goodness of our God. we can trust in Him!

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

Different

looking forward to preaching this sunday.

this has been one of those passages that's really challenged me. we're talking about the fruit of the spirit, and this week we're focusing on joy & peace. 2 things that are definitely gifts from God. but i've been realizing how often i miss out on these gifts because i respond to the difficulties and challenges in life like the rest of the world does.

but God's people are called to live differently. even if we face trials and tough circumstances we can have true joy because of Christ! He is in control and is a good God. so often we just get frustrated and angry at our circumstances or people in our lives and take it out on them. instead of exhibiting and sharing the joy and peace that comes from God we end up complaining and arguing...just like the rest of the world!

we're called to live differently so people will see the difference in our lives = CHRIST! but when we respond to the difficulties of life like everyone else we miss an opportunity to let our lives speak the wonderful difference that Jesus makes!

i'm ashamed at how often my response to something i don't like or just my attitude about it is so self-centered.

Father, help me die to myself today and put others first. Give me a self-sacrificing love for You that motivates me to respond differently when things don't go my way. Remind me of the joy i have IN YOU and the peace i have WITH YOU..the peace that will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:4-9).