You are looking at posts that were written on July 7th, 2008.
Posted on July 7th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
Last week I grabbed a few people whom I think know me pretty well. A friend of mine Shane gave me an idea to try. At the same time I was reading a book “Good to Great” which provided me with the appropriate questions.
The goal was not to get people to say nice things about me but to see if anyone out there was putting the puzzle together more effectively than I. The question “What am I good at” did not appear in the questions. But the question “What am I the Best At” was. The idea was to see if anyone noticed what I am great at and if I am actually working at what I am best at.
Just because I am Great at something does not mean that I am good at it. But what it does mean is that I have the capability of being the best at it. So the things that others have labeled as I am the best at does not mean that I am, but I have the potential to be the best at it. So here are my surprising insights.
Surprising Insights:
1. My Passions seem to be quite transparent. Everyone mentioned that my passions had something to do with me ministering to individuals, making everyone feel special, to help each one grow closer to God.
Funny. I have recently read the book “48 Days to the Work You Love.” I found that music is not a passion of mine. Leading others into worship is not a passion of mine. Being in front of a congregation is not a passion of mine. What is? Helping an individual. After discovering this fundamental passion I find it surprising how everyone else knew it.
2. What Am I Great At? Once again, this is not something that I might be good at, but it might be something that I can be great at. I really was expecting a few to say music just because that is my current position in ministry. Therefore, some just associate me with music. But everyone still said “discipleship” or some type of “education administration.”
Now the secret is out why I put out the survey. Am I working in an area where God has gifted me to be good, or am I working in an area where God has gifted me to be great? Once again I go back to my notes in the book “48 days to the work you love”. Music is not in there. I think that I am good at music but something frustrates me. My favorite time of the week is not choir practice or band practice. You know what it is? Two things, having coffee with individuals in the music ministry and the 15 minute Bible study that I give in every choir practice. THAT’S IT. It’s not leading a congregation when the Holy Spirit immerses the congregation. I do enjoy that but it’s not my favorite. It doesn’t call me out of bed.
I always tried fulfilling my giftedness of ministry and teaching through the worship ministry. I was trying to go from A to B by connecting C. I just never put A to B in a straight line. Yeah, I know that last statement only makes sense to me. I was trying to teach those in the worship ministry instead of seeing my calling as a teacher.
3. So here was the straight forward question “What is my Calling?” The overwhelming answer is discipleship. Some said teaching or education or family ministries. Only a couple said music but I claim that the main reason is that is my current position. Also, I’m not bad at it, but I don’t think I have the ability to be great at it.
It’s no surprise that this survey has turned up the answers. It does surprise me how transparent these answers were to everyone. It seems that the busyness of the music ministry was blinding me of my calling. It is also no surprise that as job offers have come and gone, doing another music ministry has only been a turn off.
Now what do I do? Where do I go from here?
If you would like to fill out the form, do it here.
If you would like to view the results, do it here.
Posted on July 7th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: unchristian.
unChrstian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…And Why It Matters
written by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons (From The Barna Research Group)
Quotes:
“Young outsiders generally do not get the impression that Christians have good intentions when it comes to trying to ‘convert’ them. Most reject the iddea that Christians show genuine interest in them as individuals” (page 68).
Development of the Christian Mind:
“A faith that does not effectively address convoluted and thorny issues seems out of tune with a generation asking big questions and expressing candid doubts. Spirituality that is merely focused on ‘dos and dont’s’ rings hollow” (page 126).
“Are we trying to please God or polishing our holy credentials in front of fellow insiders?” (page 186).
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