Why Some Grow and Others Don't

Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)

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"It's better to burn out than fade away."

Neil Young

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A very famous church guy counseled sooooooo long ago: "You will need at least four things for a healthy church growing closer to Jesus: (1) staff and officers who really believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior and have a passion for worship and witnessing; (2) your personal commitment to Romans 16:17-20 regardless of personal or professional cost; (3) a church so involved with mission that it doesn't have time to navel-gaze; and (4) a fire within yourself for Jesus that never dims."

Tony said that to me for the first time when I was a boy wonder imperial priest in Kansas City.

That was, geez, over 25 years ago.

He's repeated that over the years to me; 'cause I've often been too full of myself to hear or see...

I've been praying and laboring on it ever since; and while I'm just scratching the surface of what it means as someone trying to follow Jesus and undershepherd others trying to follow Jesus, there is a quickening within that increasingly quickens in a redemptively redundant kinda way.

First, you can't give away what you ain't got yourself.

Second, judgmental my-way-or-the-highway posers must be identified and isolated lest they infect others with their pharisaical leaven.

Third, Matthew 25 kinda stuff is the best cure for meology.

Fourth, if you're not on fire for Jesus, you won't ignite anyone else.

Or something like that/Him.

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Dorothy urged, "Please tell people to tithe! Don't cheat them of the blessings that come with tithing!"

That's tough in the mainline; 'cause mainliners have discounted the tithe to around 2%.

Hmm.

That may be among the reasons why they are so...

The preceding section outlines other reasons why they are so...

Be that as it is, Dorothy had a green thumb for the market and kept giving it away while getting more all the time which meant she had more to give away while getting more all the time which meant she had more to give away while...

George MacDonald: "God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy...but He is pleased with our progress along the way...Even the smallest step of obedience leads to spiritual growth and knowledge."

Or something like that/Him.

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Recently, an elder plopped down in my study and exclaimed, "After reading what you've been writing and listening to what you've been saying, I fully expected to come in and find you in sackcloth and ashes wearing sandals."

Response: "When I finally get over myself completely, you will."

He smiled.

I added: "As for the sandals, it's hard to shift gears with 'em."

It was an inspiration or indigestion; and I'm still trying to figure it out.

It's kinda like following Jesus.

It's a metaphor for something/Someone.

I better go back to Tony's counsel.

Or something like that/Him.

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Blessings and Love!