Tim Clark’s Blog

Sometimes our lives are full of just doing things. We are only doing and not being. Getting something(s) accomplished is the only aim of our existence in those moments. These times happen, they are to be expected occasionally, and we really shouldn’t feel guilty about them.

Most of the time, if we are healthy, there is some sort of balance between doing and being. Of course there are important things to get done, but there is also the vital reality of who we are. When I want to accomplish something I do it with the understanding that who I am is just as, or more, important.

But sometimes we need to take time to simply be. This means we do nothing: Nothing that produces anything for us, nothing that helps us get to the next step, and nothing that distracts us from our loved ones, ourselves, or our God. The Lord told His people to open themselves to this nothing time at least once a week—He called it Sabbath.

But for many of us it would be amazing if we stopped ‘doing’ even once a month. For many of us it might just happen once or twice a year on vacation or when we are sick…or maybe never. To intentionally learn to embrace the life that includes Sabbath (doing nothing productive) would probably make many of us feel guilty. But it shouldn’t. Think of being and not doing as a way to make up for all those times when you are doing and not being. Think of it as a time to slow down and get back on track with the pacing that God intended for your life. Think of it as a regular (can we dream of weekly?) opportunity to reconnect your heart with who God created you to be before you got your identity all mixed up with how much you could do.

The picture on this post was taken by a friend of mine: Rachel Fesko. She and her husband happened to be spending some time at the place where I have been living a few days of Sabbath (where the photo was taken). I’ve been doing nothing, and in the process have started to have some ill-fitting armor stripped away, and I have started to be reminded of who I really am, what my soul looks like, and what it feels like to hear God whisper to me about just me again…

I can breathe!

I admit I’ve been a Mac fan (and user) for over 20 years, now, so I’ve been watching Steve Jobs for a long time. I know he is far from a perfect human being, but regardless of what you think of him or his products (Apple & Pixar), nobody would argue about his ability to communicate.

I just saw a link on a friends twitter (thanks @alisa_m_) to this 5 minute video clip from Forbes.com called “How to present like Steve Jobs”. If you do presentations for your work or if, like me, you are a pastor who preaches regularly, I think you could learn a thing or two from watching this video.

I think it is important to learn effective communication techniques, but don’t ever forget that God can, will, and has used poor communicators to present the powerful message of the Gospel. Moses couldn’t talk…Paul apparently wasn’t much to listen to…I’ve heard of pastors reading manuscripts word-for-word and still seeing the Holy Spirit move powerfully.

But that doesn’t mean we should be slack in using every tool at our disposal in the service of our Lord. In the end, it’s only God’s power that validates the Kingdom sermon, but I want to make sure I’m not doing anything intentionally or unintentionally to distract others from what He may be wanting to say through me.

In Acts 12 Herrod gets a great idea to persecute the leaders of the new sect of Christ-followers. He arrested and executed James, the brother of John, close friend of Jesus, and former business partner of Peter. That won the “king” political points with the Jews, so he promptly seized Peter and threw him in jail with the intention of killing him, also.

But the church was “earnestly praying to God for him”, and, miracle of miracles, an angel showed up and walked Peter out of prison right by 16 highly trained Roman soldiers. I’m not so sure how earnestly the church was praying, though, because when Peter showed up at the place they were praying for him, they, in a stunning act of great faith, immediately thought their prayers must not have worked and that it must have been his ghost that showed up. Of course, once they figured out it was him there was a celebration! Peter is alive; their prayers have been answered; the gospel will progress. Success!

Except for one thing—James. I’m going to read between the lines here, but I’m certain that the church was praying for James, too. James was one of Jesus’ favorites; he had great Kingdom impact and a bright ministry future. Peter goes to jail and is saved; James goes to jail and is killed. This just doesn’t seem fair.

And it’s not. As any dad (like me) can be heard saying often to his kids…Life isn‘t fair. God is always just and loving, but in case you’ve missed it He isn’t always fair (Jesus said as much in John 21:18-22). You may be much more talented and full of character than someone else, but they have an impact and ministry that far exceeds yours. You may be the hardest worker at your job, but someone else gets the promotion. You may pray harder and read the Bible more than everyone else, but you go bankrupt, get sick, loose your kids….you get the idea.

While we can and should care about outcomes, our job is not to create or to get bitter about the ourcome—our job is to pray, to make a difference in someone’s life, to serve, to love, to obey. We can’t do these things because they will make life or God give us the results we want. Sometimes things turn out our way. Sometimes times they don’t. God always has the last word.

Success; failure; life; death. These things are in the hand of the Lord. We simply live as absolute servants of Jesus and let Him determine the outcome. Honestly, life is better when we trust Him this way. And If I’m walking in full obedience to Jesus, He is responsible for my life. “Fair” or not, in light of eternity, that is always a pretty good place to be.