Devotional Reflections

The Anti-Artist

~ Mike Schwiebert ~ 1 Comment

MountainLake

I used to think that some people just didn’t get it. I now realize they are actively hostile.

Some of us have a creative impulse, a muse that whispers to our souls, telling us to make, paint, write, build. We spend our lives learning how to get this thing that is burning inside us, out.

Others, like a crab in a boiling pot of water (thwarting any who dare try and escape a slow death), watch to mock, critique and reject.

There is another War of Art than the internal battle that Steven Pressfield so masterfully exposes.
It is a war with the anti-artist.

  • That’s too expensive
  • What a waste of time
  • That extra stuff doesn’t matter
  • No one can tell the difference

Keep thinking! Continue reading.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

~ Mike Schwiebert ~ 3 Comments

Thinking on the beach

Love these posts I’m reading over at the Church Technical Leaders website by Jacob Barbour @hdctechdirect, “Should I Even Be Here?” Pt. 1, Pt. 2, and Pt.3.

Jacob’s writing has been really good. I get energized when I see people wrestle with their calling, wrestle with their circumstances, and speak wisdom out of their disillusionment. It is a given to get disillusioned in church work. Those who say otherwise are living an unexamined life or lying. Both of which are destroyers of authentic ministry.

Let’s dig in. Jacob asks: “Should I even be here?” My answer:

Where’s here?

One of the greatest challenges I have faced in life is deciphering the riddle of the will of God. In the church tradition I grew up in, discovering God’s will for your life was the most important thing a young person could do. And although I do believe that God can call specific people to specific tasks, I question that God calls all people to specific vocations.

Keep thinking! Continue reading.

A martian, a critic, and Jesus

~ Mike Schwiebert ~ 2 Comments

Marvin The Martian

No one likes to be criticized. Especially for their art.
So how do we respond to critics?
What can we learn from Jesus and how He responded to His critics?

As you read through the New Testament you can see this coming from a mile away. Eventually, Jesus and the Jewish leaders are going to have it out. Often, they confront Jesus with a critical question hoping to trap Him.

Jesus’ response to their subterfuge is instructive. He answers them. Wow. Before you think about how he responded, just consider that simple fact. Today, our politicians have made not answering critics an art form. They actually take classes and study film to perfect their non-answers. I think this plague is infecting leaders all across our society.

The creator of the universe who doesn’t have to answer to anyone for anything, answers these snivelingly, wimpy, contentious, backbiting (hold on… I’ll tell you how I really feel in a moment), self-seeking, scheming, pompous, sententious hypocrites.

I’m not usually gracious to my critics. My initial response is too often anger. I think things like, “Who do they think they are, I’ve forgotten more than they’ll ever know!” Or the always lovely, “I don’t have to answer to you!”
Oops.
We dismiss others when we believe they are insignificant.

Jesus wasn’t passive, but He was magnanimous towards critics.

What if we applied that principle in our roles as spouse, parent, friend, leader and coworker?

An Easter Evaluation

~ Mike Schwiebert ~ 1 Comment

Oak Tree on snowy Fields at Sunset

Sometimes my wife, Rose, and I have intense discussions about how awesome of a husband I am. Well, actually, that’s usually my side of the argument. Her side can sound a little different. I am learning that I don’t get to decide how good I am doing, she does. Her side usually includes challenging my schedule and words like “never at home” seem to often get repeated. Submitting to that evaluation can be tough. It makes me feel exposed and vulnerable.

In the beginning of The Book of Revelation, Jesus is evaluating His bride. If I stood before Jesus and He recognized my hard work, tenacity, support and fortitude; I’d feel pretty good. I put a high premium on hard work and finishing tasks. The Church at Ephesus had all these positives, but Jesus commanded them to repent. Why?
Although they were busy, they stopped loving.

Keep thinking! Continue reading.

Tests of Authentic Ministry

~ Mike Schwiebert ~ 4 Comments

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2

These verses are incredibly challenging. Though I have been contemplating this passage for years, I feel that I have barely scratched the surface of Paul’s admonitions. Keep thinking! Continue reading