Post 8

Post 8 – May 12, 2009

Breakfast with Kurt

I had coffee this morning with Kurt Sauder – one of my spiritual heros.  We were discussing things related to life and the church.  Our conversation, at one point, centered on the “politics” that can often come into play in any large organization – even in a church like ours.  Kurt provided some helpful insights and told me about how he trys to avoid the politics and just focus on ministry.  At one point during this conversation, Kurt said something that really resonated with me.  As he was describing how some other people behave and play the politic game, he said, “you know, I JUST KEEP LOOKING AT JESUS…”.  That’s when it hit me.  Shouldn’t we all do this?  Kurt’s point was that Jesus didn’t play politics.  He was honest, direct, and loving, but never a politician.  Consider the ways in which he interacted with the Pharisees (he called them a brood of vipers to their face).  Hardly the way to play politics in that day and age.  That would be like today calling the CEO of your company a piece of monkey dung.  Hardly the way to impress the people that mattered most in society. Thank you, Kurt, for always reminding me to keep looking at Jesus.  Most importantly, thanks for modeling this out in your life. P.S.  Jesus was, in fact, a rebel in the truest sense of the word.  Sometimes I see liberal-minded people use this as an excuse… for what, I wonder?  Yes, Jesus was a liberal, however, keep in mind that he was also fully and totally surrendered to His Father’s Will.  Are you?  Or, are you just using the “Jesus was a liberal” mantra as an excuse to follow your sinfull desires?  That certainly was not Jesus.