Humility is an elusive quality to pursue.
The more you think of yourself being humble, the less humble you are (because you’re thinking of yourself).
“Moses wasn’t very proud at all. In fact, he had less pride than anyone else on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3)
What makes this verse interesting is that supposedly Moses was the author of this line… is that humility?
Actually, I suspect this is a commentary by someone who knew Moses.
How does a person get to be this humble… not by trying.
Humility comes through the back door, it is the result of something else.
Of thinking of God and others more, which in the process leads to thinking of ourselves less.
So to be humble, think more about God and others, don’t think less of yourself.
To focus on God, think about His greatness, what He has done or is doing in your life, thank Him daily for His undeserved kindness, share with others how great God is in your life.
To focus on others, honour them, focus on and value what they do that is good, hope for the best, look for the positive, see the potential, forgive their weaknesses, allow God to deal with their failures or sins.
Do things that make God and others smile, do them behind the scenes, and don’t look for attention or appreciation.
Through this process, pray for the Spirit of God to strengthen this God/other focus.
For at the end of the day, humility is not something we do, but something that results from what God does in us.
He expands our heart for Him and others.

This is very moving!
One God, one Creator, one Father, the God of second chances!
God’s Spirit is definitely moving in this moment, “moving here, moving there, moving in the atmosphere!”

Someone forwarded this theological dilemna to me, what do you think.
If you don’t know what a Calvinist is, don’t worry about it.
Here is the link to the original.

A Calvinist in the Queue
A funny way of presenting an old paradox, from Mike Bird’s Evangelical Theology:
A Calvinist arrives at St. Peter’s gates and sees that there are two queues going in. One is marked “predestined,” and the other is marked “free will.” Being the card-carrying Calvinist that he is, he strolls on over to the predestined queue. After several moments an angel asks him, “Why are you in this line?” He replies, “Because I chose it.” The angel looks surprised, “Well, if you ‘chose’ it, then you should be in the free will line.” So our Calvinist, now slightly miffed, obediently wanders over to the free will line. Again, after a few minutes, another angel asks him, “Why are you in this line?” He sullenly replies, “Someone made me come here.”

What if we actually took the time to stop and ‘connect’ with strangers?
Would we find ourselves caring more?
Is it possible that this photographer is touching something important, something deep.
That deep down we are all family, all created by God as His children.
Sin builds walls that separate, that isolate, than alienate.
We are disconnected, we don’t care like we were created to care.
As long as we keep our distance from people, we keep our hearts closed to them.
In God’s kingdom, in God’s family, there are no strangers, there are no walls, everyone cares.
For a brief moment, these people experience ‘humanity as it could be…’

I am reflecting on the end of times, when things seem to be going from bad to worse.
That will be a time when many will lose hope, and wonder where God is, and why He is taking so long.
A scene from the Lord of the Rings movie (The Two Towers) came to mind.
Watch this, and be encouraged; when everything looks bleak, look to the east!
Keep looking, keep hoping, at the right time, in the right way, the sun of hope will rise, the final trumpet will sound, and the Lord will appear!

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Kent M. Keith, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council

Yesterday I spoke on Matthew 6:1-4, how Jesus encourages us the discipline of secret service.
Check out this website (http://www.secretagentl.com) and consider becoming a secret agent, specializing in anonymous acts of kindness.
The assignment for the week is to perform a secret act of kindness every day for this week.
This is your mission, should you choose to accept it.
Feel free to share some of your secret activities in the comments below.