3G Maturity Paradigm

Last Sunday I felt like God showed me a little bit about spiritual maturity, and today I revisited it with Him during my time of prayer. This is what I was able to put together out of it. I hope this helps you on your journey toward Godliness.

When we come to recognize our sin and need for a Savior we enter a stage of recognizing Grace. In this stage of sanctification (being set apart from sin, and being made holy unto God) we are learning what God has done for us. This stage leads us to a recognition of Gratitude. It is the maturing outgrowth of a recognition of Grace. We live more thankfully before God. We bring our needs to him with thanksgiving, grateful that he hears us and loves us; not because we've earned or deserve it, but because we have received Grace.

This Gratitude stage, when we've matured in it, activates Generosity. God's people should be the most generous in the world. But we can't get to true generosity until we've matured in Gratitude. Our gratitude puts into perspective how much we have to give away. We realize that it is better to give than to receive. We understand we have received Grace freely we can freely give it as well. Generosity when it fully matures activates new understandings of Grace and the cycle begins again leading us to deeper and deeper understandings of Godliness lived out in our life through Grace, Gratitude, and Generosity.

What stage are you in? I find that in the people I worked with over the last ten years often short-circuit before making it to the point of activation and end up coming back to a place of Grace to mature again. Anytime we stop growing in Godliness we must re-enter at the starting point of receiving Grace. Those that truly grow and mature are those that mature in the process of Grace, Gratitude, and Generosity.

--Ben

Two New Books

I just started two new books. Yesterday I started The War For Mansoul, a John Bunyan allegory, and today I started The Parables by Brad Young. They were given to me as gifts, and I'm looking forward to getting into them.

Each book takes hours, days, sometimes years to put together and publish. They are formed from many experiences and education that the author has. I feel like when I read I gain years of understanding and experience in a much more compact amount of time (hours) as I read. While I may only be 32 years old, I can have the experience and understanding multiple times more than that. For what it's worth that's one of my reading perspectives.

--Ben

The Birth Of A Son

A son was born just the other day, came into the world in the usual
way. But if there were planes to catch and bills to pay I forgot 'em.

My wife decided before the pregnancy that we should be surprised, so
rolling in on Friday morning we did not know if we'd be adding a boy
or a girl to our collection. I've since realized that I had practiced
saying Leah much more than Carson. I was really preparing myself for
another girl though I wanted a boy.

As a side note, for those that didn't like Corie's decision, you
should know that though she was so hard core about not knowing, as we
sat in triage, she said, "I wish we'd have found out." Uh-huh. (Of
course after surgery she said, aren't you glad we didn't find out?)

Corie had C-sections for all three of our deliveries so we had been
around the track before. This time they brought the crown of the head
up and saw a full head of dark hair and said, "She has a lot of hair."
I was confused because I didn't realize that you could tell the gender
from the crown of the head.

Then the pulled out the head and said, "She has a very pretty face.".
I was still confused and resigning myself when the anesthesiologist
(sp) spoke up to say "I don't think you can tell from those parts.".

Hope remained.

At last they pulled him out and were surprised to see that he was
indeed a boy. YES!

Carson Benjamin Rainey
8.02lbs 19.5in

--Ben
Posted from my iPhone

The Affection Christ Deserves

This morning I gathered with other pastors in the Baltimore area to be part of the Pastor's Growth Group, a group that meets monthly for ongoing training. The guys were reflecting on their ministries and where they felt God had gifted them, and to what level they felt they could lead. One pastor, Prince, spoke up and really brought a powerful thought.

He related the parable of the Talents. You remember that the master gave talents to three servants according to their ability. They did not all get the same amount, but each had ability to grow what he was given. Prince shared that some pastors hoard their Talent by selling themselves short on potential and then hoarding spiritual leadership to stroke their own egos. And he said something that really challenged me: "If your people think that when you are not preaching that they can take that Sunday off, then what you've created are people that have affection for you that belongs to Jesus."

Wow! That is a tough word, but I think he's right. As pastors we should be leading people to a deepening affection for Jesus foremost not ourselves.

--Ben

Self-Discovery

I've believed for a long time that one of the ways we can honor God, our maker, is to discover as much about ourselves as we can. I enjoy taking tests and surveys, reading and studying, and observing how I am; that is, how God created me. I figure that I get the most pleasure out of my car when it runs like it is supposed to, so God would probably like me to run like he built me to run.

I have a page in my journal labeled: Who Am I? The lines below hold observations about me by me. Now, you all probably know that in most cases we know ourselves very well, and then there are the blind spots. I try to discover as much about me so that I can fill in the blind spots. (I also ask trusted friends to make observations on areas I'm not clear on.)

Recently I came to this conclusion about me: I'm a good answer. I'm just not a quick answer. This means that if you want opinion, facts, or solid direction you can ask me and you'll get a pretty reliable answer. However, it may not be the same day you ask. From time to time people talk with me in crisis and they tell me their problem and I try to answer them with appropriate hope, confidence, and instruction. However, the answers that come to me later after I've thought about the issue for a while are always much better. By then, though, they've gone, and my answers are never fully expressed. Learning this I'll be taking time more often to tell those that I'm counseling to give me some time to come up with my answer. They'll be better served.

--Ben

The Cavalry Has Arrived

The last couple weeks before the birth of a child are usually very hectic trying to get last minute things checked off your list of final preparations. My wife has had a deep concern over spring cleaning and getting everything Spic and Span. Today the cavalry arrived. My inlaws have been here all morning and have stripped every cabinet and cupboard scrubbing and reorganizing. What a blessing. I think it is a relief to my wife.

We're less than 48 hours away now.

--Ben

I Think This Video Is Hilarious

We tend to hold people of position in high esteem. At the end of the day we're all just people; some dumber than others. This Georgian Congressmen is questioning whether the island of Guam will capsize because of some military development plans.

Tasks

One stop along the journey of self-discovery is the orientation by which you approach life. Motivation by people or tasks is often one differentiation. A task-oriented person tends to place tasks above people. To them the work is the highest priority. A people-oriented person views life in quite the opposite way. I tend to be task-oriented.

I remember seeing the difference illustrated in a meeting one day when I was asked to help pass out papers. I was handing out the papers to everyone (about 20 people) around the table and was following another volunteer named Todd. As Todd handed out each paper he stopped and asked each person a question, answered back and moved on to the next person. It was really nice to see him interact with all these people, but WE HAD PAPERS TO PASS OUT. It just happened that people/task orientation was the lesson we were working on. It was a vivid illustration to me of which end of the spectrum I was on.

Yesterday I wrote about taking extra time with God, and while that can make me sound holy, I wanted to make sure I included a dose of reality today. This morning when I went to spend time with God I spent thirty minutes day planning all the tasks I have. Thirty minutes just flew by doing this and then I realized that I hadn't really given God that time so I had to readjust my schedule and there were still tasks to be done. But they are just tasks, and there will always be tasks. I had to choose to give God time. I hope you will too, if you're like me.

--Ben

Some Of The Best Things In LIfe

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the best, most enjoyable and special things in life are available much more often than we take advantage of them? And most often it is because we simply don't take the time. The simplest pleasures in life are often the sweetest, but we don't always take time for the simple pleasures.

Today I spent extra time with God, just praying, filling my office with music of praise, journaling, reading the scripture, and worshiping the Lord. And it was so enjoyable to take my time and connect with God. It is one of those simple pleasures. God wants to connect with us each day. He's as available as we'll be.

When you enjoy something like this it makes you take account and say, "Why don't I do this more often?"

--Ben

May Mixer

Hey everyone,

Hope to see you tonight (6:00) at the May Mixer at the Steach's. Families are welcome. Please brink drinks and desserts.

Men, we'll get to shoot some pool down in the man cave so come ready for some fun.

--Ben

Book Review: Axiom (Nominee for Best of 2010)

Last month I read a book that has profoundly challenged me in my thinking on pastoral leadership. Axiom, by Bill Hybels, is a collection of 76 leadership proverbs that Bill has amassed over his years of ministry. These sayings are common language among his staff because they create a common understanding of the expectations they have for one another. Each chapter is only a page or two and aside from a brief explanation is accompanied by an example of its use.

I found it great reading, and found myself thinking and applying many things while I was apart from the book. It would come to my memory and I would meditate on it. One line stood out and was worth the read just for its simple wisdom. The funny thing is that it was not Bill's axiom it was someone else's. In one instance Bill found himself in South Africa and heading to Brazil. The only problem was that he was carrying an old passport that was just about to expire. The new one lay in his office in the Chicago area and had his Brazilian visa in it. He was barred from going directly to Brazil. After discussing alternatives with the customs agent he learned that he could fly from South Africa to Dakar, Senegal, then to D.C. go to the Embassy and receive a new visa, and then fly to Brazil. That's about as far out of the way as you can go. He looked at the men he was traveling with and started to back out of the trip all-together when a companion said, "Bill we're not asking you to take a beating or shed blood. We're only asking you to watch a bunch of airplane movies." He watched the movies flew around the four corners of the earth and got to Brazil and enjoyed a great move of God.

I've been thinking about that axiom a lot. "We're not asking you to take a beating or shed blood..." When I'm faced with difficult and frustrating circumstances I'm regularly calling this statement to mind.

This book is a 10! I highly recommend it and it is officially nominated for Most Influential Book Ben Rainey read in 2010.

--Ben

Under My Feet: A Bee Story

Last night I had an experience that was so bizarre I thought I'd share it. I heard the loud buzz of an insect float into my office and begin bumping into the wall. I didn't pay much attention, but after a while it flew within inches of my face and got my attention. It was a giant bee. It was 1 1/4 inches of yellow and black terror. I froze momentarily as I watched it come to rest atop the lamp on my desk. I felt fear; suddenly, irrationally.

I backed away and began plotting how I might rid myself of the bee and get back to work. I had no swatter, and decided against the use of a tarry towel nearby. After all, I reasoned, if I missed that would not be good. See I don't know about you, but pain hurts me. This bee would bring the pain if I messed with it. What to do?

I decided that since the bee was attracted to the light I would kill the lights in the office leaving only the lights in the basement to draw him out. My plan didn't work. So I flipped on the lights and he began flying around again and flew very close to me as he came out the door of my office. I quickly closed the door to my office so he couldn't get back in there. I stood plotting what to do now that he was out in the open. Then I realized the door at the top of the stairs was open to my kitchen. What if the bee flew up there and then ended up where it could encounter my daughters. As the bee was buzzing and bumping into things I dodged it and bolted upstairs. I closed the door. My girls were safe, but now I'm trapped in the basement with the thing. I came down deciding it was time to make my stand. It was him or me; mano a mano*. As I backed myself, into a corner looking for a weapon, I stepped backward...CRUNCH. I quickly looked to see what I had stepped on. Poor little helpless bee -- half crushed -- convulsing on the basement floor. It was the sovereign work of God.

It's what He does. Consider Romans 16:20, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet... "

--Ben
* Corrected per the Language Police. Thanks for your diligent effort to improve my scholarship.

Potomac District Council

Today I'm spending time with Ariel down in Woodbridge, VA for our annual meeting of the credentialed ministers of the Potomac District. District Council is always a highlight of the year for me, but mostly because I'm a nerd. I love conducting the business, and reading and hearing the reports. That tweaks me up.

Then, of course, there are the friendships with so many that I have, and getting a chance to catch up with them is always a pleasure. I'm not trying to whine, but sometimes pastoring is tough and frustrating work, and having a gathering annually to catch up with guys I really respect encourages me.

Today we held two elections and re-elected our Superintendent and Asst. Superintendent. I think that is a really good thing for the leadership of our District. I'm excited to see what God does over the next four years.

--Ben

The Holy Spirit And You (pt. 2 of 5)

Ask

The role of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is for the benefit of all men. In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost[1], 120 followers of The Way[2] were gathered in an upper room and experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was what Jesus himself had prophesied in Acts 1:4-8, and it was in this promise that Jesus explained why the Spirit Baptism was so important: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Quite simply the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was given to empower God’s people to fulfill the Great Commission[3].

Consider this: Christ handed the mission of redemption to men and women in the first century to be passed all the way to us. How are we supposed to accomplish such a task? The gospel[4] that brings the salvation of the world is ours to distribute to the whole world. I’m reminded of the apostle Paul’s words, “To some it is the aroma of life to others the odor of death, and who is equal to the task?”

Jesus knew that we would need the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill His instructions and that is why He gave the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven five the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” God is willing to give the gift of the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks in order to accomplish His mission.

Some might say that they’ve learned that the Holy Spirit is in every believer in Jesus Christ, and I would wholeheartedly agree. Consider that these same followers that Jesus promises the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1 were with him in the room in John 20 (a previous meeting). John 20:22 says, “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ they have the same experience; the Holy Spirit indwells them. He takes up residence in their life. He convicts of sin and leads them to truth. But the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a subsequent work of the Holy Spirit that comes after salvation.[5]

So where should you go from here? How can you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? I would start by asking. Remember Luke 11:13? He gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Hal Donaldson offers this prayer as an example:

“God, give me a desire for more of You. Forgive my sins and help me overcome temptation. Place in my heart a deeper concern for others…. I invite You, dear Lord, to fill the cold, empty places of my heart with the warmth of Your presence. More than anything, I want to walk in the power of Your Spirit.”

ASK

---

[1] Pentecost was a religious festival held by the Jews in accordance to the Law of God. It was held 50 days after the Passover Feast.

[2] The Way is what Christianity was called in its earliest days.

[3] The Great Commission is a popular church term for Matthew 28:18-20; the mission of the Church.

[4] Gospel means story of good news.

[5] There is no requisite period of time, but is a separate work of the Spirit from salvation. Consider Acts 19:2

Phone Calls

I have received a phone call about the church each week over the last couple weeks, a very rare thing. I feel like we are connecting to our community in a little better way than we have in the past, and people have questions about our church, but in both of those calls I feel as though I stuttered and stammered a lot. I guess I just don't have the mental folders yet to draw from for smoother answers to people's questions. Now, I'm taking time to prepare for the next time someone calls. I want to be sure and be as prepared as possible so that I can best minister to them and meet their needs.

--Ben