“Resumés”

 

“Resumés”

 

One of the key steps in applying for employment is preparation of a resumé. This is a summary of one’s life information, qualifications for the position sought, experience and references which is submitted for consideration by a hiring person or group. Since it’s usually the first document presented its importance can’t be overemphasized and for this reason professionals are often engaged to write it on behalf of an applicant. Over the years in my lead pastor role I’ve reviewed many in order to fill church staff vacancies. And I’ve prepared a number of them for myself for specific situations. Some have been effective, others have likely been placed in File 13.

The term is also used in a biographical sense listing the traits marking a person’s character. We can see this in Scripture in both negative and positive ways. Diotrephes, for example, is described as one who “…loves to be first…(gossips) maliciously…(and) refuses to welcome (traveling teachers)….” to the point of expelling those who opposed him from the church (3 John 9-10). (How would his resumé be viewed by a Pastoral Search Team?) By contrast Joses, better known by his nickname Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37) is portrayed by Dr. Luke as “…a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith….” with the result that “…a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24). And in Psalm 78, a summary of Israel’s history written by Asaph, a temple worship leader during the days of David and Solomon, it says “(God) took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants—God’s own people Israel. He cared for them with a pure heart and led them with skillful hands.” (Psalm 78:71-72, NLT). Resumés like these two would be at the top of any church’s list of potential pastors.

As I’ve read of these men as well as others like King Saul, Israel’s later rulers and Herod and his descendants (ungodly leaders) and Abraham, Moses, Paul and many more men and women who glorified God by their words and actions a question came to mind: If God were to write my resumé what would it say? I pray it’d be like Jesus’ words to Mary, Lazarus’ sister (John 12:1-3), whom He defended before those who criticized her actions by saying, “She did what she could.” (Mark 14:8)—in other words, “She honored Me in the best way she knew how.” What better resumé (or epitaph) could we want?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"When God Says 'Not Yet!'"

 

“When God Says ‘Not Yet!’”

 

In the late 1980’s circumstances necessitated our leaving a church and trusting God for our future. Initially I didn’t handle this well but believed I’d soon find another place of service. God, however, said “Not yet!” because there were things I needed to learn before I was ready for the next step in my faith journey. After more than two years (during which time God provided for our family in extraordinary ways) we moved to New Hampshire where He blessed the ministry far beyond our imagination for almost twenty years. His words through His prophet proved true: “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, emphasis added).

Fast forward some nineteen years. I was approaching the “traditional” age for retirement but felt led to prepare for health care chaplaincy. I was accepted into a training program in South Carolina in 2008 but God said “Not yet!” because both our widowed mothers had needs. So we postponed our departure for another year, during which time both our mothers’ needs were addressed and we sold our house under better circumstances than we could have before. Again let God speak, this time through King David: “The steps (and stops—a McMillan paraphrase) of the godly are directed by the Lord.” (Psalm 37:23, NLT).

Four years after moving to South Carolina and serving as a hospice chaplain there Karen and I looked towards “Retirement #2” and planned to move to Florida, our long term desire. But the housing market had tanked in 2013 so God again said “Not yet!” A year later we sold our house for some $20-25,000 more than we could have a year before and it was off to Florida. Again God used David to speak to us: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently before him….” (Psalm 37:7, emphasis added).

In his God-given wisdom Solomon said, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT). So before moving ahead and regretting the outcome (been there, done that) we must say with our Lord’s brother, “…If it is the Lord’s will….” (James 4:15, emphasis added). May we, with the Holy Spirit’s direction, be able to say, “I waited patiently for the Lord….” (Psalm 40:1)—we’ll be glad we did.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

"Screw Jacks"

 

“Screw Jacks”

 

While visiting with a friend not long ago he told me of using a screw jack for a home project. Given my lack of mechanical skills I asked some questions and he explained how it worked. As he spoke I made some mental notes as it had the makings of a blog piece. So I did more research and found some interesting facts and applications to our lives as followers of Christ.

The invention of the screw jack (also called a jack screw) has been disputed. Some have credited it to Frank Sleeper in the 1880’s and others to Frank Gormley in the early 20^th century (both men were Canadians). The purpose is lifting heavy objects by turning a screw-like device with a lever. Some are relatively small, such as an automobile jack to change a tire, while others are much larger. A friend bought a fixer-upper house (we thought he was nuts when we first saw it) and used a screw jack to level the structure. Then over time he transformed it into a beautiful home where he and his family lived for many years. In another case a house moving rig on Dave’s college campus broke an axle and a screw jack was used to lift a three story building so repairs could be made. Nowadays, however, hydraulic jacks have largely replaced screw jacks because of easier operation.

As I listened to my friend’s description of how a screw jack functions my mind went to Paul’s admonition in Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The Greek word for burdens comes from another one meaning torment or torture, suggesting an overwhelming load which can’t be handled alone. (A different word is used in verse 5—“each one should carry {his or her} own load”—which refers to a soldier’s pack carried by one person so there’s no contradiction.) Just as a screw jack does for us what we can’t do alone so our joining together helps others deal with circumstances which might otherwise overcome them. Earlier on the morning I’m writing this a member of our Bible study fellowship told of a group of men from his church who went to a nearby campground owned by a different denomination to assist in clean-up and rebuilding efforts following two recent hurricanes, an example of the church being the church. (See the early posting, “Don’t Go to Church….”, for other examples.) My question: Am I prepared to be a “screw jack for Jesus” as these godly men were?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Elevator Pitch"

 

“Elevator Pitch”

 

In 1854 Elisha Otis gave a brief demonstration of an elevator braking system at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in New York City during what some have called “America’s First World’s Fair”. Up until this time ropes and pulleys were used to lift goods but due to safety concerns they weren’t used to transport people. When Otis’ invention proved to be dependable the first of his elevators was installed in a store in New York in 1857. This innovation was a major factor which enabled the construction of skyscrapers around the world. Today billions of people use Otis Elevators to reach offices, hotel rooms and other places which hadn’t been accessible previously.

Otis’ successful venture gave rise (pun intended) to a concept called the Elevator Pitch, a 30-60 second encounter in an elevator or other context in which a person presents an idea, product or even job inquiry in a time equivalent to an elevator trip. It typically includes an introduction, “grabber statement” and request for a meeting and ends with giving a business card with contact information. I know of no statistics about the effectiveness of such an approach but some, especially those with outgoing personalities, have likely used it successfully.

We as God’s people can adapt this method for opening doors to witnessing. Jesus’ friend and apostle reminds us to “Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are….” (1 Peter 3:15, TM) but to do so “…in love….” (Ephesians 4:15), “…full of grace….” (Colossians 4:6) and “…with gentleness and respect….” (1 Peter 3:15). A godly man in one of our churches would ask customers for whom he was pumping gas (remember when that was done?) at his son’s service station, “Do you know what John 3:16 says?” and at times a spiritual conversation followed. I learned from a fellow hospice chaplain to ask patients, “How are you coping with your situation?”—their answers gave me insight as to their thoughts about God and in some cases I saw them receive Christ shortly before He took them to Heaven. Solomon said, “…How delightful is a timely word….” (Proverbs 15:23, NASB)  --it can be effective in an elevator pitch for Christ at a crucial time. So let’s pray we’ll use the opportunities God sends our way to touch people for Him.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan