Arvell Craig

So I just killed the idea that I need __ in order to _ God

Today I killed the idea that I need to “preach in a church” or “teach in a Christian school” in order to “minister” and/or impact people directly for purposes of Jesus Christ.

More specifically, I decided to unsubscribe from Regent University email updates about their Divinity School informational meetings and webinars, etc.

But why did I do this, and why is it important?

In short, ever since entering seminary, I’ve considered pursing and Phd in either systematic theology or church history. (Thus my subscription to Regent’s emails.) However, as of now, that idea is dead. And it’s dead not by mistake nor because of circumstances; it’s dead because I killed it.

This decision comes after years of thinking and praying. Searching and wondering… Working in business and yet feeling guilty that I wasn’t “in ministry”; or that I wasn’t “fulfilling God’s call on my life.”

(Related post: God Money & Gebedo )

So anyway, now I’m convinced and convicted that God is in me most, when I’m in my business. And so right here is my ministry. I need no more theological training to be better equipped to serve people the way God is currently calling me.

// Side notes and principles:

I believe and I am learning there are various seasons in life. And seasons of study and preparation do not always flow directly as we would assume in relative activity.

Perhaps in between our preparation and production their are completely different intermediate seasons? Not for what we think we should be doing, but for what God wants us to do… From working at Starbucks, raising someone else’s child, or living in a foreign town…

Things don’t always go the way we plan, even when we have a meticulous prayed though plan… And yet still, somehow, all things work together for God’s purposes.

Selah.

Comments, responses, Retweets, and “Likes” are always welcome. :)

P.S. Speaking of email subscriptions - please put your email address in the little box over there on the TOP-RIGHT of this page, and these blog post will magically appear in your inbox. Normally 1 - 2.5 times a month max.

07/1/10

My Alternative To Superficial Progress

You know what I am starting to hate hearing? People praising the idea of me being busy. It’s like, there is this assumption that busy means blessed, successful, or prosperous.And then the opposite would be, if you’re not constantly doing stuff, you’re either lazy, poor or apathetic.

But let’s not stop there!What about how we all claim we need more time. I know I’ve often wished for 28 hours in the day or to be able to live off of 3 hours of sleep every night.

And lastly there is the coveted gift of time management. To perfectly sort and cram the most activities into our day and not pass out! Yes, “earn your sleep”, this is means your not wasting your life! And blah, blah, blah…So anyway, here’s my latest (learned) theory:

What we really need is discernment and margin.We need to do less.

In between our priorities, commitments, wishes and dreams; we need unspecified, unallocated time.And in that space - these margins need to remain open.

So when game changing, highly valued opportunities present themselves, we will have the time AND energy to take advantage of them without sacrificing previous commitments.You see, when we work without breaks or margin, we either cannot discern the good from the great or we just won’t have space to properly seize the great ones.

This of course is my humble opinion, but what do you think? Have you ever found yourself stuck in low valued commitments that hindered you from grasping rare opportunities?Or maybe you’ve mastered this balance seen success?

Either way, pls share!

06/27/10

Fear and Reward

Why is it that many of the things that give us the greatest reward are connected to processes that we fear?

But then there are those gray areas that are ‘ok’ to do; and they give neither buzz nor anxiety to complete.

I have no answers here- just questions… But my intuition leads me to look a little closer into those fear/reward areas…

Should I start figuring a way to do them more? Is God speaking to me in them?

Are there forces of darkness assigned to hinder me from success there? Or is all this just speculation?

What do you think?

06/7/10

Pay Attention To Your Energy ~¤~

I’m not trying to be New-Agee. But I’m just responding to a truth that I am presently learning. God has built us in such unique ways that our calling is not just an external / spiritual / cosmic ‘wish’, but it is a reality that is written on the fabric of our DNA.

Most of the things we do in life, we do them because they are the ‘smart’ thing to do. They are ‘wise’. They help us get to the next step. We do them because they fit into one of the hundreds of slots that society or religion tells us is right.

However, the problem is that we don’t believe that we are unique. We look for formulas to guide our life instead of God. (Ok, maybe it’s just me who’s read everything from Robert Kiyosaki, Steven Covey to Napoleon Hill.. But I really don’t think so). But anyway, I recently began believing (with the help of mentors) that my life and makeup is original. And in my originality, God has actually been speaking to me throughout my entire life, both pre and post Christian conversion.

One of the ways God speaks to all people about their eternally purposed design is in the activities and events that breathe life back into them. No, we’re not suppose to suppress joy and fulfillment for a perceived higher purpose. God’s higher purposes will include our personal enjoyment. We should be doing things that cause our very core to become more energized after the activity than it was before! Have you ever paid attention to the things that energize you, the things that do nothing, and the things that drain you? Have you confused success and achievements with feeling genuinely alive and in touch with your destiny?

For the next week, (especially at work) why don’t you start paying attention to your energy and see if God is speaking. Let me know what you find out… And we’ll discuss this more next time.

(also, if you like this, please click the Facebook “Like” button below. tx)

05/30/10

Do you make decisions based upon where things are or…?

For where you want them to be in the future? Some can make an argument for either. Both are valid. However, I’m starting to see that living too much in the future creates a false reality and is living in denial of the present.

What we need is an honest view of our today and to work within its constraints. For example, in business - you can spend money like a big dog, show yourself off as a big dog, but since that’s not who you are your income or cashflow will not sustain it. Instead you have to invest into yourself based upon today - ie. within your means to grow and sustain your company.

In relationships - I’ve heard countless stories of men and women hoping and wishing their significant other a little different in certain areas. And instead of acknowledging who they were, they lived in a faux reality expecting that eventually they would change. They ignored the issue and loved them for only their good qualities… Eventually, (often shortly after marriage) they realize they can no longer ignore that annoying attribute which was there the whole time.

Their are likely many other similar stories of people mistaking scripture or self-help literature and building a life based upon… their imagination. So what are your thoughts?

Do you make decisions based on where things are today, or for where you hope they will be in the future?

05/22/10

Do Most Bloggers Generally Say The Same Stuff All The Time?

I’d love to get your opinion. To me, I’d say yes. And this “yes” is precisely why the good ones have a following, have a community or tribe, and also can have the ability to consistenly produce content. What do you think?

04/29/10

To grasp your destiny, you have to reach beyond what’s comfortable

“What you need in life will be given, but what you want you have to go out and get.” - Bill Johnson, (ibethel.org).

To me this phrase implies the common grace of God to all people. Just or unjust, sinners and saints.

To everyone God pours out some blessings. Blessings to live. And environment to grow. Natural talents to cultivate. And yet there remain levels of breakthrough reserved for the truly hungry and desperate.

To sit on the couch or even kneel in prayer without putting our feet to the grind will not turn dreams into reality. Those opportunities are hidden on the backside of pursuit, drive, and perseverance. However, when many people realize that they can get by quite well just from common grace; i.e. luck, average living, or generational favor - they settle for whatever life brings their way.

Now, for rest of us we have to make a choice. We can chose to be the change agent in our family line and pursue the fulfillment of our dreams using our God given abilities. We can shake off the crap from the day, the memories of past failures and the comparisons with silver spooned friends / associates that invoke envy and bread a victim mentality.

I believe that just beyond our reach lies a whole new life.

But you have reach beyond your natural comfort to grasp the destiny that awaits.

Your thoughts?

04/26/10