Rick Warren, the Pastor of Saddleback, made this statement, “The most counter-culture statement you can make in this world is, ‘It’s not about you.’”

This reminded me of a true story in that I had heard in my Intro To Pastoral Care class my second year at Rhema. (this is my retelling so I’ll do my best)

This pastor called our ministerial association in a complete rant and rave and how he was done with the church he was at. The staff member calmed the pastor and started trying to find the cause of this outburst. After some talking, the pastor said that his congregation was just ungrateful and non-caring about him. Recently, a congregation member had given him a gift. He opened it up to find a 5×7 picture of Jesus as the gift. This, he told the staff member, was the last straw.

The staff member responded with the question, who called you to where you are? Is your pastoring really just about you? Cause it’s not about you, it’s about Jesus and the people. So every time you look at the 5×7 picture, remember that it’s about the Him.

I know I’m guilty of such things in my own life, even in doing tech work. It’s really not about me or my wants, but about Christ and loving people; helping the hurting and the lost. In that pastor’s life, it seems that 5×7 picture came just at the right time, as a reminder of our purpose.

As Rick Warren noted in 2 Cor 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (ESV)

St Francis of Assisi prayed this prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Let us endeavor to stay focused on the purpose and desires Christ has for us and not to use the cliche, but More of Him and Less of Me.

Lent lasts 40 days (like Christ’s 40 days in the desert), generally from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. In this time, we are to remember and prepare for the commemoration of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ed Gungor, Pastor of Peoples Church, describes the Lent season as a time in which we to make room for God in our lives.  I know I get busy with all the things going on in my life and take more into thought material items than I do Christ and his everlasting love for us.

I decided to remove Pop (or soda for you other people).  I’ve had pop all of my life and never go without it each day.  I have to say the first two weeks were stinking hard.   But every time I had a battle, I did my best to keep the focus on why I was doing this seemingly trivial abstinence.  Needless to say, there were quite a few occurrences and struggles.

I have to say I recommend participating in Lent for any Christ-follower, even us Charismatics and Protestants..  It’s been a very good experience and time to regain some focus back on Christ.