GLENN'S PODCASTS!

LEADER, NOT LORD NOR SAVIOR-
One element of pain for all leaders in Christian ministry is that of seeing a person make poor choices that will almost certainly reap devastating results in them and/or their family. I've witnessed it countless times since my time in ministry which began in mid-September, 1971. A serious point to remember (or learn) is this: Jesus Christ alone is Lord and Savior and it's simply not my or anyone else's job, gifting or calling to try to function as either one of these for a troubled soul. It can be pure agony to see someone in an ocean storm "drilling holes in their own boat". The Bible is clear about our ability to pray, to speak, to live out examples of biblical lifestyle and basically try to influence a person in a God-ward direction, but in the end each of us has God-given free will and it MUST be left to the person to decide their path. It's NOT my job to live your life for you, do YOUR praying for you, make YOUR choices FOR you. It is indeed my job to love, forgive, direct (not jerk nor try to force/coerce) you to seek God Himself, His Word and sound, practical input from godly followers of Christ for your direction. For any number of reasons (my own lack, sin, directness, imbalance, ignorance, you-name-it) I may not be the person God wishes to use to turn you toward Him or His way in a matter. That's HIS business, not mine. He's God and doesn't need me to try to be Holy Spirit for HIM. But how tempting it is to try at times- especially when you've witnessed the carnage people create for and in themselves! Biblical, godly leaders have to make judgment calls all the time, there is simply no way out of it. When to speak or be silent, when to deliver hard truths or leave much of the explosive stuff out of the discussion, all of these are ongoing issues of leadership among fallen people, be they believers or unbelievers. Following God is not a simple thing, nor is it always simple to offer sound advice... and of course there are times when the person(s) in question doesn't want it. This is where prayer and truly seeking God in another's behalf must take place. I don't mean to say that shouldn't be what was done all along in the relationship, just that it is often the one solace I have found when such sad and often irreversible decisions are made by people bent on their own way rather than the way of the Lord Jesus. We must truly give those we love over to the Lord in prayer, and sometimes, leave them be. God is God enough to speak into their lives. It's their decision whether to hear Him or not. Jesus Himself often said, "For those who have ears, let them hear".

ART VS. ARTIST-
I've long been concerned with those for whom art work has (for themselves, the artist) appeared more a monkey on the back, a drug, a burden and a cross rather than a skillful, creative expression. There must be some good in the theraputic sense for we artists to create and share our vision, whatever the artistic mode is... yet? Many are of course torn between the need for money to support themselves and their families and the real creative spark that fuels public expression of their work. I don't know that anyone ever gets beyond such practical realities, but I do know that art can become an idol and anvil on the heads of artists who are preoccupied with it rather than human relationships of depth, value and significance. The troubles of a host of artists are obvious from a brief read of history... and to be fair, the often undocumented stories of soild, faithful artists who indeed served their families, friends AND audiences consistently are sometimes overlooked. Still, I wonder how many passionate individuals are caught in a web of their own design simply because they lost sight of- or never truly enjoyed intimacy with- the only perfect Friend they ever had... art or no art.