Read God's Word

YouVersion

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

THE MIND OF A MAVERICK

Have you ever wondered why you are unsettled in your spirit about a variety of people, places, things and/or ideologies?

You are probably a maverick and just don't realize your true identity! Webster defines a maverick as someone who is a pioneer or an individual who does not go along with the group. History records many men and women who pioneered new areas and colored outside the lines of tradition and conformity.

Lee Iacocca was a maverick who came from the outside to reinvent Chrysler from the top down.

Mavericks meet opposition in their quest for the new and untried ways of doing things. When offering ideas or suggestions, you may have received some of the following responses.

* That's not the way we do things around here.

* Are you suggesting that what we are doing is wrong?

* We have always done it this way.* That can't be done.

* When you have been here as long as we have, you will understand that what you are suggesting is impossible.


Why are you meeting such opposition? It is because you are a maverick! Don't allow the pressure of a calcified routine to kill the maverick spirit inside you. Don't allow the opposition to cause you to be limited to coloring inside someone else's lines.The world is waiting for you to bring it out of a fading glory and into its finest hour. Be who you are! Be the maverick that the world is waiting for!

Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut Make a sharp knife-cut between
Son and father, Daughter and mother, Bride and mother-in-law, cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies.


If you prefer father or mother over me,
You don't deserve me.


If you prefer son or daughter over me,
You don't deserve me.


"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin,


you don't deserve me.


If your first concern is to look after yourself,
You’ll never find yourself.


But if you forget about yourself and look to me,
You’ll find both yourself and me.


"We are intimately linked in this harvest work.


Anyone who accepts what you do,
Accepts me, the One who sent you...

Anyone who accepts what I do,
Accepts my Father, who sent me.


Matthew 10:34-40 (The Message Translation)


My dear sister in Christ, Minister Tracy Curtis, Thank you so much for allowing me to share the word of encouragement your Bishop sent you.

Though I've always considered myself as a maverick, I will never quarrel about issues that are matters of opinion. Differences should not be feared or avoided, but accepted and handled with love. Don’t expect everyone, even in the best possible church, to agree on every subject. Through sharing ideas we can come to a fuller understanding of what the Bible teaches. Accept, listen to, and respect others. Differences of opinion need not cause division. They can be a source of learning and richness in our relationships.

All Christians are part of God’s family. Believers share a unity that runs even deeper than that of blood brothers and sisters. To "agree with one another," allow for "no divisions" and "be perfectly united in mind and thought" does not require everyone to believe exactly the same.

There is a difference between having opposing viewpoints and being divisive. A group of people will not completely agree on every issue, but they can work together harmoniously if they agree on what truly matters, Jesus Christ is Lord of all. In your church, speak and behave in a way that will reduce arguments and increase harmony. Petty differences should never divide Christians.

Words from Mrs. Vicenta Ventura Vazquez' only baby boy, now a wise young man but forever the middle child, the one she called, Andy.
Elder J. Andres Vazquez.

No comments:

About Me

My photo
I'm just a nobody, trying to tell everybody about Somebody who can save anybody. I give all honor to the Father for the privilege of being His instrument, through whom He lives and works for His glory alone. I served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years, retiring in September 2003. In my final three years, I was co-pastor at Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada, under Pastor Gregory L. Brown. I supported my pastor and church by helping with a new sanctuary's construction and caring for all ministry needs while staying true to my mandate to preach the Word of God without compromise. In November 2002, I was licensed to preach and ordained in June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, I served at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for 17 years under Bishop-Elect W.D. Scott, Sr., and now I serve at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, VA, under Bishop B. Courtney McBath. I also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion from Saint Leo University, deepening my foundation and commitment to this path of faith.

MY THEOLOGICAL TRAINING:

It brings to my face a unadulterated smile each and every occasion I am asked, “Elder Dre, What Theological Training do you have?”

My heart beams with joy at the opportunity to humbly give full glory to God as I reflect on on how the prophets, patriarchs and apostles of old would have respond: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Matthew, Mark, Peter, James, John and the other disciples, not forgetting the Saviour Himself.

How would they have answered the question: “What theological training do you have?”

The words of the prophet Amos also came to mind: “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:” Amos 7:14

I surely am not impliedly decrying theological preparation, education or training: I consider it essential, but not as much as some think. For the fact is, the Almighty raises up believers according to His own standards.

Educational qualifications, wealth, fame, talent, social standing, outward appearance etc. are useful; but they are secondary in His sight. Qualities like faith, obedience, holiness, humility, honesty, absolute loyalty to one’s spouse, the ability to raise one’s family to fear God and keep His commandments etc.; these are the things the Most High values.

“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Only on the Day of Judgment will it be known how truly educated, weighty and effective I have been. That is why I have to smile when the question arise.

The vanity of the question is only matched by the foolishness of my answer.

As the wise man wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1: 2 or as the apostle Paul commented in 2 Corinthians 11:16-30 when rattling off a long list of impressive qualifications “... I speak as a fool.”

Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 1 John 4:14-15 (NLT)

I am a preacher, but most of all, I proclaim that Jesus is the Savior with various applications of that truth in my everyday life. My dear friend, if you are a Christian, you are a preacher also. Whether you have been ordained or not, hired by a church or not, or ever been recognized as a preacher or not is beside the point. All who have God living in them are called to proclaim the Savior to the world. It is a Holy calling, and a demanding one. It will pull you out of your comfort zone, challenge your commitment, and help to develop you into the person God has created you to be.

John spoke as an eyewitness to Jesus' saving power. We speak as heart-witnesses; ones who have not seen Jesus with our eyes, but have experienced Him through personal transformation. I speak, and you speak, as a representative of Christ on earth. The message that we bring is simple, yet profound; that God the Father sent God the Son into the world to save those who are lost to bring them into relationship with Him. As you tell the story, and I tell the story, some will listen and receive the grace that God has sent us into the world to proclaim.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, what a privilege to be a spokesperson for You.

Thank you for stopping by. Stay encouraged and please do come back.