Fall is beautiful, isn’t it?  Leaves changing, crisp air and right now a pretty sunlit afternoon.

We have several things to do before we are ready for the onslaught of winter, but we will be doing some more canning and freezing on Thursday – chicken breasts.  Looks like we will be working on about 320 pounds of it between Deed, Teresa and us.

I had the craziest dream about that last night.  I had forgotten to pick up the chicken, didn’t have a car, didn’t have a phone, tried calling Carla but she couldn’t answer, hiked all over the country side – up shale rock cliffs, up and down steep terrain, crossing creeks and then coming to the Deschutes river as it roared through a canyon and having to hike down river several miles to a bridge all in trying to get home so I could get a car to overtake the truck.  Never did get the chicken.

Woke up this morning with muscles aches that mimic what I would have felt like if I had undergone such a trip – crazy. 

2 Samuel 23:8-12    These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

⁹ And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

¹⁰ He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

¹¹ And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

¹² But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.

“Mighty Men who David had.....”  David had quite a team of warriors who fought under him in the name of our Lord.

Jesus had His eleven faithful and devoted disciples and one who would betray Him.  Paul had his disciples Timothy, Silas, Galius, Aristarchus and the list goes on:

Acts 15:25-26  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶ Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has chosen to use men to preach His Word.  He could do it Himself, we read of the accounts of Jesus and His authority and power.  Yet, Jesus chose to bring together men, he selected, to teach and to use as a cohesive team to spread the Gospel.  These became the first of many “Mighty Men” for Christ.

These eleven “Mighty Men,” in turn, discipled other men who also became “Mighty Men” for Christ.  Today, we too, have “Mighty Men – and Women” for Christ in leadership roles all over the world.

There are some things we can do all by ourselves, but it is limited.  We accomplish far more if we are part of a team.  And the team accomplishes far more if it is comprised of individuals who have specific skills that complement the skills of the rest of the team.

However, no matter how good the individual members may be, if they do not do their job to the best of their ability if they do not respect and support each other, the team cannot be successful in completing the mission.  When there is infighting and undermining of each other the energy is dissipated and the mission takes second or, in some cases, even last place.

In any team there are those that have leadership by appointment and there are those that have leadership by actions – it is hoped that they are one in the same, but often times they are not and if they are not in agreement about the mission they can be disruptive and cause the mission to fail.

Then you have those that think they know better than anyone else on the team.  They become disheartened because things do not go their way, or the mission is different from what they think it should be.  One person can undermine all the good work of a team.

Judas was part of Jesus’ team.  He ate, walked, learned, mingled and participated in the activities of the other disciples as they walked with Jesus.  Yet, his actions destroyed the team, temporarily, but none the less the team was decimated and the leader, Jesus, was killed.  Obviously they regrouped and the disciples went on to function as a team and as individuals to proclaim the Word of God and to continue Jesus’ Work.

When we are working for God, the first thing we must come to terms with is:  God is THE Boss.  Everything done for Him must line up with His Word.  While modern day techniques are different from those used by earlier Christians, the truth has not changed, the Word is as valid now as it was then.

Even Jesus took orders from God, the Father:

Hebrews 5:8-10 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

¹⁰ Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

When we read His Word we find that there are people placed in positions of authority over others (which also means us;) and we are expected to honor, listen to and obey them. 

Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

As Christians we are part of the most important team ever devised, the Church – Christ’s Bride.  No matter what our position on that team is, it is important for the mission of the Church, the proclamation of Salvation through Christ and His teachings in order to live a life of perfection in Him, be THE fundamental reason for its existence.

Some will become the key leaders in a group of people.  It could be a President of an organization, division or district leaders or Pastor of a denominational church or a leader in a home group; it could be a Sunday School Class or a children’s group.  Elders, Deacons and other either appointed or elected positions within a church body have leadership roles in that body.  Someone has a leadership position in every situation.

It may not even be an appointed position; there are those that believe that Peter was in charge of the early church, others will point to each disciple having the same authority.  But there were those that stood out as leaders, Peter, John and Paul are the most notable.  They had equal rank in the group, but were given honor and respect as men who were key leaders in the group, the early church.

There will be times that a leader in one position of the body, must become subservient to another in that same body, either because the other has a higher authority, as determined by the organization, or has expertise that makes them more qualified to lead and make decisions.  But, if a team is working well, working together, no one cares who is in charge, they go about their job in conjunction with the other members.

The most important thing for us to remember is that GOD is ultimately in charge.  We all work for Him.  No matter what our job is, what ‘authority’ we may have, we must do our job to the very best of our ability.

Colossians 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

If we disagree with how things are done, we must, first, make sure that our heart is in the right place and that our disagreement is based on the Word of God – not our own preferences.  It must be done in love and in an orderly manner. 

Mathew 18:15-17  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

We indeed must take care of who we follow, and we must hold leaders accountable for their decisions.  But at the same time it is incumbent on us to talk to them and to discuss our concerns with them.  In discussion we may find – as I have seen many times – that the disagreement is in fact minimal.  Decisions are made by leaders based on the information they have.

Many times information the leader has others do not, if the reasons for a decision can be shown and the decision is appropriate, then most people will accept that decision.  However, there are times that the leader cannot share a decision made concerning an individual – we must then either trust them, or not.  If not then God has given us means to correct wrongs and we must undertake those corrections as He has set up.

If those things do not work, then we can extricate ourselves from that group and find one which we believe is more in tune with the Word of God. 

Being a team player doesn’t mean blind obedience to a person.  It does mean that if they are in a position of authority we have an obligation to them.  Both in working with them, and if they are not doing what they should be doing, correcting them as Christ told us.  The person that goes behind the back of leaders and undermines them in word or deed is not only doing a disservice to them, they are disobeying God.

Obviously not all Christians belong to the same denomination, for one reason or another there are disagreements in doctrine, or in actions in pursuing the fulfillment of the function of a church body.  What we must look at when we become part of an organization, small or large, in service to Christ, is basically outlined in the Apostles’ Creed:

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy (Catholic) Christian church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen. 

I changed the term Catholic church to Christian church; for clarification, when this was written, Catholic meant Christian and has since become a denominational term.  I know, that is my (and others including many denominations) interpretation you may feel free to disagree.

There are many differences in doctrine between the churches, and my previous paragraph is an example, many Catholic church goers believe it is the one true church.  Some believe that Saturday is the correct Sabbath day, some believe in the infilling of the Holy Spirit, some believe that miracles and healings take place today as they did in the early church, some believe that certain foods or drinks should not be partaken, some that certain activities are sinful, while others do not believe any of those things and the list can go on and on.

The bottom line however, is the Word of God.  Any time we stray from the truth of the Word; anytime we follow men who preach salvation in any other form we must extricate ourselves from that group.

Only God is infallible.  We have an obligation to our own salvation to make sure the leaders we are following are as close to perfect as they can be.  As part of that following we must then become a good team player, for God, and do what is necessary to help that group serve Him. 

God wants “Mighty Men” to serve Him, to give their devotion and their lives for Him.  We can so dedicate ourselves to Him we can become a “Mighty Man – or Woman” for God. 

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again