As I see what churches and pastors boast about, I wonder if they have a right. Churches let visitors know what they have to offer. Not inherently boasting, this advertising markets the “strengths” of each church. As fellow pastors understand, the church without programs can’t make it. So, a little boasting about programs!
The Apostle Paul did not boast in programs he sponsored. He boasted about people, giving and what God had done.
1Cor. 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
I find that after 25 years of ministry, when I need to take inventory of what has happened I look at people. We had some good runs with programs, some success with numbers but I feel the greatest satisfaction when I get word from people who are still running with The Lord. Every “program” that was successful as I get older produced a lifelong change in some folks who have reproduced other lifelong Christians. I can’t say I’ve had the impact of some world leaders, but in so many people, a love for Christ and his work has thoroughly worked through them. I can say that their kids are also going in that same direction. The secret? What’s your boasting in?
Two of Paul’s favorite boasts:
1 Cor. 1:31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Gal. 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
| Fall 2008 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College: | Kirkhof College of Nursing | |||||||||||
| Major: | Pre-Nursing | |||||||||||
| Academic Standing: | Good Standing | |||||||||||
| Subject | Course | Level | Title | Grade | Credit Hours | Quality Points | R | |||||
| ART | 101 | U | Introduction to Art | C- |
3.000 |
5.10 |
||||||
| CHM | 109 | U | Introductory Chemistry | C+ |
5.000 |
11.50 |
||||||
| MTH | 097 | U | Elementary Algebra | A- |
4.000 |
14.80 |
||||||
| WRT | 098 | U | Writing with a Purpose | C |
4.000 |
8.00 |
||||||
| Attempt Hours | Passed Hours | Earned Hours | GPA Hours | Quality Points | GPA | |||||||
| Current Term: |
16.000 |
16.000 |
16.000 |
16.000 |
39.40 |
2.463 |
||||||
| Cumulative: |
16.000 |
16.000 |
16.000 |
16.000 |
39.40 |
2.463 |
||||||
| Winter 2009 | ||||||||||||
| College: | Kirkhof College of Nursing | |||||||||||
| Major: | Pre-Nursing | |||||||||||
| Academic Standing: | Good Standing | |||||||||||
| Last Academic Standing: | Good Standing | |||||||||||
| Subject | Course | Level | Title | Grade | Credit Hours | Quality Points | R | |||||
| BIO | 120 | U | General Biology I | C |
4.000 |
8.00 |
||||||
| MTH | 110 | U | Algebra | C |
4.000 |
8.00 |
||||||
| PSY | 101 | U | SLA Introductory Psychology | C- |
3.000 |
5.10 |
||||||
| WRT | 150 | U | Strategies in Writing | B |
4.000 |
12.00 |
||||||
| Attempt Hours | Passed Hours | Earned Hours | GPA Hours | Quality Points | GPA | |||||||
| Current Term: |
15.000 |
15.000 |
15.000 |
15.000 |
33.10 |
2.207 |
||||||
| Cumulative: |
31.000 |
31.000 |
31.000 |
31.000 |
72.50 |
2.339 |
||||||
| TRANSCRIPT TOTALS (UNDERGRADUATE) -Top- | ||||||||||||
| Attempt Hours | Passed Hours | Earned Hours | GPA Hours | Quality Points | GPA | |||||||
| Total Institution: |
31.000 |
31.000 |
31.000 |
31.000 |
72.50 |
2.339 |
||||||
| Total Transfer: |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.00 |
0.000 |
||||||
| Overall: |
31.000 |
31.000 |
31.000 |
31.000 |
72.50 |
2.339 |
||||||
Love this post Tom! It’s so right on…
Love you…from your sister Helen xo
Thank you for the reminder of what’s important.
Love, The Wife
And this is one of the many reasons I love you. Thank you, Daddy, for continually being a reminder to myself and our entire family that our goal in life is to reflect Christ and boast only in Him and what HE has done for us. I love you so much and am encouraged and inspired by your example and teaching in my life – always.