140 Characters of Inspiration
by Tom Goodman
June 10, 2011
If your only knowledge of Twitter is through the recent scandalous postings by a congressman, let me broaden your horizons.
In the Twitterverse, a "tweet" is a 140-character commentary. Consider it a tiny blog post on a strict diet. The New York Times has a quick introduction to the
phenomenon.
I check my Twitter feeds two or three times a day for a quick shot of humor or inspiration or alerts to breaking news. I've found several accounts worth following, but since LeaderLines is an e-newsletter about church leadership, let me limit
my introduction to a few that address that subject. Let me give you some sample tweets relevant to those of us in church leadership.
James Emery White, pastor at Mecklenberg Community Church:
If we are "minoring" in reaching people, then what are we "majoring" in?
Lie: God can't use me until I'm spiritually strong and have it all together. Truth: "My power works best in your weakness" (II Cor.12:9, NLT).
Your spiritual gift tells you what to do for Christ; your passions tell you where to do it; your personality tells you how.
Rick Warren, pastor at Saddleback Community Church:
To know a man's true spiritual maturity just talk to his wife for an hour.
It's not what's around you, but who lives in you, that determines the direction & significance of your life.
Evil is Live backward. We die inside every time we disobey. "I've come that you may live" -- Jesus.
John Piper, pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church:
Yes, be appalled at political Weiner behavior. Then pray that all such pastoral darkness be exposed and the church purified.
When flawed preaching meets flawed hearing warranted and unwarranted blessing and warranted and unwarranted offense happen.
Both, both, both, both. "I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with those of a contrite and lowly spirit." (Isa. 57:15)
Keenly aware of two things at 65: Christ is my righteousness, and I am in need of much improvement.
Tim Keller, pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC:
Tolerance isn't about not having beliefs. It's about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.
If we take our meaning in life from our family, our work, a cause, or some achievement other than God, they enslave us.
If Jesus is King, you cannot make him a means to your end.
It's popular nowadays to say you're searching but not so popular to say you've found.
This account posts quotes from C.S. Lewis, whose writings are still relevant even though he died in 1963:
Be found at one's post, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last 100 years
You will certainly carry out God's purpose, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.
If He who in Himself can lack nothing, chooses to need us, it is because we need to be needed.
The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.
If this little taste has intrigued you to join Twitter, or supplied you to add some feeds to your account, why not add my feed while you're at it? A few samples:
"Even Thor has grown richer through acquaintance with Jesus." Want the context for that insight? Here it is.
An offbeat preacher says (again) that the world's ending May 21? My take here.
"Our whole business in this life is to restore to health the eyes of the heart, whereby God may be seen." (Augustine, 4th Century)
"It is the theologian's hard and high fate to cast himself into the flame he tends, and be drawn into its consuming fire" (PT Forsyth, 1910)
"It all works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out yet, then it's not the end." (Max Lucado)
"When you hang your head in shame, the last thing you should be thinking about is whether the camera has caught your good side." (C Trueman)
Happy tweeting!
--Tom
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