a good deposit

David Delp Now Blogs at Calibrate360.com

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 20:01:00 +0000

A message to those who discover this Blogger blog... I now blog at Calibrate360.com
If you enjoyed the blogs in the archive of this site, please check out my current blog.
Thanks!

-- David Delp
Calibrate360.com

Gotta Have a Vision

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:08:00 +0000

"It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis." ~ Oswald Chambers

I saw this Oswald Chambers quote on Ben Arment's blog this morning (benarment.com). Being a pursuer of God's vision for life and ministry (not my own, mind you--God's, this struck a chord. When we do not wrestle out God's plan and allow a vision to emerge we fall into the plan of each and every day. The tyranny of the urgent controls, whims take us down dead end roads, and we come to the end of the journey wondering if we accomplished anything of significance.

I know some church leaders who chase any direction that strikes their fancy. Call it "flavor of the week". When you change visional direction as often as you change your socks you will lead a confused and aimless group of people.

Yeah, I'd rather just get out of bed every morning and make life up as I go. That's fun for a while. But the vision keeps me on track, not because it creates a busy to-do list for me, but because it gives me the joy of seeing a marvelous plan unfold. God's vision, the one I participate in, is a really great vision. It not only keeps me focused, but it makes it worth getting out of bed in the mornings. The grand and beautiful vision gives me energy to press through the "stuff" of life because I can see in my spirit what it looks like when the goals are met.

It is easier to serve God without a vision and just go with the flow of whatever comes my way--at least in the short term. But, I choose to follow a better way (look for the word "better" throughout the book of Hebrews). I choose to let the hands of the potter shape my life each and every day.

David Delp, http://aGoodDeposit.com

Making a Mark

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:59:00 +0000

The theme for our network conference is "make your mark on our movement". It is good to stop and ask ourselves whether or not we are making an impact, whether or not we are relevant, and whether or not our obedience to Christ is affecting anything beyond our own world...because it should. Without any aspersions to the former question, the question I must ask myself is, "Have I allowed Christ to leave his mark on me?"

I am very much aware that those who have made deep contributions to the betterment of the world, of our Fellowship, and have affected many lives usually were not aware that they really were making much of a difference. It was their hope and desire, but the mark of the master on them evoked a passion propelling them to simplistic and faithful obedience.

Our great leader shared with us a story of a missionary couple who lost their firstborn son to disease while in process of faithful obedience in the African wilderness, decades ago before advances in transportation and technology. These missionaries had not yet left any marks of significance and, while they went on to do things we consider great and spectacular, in the moment of their loss I would venture they felt quite insignificant and wondered if it was really worth it, but they stayed faithful to the mark the master had left upon them, probably not thinking much about the mark they might leave on the kingdom of God.

What enables men and women to accomplish things that we, with full 360 degree view, admire as spectacular? First of all, when we set out to do the spectacular it is rarely spectacular, but when we set out to just be faithfully obedient to our master and allow him to place his mark upon us, we will accomplish his good and pleasing will in our lives.

For me, I need to focus more on positioning myself in proximity to to Master so he can make a deep and indelible mark upon my life. Wherever he leads me and whatever passions he evokes in me will lead me well. At the end of my life how will I measure the mark I've left behind...it will only be revealed in eternity.

These days I don't think a lot about the mark I will make, but I think a lot about the mark of the Master on my life through the cross. Oh, I think I will make a mark but it will be because of the mark he has made upon me.

- David Delp . AGoodDeposit.com

Of Trees and Transformation

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:03:00 +0000

I have an evergreen tree in my yard that I mow around every week during the mowing season. We had one at the last place we lived and, if at all possible we will have one wherever we live as long as I am mowing my own yard. Why? So I can mow around an evergreen tree.

It's one of those markers in my life that reminds me of something very important every time I do it.

There was an old mentor in my life some years ago that loved trees. He had planted most of the trees on our conference center grounds. One day I was on the grounds and this old man in his 80s was angry. He motioned me into his car and we drove, literally, all over the grounds looking at the trees. He was angry because the grounds keepers had been damaging the low hanging branches of the evergreens with the mower. Because he was old and a bit eccentric they ignored his vehement protests. He rode me around showing me the damage and then drove me into town to show me a specimen of how a healthy evergreen should look. Our tour concluded with him charging me with the task of protecting the trees after he was gone. I agreed, what else could I do?

Some months later the old mentor was informed of his impending death so he sat me down and shared with me the secret of life as he understood it. He didn't say anything about the evergreen trees but he did mention another "tree". He said to me, "it's all about the cross".

He shared with me how, throughout his life, things happened to break him and decrease him so that Christ could be increased in his life. He taught me about the crucifixion of self (Galatians 2:20) in a way no one else had ever explained it bringing to bear his 80 some years of faithfully following Jesus. It was one of those moments that I knew my life was changing. I experienced transformation in those few short hours.

As the years have passed I could possibly forget the lessons and the transformation I experience that day, except for one thing... Every time I mow around an evergreen I remember his chastisement over the trees and my promise to look out for them. I smile to myself and without fail my mind shifts to his last words to me: "It's the cross... Remember, it's all about the cross."

As long as I have the strength to mow my own lawn I will always make sure I have an evergreen to mow around so I will remember the sage words of my old friend.

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ who lives in me. For the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." -- Galatians 2:20

- David Delp . AGoodDeposit.com

We Always Want to Do What We Cannot

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Human beings are a bit peculiar in that they always want to do what they cannot do. Granted, there is a difference between what we cannot do and what we are not supposed to do, but the two are related in the way they evoke the desire for the forbidden or the seemingly unobtainable.

I watched a little bit of Space Odyssey: 2001 the other night until I couldn't take any more of the music. The 1968 perception of what would be available in 2001 was interesting. For instance, a phone in a "phone booth" presented as a big computer console with a 19 inch color screen. You put your credit card in a slot and make a video call. They could not envision cell phones that will do the same in the palm of your hand or Skype that will make a video call to anywhere in the world without the $1.70 charge to your credit card.

The interesting thing to me is that we have gone more text based than video based. The first long distance communication was the telegraph, now we "telegraph" from the palms of our hands. We want to text because it is clean, quick, not messy, just to the point, and we don't have to answer back if we don't want even in the middle of a conversation.

Why the facination with video capabilities, when all we would eventually want to do is still send typed words... simple, because we couldn't do it. Since we couldn't do it we (they) perceived that it would be the apex of communication achievement.

I'll admit this line of thinking embraces a lot of speculation.

The first thing God said to man was that he could eat anything in the garden except the fruit of one tree, and if they ate of that one tree they would die.

The first thing Satan said to man was that if they ate of the fruit of that same tree, they would not die.

The same interchange is present today. God tells us there are consequences for our actions and Satan tells us there are no consequences. I'd rather believe personified truth than personified deception.

We press to new heights when told we cannot. We push to new lows when we are told we should not. Its something in our nature. That nature needs to be redeemed. The new heights are a good thing, the new lows are not.

We need to focus our curiosity, our entrepreneurial spirits, our reach for the unreachable to noble, God-honoring, and eternally significant tasks. How does our reaching take ourselves and humankind closer to God? How does our reaching demonstrate the compassion of Christ, so others, too, may know him? How does our reaching make us better, and others better? Some questions to ponder as we press into new things and new places.

It was Simply Necessary

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Tue, 03 May 2011 16:03:00 +0000

Only once did my father ever rebuff me for asking a sincere question, "Dad, did you kill anyone in the war?" To which he sternly replied that killing another human being was never something to be proud of, necessary, perhaps, but not something to be proud of. It seems there were two kinds of WWII vets, those who wore the hats with their insignias and unit numbers, and those that quietly and courageously went about their lives, but never forgetting doing what was necessary, and never forgetting the things they saw and the friends that were lost.

Dad's military medals and a few mementos were always tucked away in his dresser drawer under his clothes. Never displayed, never pulled out to show off, just in the drawer. It was only in his final years that he began to tell me of some of the things he experienced. There was always the memory of the B-17s that didn't make it back to the base, planes that carried friends and men he knew. There was always the wondering of who was in those factories and installations bombed.

Once, on a family trip to Disney World, we sat taking a break from the walking and Dad was lost in thought looking at a family, a German speaking family with their grandfather. I asked Dad what he was thinking, and he replied, "I can't help but wonder where that man was in 1943." It wasn't from the perspective of viewing a possible former enemy, but from the perspective of wondering what hurt and pain that man and his family may have experienced simultaneous to his own.

I must admit, I am a patriot, I am thankful and proud to be an American. I must admit that it goes down hard for me when I hear the world, particularly Europeans (with sincere respect to some of my friends), criticize the United States. Not because we are always right, but because I do believe that through the generations we have tried to do right. Some may question our motives, but I believe the motives of the American people, by and large, have been benevolent and giving. My dad's life, and subsequently my life, and probably to some degree the lives of my children, was affected by the willingness of that generation to stand for what was right.

All of these things color my view of current events. I believe Osama Bin Laden had to be stopped, whatever that took. I am thankful he was stopped. I am grateful for our military and our leaders who finally put an end to his insanity. It was simply necessary. I do, however, recoil a bit when I see images of Americans taking to the streets with alcohol and U.S. flags and dancing gleefully like we just won the World Cup. I am relieved, and even feel some satisfaction, but I think the character of the majority of Americans is to take pause, feel relief, and understand that something necessary was completed in a world that can be savage at times. In the character and nature of Christ, I can't be full of joy that because of evil in the world it was necessary to take a life to stand against evil -- again, it was necessary, but giddy joy is not the emotion I feel.

After almost ten years my eyes still brim with tears when I even think about the tragedy and emotions of 9/11/01. We will not forget and we did the right thing hunting down and stopping the person most responsible for this tragedy. But, I have to say, I don't feel joy over any of this. It is simply the completion of the necessary measures that must be taken to survive in a world that can be savage and evil at times.

Loving God More than the Things of the World

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:12:00 +0000

I felt strongly this word be delivered to our Indiana School of Ministry (ISOM) students in our last session. I post it on my blog because many asked for the notes.

Not since the great awakening has there been a time in the history of the Church when the Church embraced and assimilated secular culture, in opposition to biblical teaching, more than it does today.

• Many who claim to follow Christ view the same things the “world” views
• Many who claim to follow Christ listen to the same things the “world” listens
• Many who claim to follow Christ do the same things the “world” does
• The divorce rates among those who claim to be Christ-followers is basically the same as those who do not

Is there transformation?

What do we mean by “world”? John is one of the originators of that term when he explains how our transformation through Christ ought to lead us to loving God more than we love the things of the “world”.

I John 2:15 (NIV) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Jesus said I have come that you might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). The bible says that those who are in Christ are a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Yet, the spirit of antichrist is growing stronger in the world.

I John 2: 18 (NIV) “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour…. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you,see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life. 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

The spirit of antichrist leads us away from those things we have learned and the Christ revealed to us through his Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3 warns us of the last days.

2 Timothy 3 (NIV) (1) "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

The church (the organization) has lost its influence in this generation and will only regain its position of transformation if it embraces the power of God, the Presence of God, the Spirit of God.

• It is not enough to have a form of godliness
• It is not enough to put on a good show
• It is not enough to just help people learn how to live good lives
• It is not enough to help people learn how to balance their checkbooks

All of those things are fine, nothing wrong with helping anyone accomplish any one of those things, but these things are not what bring spiritual transformation, It is the Power of God, The Presence of God, the inner working of the Spirit that brings transformation.

At the height of the glory of the Catholic church Pope Innocent IV said to Thomas Aquinas, “You see that the Church is no longer in an age in which she can say, silver and gold have I none.” Thomas Aquinas is said to have replied, “It is true, holy father, nor can she now say to the lame man, Rise up and walk."

Let me tell you, we place much hope in the students of the Indiana School of Ministry (ISOM) for the proclamation of the good news with power and spiritual authority in Indiana. The pace at which churches are closing seems to be in danger of acceleration. The small towns of Indiana that have no Pentecostal witness, the inner cities that need the Word of God preached with signs following, that the devils tremble, people are delivered, and lives are transformed.

May God rise up students from ISOM with more than a form of godliness, but the power that is intended to accompany, facilitate, and reveal true godliness.

2 Tim 3 (NIV) (10) “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Know the Word, proclaim the Word, live the Word, and be transformed by the Word (the work of the Spirit of Christ within you).

Greeters or Gatekeepers

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:44:00 +0000

In my role as the "credential guy" I have to constantly remember we are greeters and not just gatekeepers into the Fellowship. Thanks to Don Detrick, NW Ministry Network S/T for his presentation a few years ago bringing this to our attention. In your role, are you a greeter or a gatekeeper?

- Walmart has greeters / the TSA has gatekeepers
- Greeters welcome / Gatekeepers scrutinize
- Greeters open doors / Gatekeepers shut doors
- Greeters let people in / Gatekeepers keep people out
- Greeters focus on relationship / Gatekeepers focus on rules
- Greeters serve people / Gatekeepers maintain systems
- Greeters look for someone to bless / Gatekeepers look for someone to blame

Greeters have a desire to motivate people through encouragement and grace. The heart of a gatekeeper can sometimes sour into manipulating through intimidation and guilt.

Both roles, when approached in a healthy manner, have their place and the gate has to be kept to keep wolves out, but whenever possible, we should strive to be greeters rather than gatekeepers. Some churches and some leaders act as though we have to protect the Kingdom of God (or perhaps the "Fellowship") from all the riff-raff while we should be welcoming those with a dream and a desire for spiritual community even when they are perhaps different in their approach.

We have to keep an eye on the gate, I just hope to look for every reason to act more like a greeter than a gatekeeper.

Saturday in the Park ... I Think it was the 4th of July?

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:07:00 +0000

I love scanning radio stations on Sunday mornings as I travel the state of Indiana on the way to visit one of our churches. I've heard some great sermons and some embarrassing sermons. I've heard great orators and poor orators, anointed and ... well... not anointed.
The other morning, scanning the dial I heard a mass complete with pipe organ and people coughing in the background (can you say, "omni directional microphones left open").

I hit the "seek" button.

Next was a preacher scolding his congregation for not showing up for their "week of prayer" emphasis. He continued to expound upon the difficulty of prayer but its necessity. He made communication and intimacy with God sound like a real drag.

I hit the "seek" button.

Next was a sermon about Moses on the back side of the desert for forty years and how much his life and his circumstances stunk and how we might go through 40 years of pain, agony, to prepare us to meet the people who worship their god through child sacrifices...

"Seek".

Then I found the encouragement I was looking for. I hit on an oldies station and Chicago was singing, "Saturday in the park, I think it was the fourth of July... People laughing, people smiling, a man selling ice cream singing Italian songs." I listened to this song about people singing and a man playing his guitar and everybody was smiling and having a good time. That sounded better to me than anything I heard the religious broadcasts offering that particular morning. The life that sounded like a life I wanted to live was on the oldies station!

In John 15 Jesus tells us to live productive and obedient lives, so there are requirements and parameters to be met, but the outcome of that obedience and productivity is seen in verse 11, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (NIV). Jesus also tells us that the strength to obey and produce comes from our relationship with him.

People are looking for a place like the park described in the song. Some people spend a lifetime searching for such a place. It is a bit ironic that the one place where such joy can be found is often portrayed as a very dull and lifeless place.

Jesus is all about life and he is all about joy.

Valentines Day

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:01:00 +0000

It's interesting how God plants seeds in our lives that grow up into the fulfillment of his will. The things we love, are passionate about, attract us, and the skills and gifts invested into our lives are all clues as to the direction we are to take in life as we follow God's plan.

When I was a little boy I was absolutely fascinated by girls with long hair, especially if it was blond. It was always the thing I noticed first. Why, I have absolutely no idea ... well, I might have an idea...

One day a girl walked into my life with thick blond hair all the way down her back. I was so taken by her that I did not need to process any further (which those who know me know that says a lot). I've never really thought about it before, but I suspect God put an attraction in this little boy for girls with long blond hair so that I would be drawn to the one with whom he wanted me to spend my life. Sounds a little far fetched, but God does order our lives and our steps in a lot of ways. Maybe this was just one of his ways of getting his will done. The contents of her spirit and soul closed the deal and were far more important than anything that initiated the interest.

It has been a few decades since that little girl grew up and got so tired of caring for all that hair that she cut most of it off, but by that time it no longer mattered. No doubt these days that blond hair needs a wee help staying blond, but that doesn't matter either.

Thank you, Lord, for making us the way you make us, and putting in us what you put in us to help us find the path that brings joy to our lives. I know sometimes things don't turn out the way we'd hoped... but for me... it is good!

In the Context of Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:50:00 +0000

One of my core values: ministry takes place in the context of a relationship. I was watching the news this morning; a shooting at a downtown bar. It occurred to me, most shootings take place in the context of a relationship. Think about it. Not all, but most murders, violence, molestations, kidnappings, and other personal crimes take place in the context of a relational connection.

On the positive side, nurture, growth, discipleship, transformational leadership, healthy change, and healthy lives are all accomplished in the context of relationships. We really do need one another. Our spiritual growth comes in a context of a relationship with God (John and Paul were obsessed with "knowing him") and with others.

When we approach spiritual community like a trip to the grocery store; just run in, get what you need and dash back out and get on with your lives; the purpose of coming together in a spiritually nurturing community is lost. The incarnation was about relationship with the creation.

Back to the shootings and the negative: when relationships are unhealthy, unbalanced, self serving, and in a negative broader context the outcomes of the relationship/connection are negative. Unhealthy conflict arises and people get hurt. The God-designed purpose of relationships is to bring health and transformation.

Leaders must consider relational contexts. If you do not build, encourage, and facilitate healthy life-giving relationships you will not have a context for transformation, discipleship, positive change, or growth.

The development of relational contexts is simply non-negotiable. Lets' make sure we build healthy contexts (i.e. small groups, one on ones, mentoring, coaching, etc.) and work at it so we can experience God's design for growth, health, and nurture.

What Do I Care?

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:01:00 +0000

In order for something to have power over us and generate passion within us we have to care about that something.

Growing up I knew a kid whose last name was the same as an infamous mob family. Jimmy's ambition, it seemed to his peers, was being a poor student and quitting school at age 16 to drive a tow truck. He drove the teachers absolutely insane because his response to every warning or threat was simply, "I don't care".

Teacher: "Jimmy, if you don't do your homework you will fail."
Jimmy: "I don't care."
Teacher: "Jimmy, if you fail you will have to repeat 6th grade."
Jimmy: "I don't care."
Teacher: "All your friends will go to Jr. High and you will be left behind."
Jimmy: "I don't care."
Teacher: "I will send you to the principal's office and he will punish you."
Jimmy: "I don't care."
Teacher: "We are going to call your mother."
Jimmy: "I don't care."
Teacher: "If you don't adjust your attitude you will end up in prison."
Jimmy: "I don't care."

There was a certain James Dean kind of intrigue with the situation, and, I must admit, it was entertaining watching the teacher's face progress to brighter shades of red.

When you don't care about something, that something has no power over your life. Yes, I am going to spiritualize now...

Jesus threw the opportunists out of the temple because he cared about his Father's house (John 2). Later(v.23) people were enamored with the miracles he performed, but Jesus "would not entrust himself to them" because he did not need their testimony. He cared about his Father's house, but he really did not care about the approval of people. What he cared about shaped his actions.

Jesus willing laid his life down (I John 3:16). He didn't care about himself, he cared about us. What he cared about shaped his actions.

I don't care about power. If God wants to grant power to me to do something for him that is fine. What I care about is his Presence.

I don't care about position or authority (I used to, though I didn't think I did). If God wants to grant it because he wants me to do something for him that is fine, but I don't care. What I care about is humility so I can get quiet before God so I can hear him speak.

I don't care to have an agenda of my own. I don't want one. What I care about is obedience to God's agenda. May his agenda be my agenda.

I don't care about doing great things (I used to). What I care about is seeing people become great disciples of Jesus.

I still care a little too much about perception of others and reputation, but I am growing to not care. This will take more crucifixion of self than I have currently embraced. What I do care about is the reality of the unseen things (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

The things we care about have power over us. I will make great sacrifices for the things I care about. The things I don't care about, well, I don't care about them.

I must consider how the things I care about have and are shaping my life. I must consider what I don't care about that I should care about, and I must consider the things that I do care about that I shouldn't. I hope that I can come to care about what God cares about and not care about what he does not.

What's the plan for my life

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:51:00 +0000

I read this statement penned by a man named Jim Rohn, "If you don't have a plan for your life you will fall into someone else's plan for your life, and guess what they have planned for you -- not much." It sounds cynical, but it is true. I have it on a card under the glass of my desk and I've given it to my daughters to remind them that what they do with their lives is their responsibility, not someone else's responsibility.

Fact is, there are a lot of good people who have helped me and spoken into my life throughout the years. I am very appreciative. Reality is that everyone of those people, while many would do anything they could to help me if I asked, have their own lives, their own families, their own ministries, their own relationships, their own budgets, their own challenges, their own callings, their own values, their own mission, their own vision, and their own set of priorities. They are just as challenged and tired as I am.

It is up to us to have a plan for our own lives. A plan that comes from time spent in the Presence of God. I can call mentors and coaches and spill my guts in the hopes they will tell me what to do, but ultimately, with the help of the Holy Spirit I have to decide. Holy Spirit and I are responsible for my success, no one else.

Sometimes we are frustrated, hurt, and disappointed that someone did not help us sufficiently to achieve our goals. There's the church planter who is skinned up because neighboring churches didn't send them people, struggling pastors hurt because no one sent them money when times were tough, and others who are disappointed that no one saw their hurt and pain and rallied around them (even though Wal-mart was out of crystal balls, figuratively speaking of course).

Here's the point of this post. I have to take responsibility for the plan of my life. I have to hear from God. I have to pray through. I have to understand my gifts and calling and operate within their parameters. If I don't have a plan for my life it is for sure ... no one else is going to come up with one for me -- they cannot. I have to cast the vision and believe God to raise up the resources. I have to inspire others to see what I see in the Spirit and trust God to bear witness and prompt them to join me on the journey.

I can't just sit around hoping that one day a ship will cruise by and throw off a manual of what I'm supposed to do with my life with a check attached to pay for it.

I am so thankful for my mentors, coaches, partners, and supporters. They have blessed me greatly, but they've never been able to tell me what I'm supposed to do with my life. They've never been able to give me the vision for my life. That is something God and I have to work out in the secret place.

When we fail (not if)

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:04:00 +0000

It is odd how when we sin our overwhelming human response is to become defensive. You would think our response would be one of brokenness and humility. After failure, brokenness sometimes comes first and our embarrassed nature leads us to defensiveness. Sometimes the defensiveness comes first and finally submits itself to brokenness and reconciliation.

I've observed a number of good men and women who have seriously failed. Every once in a while one is broken enough to seek restoration and reconciliation with humility. Sadly, too often after the initial shock wears off waves of self-justification, denial, and defensiveness lurch forward dashing the hopes of growth, redemption, and moving to the next level of understanding both the human condition and the grace of God.

There are consequences attached to our failures. Sometimes they are heavy consequences, sometimes light. It is the desire to avoid the consequences that elicits defensiveness. Accepting and even embracing the consequences of our failures is prerequisite to gaining the treasure that brokenness brings.

Apostle Paul stated, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (Phil. 3:7, NASB). Why do we think we have to protect our reputation or turf when Christ laid his reputation aside to demonstrate the nature of humility?

Problem is, we just have too much we are trying to protect. We are like junk yard dogs growling to protect the little scraps we cherish rather than being willing to release ownership, be crucified with Christ, and walk in humility. It would be better to submit all things to Christ and let him be Lord over all of them.

May God give me the grace, should I fail (and I have many times) that I will acknowledge who I really am so Christ may be perfected in me. May the arrogance and defensiveness of my nature yield to the humility and brokenness of the Christ life.

The truth really does set us free.
It's my blog and that's the way I see it.
(http://aGoodDeposit.com)

Read this when you want to quit

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:28:00 +0000

My good friend David Stewart Jr. posted this poem written by the great missionary Charles Greenaway about not quitting. We all have times we want to quit. I'm not much on poems, but something tells me I will be reading this one every once in a while:

If I Should Quit
By Rev. Dr. Charles Greenaway

“If I should quit, what would the gain be?
Would the battle be lost? Would I really be free?
No, the door would not close, nor the battle cease,
Because God would have another to stand in the breach,
If I quit.

If I should quit, what would I do?
Seek shelter from the heat, forget the cry of the lost?
Would I be happy for a time, then find I was through,
And spend my time praying for something to do?
Saying, ‘Oh God, why did I quit?’

If I should quit, I would find that God had not!
The battle would still rage, the Church would march on.
The wind would keep blowing, the Spirit filling,
Only I would be farther and farther behind, unwilling,
And wondering, ‘Oh God, why did I quit?’

If I should quit, what could I say to God?
He who called me, and the people who sent me?
And the pagan who trusted me to show him the way?
And to the Spirit’s urging day after day?
‘Oh God, I can’t quit!’

If I should quit, let it be when I am dead . . . !
Not while I’m alive, nor when I’m dissatisfied!
Not when I’m criticized, or minimized, or ostracized!
But please, Oh God, let quitting time for me be-
When I am dead.”

Re-railers

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:23:00 +0000

I've always loved trains. I think there is something in the heart of every little boy that draws them to the massive size, power, and machinery of trains. When I was a kid I had several different train sets.

I love the sound of the whisper of the little metal wheels sliding along the metal track. Sometimes the wheels of one of the cars would get off track and start grinding and bouncing against the little plastic railroad ties holding the miniature rails together. It was a disruption to the smooth whir and operation of the train. If the derailment was serious enough the entire train would come off the track.

Model train aficionados know that there exists a rerailer, or a section of track with an insert tapered in such a way that it guides the wheels back onto the track if the derailment is minor.

When my train's little wheels got off track and I saw the bouncing and heard the grinding I would slow the train down and hope it made it to the rerailer track. It was a satisfying feeling when the train would jerk back on track and the whir of metal rolling on metal was restored. Sometimes the derailment was too serious and the rerailer was ineffective. The train would then have to be manually taken off the track and carefully replaced.

I need sections of rerailer track regularly placed on the track my life runs on. When the wheels get off the track it is a matter of time until the grinding and instability throws the entire thing off track. What are the rerailers that get me back on track?

These are the rerailers in my life:
1. Sabbath rest regularly spaced once every seven days
2. Vacations spaced about once a quarter
3. A weekly "think" time to strategize and plan
4. A daily visit to the secret place (my quiet and intimate time with God)
5. Occasional fun stuff -- the things that refill my tank

Sometimes we just need to reconfigure our track layout and make sure we have rerailers in place at acceptable intervals to make sure we stay on track.

David Delp
http://aGoodDeposit.com

Unity

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:55:00 +0000

Being a child of the 70s, I grew up hearing the cultural cries, “Do your own thing”, “If it feels good, do it,” and, “Don’t conform to the establishment.” Individualism became a cherished value. Pop culture absolutely loved eating the meat of slaughtered sacred cows. I must admit, when I hear “that’s-the-way-we’ve-always-done-it” I become like a shark smelling blood in the water.

Our individualistic spirits morphed into entrepreneurial-pioneer spirits and we re-shaped the “establishment” to become more responsive to needed change. The journey from 70s child to being a leader looking to the mid-21st century, I realize the “establishment” is now the “establishment” that I helped establish. I also realize our methods can’t be static and we need an entrepreneurial-pioneer spirit active within us to embrace our contextual challenges effectively. So, how do we manage the contrasts between individualism and unity in a God-honoring way?

We must unify around the same core mission. Jesus prayed to Father-God, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22,23, NIV). Methods vary but THE mission does not.

We must unify around the same core beliefs. I Corinthians 1:10 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought (NIV).”

We mustn’t move the ancient boundary stones. Proverbs 22:28 says, “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.” While this refers to property lines and inheritance, it communicates a principle of the danger of moving hard parameters established and followed by hundreds of generations based upon truths in the Word of God.”

We must seek a current vision. When a group of people come together to seek the voice and revelation of God as revealed in scripture and in the activity of the Holy Spirit, they should come to a unified vision. Obviously, when we battle over how to catalyze transformation because of diversely opposed directions, somebody’s filter is clogged up with foreign matter.

We are individuals, but we ought to be observing the same challenges, reading the same Word, and hearing the voice of the same Spirit. We will always express ourselves in different ways, and that is good, but we must also find those common threads that connect us and identify us with the same core mission.

Let us be one.

80/20 is Just a Fact of Life

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:19:00 +0000

I get frustrated sometimes with all of the administrative work necessary to do the three or four objectives of my passion and call. I am constantly trying to find ways to streamline the administration so I can spend more time on my passions. In the creation story, we see administration and organizational support tasks are very much a part of the preparation for the execution of our plans. From Genesis, chapter one, we can learn an organizational lesson in understanding how God organized creation.

On the first through fourth days, God organized creation. He established light and darkness, land and seas, and he created the vegetation to sustain life. During the first four days of creation, God created and organized an environment to host the life he would create on the fifth and sixth days.

Obviously, to me, the life created on the fourth and fifth days were the point of creation, particularly the creation of human beings. God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over…all the earth (NIV).” The narrative’s focus quickly turns to the importance and the role of humankind. One of two things happened (and perhaps a little of both); either God created mankind to lead, manage, and steward this creation on God’s behalf, or God created the earth and all that is in it as an environment to sustain the object of his creation—mankind. I think it is the latter, though the former is a responsibility of humankind as the primary contribution toward their sustenance.

God created this world and us out of the love and desire of a Father. He spent 83% of his work week creating the environment that would employ, sustain, and nurture us and he spent 16% of his work week creating the object of his creation (us). Let those among us who do not understand the value of rest and personal time note that God spent 14% (one day) of his total week doing whatever God does when he rests.

It is interesting that the Pareto Principle, a.k.a. the 80/20 rule, seems to apply to this situation. So, following the example of God, do not be discouraged when you spend 80% of your time preparing and developing the environment for the 20% of your work that fulfills the passion of your calling. You are in good company, and, that is just the way things work.

One more thing…God himself modeled the importance of rest—follow his example.

Do you know what you don't know?

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:38:00 +0000

It is interesting that we actually pay big money to be tortured. Gym memberships and personal trainers, coaching, ... and yes, higher education! Those of you who know me well know that I am in the final run on completing my masters degree. You know, so very well, because I complain so much about it. It really has kicked my back-side up and down the street for two years.

Funny thing, a masters degree costs a lot of money and it is a lot like torture. The slow and constant drip of books, writing assignments, posts, etc. Every day off, every formerly free block of time. But, this has helped me grow more than anything I've ever done. You see, I thought I knew a lot about leading organizations (i.e. churches) and people, but as I experienced more life I came to know what I did not know; hence, the masters journey.

We see it every day. People who don't know what they don't know. It is a sad sight. Its sad to see a leader leading away and making decisions that affect peoples lives, livelihood, and eternal spirituality who just don't know what they don't know. They mean no harm... they just don't know what they don't know.

Over the intense journey of the last four or five years I discovered some things that I did not know. It was only then I could fix them. Enter: the back-side kickers, be they professors, coaches, trainers, mentors, or teachers. They help us know what we don't know and then help us to know it.

Interesting, the more you try to know what you don't know, the more you wonder what you still don't know that you don't know. Carry on wayward sons ... that is why we never, never, never stop learning and challenging ourselves to grow.

((view or subscribe to this blog at aGoodDeposit.com))

Mission Accomplished

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:50:00 +0000

It is hard to watch someone you love move to the other side of the world, especially when that someone is your beloved daughter. It is something that most every parent of those on international missions assignments, international students, etc., feel.

Paris is a long way away and presents communications problems because of the 6 hour time difference. In the evenings when Joyce and I are home and would like to communicate, Kelly is in bed. In our mornings she is in the throes of the intensity of an afternoon work schedule.

Letting go is always hard, but rather than be sad and weep over the sense of loss, we, rather, rejoice in the goodness of God. We are thankful for our daughters and we are always proud when they yield in obedience to God's call upon their lives--even when it involves a move to the other side of the world. I've got to say I would have preferred her mission having been on the other side of our city than the other side of the world, but that's not my decision.

We always prayed that our kids would love God and serve him with all of their hearts. Now, with Kelly moving to Paris to do just that, I've got to say -- mission accomplished!

God's ways are higher and better than our ways. We can never go wrong living our lives for God and others. We have to keep an eternal perspective.

Now

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:41:00 +0000

It is time for the Church to return to its reliance on the Holy Spirit and get off of the idea that great strategies, creativity, and the "arm of the flesh" are going to bring eternal transformation. Strategy and creativity are good things, but they are no substitute for the power and Presence of God.

What's the Church to do in a day when a pastor can be shot down in his pulpit, people are losing hope in the face of the ever worsening economy, and church after church is unable to service their mortgage? What's the Church to do when leaders fall to immorality, members are addicted to internet pornography, and accountability is non-existent? What's the Church to do when the Body of Christ just shifts from one church to the next and call it "growth"? What's the church to do when the lost aren't being found, the sick aren't being healed, the poor are not being clothed, the afflicted are not being comforted, and few are interested in the return of the Christ?

Odd thing about troubling times...they present both challenges and opportunity. I see opportunity for God to be God. You see, I believe that the Church's finest days are ahead. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!

Its time to stop playing "church" and start being the Church, its time to be filled once again with the Holy Spirit until our lips quiver and our lives are transformed. Acts 1:8 tells us we will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you, power to become witnesses, power to stand in difficult times, and power to be the Church.

The only way the Church can rise to meet the challenges of this day is to be filled and full of the Holy Spirit. I believe it as much now, if not more, than I ever have before.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Walk Straight

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:27:00 +0000

World changers walk in straight lines. I believe one of the reasons the church is without power in so many places and circumstances is because its people and leaders wink at inconsistencies in their own lives.

I've been spending a lot of time thinking about righteousness and right living in my own life. Yes, my life might be "holier" than average, but that isn't the issue. I must walk straight in every area of my life, I must choose the right with every decision, and I must live my life as an open book.

I am glad for the grace and forgiveness of God... but that isn't the point either. God forgives, but he calls us to walk straight. Too often we transgress thinking that God will cover up for us. Ephesians 5:15 (KJV) says, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise...".

What is done in secret will, sooner or later, be exposed for all to see. We must walk in humility or be humiliated. If we will see God be God in this generation we must be clean vessels for the habitation of the Holy Spirit. No part dark!

The Last Easter...

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:36:00 +0000

I was working on my long range calendar and I just realized I will probably never enjoy another Easter falling on my birthday. For me, its just another one of those mile markers on the highway of life reminding me I am mortal. Actually, it caught me by surprise that it even mattered to me.

I’ve had my birthday fall on Easter 4 times. The first time I was 11. All of the kids at Sunday school thought it was cool. Then when I was 22, 33, and 44… do you notice a pattern here. I assumed it would happen again at 55, but there is a gap in the continuum and it won’t happen again until I am 106. I really wasn’t planning on being here at 106! I would have celebrated big on my 44^th had I realized it might be the last time.

We do many things in life for the last time and most of those times we didn’t know it was the last time. I remember the last time we wrecked one of our cars, the last root canal, and the last pulled muscle. It would be nice if some things never happened again, but what about the last kiss, the last Christmas, the last smile, or the last words we say to someone we love.

The next time I start to say something unkind to someone or pass up an opportunity to let someone know I love them, I hope I remember there’ll likely be no more birthdays on Easter.

(blog post on http://aGoodDeposit.com)

If you look you'll find it

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:39:00 +0000

Have you ever “lost” something that really wasn’t lost, but through inattention you just lost track of where it was? Reminds me of my garage, a few years ago I packed everything in containers so I could finish the walls of my garage and I never reorganized. I’ll sometimes look for 30 minutes for something I know I have, I’ve just lost track of where it is.

Sometimes, in all of my activity, I lose my sense of intimacy with the Father. I have seasons when I began to realize my heart has grown lukewarm and other pursuits have diminished my most important pursuits. Right now, my heart is searching for a deep reconnect with the Father.

In the Song of Solomon, the beloved (me) looked for her king/lover (God) but could not find him. The intensity of her love for him compelled her to get up from the comfort and safety of her bed at a most inconvenient hour. She went into the streets and the squares of the city searching for her lover, but could not find him (Song 3:1-2). Finally, the beloved found her lover. She said, “I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go…” (Song 3:4, NIV).

How hard I try (search) is in direct proportion to the intensity of my love or desire. Those who seek will find. God is never lost to me, but sometimes I “misplace” him in the necessary clutter of my life. The measure of my desire for intimacy with the Father will determine to what lengths I am willing to go to obtain that which already belongs to me.

(blog post: http://aGoodDeposit.com)

Two of me

noreply@blogger.com (David Delp) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:05:00 +0000

I resign myself to the fact that there are two of me. I've often wished there were two of me so I could get more done, but that isn't what I'm talking about... only one set of hands, one brain, etc. ... but there are two parts of me that are often in conflict.

It is amazing how much of the New Testament is devoted to the struggle between our natural self and our spiritual person, yet we count it as common knowledge and don't spend a lot of time thinking or talking or teaching about it. Our sinful nature cannot be made good, it must be crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6, Galations 2:20, Galations 5:24). Our sinful nature has to be overcome through the power of the Spirit and the grace of God (Romans 8:13).

How can I overcome this part of me that is inclined to selfishness, slander, and evil? Here are three things that, through the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit I commit to in order to live an overcoming life:

1) I will deny myself daily (Matthew 16:24, Romans 8:12-13). We sometimes want things we shouldn't have, want to do things we shouldn't do, and not care about things we should care about because we are selfish. I deny selfish desires.

2) I will remove every hinderance (Hebrews 12:1). A lot of thing hold us back from who we want to be... I want those things out of the way.

3) I will resist temptation (Romans 13:14). We cannot stop temptations but we can resist them with the strength of God.

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit working in my spirit that I can overcome. We cannot just allow ourselves to be selfish and live double lives. To experience the overcoming victory God has for us we have to deny self, remove hinderances and sin, and resist temptation.