A church planting blogger and his wife that I follow are off to be assessed.  My prayers go with them.  I know for myself, in some ways I look forward to that step for us, and in other ways I am frightened by it.  What if we are the only ones who think we are called?  What if it isn’t God we’re hearing, but our own vanity?

I mentioned this worry the other day to my mentor and pastor, Philip.  He told me assessments aren’t really there to make you question your calling, but more to give you focus on knowing yourself and your giftings, and also your weak points so that you can build a team around you who will make up for anything you lack.  Or, failing that, at least give you an opportunity to work on those weaknesses, to improve.

That helped some.

What also helped is just encountering, randomly, story after story about people who thought they were good at something, but were told they stink, but then didn’t listen and became roaring successes.  I’ve encountered several of these – most recently Sigourney Weaver was told in college she was a crummy actress.  Neil Cole, author of Organic Church, in his book he mentioned that he was told her didn’t have the skills to be a church planter.  I think his results speak for themselves (Read the book).

So, there’s God, bringing these things to me when I need them.  God is still God.  Thanks, Jeremiah, for the CD out at iGo (I took you up on your offer to take one of those ep’s).  I’ve got your rendition of “Who Can Compare” on my iPod.  My heart sings this morning:

If you’re not the one we praise, who will we adore?

For God there is none like you, you alone are LORD!