Crossroads At the Way and Churchianity

by Jesse Steele

“thinking big”?

  Hank: Is that, “You can do it if you believe it!”

  Don: Well, that’s more about getting all excited and I don’t know about that. Here’s what I mean by thinking big: We have a big God who can do big things and we need to have this bigness in our thinking. But there’s more…

  Hank: Spend big money to make big money?

  Don: No. You don’t need to spend any money to make money. Bill Gates didn’t. That’s just propaganda from investors who want to sell you their securities. I get a lot of those knocking on my door. It’s strange, ya know… I start making money and all of a sudden all my friends are in the securities business.

  Hank: So what does it mean to “think big”?

  Don: …how about “big picture”… ever heard of that?

  Hank: Is that kind of like the art of Grand Strategy, where we need to wage the war and not get obsessed about every little battle?

  Don: That’s a mentally constipated way of putting it, but it fits you for now, so, yeah.

  Hank: Wow, I need to tell my board to see the big picture…

  Don: No, you need to see the big picture. Only then can you cast the vision for others. You’re trying to get mentoring from them when you have more experience. Don’t try to get help—try to help others.

  Hank: So, I don’t need mentors?

  Don: No, you need mentors who have actual experience in what they mentor you about.

  Hank: Oh, I see. So, by learning from an accomplished drop-outs…

  Don: …I resemble that remark… Thank you…

  Hank: …I can get the mentoring I need and then I’ll actually get something done. After that, I will be able to help others with what they need?

  Don: That’s the way Jesus did it. That’s discipleship. I’ll follow His example since He accomplished more in 33 years than even Steve Jobs did in 56. But… what will you accomplish?

  Hank: I don’t know. That depends on my board…

  Don: NO! Their achievement depends on them. Your achievement depends on no one other than yourself. God’s given you everything you need. You can either sit around and theorize about it, on the couch or in a classroom—and spend your whole life there—or you can actually get something done.

  Hank: It sounds like you think I shouldn’t have attended seminary.

  Don: Semitary isn’t necessarily bad. I want my kids to go to college, but don’t think that you’ll learn about ministry there. Did you learn Greek?

  Hank: Yeah. It was required.

  Don: Good. Now you studied it so I don’t have to. I’m very glad you went to semitary.

  Hank: Are you lazy?

  Don: No. I work very hard. But I never do anything myself that I can pay someone else to do for me.

  Hank: What’s that got to do with Greek?

  Don: I donate money to the Church. So, I pay you. As long as you are diligent with your Greek, since you care so much about it when I don’t, I’m happy. Tell me all about it. That way I don’t have to learn it and I can focus on what God wants me doing.

  Hank: And that is… building your business?

  Don: No. Building people.

  Hank: But we are God’s craftsmanship, not the craftsmanship of others. I just learned that from the Apostle Paul.

  Don: It’s good to read Paul.

  Hank: No, I actually talked to him.

  Don: And this other guy talked to Jesus—your dreaming… but that’s good. You can help build the dream for your elder board if you yourself are a dreamer.

  Hank: But I don’t build other people.

  Don: I never said you did. I don’t build people.

  Hank: But you said…

  Don: I can smell your mental constipation again.

  Hank: Oh dear. I hope not.

  Don: I don’t build people. I mentor them. I help them find answers to questions based on what I myself have done. By helping them, I also learn. God is the grand master-builder. He’s not building buildings. He’s building people. We’re just helping Him in our own little spheres of influence. That’s the big picture.

  Hank: So, how can I help my board see this big picture?

  Don: YOU must see it yourself. Stop trying to push wet noodles. They would probably follow your leadership a little more if you just loved-up on them and moved on. The best way to help them build their dream is for you start building your own.

  Hank: What should I do?

  Don: That’s my question. What should you do? You’re the one who came to me. So, I’m assuming that you are trying to do something.

  Hank: Alright. Here’s my problem…

  Don: Other than mental constipation?

  Hank: Well, that too…

  Don: Get on with it. Remember I have another appointment and we need to consider the person in line behind you.

  Hank: You were the one distracting with mental constipation.

  Don: It wasn’t a distraction. You needed to hear it because that’s probably the problem behind your problem… So, how can I help you connect the dots?

  Hank: You might not understand this, but…

  Don: I’ve faced many challenges in my own life. Do you have any idea how hard it is to be successful at anything?

  Hank: By “success” do you mean making lots of money?

  Don: Don’t let other people determine your dreams for you. Success is what God promised Joshua if he would meditate on God’s Word. Success is merely achieving the dream God gave you—whatever it may be.

  Hank: Okay. That makes more sense now.

  Don: It’s because you’re starting to mentally deconstipate. But don’t worry, you’ve still got a lot left in there.

  Hank: So, you identify with my life challenges even though you have lots of money?

  Don: Money only increases your problems. The neighbors complain about stuff that they didn’t complain about when the previous owner lived here. It’s amazing how many people waste their time being jealous rather than just focusing on their dreams. The hard part is that you can’t hold that against them. If you can’t love your enemies then God won’t let you have very much of His money. Maybe that’s one of your problems. Do you love your enemies?

  Hank: Well, yeah, even when they do so many stupid, crazy, foolish…

  Don: Boy, you sure are worked up about this. I think you need to let go of some anger.

  Hank: I’m not angry, just frustrated.

  Don: No, mentally constipated. You’re letting other people’s problems get to you. Mind your own business.

  Hank: But I need to cooperate with them.

  Don: So, cooperate with them and quit thinking about how much they get in your way. It doesn’t matter anyway. When we all stand on the shores of eternity together, it won’t matter who was late to what meeting or what color the curtains were.

  Hank: That perspective makes it easier not to be angry.

  Don: That’s part of thinking big. You need to dream more.

  Hank: What do you mean?

  Don: You’re bigger than the petty, little stuff other people do.

  Hank: Yeah? Well, one elder backed into my car!

  Don: It’s only a material possession. You can buy another one.

  Hank: I don’t have money for that!

  Don: Money is like air. You only think about it when you don’t have enough. It’s why Judas always thought about stealing money and selling perfume. Jesus knew it, but He didn’t care. Jesus paves His streets with gold for Pete’s sake! He’s got more than enough money than He knows what to do with—and He’s smart. He came to offer abundance—and He can get you a new car if He wants you to have one.

  Hank: True, but the car is in the shop now. Do you know how much that slows down my life?

  Don: I’ve had worse problems. It will only stop you if you want it to. Later, you’ll be looking back and you’ll laugh about it. Keep dreaming, never let anything stop you, and laugh about these little things.

  Hank: But I have to get work done today.

  Do
n: Work is easier to get done if you can laugh about stuff. I know people who own several cars and they get so angry over every petty, little thing that they never get anything done. Your dream is bigger than your problems.

  Hank: That’s easy for you to say. You’ve got money. I have to choose between my family and my job. If I tell the elders the truth they’ll fire me.

  Don: You’re thinking too much about money because you don’t understand money.

  Hank: So, help me understand money. What’s the secret?

  Don: It doesn’t exist.

  Hank: You said that already. But why is there so much worry and concern in the world about something that doesn’t exist?

  Don: Because people only worry about stuff that they don’t understand. When a Chess Grandmaster sees 30 moves into the future, is he worried about a beginner marching against his king with a pawn?

  Hank: Well. No. He sees how the game works. He just wins. It’s the beginner who’s all in a tizzy.

  Don: So it’s the same with you. You’re all in a tizzy about job and ministry and car and family… because you are controlled by something that doesn’t exist… because you don’t understand it.

  Hank: How can I understand something that doesn’t exist?

  Don: You can start by understanding that it doesn’t exist.

  Hank: What do you mean?

  Don: If I gave you a big yacht and a nice sports car, but I told you that you could never ride in the car with your friends or family and never use the yacht with other people, would you want them?

  Hank: Well, no. That wouldn’t be any fun.

  Don: So, we don’t have possessions for the sake of possessions themselves. We have things because they enhance out time with others.

  Hank: People are what matter most to you, even though you are filthy rich?

  Don: People are my focus. God is building people and I help by mentoring them. That’s why I’m so