IF I COULD, I WOULD...

I read Wally's post yesterday http://pittswork.blogspot.com/ and he pondered what would it look like if people used their talents, gifts, abilities, passions to direct their service to God rather than fitting people (sometimes despite their talents, gifts, abilities, and passions) into existing church programming? (My paraphrase, so please read Wally's post.) He really got me to thinking about a number of different things...some serious and some silly. Like, how could an expert hot air balloonist fit into the scheme of church programming? Personally, I would put that person's talents to use in the area of evangalism. Can you see it? Taking a person high, high up in a hot air balloon and then asking, "So, if you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?" Couple that with a sudden descent and I am sure the conversion counter would be spinning. Now, I KNOW that wasn't Wally's point, but I sure had fun thinking along these lines for awhile!

Some areas of service are just necessary. Once, I helped clean the bathrooms at my church. Nothing that required much skill. But I learned so much from Paul Cullen, the pastor in charge of bathroom cleaning. He has the heart of a servant. He taught me about attitude and obedience.

Recently, someone close to me was asked the same question by two different leaders...what is your passion? One leader listened and then moved this person into a role that didn't fit, but was in an indirect way, connected to her passion. The other leader listened and then said, "It is our job as your church and my job as your pastor to help you develop ways to serve God in the area of your passion." Same question. Totally different responses. Guess which one has this person excited about serving God?

So, this brings me back to the question that Wally's post left me trying to answer....If I could do ANYTHING for the kingdom of God, what would it be?