Project Management 101

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My work is often focused around projects. Large, complex projects, using vast resources and with significant risk. I also work in an industry that has a poor track record for delivering projects on time and in budget. When things go wrong 3 things are usually to blame

- There was no effective project management

- A clear goal was not established for everyone to aim towards

- The plan was not credible, realistic or adhered to

Yours and my life have got to be some of the most complex projects in the universe. We have been invested with the most precious resource ever (the gospel) and the risks are great. Praise God that these three fundamental issues are in good hands?

Who's the project manager? God - we are God's workmanship. He's the boss. It's his project. We may have a part to play but in the end he is the one doing the shaping and moulding. What a relief. Such an awesome task is in the hands of someone vastly more capable than you or I. If you have ever worked for a really good manager this is a pleasure. They make the burden light and the project a pleasure. They manage the risks and build the team. Its a joy to be involved.

What's the project? Good works - created in Christ Jesus to do good works. He set the mission statement, the goals, the "critical success factors" those things that really matter! There is nothing more depressing than a dead end job with no purpose or meaning. We have the greatest purpose ever. To do God's work!

Who's got the plan? God - God prepared in advance for us to do. He sets the milestones and the objectives. The pace is set by him and the tasks are prepared for us to. We might not see the whole project plan but we are given our daily part to play.

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No-one cares?

Psalm 142:4

Look to my right and see;

no one is concerned for me.

I have no refuge;

no one cares for my life.

I love the honesty of the Bible. Clearly the Psalmist felt very low. Don't we all have moments like this? We dont know if in fact no-one did care or if it just felt like no-one did. I know in my life in fact there are more moments when you feel alone than the ones when in fact absolutely nobody cares. Whether fact or fiction the feeling is just as strong. Isn't being a 'real' christian someone who can be 'real' with God? If you feel like you are alone - let God know. As plainly and as clearly as it feels. The great story of the Bible and God's love is that he cares, his son Jesus cares and invariably he shows it by sending someone to demonstrate it.

Turn it the other way though. Who do you know right now that might be crying out like this. Is God calling you or I to go tell them God loves them? It sounds so simple and obvious. But those three words at the right time are like a kiss from heaven.

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It's not always about you!

Galatians 6:14-16 (The Message)

For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

I have a bad habit of only half listening. At its worst this is when someone is talking to me. My mind may be elsewhere, spawning a thought about something they said that has now taken my mind down a blind alley. But in general my half listening is when I am busy and others around me are talking. I'll hear bits and pieces of the conversation. Often meaningless snippets that my sub-conscious is try to piece together. Something will alert my interest and I will almost subconsciously find myself interrupting and adding my thoughts on the subject. Due to my only partial attention span I will probably get the wrong idea. A common response from my wife at this point would be "it's not always about you!"

Because in my mind it is always about me. Unlike a film where many characters play their part in a complex plot of lives interelated my life is all about me. I only see it through my eyes. I only experience it in my body. I only feel it in my emotions. It's ALL about me. How many of us have had that childhood thought "what if this is all a dream and I'm the only real one in this?". That's because the most real and best understood experience in this life is my own.

But in fact while my flesh my feel this way it's not all about me. As we come to Christ a progressive shift in our focus needs to occur. Being saved isn't about me. God isn't here to personally serve my wants and whims. "He isn't your sugar daddy" as my Pastor would say.

Paul knew this. The Message puts it well when it says "Can't you see the central issue in all this? It's not what you or I do-submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing and he is creating something totally knew, a free life!". So often my focus is on what I could, or should be doing. In doing so I overlook the marvellous thing God is doing. We sometimes talk about eyes of faith, or seeing others as God sees them. If we are to do this then we will have to stop looking through our own eyes. To die to self.

What a shift! To not make this life all about me. To be more concerned with God's plans and purposes than with my own dreams or aspirations. Maybe I'm only half listening to God's conversation. Busy doing my own giving partial attention to what he is saying and doing all around me. Only to interrupt and presume it was all about me. Time to listen fully to what God is saying and recognise "It's not always about me!"

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I don't want to go to school!

Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

His mother walked into the bedroom and for the fourth time said, now in a strong and persistent voice, "It's time to get up. You have to go to school or you're going to be late".

"I don't want to go to school" the response came. "I don't understand the subjects, all the children hate me as well as the teachers. Give me one good reason why I should go."

His mother replied "Because you're the head teacher dear. They pay you to go!"

Is there something you don't want to do? Not a one off chore but a daily habit or discipline that you need to persevere with. Somethings are not that bad in themselves but consistently keeping going requires stamina and perseverance. I'm a great starter. I get very enthusiastic about the beginning, the vision, the concept and the planning. But once the doing starts, and worst of all requires daily or weekly attention, the excitement starts to wear off.

Paul writes in Romans how perseverance has an effect on our lives. His context was persevering through suffering. Few of us suffer in the way Paul did. Nonetheless the verses in Romans 5:3-5 promise that perseverance produces character in us. That consistent character that can be depended upon. Character that will stay the course, finish the job. Character that will not grow tired in doing the right thing. Character that will be proven and tested. Paul also states that character produces a hope within us. A hope that does not disappoint. Not a whimsical hope but a firm confidence. Because that hope is based on the knowledge of God's love poured out upon us.

As we persevere we experience that same perseverance that God has demonstrated towards the redemption of mankind, the perseverance towards us with our failings and mistakes. This is how He has shown His great love. He never gives up on us. He daily bears with our weakness.

Somedays I don't want to go to work, I don't want to study, I don't want to read the word, I don't want to blog, I don't want to tidy up the house, I don't want to help that person in need, I don't want to tithe. They're all good things that I love but somedays I just want to be lazy or selfish. That's when perseverance has to kick in, character has to be built and hope has to be founded in God's love and eternal promises.

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God's remedy for tough times

Isaiah 40

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

When people are going through tough times three things seem to be of great help: to know someone's listening, to know there is a greater purpose to this temporary situation, and to be given strength to carry on. Isaiah 40 starts with a pledge to speak comfort to God's people when they were going through very tough times. It provides a picture of God's awesome soveriegnty, his limitless knowledge and power and a contrast of His greatness against our insignificance.

In this great contrast it would easy to assume our trivial lives are far too insiginificant for the one who 'stretched out the heavens like a canopy' (v22). But this isn't the case. Even though by contrast even whole nations are 'regarded as worthless' (v17) when Isreal and Jacob are heard to complain that God pays no regard to their cause the response is clear. God doesn't grow tired, even of hearing our issues. His understanding is unfathomable and He strengthens us in our weakness.

So much of our current culture is set up such that those with great need never get an audience with those who have the resources to meet that need. Not so with God. He is beyond measure, His resources limitless, His counsel beyond refute. But He engages with our lives. He gives power to the weak. Don't let His humility to reduce Himself to our level cloud our realisation that His power is immense. But, don't let His immense greatness lead us to believe He is not interested in our lives.

But how does His strength come into our lives? The passage leads to a song I am very fond of 'strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord'. But the language may be less than helpfull in todays modern world. How does one 'wait upon the Lord'. Different translations give different ideas but the Amplified bible captures many of them as "those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him)".

When my strength is feeling spent and extinguished it's time to ask 'where is my hope?' For when my hope and trust is in Him his promise is to renew my strength and give me fresh wings to soar with.

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lastminute.com

Matt 24

v44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

I remember when I was old enough for my mum and dad to go out and leave me alone in the house. It would only be for a few hours, perhaps for them to go to a meeting, or visit a friend. I would stay playing a game, making music or watching the TV. More often than not they would leave some small chore that needed doing. The washing, clearing the mess I had made or something similar.

It wasn't much to ask. Nonetheless I would generally leave it to the last minute. You know the last minute? In this instance it would be between hearing the car pull up outside and them walking through the front door. It was never long enough and they would soon realise I had forgotten or simply not bothered. I sometimes spot this in my own children now!

Jesus left us with a mission. He said He will return. He didn't say explicitly when. But we know He will return. You can almost 'hear the car pulling up outside'. What a tragedy to find him returning for us to finally attempt the mission He has left for all of us to do. The Great Commission to make disciples across the world.

I don't want to leave it any longer. I want the master to return and find me busy about His business.

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My inadequacy is my opportunity

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

What if Peter had some silver or gold? What an ordinary and uneventful story this would have been. The lame man would have asked for money and Peter could have been generous and given to him. So often when we have the ability to meet a need we see that as our response. And it probably should be. But when we see a need and don't have the means to meet that need we often assume there is nothing I can do, or that it is obviously someone else's "ministry". But maybe my lack is just a chance for God to do something amazing. Maybe my biggest inadequacy is God's greatest opportunity.

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Just don't get caught!

Proverbs 14:9

Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

Apparently someone at my daughters school once said 'It's only breaking the law if you get caught'. It's an interesting perspective on what's right and wrong. In fact the law makes no provision for the 'it's alright if you get away with it' philosophy. But so many people live this way. The words 'I'm sorry for what I did' could often be interpreted as 'I'm sorry for getting caught'.

In fact sin is damaging. It often affects those around us. It certainly wounds our own soul and it grieves the heart of God. The great news is we live under God's grace and mercy. 'If we confess our sins He is just and able to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:9). So our drive to make amends is not to earn this forgiveness but to heal the damage caused.

Still fools will mock this view. If you can get away with it, what is their to put right? If you're forgiven then why do you need to do anything to put it right? But this is foolishness. The illuminating power of the gospel in our lives, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, drives us to make amends. To heal relationships. To help those we hurt. To worship the God who forgives. To show goodwill as the Proverb puts it.

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Burning the candle at both ends

Psalm 127:1-2

Without the help of the LORD it is useless to build a home or to guard a city. It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living. God takes care of his own, even while they sleep.

No-one enjoys wasting their effort. To work flat out only to find it was all in vain is soul destroying. However many people find they come to this conclusion later on in life. They spent years on their career only to be made redundant when the hard times came. They invested years into their children only to see them leave home and make the mistakes you tried to spare them from. People pour years of their life into a marraige to find their partner has been unfaithful and destroyed everything they were building.

The Psalmist says "unless the Lord builds the house the people labour in vain". All our efforts are simply wasted effort without them being Christ centred. The Contemprary English Version puts it well "without the help of the Lord it is useless to build a home". So much of the modern culture is about putting 110% into everything. However this scripture in Psalm 127 places the focus elsewhere. It's not about spending more and more time on something, it's about who is helping you, who is doing the building. The CEV puts it as "It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living". But so often this is our answer. Do more. Work harder. Put in more hours. Meanwhile God says "I give rest to the ones I love"

Lets face it. There is always more to be done than can fit into one day. So do we stay up trying to get it all done, running at the pace this world has set, franticly cramming it all in. Or do we, go to bed, rest, enjoy the peacefull sleep that God gives safe in the knowledge that he is building the house. I'm not saying we should be lazy or neglectful. We shouldn't adopt a "laissez-faire" attitude. But God's people should demonstrate his peace at work in our life. We should work hard and sleep well. He gave us rest. It's His gift to us.

A common theme in the prayer time that my wife and I have before sleeping is to say "Lord, we want you to be in the centre of our family, our marraige, our life". I can't say I really know what this fully means, or how God works it out. But it's an invitation to God to put himself squarely in the centre, to be the one who is building the house.

And so to bed, uncharacteristically early!

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