David Leventhal

Last night kicked off the official start of the Leadership Conference…..so, that means today was full of meetings.  We had an opportunity to hear from some pretty amazing speakers.  The keynote speaker is Dr. Michael Pucci.  He is currently the International Director of Academic Programs for Food for the Hungry (based out of Singapore).  The conference book describes him by saying that “he leads a global team driving the development of academic resources, partnerships and programs designed to transform the next generation to own and end poverty.” 

He focused his time today on trying to understand the very complex issue of transformation.  What is it?  How do you define it?  How is it measured?  Is it even measurable?  He is an extremely bright individual and I found myself having to really focus and chew on what he was saying – which was enjoyable while challenging.  Sometimes it’s good to have to work to try and understand an issue….to try and reach something on a higher shelf intellectually/conceptually.

What I appreciated most about Dr. Pucci was his focus on the holistic nature of transformation & his emphasis on the primary role that Christ plays in the process.  I won’t go too much into what was discussed (mostly because I’m still trying to get my arms around it).  However, there were three things that really caught my attention -I’ll paraphrase / or quote them and share what the Lord has been doing in my heart related to those comments.

1)  As we wrestle to figure out transformation really is we must realize that the person writing the definition must be in the process of himself being transformed.

My college mentor, Dan Flynn (who my own Daniel is named after) used to convey something similar when he would say that , “if your output exceeds your input then your upkeep will be your downfall.”  That was Dan’s way of saying in order to be an effective instrument of true change (which I believe involves being transformed, bit by bit, into the likeness & image of Christ) you have to be growing in your knowledge and love for Christ.  Earlier today I spent some time chewing on 2 Corinthians 3 and was struck by some of the Apostle Paul’s comments.  In the opening verses of this chapter Paul addresses those individuals who were seeking letters of commendation (v. 1-6).  Apparently some people were wanting proof of Paul’s apostleship and authority.  Paul responds by saying that his letters of recommendation could be found in the lives of the people who had been transformed through the ministry given to him by Christ.  In other words, if people wanted proof that God had called Paul to service then all they had to do was look around at the hearts of those individuals who were now experiencing a transformed life through the Spirit….that was all the proof he needed to offer.  As I spent a short bit of time reflecting on my life it is easy for me to look back on my life & see the men (& the extra special woman) who the Lord used to lift the veil from my eyes.  Immediately I think of my dad & mom (faithful, self-sacrificing & unconditional through 40+ years of ministry)…I think of Dan Flynn (patient & persistent with the 18 year old punk version of me)…of Kevin Gilbarte, Scott Wells (guys who spent time just hanging out and demonstrating what living for Christ as a college student looked like) & Tom Nelson (committed, disciplined & fatherly toward me during the year I spent at his church after college) & there are others as well….but I wonder – am I being effective in my service to others or have I lowered the bar so low that my view of transformed life is a guy who pays his taxes, goes to church, doesn’t beat his wife & won’t have more than 2 glasses of wine at dinner?  Or am I calling people to something great….something so overwhelmingly magnificent & glorious that they would sell everything to buy that pearl of great price.  

2)  “The tiniest little truth can transform our entire life in a heartbeat.”

I loved this statement because it reflects an appropriate appreciation for the greatness & goodness of God.  The Lord can reveal himself through a seemingly insignificant detail & in that he would be reflecting His truth& that spark could trigger the atomic bomb he uses to blow up any notion of self-sufficiency or pride. 

3)   “Christ is very jealous for his name….for his brand recognition”

Scripture is quite clear that I am to be the hands & feet of Jesus to this world.  What a frightening concept….for those of us who call ourselves Christians (or Christ-followers or whatever term you employ) people will look at us – our actions, our attitudes, our marriages, our parenting  and they will make judgments about what God is like.  Jesus states this in no uncertain terms when he said, “if anyone causes one of these little ones [children brought to him to be blessed] who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.  Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come (Matthew 18:6-7).”  And if the words of Christ weren’t convicting enough (which they are) Paul writes that “we are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us… (2 Corinthians 5:20a)”   When I consider the stark implications of these and other verses in scripture…my, oh my…what a terrifying reality…what an awful truth.   Jesus takes it real, real seriously when someone says they know him but act in a way that is inconsistent with his character.  To my shame I confess that this is the singular reason I refuse to put any type of bumper sticker, cross, fish, private school logo, etc… on my car because I know that my hypocrisy rages on a daily basis.  I think about how many times this week I failed to love my neighbor as myself…how many thoughtless, hurtful words have I spoken…how many times have I misrepresented Christ in thought, word or deed…how many times have I failed to seek forgiveness from those I’ve hurt?  The only thing I can manage to utter is “Lord, have mercy on me…a sinner.”  Christ is very jealous for his name – indeed.