Editorial Updated 3 Dec  2006,  Deep Energy

    Sometimes I find myself sort of overwhelmed by too many things to do (actually a blessing in disguise—can you imagine not having anything to do?).  One result is that I seem to lose energy to try and do anything, even when I have the time. I sort of shut down. Let me define a term,

Definition
Deep energy is the power to keep on going and doing what must be done and taking advantage of whatever time is available, even when there is too much to do.

Of late I have found I don’t seem to have deep energy. I am overwhelmed by all I have to do in December. And yet I don’t take advantage of time I do have. One thing I recognize. I am a lot older so I don’t have as much “physical energy” as I once had. But even factoring that in, I recognize I could be doing more.

    Two practical things have helped me in the past (do you have any practical suggestions?):

1. The simple use of a “to do” list, which I try to prioritize. I write this “to do” list on a piece of paper and then simply check off things as I do them. 

2. The “notion” of making progress. I say to myself. O.K. you probably can’t do all of this item or that item on the list, but can you make some progress on it. Or which of these items can you most easily make progress on?    

  But when it is all said and done, I still have to discipline myself to get things done. Self-discipline is important. Paul knew that (1 Corinthians 9:24-27),    

            I am serious about finishing well in my Christian ministry. I discipline myself for fear that after     

            challenging others into the Christian life, I myself, might become a casualty. 1 Co 9:24-27

   And modeling of self-discipline is even more important. For younger emerging leaders need to see older leaders who are modeling self-discipline in such a way that they want to emulate it.    Well, I guess I need some deep energy. In fact, maybe deep energy is just another form of grace.    

   The three top leaders in the N.T. church age (Peter, Paul, and John) all use the notion of grace (in fact they close their last books with a word about grace) as follows.

Definition   Grace is the enabling presence of God in a life so as to free (enable) that one to persevere victoriously.

Let me elaborate a bit.Grace carries essentially the sense of freedom; when used in a context describing salvation from God it implies that God freely gave us salvation without our earning or deserving it; when used to exhort continuing in the Christian life it carries the sense of the enabling presence of God in a life so as to free(enable) one to persevere victoriously. Paul uses it especially this way in his last epistles 1Ti, 2Ti, Tit. Peter does too 2Pe 3:18. And John also, Rev 22:21. It is interesting to observe that the three great church leaders in their closing words stress the importance of grace and its value in continuing in the Christian life. It is also used by Paul as a metonymy (Corinthians and Romans) standing for spiritual gifts given freely by God.  

In need of Deep Energy (Grace) right now,        
Bobby Clinton