Refining Fires
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 08:06AM I, along with some great friends, are in the final days of launching a really cool Bible Study tool. I have learned so much. I am proficient with Joomla, data scheming, site design and much better at my original language skills. I have walked with these guys to apply existing technology to make a never before made Biblical Thesaurus.
I have also been pushed. It was easy when it was us. Then people found out and the question was asked, "How can we get ahold of this." That question confirmed that this thing God was doing in men was cool. The answer opened the door to contracts, investments, marketers, partners, profit sharing and timelines that feel bigger than they are.
Refining fires.
People are what we do. This is the only reason that this tool exists. The impetus wasn't money or drive. It was people being able to simply see the seemingly-complex truths of the Bible in a simple way. Without the people, the project is nothing.
Refining fires.
Staying true to that means not killing the great people who are donating their time and expertise and accepting that things may take longer than expected. Guarding the value of those people against the felt-pressure of timelines and the need for the project to financially support itself gets difficult.
Refining fires.
Keeping the more practical financial and contractual commitments - being sensitive to the donated time of professionals means recognizing that they are people and have to feed the families of those who work with them.
Refining fires.
Being the leader, the coordinator and dreamer, of this effort means feeling solely responsible for everything from timelines to details. Guarding the joy of doing something great with great people against the very real pressures of paying the bills for that fun reaches inside of me and finds talents that I must learn.
Refining fires.
This phase will end. The fun will not be forgotten but the challenges will fade into oblivion only to rise if I foolishly summon them. The next phase will begin with its great fun, opportunity and challenges. It will become the fire through which God continues to refine me into what I really want to be.
Sitting at my desk with a single candle burning to remind me of the ever presence of God I smell the scent of frankincense reminding me of the prayers of mine that rise as sweet aromas before the throne of God. When I awoke, God was not surprised at the status of today. No matter the deadline, the project, the trial or challenge - he is never surprised. He is not surprised to see the result of things which aren't his plans. He is not surprised to see the result of things that are his plans.
Refining fires.
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