Numbering My Days

So, turning 49 this past week was really no big deal. Just another day, but also another opportunity to think about death. Not death in a morbid, depressive kind of way, just in the sense of being realistic about what is coming and what I want to have accomplished. Hopefully I think about what I'm doing often, but at least once a year I have opportunity to be reminded that there is an end.

Even at 49, it is a little hard to remember your mortality: I haven't really slowed down much at this point (o.k., maybe a little mentally), I don't feel significantly older than I did in my 30's. But, you know, at any age we need to remember that we have a limited amount of time to make our impact for Christ, to establish a legacy worth living and leaving.

Several years ago I was speaking at a discipleship conference. Before my session I sat in and listened to another speaker that was in his 60's. He got up, pulled out his daytimer, looked at the top corner and said, "If the Lord gives me my three-score and ten, I have ____ days left." I don't remember the number of days he said but I was impressed that this guy lives daily thinking about how many days he has and what he'll do with them.

The reality is we don't know, but in practice, it's probably good to focus on a set number. I may die in an accident or from an illness long before my three-score and ten, but if I'm not putting some end time out there I'll live like there is none and will accomplish nothing.

We need an end date. We need to remember our mortality. We need to remember while we are young that we won't have as much energy and opportunity when we are older. Now is my time to make a real difference, to leave a mark, to make a significant impact. I don't want to miss it.

Lord, "Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

P.S. If the Lord gives me my three-score and ten, as of today, I have 7666 left. Seems like a lot unless you factor that I started with 25,567 (including leap years). Do the math for yourself - may help you use what's left wisely.

A Great Awakening

This morning I spoke at a conference for worship pastors. Before I spoke I sat in a session where they were on a skype call with some innovative worship "designers" who were in Hong Kong working with Chinese pastors and worship leaders. They are working with the Chinese because there is a great revival happening over there, and not just in China, but lots of places in the East.

Back in November I read an article in World Magazine about the leading economist in Beijing, Zhao Xiao. He became a Christian in 2004, but because of his status as a leading economist, he is still a member of the Communist Party and is held in high esteem in his government. Zhao has sold his government on the need for morality in markets and has convinced Party leaders that Christian ideals are what will bring China a sustainable society and economic development.

Let's not forget that this is a nation with a horrible human rights record, especially concerning their dealings with believers. When I first heard about "awakening" in the East several month ago, I was skeptic. How could that be happening in such a repressive nation? After reading the article about Zhao it became a little more plausible that an awakening may be occuring there, maybe even the next Great Awakening.

What's sad in all that is that the next awakening will leave us in the West out. We are a post-Christian culture moving far, far away from the practice of Christian principles in our government and society. Who knows, maybe China will one day be the nation people think of when the term "Christian nation" is spoken. Too bad the Christian population in the U.S. has been too quiet and too docile far too long - what did we expect the end result to look like?

God, awaken me; help me to be renewed in what appears to be a non-renewable society.