Gregory Scott Blog

A Lesson from the Life of Michelangelo

For the last two decades of his long life-he lived to be 89-Michelangelo was the chief architect for the Vatican. As suc, he was responsible for the construction of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which would become the largest and most famous church in the world.

The thing is, Michelangelo was not an architect. He is most well known for his painting of the Sistine Chapel, but he did not consider himself a painter either. He always considered himself a sculptor. Yet, in 1546, when Michelangelo was 71 years old, Pope Paul III asked Michelangelo to be chief architect over the construction of Saint Peter’s Basilica, and Michelangelo accepted.

Michelangelo is now famous for redesigning the dome of of Saint Peter’s Basilica, making sure it was structurally secure, and ultimately ensuring the basilica would be completed according to his plans, even though it would take nearly 60 years after his death to complete Saint Peter’s.

Michelangelo’s life is instructive. The Lord often calls us to tasks in which we do not feel qualified or in which we are certain others are more qualified, but we are available. Fortunately, when it comes to being used by God, being available is often more important than being qualified.

Why God Speaks to Us through Dreams

Most of my dreams are an extension of my daily thoughts, twisted by my subconscious, or the martini I had too close to bedtime, into a bizarre concoction of disjointed images. When I awaken my first thought is, “That was weird.”

On occasion I will have the coherent dream, which I quickly recognize as an expression of suppressed anxiety about my work; the recurring pop quiz dream for which I am not prepared is an example.

Then, rarely, and usually when I don’t expect it, I have a dream with images that speak, not of thoughts explored or fears suppressed, but from outside me. The images are not cognitive Frankensteins but apt metaphors, and the narrative is rich in apparent meaning. Almost always I know what the dream means, and I know I have heard from the Lord.

This got me thinking: Why does the Lord choose to speak to believers through our dreams?

What we can Learn about Work from the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul gave instructions to Christians on how to do their jobs.

His instructions to servants in Colossians in 3:23 and Ephesians 6:7 apply not just to servants but to all types of work and both include the instruction to do one’s job for the Lord and not for men.

It is, of course, one thing to talk about workplace principles and another to actually apply them. Those who merely talk about them are called consultants. Those who apply them are called successful. Paul did not only talk the talk; he walked the walk.

When Paul wrote to the Galatian church, he was concerned they were being taken in by false religious leaders who were preaching a different gospel to them. In appealing to the Galatians, Paul revealed how he performed his job:

What was Wrong about Bishop Mariann Budde’s Sermon to President Trump

If you have been following this blog for any time at all, you know I am no fan of Donald Trump. There is not much anyone could say to him that would make me feel compelled to call them out

That is, until Mariann Edgar Budde’s sermon earlier this week at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. If you haven’t heard, Budde is an Episcopal Bishop, and she used the service to appeal directly to Trump, who was sitting on the front row.

Budde told Trump people were scared because of his inaugural address and that “[t]here are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families — some who fear for their lives.”

She could have also said there were heterosexual republican adults who fear the next four years, but she didn’t say that. I suspect she didn’t say that because what she was doing was something political parading as something spiritual.

But let’s give her the benefit of the doubt and set allegations of political bias aside for the moment. There more serious problem from a Kingdom perspective is that Budde was not doing her job faithfully (2 Chronicles 19:9) or sincerely (Colossians 3:22). She was Kapernicking.

How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome

I was in my first year of law school, and all the first year students were required to participate in the moot court competition.

Moot court is where you are given a fake case to argue against a real law student in front of a panel of fake judges made up of real attorneys . During the argument, the judges interrupt you, challenge your reasoning, and try to trip you up. You have to think on your feet and speak persuasively. The thought of having to participate in moot court created real stress for me.

I never thought I was quick on my feet, and am not naturally a good speaker. I wasn’t sure I belonged in law school. Today they call this imposter syndrome. We called it insecurity, or by its more benign tag: a lack of confidence.

Whatever you call it, it drove me to my knees there in my dormitory room, and I prayed, “Lord, you know I am not naturally a good speaker, and I am really scared about doing this.” As I prayed for the Lord’s help, I saw in my spirit, “Exodus 4:10.”

I had no idea what Exodus 4:10 said; I just saw “Exodus 4:10.” So, I grabbed my Bible and when turned it to Exodus 4:10, I couldn’t believe what it said: