NERD ALERT: Some of the content that you are about to read has a high degree of NERDiness, NERDinity, and NERDerocity!

I engaged in the occasional RPG, for uninitiated – role-playing game. From Dungeons and Dragons to MechWarrior, I was infatuated with the ability to become someone else and to do things I never thought possible. I could have incredible powers or amazing abilities. I would travel with friends who depended on me with their very lives!

I wanted to be this guy, the hero!

As I got older and “more mature”, I moved into computers and video games, but still the attraction of role-playing kept pulling me back! Most RPG’ers will tell you that the most important choice you can make in the whole experience is the type/category/class of your character. You may be the most well-liked 3-foot tall dwarf in the land and think you can take on the world a a warrior on your own, but if you cannot pick up an axe and use it right, you are not going to be around long! In the beginning, there were fighters, magic-users, clerics, thieves, and the like. As the games developed, you could become a fighter-thief. Let’s face it, you may be an all-powerful cleric who is the favorite of your deity, but if you cannot handle yourself in a fight, you are going to be on the menu in the next dungeon!

One day, I want to be able to walk into a room of fellow clergymen, lay leaders, and the business types and decelare in a loud voice:

I am a 9th level Apostle-Teacher with a Cloak of Humility and the Blessed Rod (+3 against unclean things) of Salvation.

Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT says to us, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” God has given us each gifts to work together to build up His church. Simple! Now this does not mean because I have gifts in teaching that cannot work as an evangelist in some capacity. The world is not perfect. We are all called upon to do many different jobs! What the author is saying (author being the Holy Spirit) is that we have been given these gifts in certain areas and we should use them for the glory of God. It also means that we should not become frustrated when some areas come easier to others than to us. I am not a great pastor (trust me, I and my congregation can admit it)! I try to do what I can but it does not come naturally to me. Teaching and sharing does!