Recently I was having a discussion with a couple about narrowing their focus. They were trying to figure out what they could and should let go of in their busy lives. They simply had too much on their plate. By the way, this is a discussion that will be happening more and more as people begin to understand that they can't do it all. It is also a discussion that will be forced on people as they deal with the implications of the economy.
On Wednesday I read this passage from the prophet Joel:
That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before. Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Gather all the people— the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room. Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’” Then the Lord will pity his people and jealously guard the honor of his land. Joel 2:12-18
Return to me with all your heart! What a gracious and appealing invitation! And yet, it can be so difficult. Why is it so hard for us to return to God with our whole heart? Why is it so hard for us to totally surrender our past, our present, our future? Is He not trustworthy? Has He not delivered us time and again?
As you process all of these questions, here's one that makes it much more personal: What do you need to let go of today if you are going to love God with an undivided heart?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday would never be the same.
These children are growing up in a slum like the one in Slumdog Millionaire –
but the Hindu concept of karma discourages them from any hope for a "happy ending."
It was Ash Wednesday, 2001. On the banks of the Ganges River in the great nation of India, at the end of an unbelievable trip with one of my favorite ministry organizations, I had an experience that made a deep impression on me. After a tour up and down the Ganges River, we exited the boats and made our way up the bank to a burning station where a body was being burned. As I stood there watching this event, the stiff breeze ashes in my face. It was a pretty amazing Ash Wednesday! One I will never forget.
Monday I received this e-mail:
Dear Jeff,
India is again in the news -- this time surrounded by all the glitz and glamour of last night's Oscar awards.
It is refreshing to see a film like Slumdog Millionaire portraying the "real India" that I have come to know --
-- the desperate plight of the nation's millions of poor is shown in stark (and controversial) reality.
If you haven't yet seen the movie, I won't give too much away. But I will say that most of India's poor have no hope of a similar Hollywood happy ending.
In fact, hope is discouraged by the Hindu concept of karma, which teaches that people are poor because they deserve to be poor.
A high-caste Hindu guide on my recent visit to India put it this way:
"The gods put people in a food chain and those on the top have the right to prey on and have authority over all castes below them.
"Those on the bottom have duty to serve all those above. It is against the will of the gods for the low castes to rebel. This is karma.
The poor in India have no real hope in karma, except to die ... and be reincarnated.
But in Christ ... we have hope for today. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord ... "plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Thank you for your prayers and partnership in reaching out to India's poor -- you are offering them hope that is so much more powerful and life-changing than Hollywood's illusory "happy endings."
Until India is transformed,
Rev. Dave Stravers, President
India is again in the news -- this time surrounded by all the glitz and glamour of last night's Oscar awards.
It is refreshing to see a film like Slumdog Millionaire portraying the "real India" that I have come to know --
-- the desperate plight of the nation's millions of poor is shown in stark (and controversial) reality.
If you haven't yet seen the movie, I won't give too much away. But I will say that most of India's poor have no hope of a similar Hollywood happy ending.
In fact, hope is discouraged by the Hindu concept of karma, which teaches that people are poor because they deserve to be poor.
A high-caste Hindu guide on my recent visit to India put it this way:
"The gods put people in a food chain and those on the top have the right to prey on and have authority over all castes below them.
"Those on the bottom have duty to serve all those above. It is against the will of the gods for the low castes to rebel. This is karma.
The poor in India have no real hope in karma, except to die ... and be reincarnated.
But in Christ ... we have hope for today. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord ... "plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Thank you for your prayers and partnership in reaching out to India's poor -- you are offering them hope that is so much more powerful and life-changing than Hollywood's illusory "happy endings."
Until India is transformed,
Rev. Dave Stravers, President
These children are growing up in a slum like the one in Slumdog Millionaire –
but the Hindu concept of karma discourages them from any hope for a "happy ending."
But in Christ ... we have hope for today. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord ... "plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Today we begin the long journey to the cross and we rejoice in the hope we have in Jesus.
A blessed Lenten journey!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Double Lives?
So here's something countercultural:
What Is Most Personal Is Most Universal
We like to make a distinction between our private and public lives and say, "Whatever I do in my private life is nobody else's business." But anyone trying to live a spiritual life will soon discover that the most personal is the most universal, the most hidden is the most public, and the most solitary is the most communal. What we live in the most intimate places of our beings is not just for us but for all people. That is why our inner lives are lives for others. That is why our solitude is a gift to our community, and that is why our most secret thoughts affect our common life.Jesus says, "No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house" (Matthew 5:14-15). The most inner light is a light for the world. Let's not have "double lives"; let us allow what we live in private to be known in public.
from Henri Nouwen Society's Daily Meditation
These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.
What do you think about what Henri writes? Is there an encouragement to live "double lives" by our world, by our flesh? Where have you seen the reality of your private/ personal life have an impact on your public life? (good or bad)
What Is Most Personal Is Most Universal
We like to make a distinction between our private and public lives and say, "Whatever I do in my private life is nobody else's business." But anyone trying to live a spiritual life will soon discover that the most personal is the most universal, the most hidden is the most public, and the most solitary is the most communal. What we live in the most intimate places of our beings is not just for us but for all people. That is why our inner lives are lives for others. That is why our solitude is a gift to our community, and that is why our most secret thoughts affect our common life.Jesus says, "No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house" (Matthew 5:14-15). The most inner light is a light for the world. Let's not have "double lives"; let us allow what we live in private to be known in public.
from Henri Nouwen Society's Daily Meditation
These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.
What do you think about what Henri writes? Is there an encouragement to live "double lives" by our world, by our flesh? Where have you seen the reality of your private/ personal life have an impact on your public life? (good or bad)
Friday, February 20, 2009
What do you do in community? Part 2
Questions unlock the truth!
I believe if we could become as good at asking questions as we are at "defending" the truth, we would be exponentially more effective in assisting people apprehend the truth.
I have been struck in recent years at how often Jesus asked questions. Sure He proclaimed truth. Yet, He guided people to places of intimacy and depth of understanding by asking powerful questions.
The problem in our society today is that we don't have time for questions. We all want answers. And, we want someone to give them to us...now! "We in the church for a long time now have tried to cater to the 'customer' in our pews, trying to make church as convenient as possible because we know how busy people are and how fractured their attention span is. We've aimed our resources, ministries, and programs at making church as simple and fun and easy as possible." The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership For A Third-Culture Church, Dave Gibbons, pg. 97 "I wonder if we haven't unwittingly created organisms that are unhealthy to ourselves and to others, organizations that are uninspiring to the world." pg. 97
Asking questions; powerful questions, rich questions, important questions, is one of the things that we do in community. And then, waiting with people in love and respect as they wrestle with the significance of the question in their life, is also something we do. This is so important. Some people resist the questions. They have never had to think that deeply before. Some people get angry when you don't "fix it for them now" with ideas or suggestions. The question for us then is: Will I wait with them in that frustration, in that anger? Or will I jump in too quickly and try to remove their discomfort, eliminate their anxiety? A wise person once told me to pay close attention to the resistance. Therein lies the nugget that can unlock true and lasting life-change.
So, let's confess: Share some specific stories of when you gave in and tried to eliminate someone's anxiety by moving off of the question too soon.
I believe if we could become as good at asking questions as we are at "defending" the truth, we would be exponentially more effective in assisting people apprehend the truth.
I have been struck in recent years at how often Jesus asked questions. Sure He proclaimed truth. Yet, He guided people to places of intimacy and depth of understanding by asking powerful questions.
The problem in our society today is that we don't have time for questions. We all want answers. And, we want someone to give them to us...now! "We in the church for a long time now have tried to cater to the 'customer' in our pews, trying to make church as convenient as possible because we know how busy people are and how fractured their attention span is. We've aimed our resources, ministries, and programs at making church as simple and fun and easy as possible." The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership For A Third-Culture Church, Dave Gibbons, pg. 97 "I wonder if we haven't unwittingly created organisms that are unhealthy to ourselves and to others, organizations that are uninspiring to the world." pg. 97
Asking questions; powerful questions, rich questions, important questions, is one of the things that we do in community. And then, waiting with people in love and respect as they wrestle with the significance of the question in their life, is also something we do. This is so important. Some people resist the questions. They have never had to think that deeply before. Some people get angry when you don't "fix it for them now" with ideas or suggestions. The question for us then is: Will I wait with them in that frustration, in that anger? Or will I jump in too quickly and try to remove their discomfort, eliminate their anxiety? A wise person once told me to pay close attention to the resistance. Therein lies the nugget that can unlock true and lasting life-change.
So, let's confess: Share some specific stories of when you gave in and tried to eliminate someone's anxiety by moving off of the question too soon.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
What do you do in community?
I appreciate the comments shared yesterday in response to my post: (here's a portion of that response)
"The people who love me the most are the ones who share the Truth/Jesus, with
compassion in some very radical ways. I find this not where I thought I would which leads
to disappointment at times. However, because experiencing the Lordship of Christ in all
areas of life is so important, it keeps me humble and teachable to commune and share..."
We are beginning to discover some richness and depth in response to the five questions I have laid out beginning Wednesday February 11th. Here they are for review. (Thank you, Greg Finke for sharing these with me! May God richly bless your dialogue around these questions at Gloria Dei, brother!)
Where have you seen God today/ this week/ recently?
What has God been teaching you in His Word?
What conversations have you had with those who are far from God this week?
What good can we do around here?
How can we support you in prayer?
Can you imagine what might happen if Jesus-followers whom you live in community with were asking these questions on a regular basis?
God-sightings shared would lead us to be more aware of God's active presence in our lives, circumstances, relationships, and world!
The focus on the Word would ultimately lead us to Jesus at the center of our existence and invite us into the biblical narrative, making His story our story!
Reflections on meaningful conversations with those who have not yet identified themselves as Jesus-followers would ground us again in our purpose for living and prepare us to more effectively engage those around us in the Good News about Jesus!
Collaborating and creating ways to work together to serve those around us would spread the blessing of Christ's love and make our world a better place today! and...
Spending time in heartfelt prayer for one another would place us into the hands of Almighty God, reminding us again of His specific promises for us!
Now, wouldn't that be awesome?
Now that we have these questions rumbling around in our minds, how 'bout taking a crack at writing these same questions in new ways? I find that if you use the exact same words every single week, these questions can get stale too. So, what are some different ways to ask the same questions?
"The people who love me the most are the ones who share the Truth/Jesus, with
compassion in some very radical ways. I find this not where I thought I would which leads
to disappointment at times. However, because experiencing the Lordship of Christ in all
areas of life is so important, it keeps me humble and teachable to commune and share..."
We are beginning to discover some richness and depth in response to the five questions I have laid out beginning Wednesday February 11th. Here they are for review. (Thank you, Greg Finke for sharing these with me! May God richly bless your dialogue around these questions at Gloria Dei, brother!)
Where have you seen God today/ this week/ recently?
What has God been teaching you in His Word?
What conversations have you had with those who are far from God this week?
What good can we do around here?
How can we support you in prayer?
Can you imagine what might happen if Jesus-followers whom you live in community with were asking these questions on a regular basis?
God-sightings shared would lead us to be more aware of God's active presence in our lives, circumstances, relationships, and world!
The focus on the Word would ultimately lead us to Jesus at the center of our existence and invite us into the biblical narrative, making His story our story!
Reflections on meaningful conversations with those who have not yet identified themselves as Jesus-followers would ground us again in our purpose for living and prepare us to more effectively engage those around us in the Good News about Jesus!
Collaborating and creating ways to work together to serve those around us would spread the blessing of Christ's love and make our world a better place today! and...
Spending time in heartfelt prayer for one another would place us into the hands of Almighty God, reminding us again of His specific promises for us!
Now, wouldn't that be awesome?
Now that we have these questions rumbling around in our minds, how 'bout taking a crack at writing these same questions in new ways? I find that if you use the exact same words every single week, these questions can get stale too. So, what are some different ways to ask the same questions?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Who Is Your Community?
Community are those who we are traveling through life with, moving in the same direction.
Jesus never meant for us to walk alone. He knew that we would need one another. He knew that we would be more effective in our mission, if we shared it with others. And so, Jesus still creates community today. Have you experienced it? Jesus-followers need community. Jesus-followers ought to be the experts at doing community.
If you need help identifying your community, try answering these questions. They come from Mike Breen at 3 Dimension Ministries :
Who do you most share life with?
Who can encourage you, challenge and rebuke you?
Where do you spend time with others who are following God?
When do you regularly meet with other believers?
Who knows everything about you?
Who do you eat with?
Who are the people who share your load, share your dreams, support your vision, hear your
mistakes & know your faults?
Who are the people who love you?
This is your community.
Jesus never meant for us to walk alone. He knew that we would need one another. He knew that we would be more effective in our mission, if we shared it with others. And so, Jesus still creates community today. Have you experienced it? Jesus-followers need community. Jesus-followers ought to be the experts at doing community.
If you need help identifying your community, try answering these questions. They come from Mike Breen at 3 Dimension Ministries :
Who do you most share life with?
Who can encourage you, challenge and rebuke you?
Where do you spend time with others who are following God?
When do you regularly meet with other believers?
Who knows everything about you?
Who do you eat with?
Who are the people who share your load, share your dreams, support your vision, hear your
mistakes & know your faults?
Who are the people who love you?
This is your community.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Missional Prayer
As we live missional lives, there is one gift that strengthens like no other. That gift is prayer. Prayer redirects our gaze. It refocuses our attention. It brings back to the forefront of our minds that God is sovereign and that we need Him. How often we are tempted to forget that as we work hard to lead missional lives. How many times have you gotten stuck, not knowing how to react, or what to do next as you seek to connect people in this culture to life in Jesus?
Pray. Pray. Pray. Listen. Listen. Listen. and, have others do that with you.
That's the focus of this question:
How can we support you in prayer?
A great question to ask in authentic biblical community! Even better is the answer that emerges leading us into the presence of a Holy God who loves us and calls by name and commissions us to go in His name.
Who in your life this week can you ask this question? Who in your life this week should you be praying with? Who in your life this week can you ask to pray with you?
Pray. Pray. Pray. Listen. Listen. Listen. and, have others do that with you.
That's the focus of this question:
How can we support you in prayer?
A great question to ask in authentic biblical community! Even better is the answer that emerges leading us into the presence of a Holy God who loves us and calls by name and commissions us to go in His name.
Who in your life this week can you ask this question? Who in your life this week should you be praying with? Who in your life this week can you ask to pray with you?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Be A Blessing!
Good questions can open the door to meaningful conversations and powerful actions. Here's an example:
What good can we do around here?
If you sit with this one long enough you will uncover individual passions, and collective group potential. You will begin to see the need of the people who surround you and the unique calling that God might be nudging your group to answer.
What are some other questions that can lead a group of people to move with Christ's compassion to be a blessing?
What good can we do around here?
If you sit with this one long enough you will uncover individual passions, and collective group potential. You will begin to see the need of the people who surround you and the unique calling that God might be nudging your group to answer.
What are some other questions that can lead a group of people to move with Christ's compassion to be a blessing?
Friday, February 13, 2009
Transformational Conversations
A question that takes the pulse on intentionality and builds awareness of how God moves in relationships is this one:
What conversations have you had with those who are far from God this week?
Well...what kind of dialogue have you had recently with those whom God misses the most?
What conversations have you had with those who are far from God this week?
Well...what kind of dialogue have you had recently with those whom God misses the most?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Re-establishing the Biblical Narrative as Center
Another question that I find helpful in grounding us again in the narratives of Scripture is this one:
What has God been teaching you in His Word?
Well...........what have you been learning?
What has God been teaching you in His Word?
Well...........what have you been learning?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
God-sightings
One of the questions that I like to ask people as we gather together, and one that proves to be a very engaging question is this one:
Where have you seen God today/ this week/ recently?
Well...........where have you seen Him?
Where have you seen God today/ this week/ recently?
Well...........where have you seen Him?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sharing Our Lives
I love this verse:
8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. (New Living Translation)
8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. (New International Version)
Paul writes this in a letter he penned to some believers in Thessalonica. It was his first of two letters.
What strikes you about it? What stands out to you? What is God saying to you as you sit with this Word?
8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. (New Living Translation)
8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. (New International Version)
Paul writes this in a letter he penned to some believers in Thessalonica. It was his first of two letters.
What strikes you about it? What stands out to you? What is God saying to you as you sit with this Word?
Monday, February 9, 2009
Ecclesia
Our Western view of what it means to follow Jesus is so wrapped up in our individualistic society that we miss the gift of community. I see this almost everyday.
People come to church. They get their worship experience. They get a sermon that gives them a new perspective, that creates a new self-understanding. (hopefully) They demand a ministry that takes care of them. They expect leaders who help them grow. (maybe) They desire a savior who will cure their ills, provide for their soul-need. They yearn for a place where they can engage in some of the good things of God, and then maintain their life with very little disturbance. And many want their church experience to be uplifting with no controversy. Stay out of the controversial "political" discussions. Don't make any ripples! They long for a place where they can develop healthy friendships that meet their needs. And sometimes, in some churches there is even a desire that the place that they call their church home would be a dynamic place that attracts people from outside of the church. (perhaps) This is what it means to be an outword focused church, right?
And, so it goes. Leaders in this church respond and try hard to create an environment where those who are seeking God can feel like they belong to the church without placing any expectations or demands on their life. Leaders in this context often lower the threshhold for belonging.
We need some rehabilitation. Does any of this description sound remotely biblical? Is this kind of church described in the New Testament? Or has our consumeristic, materialistic, and self-centered culture been adopted in the American church?
I have been jarred awake over the past few years to see with new eyes that when Jesus called us to follow Him, it was a total life commitment He was after. When Jesus said that I could learn how to become a fisher of men, when He was calling me to follow Him, He was calling me to become a part of a different community with a totally different set of practices! We are citizens of a new Kingdom, right? How does it show?
I think we have blindly accepted another view of following Jesus that He never had in mind. If you don't think this is true, then consider this: Why is it so hard for us in the church to fit Jesus into our lives? Why is it so difficult for us to change our practices? Why do we who have been in the church our whole lives find it so uncomfortable to pray, to immerse ourselves in the Word, to show mercy to a neighbor in need, to practice hospitality to a stranger, to welcome someone who is different from us, to embrace kingdom-inspired change in our churches, to practice forgiveness with those who have hurt us, to find space in our busy lives to live in real, authentic community with others, to sit still and listen until God speaks it clearly, to fit Him into any conversation, to disciple others, or to see the relevance He plays in politics, in art, in science, in education, in recreation?
We have lost our way! But God is not finished with us yet! He is still at work creating His ecclesia, forming His new community, rehabilitating His people!
People come to church. They get their worship experience. They get a sermon that gives them a new perspective, that creates a new self-understanding. (hopefully) They demand a ministry that takes care of them. They expect leaders who help them grow. (maybe) They desire a savior who will cure their ills, provide for their soul-need. They yearn for a place where they can engage in some of the good things of God, and then maintain their life with very little disturbance. And many want their church experience to be uplifting with no controversy. Stay out of the controversial "political" discussions. Don't make any ripples! They long for a place where they can develop healthy friendships that meet their needs. And sometimes, in some churches there is even a desire that the place that they call their church home would be a dynamic place that attracts people from outside of the church. (perhaps) This is what it means to be an outword focused church, right?
And, so it goes. Leaders in this church respond and try hard to create an environment where those who are seeking God can feel like they belong to the church without placing any expectations or demands on their life. Leaders in this context often lower the threshhold for belonging.
We need some rehabilitation. Does any of this description sound remotely biblical? Is this kind of church described in the New Testament? Or has our consumeristic, materialistic, and self-centered culture been adopted in the American church?
I have been jarred awake over the past few years to see with new eyes that when Jesus called us to follow Him, it was a total life commitment He was after. When Jesus said that I could learn how to become a fisher of men, when He was calling me to follow Him, He was calling me to become a part of a different community with a totally different set of practices! We are citizens of a new Kingdom, right? How does it show?
I think we have blindly accepted another view of following Jesus that He never had in mind. If you don't think this is true, then consider this: Why is it so hard for us in the church to fit Jesus into our lives? Why is it so difficult for us to change our practices? Why do we who have been in the church our whole lives find it so uncomfortable to pray, to immerse ourselves in the Word, to show mercy to a neighbor in need, to practice hospitality to a stranger, to welcome someone who is different from us, to embrace kingdom-inspired change in our churches, to practice forgiveness with those who have hurt us, to find space in our busy lives to live in real, authentic community with others, to sit still and listen until God speaks it clearly, to fit Him into any conversation, to disciple others, or to see the relevance He plays in politics, in art, in science, in education, in recreation?
We have lost our way! But God is not finished with us yet! He is still at work creating His ecclesia, forming His new community, rehabilitating His people!
Friday, February 6, 2009
What Is Your Biblical Worldview?
I have been reminded in recent days (every single day this week, in fact) how bad thinking, false thinking leads down a road of pain and destruction. Nothing new, but palpable; yesterday's decision in Madison being one example. I wrote yesterday that some of our thinking comes from "years of calling lies truth and truth lies."
Here's the really painful reality, however. We who call ourselves Jesus-followers, have been guilty of this bad thinking. We have embraced some of the lies that our world presents to us as truth. And we have pushed aside God's truth as lies. Perhaps this is a new day for the Church.
Could it be that all of what we are experiencing these days can motivate Jesus-followers everywhere to return to the Word of God and be filled with Wisdom and Truth? Is today the day that You will return to the Lord in humility seeking His guidance, His instruction? Are you ready to really work at letting God build your worldview?
So, let's have at it. Time for some transparency! How, specifically, are you guilty of bad thinking?
What are some of the lies that you have embraced as truth?
And, what are truths that you have dismissed as lies?
Here's the really painful reality, however. We who call ourselves Jesus-followers, have been guilty of this bad thinking. We have embraced some of the lies that our world presents to us as truth. And we have pushed aside God's truth as lies. Perhaps this is a new day for the Church.
Could it be that all of what we are experiencing these days can motivate Jesus-followers everywhere to return to the Word of God and be filled with Wisdom and Truth? Is today the day that You will return to the Lord in humility seeking His guidance, His instruction? Are you ready to really work at letting God build your worldview?
So, let's have at it. Time for some transparency! How, specifically, are you guilty of bad thinking?
What are some of the lies that you have embraced as truth?
And, what are truths that you have dismissed as lies?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
11-3
Sounds like a winning score!
Read about the vote that took place yesterday in Madison.
Reminds me of a vote taken in Numbers 13:25-33. Popular opinion does not guarantee rightness! In that case, two stood on solid footing. Today 3.
The thought that with this decision "reason has prevailed over raw emotion" is laughable at best and wicked falsehood at worst. That sentiment is the result of years of calling lies truth and truth lies. We are all deceived.
May the Lord of Heaven and Earth continue to show us mercy!
Read about the vote that took place yesterday in Madison.
Reminds me of a vote taken in Numbers 13:25-33. Popular opinion does not guarantee rightness! In that case, two stood on solid footing. Today 3.
The thought that with this decision "reason has prevailed over raw emotion" is laughable at best and wicked falsehood at worst. That sentiment is the result of years of calling lies truth and truth lies. We are all deceived.
May the Lord of Heaven and Earth continue to show us mercy!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Why Change Is Hard
Thanks to my friend Jim Randall, I learned why transitions (change) can be hard for people sometimes. He calls it "malnourished identity". It is also called "over-connectivity."
Here are some of the recognizable characteristics of a "malnourished identity":
People are sometimes over-connected to:
1) Programs
2) People
3) Personality
4) Places
5) Positions
Have you ever noticed this? Have you ever recognized it in yourself?
Here are some of the recognizable characteristics of a "malnourished identity":
People are sometimes over-connected to:
1) Programs
2) People
3) Personality
4) Places
5) Positions
Have you ever noticed this? Have you ever recognized it in yourself?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Leadership Currency
As a leader of a congregation that's really working at connecting people to life in Jesus, this is an important thing that I have to constantly remember:
"The most important currency a congregation has to spend is hope." pg. 16 The Missional Leader
How's the bank account? How are you spending it?
"The most important currency a congregation has to spend is hope." pg. 16 The Missional Leader
How's the bank account? How are you spending it?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Transitions
So, I had an insight this past weekend: Some people really have a hard time with transitions, be they big or small, planned or unplanned. It takes some people a period of adjustment to get a "new groove" going in that new space. I am thinking that the reason some people can make the transition with strength, with grace, and with purpose is because they have learned about, and successfully implemented a "transition strategy" that works.
Starting a new job, having your mom visit for the week, a new baby, loss of a loved one, starting a new semester at school, alone time with mom or dad gets abruptly ended because the siblings come home, you move into a new level of leadership and responsibility in your life, closing one chapter and moving to the next, a fresh vision demands new challenges be embraced, your spouse gets sick, your kids leave home, your kids come back home, a new staff person come aboard, a trusted friendship is challenged, a new car, a new, exciting challenge pushes you into new territory, a foreign mission trip, a new weekly commitment changes your pattern, a Dr's warning....
What transitions have you experienced recently? What was your "transition strategy"? How did you move forward with strength, with grace, with purpose?
Starting a new job, having your mom visit for the week, a new baby, loss of a loved one, starting a new semester at school, alone time with mom or dad gets abruptly ended because the siblings come home, you move into a new level of leadership and responsibility in your life, closing one chapter and moving to the next, a fresh vision demands new challenges be embraced, your spouse gets sick, your kids leave home, your kids come back home, a new staff person come aboard, a trusted friendship is challenged, a new car, a new, exciting challenge pushes you into new territory, a foreign mission trip, a new weekly commitment changes your pattern, a Dr's warning....
What transitions have you experienced recently? What was your "transition strategy"? How did you move forward with strength, with grace, with purpose?
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