Some leaders often write with warm affection of the lessons learned as a child or a teenager at their father’s feet. Dad taught me to fish. Dad taught me how to face adversity. Dad taught what it means to be a man.
I heard the stories in sermons, in books I’ve read, Stu Webber, John Eldridge, James Dobson, and Ed Young. It is true many leaders learn lessons sitting at their Father’s feet.
I was different.
Without tearing him down let’s first say my dad and I were never really close. The dysfunctions of our family dominated my childhood and teen years. Our enmity continued often in visits home as an adult.
But a number of years ago the Forgiver did two great things in my relationship with my dad. He reminded me that I had grace, I knew truth, I walked in light, and to whom much is given, much would be required. God placed the burden for peace in our relationship upon me.
The second thing God did is he increased ten-fold my love for my father. Now our relationship is different. Since those changes I have seen him change. I have watched faith be born in him. I have seen him at peace.
A week ago I moved my dad in with us. It’s for at least a month, maybe more. He and my mom have been using walkers for years. After a recent fall, mom is in rehabilitative care. Dad needs help. Living alone is no longer possible so he’s with us. It has been good.
Here’s the first lesson from my father’s feet:
No relationship is so estranged that the Forgiver cannot mend; when those who claim His name humbly allow Him to work.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
True Christmas
I’ve been driving around amid all the houses decorated for Christmas. Some reveal incredible amounts of work and expense. Tiny lights hang in trees, line eaves and adorn fence rows and garage doors. Lawns are decked with miniature scenes: The Wisemen journey, elves work, reindeer frolic. Many of the scenes required not just an afternoon of work, some called for much more time to achieve their winter wonderland.
But I wonder how many of those pretty houses hide homes in shambles. How many families are celebrating their last Christmas before the “separation”, the “divorce”. I wonder how many sequester the wounded spirit that will end it all come January. Which ones are the ones filled with anger and abuse? Which are the homes with estranged loved ones? Sons and daughters adrift? For how many is peace on earth just a sign on the lawn, a decoration on the wall?
True Christmas celebrating will not be judged just by the outward decorations, by the externals. If He is to be experienced this year, He will be experienced internally at the core of our being.
Leaders who follow the Forgiver know this Christmas isn’t about the externals. It’s always about the internals.
As you celebrate, lead, teach, administrate may the inside stuff of Christmas radiate through you!
But I wonder how many of those pretty houses hide homes in shambles. How many families are celebrating their last Christmas before the “separation”, the “divorce”. I wonder how many sequester the wounded spirit that will end it all come January. Which ones are the ones filled with anger and abuse? Which are the homes with estranged loved ones? Sons and daughters adrift? For how many is peace on earth just a sign on the lawn, a decoration on the wall?
True Christmas celebrating will not be judged just by the outward decorations, by the externals. If He is to be experienced this year, He will be experienced internally at the core of our being.
Leaders who follow the Forgiver know this Christmas isn’t about the externals. It’s always about the internals.
As you celebrate, lead, teach, administrate may the inside stuff of Christmas radiate through you!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Shout of Christmas
Christmas began in a whisper but now comes with a shout. Jesus’ entrance into our world was quiet and unassuming. The Almighty emptied Himself of glory to be born in a manger. It would have gone unnoticed if it weren’t for the announcement to shepherds.
Now Christmas comes with a Shout. I’m not referring to the pre-November commercial build-up to the season. And I am not referring to the madness of trying to do all we do each year. The shout of Christmas is different. Christmas shouts to us as we count the years by its passing.
The wonder of childhood Christmases gives way to the polite co-operation of teen years. Those pass into homecoming Christmases with the return of college students. Morphed again Christmas is expanded as new young families are united and daughters and sons-in-law are welcomed into the celebration.
The arrival of grandchildren changes it all again. We watch the cycle repeat as the new little ones grow. Through-out each of these changes Christmas shouts to us.
Our years are passing. The days are fleeting. Things will change, the nest will empty, and the celebration will evolve. We cannot stop the passage of time and each Christmas reminds us of another year passed. It shouts to us of our mortality.
Yet in the midst of this defining event, on our annual calendar a clarion call is heard. It rings forth year after year. Hear it now as you celebrate the season. It is a simple message that reminds us of one amazing thing year after year.
“God so loved the world. . .”
Hear the shout.
“God so loved. . .”
Now Christmas comes with a Shout. I’m not referring to the pre-November commercial build-up to the season. And I am not referring to the madness of trying to do all we do each year. The shout of Christmas is different. Christmas shouts to us as we count the years by its passing.
The wonder of childhood Christmases gives way to the polite co-operation of teen years. Those pass into homecoming Christmases with the return of college students. Morphed again Christmas is expanded as new young families are united and daughters and sons-in-law are welcomed into the celebration.
The arrival of grandchildren changes it all again. We watch the cycle repeat as the new little ones grow. Through-out each of these changes Christmas shouts to us.
Our years are passing. The days are fleeting. Things will change, the nest will empty, and the celebration will evolve. We cannot stop the passage of time and each Christmas reminds us of another year passed. It shouts to us of our mortality.
Yet in the midst of this defining event, on our annual calendar a clarion call is heard. It rings forth year after year. Hear it now as you celebrate the season. It is a simple message that reminds us of one amazing thing year after year.
“God so loved the world. . .”
Hear the shout.
“God so loved. . .”
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Tis the Season
Advent is upon us-the season of the great love affair. You know the one I’m talking about. It was heralded on the Friday after Thanksgiving! Its arrival came on a sleigh.
Santa arrived and children will fall in love with him. Every year more will love him. Why not? He is this incredible supernatural being who does wonderful things for them. They will love him because he gives them presents, and no ordinary presents, no shirts and skirts. He will bring them toys.
This advent season I’m seeking to be delivered from all of this. Not from a belief in Santa. That was lost in my preteen years. No, I am hoping to be delivered from the snare of loving God as if he were a Santa Claus. I am striving to avoid the trap of loving God because He gives God presents.
I am trying hard each day to remember that He was worthy of my love before the Forgiver came. He always has been worthy of my love, your love, the world’s love, not because He gives us gracious gifts, not because He chooses to focus His love on us. NO, He is worthy of our love.
As you lead this Advent season, this season of Love, may your love for the Worthy One adorn every celebration.
Santa arrived and children will fall in love with him. Every year more will love him. Why not? He is this incredible supernatural being who does wonderful things for them. They will love him because he gives them presents, and no ordinary presents, no shirts and skirts. He will bring them toys.
This advent season I’m seeking to be delivered from all of this. Not from a belief in Santa. That was lost in my preteen years. No, I am hoping to be delivered from the snare of loving God as if he were a Santa Claus. I am striving to avoid the trap of loving God because He gives God presents.
I am trying hard each day to remember that He was worthy of my love before the Forgiver came. He always has been worthy of my love, your love, the world’s love, not because He gives us gracious gifts, not because He chooses to focus His love on us. NO, He is worthy of our love.
As you lead this Advent season, this season of Love, may your love for the Worthy One adorn every celebration.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Playing Out of Tune
When I first started playing the guitar I was not very good, and that is a gracious understatement. It might be better to say I reeked at the guitar.
I couldn’t play in the key of G because I failed miserably at fingering a D chord. I couldn’t play in C because I couldn’t understand how anyone could play an F chord.
So when I played songs in G and C I always skipped over the chords I couldn’t play. I just kind of muffled the strings and went on. I was terrible, but I called myself a guitar player. I owned not just one, but two guitars!
Eventually I had to face the hard truth that becoming a guitar player would need to involve learning to play a D chord and an F chord. Not to mention the fact that I needed to learn how to strum in rhythm, to preciously tune the strings, to learn “bar” chords, and 7th’s and augments and diminished chords. If I was going to be a guitar player I would have to acquire the skills of a guitar player. I couldn’t just own a guitar or two and claim the title.
How are you when it comes to being a leader? Do you own some leadership books? Do you have some leadership skills? I hope so.
But are you a leader? Do you just claim the title, or are you the real thing?
Leaders lead. Guitar players play guitar.
Do you need to learn some additional skills? Do you need to get beyond the basics? It is time to learn how to play a D chord.
I couldn’t play in the key of G because I failed miserably at fingering a D chord. I couldn’t play in C because I couldn’t understand how anyone could play an F chord.
So when I played songs in G and C I always skipped over the chords I couldn’t play. I just kind of muffled the strings and went on. I was terrible, but I called myself a guitar player. I owned not just one, but two guitars!
Eventually I had to face the hard truth that becoming a guitar player would need to involve learning to play a D chord and an F chord. Not to mention the fact that I needed to learn how to strum in rhythm, to preciously tune the strings, to learn “bar” chords, and 7th’s and augments and diminished chords. If I was going to be a guitar player I would have to acquire the skills of a guitar player. I couldn’t just own a guitar or two and claim the title.
How are you when it comes to being a leader? Do you own some leadership books? Do you have some leadership skills? I hope so.
But are you a leader? Do you just claim the title, or are you the real thing?
Leaders lead. Guitar players play guitar.
Do you need to learn some additional skills? Do you need to get beyond the basics? It is time to learn how to play a D chord.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Flame On!
George Bernard Shaw said this, “Life’s no candle to me. It is sort of a special torch which I’ve got a hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”
That old camp song just doesn’t cut it.
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
This world doesn’t need little lights. It needs torches blazing in the darkness, lighting the way to the Forgiver.
Flame on!
That old camp song just doesn’t cut it.
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
This world doesn’t need little lights. It needs torches blazing in the darkness, lighting the way to the Forgiver.
- How are you living?
- What type of light radiates from your life?
- You are the light of the world…
- Forget letting it shine.
Flame on!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
How's your schedule?
I was on my way to the window on Monday morning. I found myself very irritated with a trap I had fallen into. I was looking at a week ahead with every evening booked. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The week loomed heavy. Nothing could be done to change the schedule. Nothing could be postponed or moved. Weeks like that irritate me.
Help came in two unique places. In the car my wife encouraged me to create more time off the following week. A suggestion I quickly dismissed. The second was a quote from Charles Swindoll. “When it comes to irritations, I’ve found it helps if I remember that I am not in charge of my day…God is.” Those two things led to two heart changes in me.
First, I surrendered my emotions about the week ahead. I would look for God in the irritations of my schedule. Second, I began to look at the following week and found holes. Things could be adjusted and moved, and time for renewal could be found.
Leaders constantly wrestle with their schedules. That morning I was being reminded that when things couldn’t be changed, surrendering it to God brings relief. But I was also reminded things are seldom as dismal, busy, and overwhelming as I think. I had quickly dismissed my wife’s suggestion of rescheduling my obligation the following week. With a little creative planning I was able to open up another day for rest, renewal, and recreation.
How’s your schedule?
Help came in two unique places. In the car my wife encouraged me to create more time off the following week. A suggestion I quickly dismissed. The second was a quote from Charles Swindoll. “When it comes to irritations, I’ve found it helps if I remember that I am not in charge of my day…God is.” Those two things led to two heart changes in me.
First, I surrendered my emotions about the week ahead. I would look for God in the irritations of my schedule. Second, I began to look at the following week and found holes. Things could be adjusted and moved, and time for renewal could be found.
Leaders constantly wrestle with their schedules. That morning I was being reminded that when things couldn’t be changed, surrendering it to God brings relief. But I was also reminded things are seldom as dismal, busy, and overwhelming as I think. I had quickly dismissed my wife’s suggestion of rescheduling my obligation the following week. With a little creative planning I was able to open up another day for rest, renewal, and recreation.
How’s your schedule?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Transplanting
I had to do some last week as I put in a new flowerbed. I had to take some irises from the side of my garage and move them to the front.
Day lilies behind the garage were thinned so that some could be planted out front. Black-eyed susan’s were divided. Mini-irises were uprooted and replanted.
Transplanting is risky! The act of digging them up and splitting them stresses both the mother plant and the transplants. Both show the stress for awhile. But most often with a little watering, and fertilizing, both thrive.
Leaders understand this. Our talents are often established in one place, one role and one objective. Often we have become comfortable in that role. We’re thriving in the sunshine of knowing we’re making a difference. Fulfilling a purpose. Multiplying where we are.
Suddenly a new objective, an avenue of ministry, a new program, or another need emerges. Is it possible to transplant some energy, some talent, some time to this new possibility?
Some would say, “ NO!”
Some would say, “I can’t.”
Some would say, “I’m totally needed in this endeavor.”
Some would say, “I’m too busy to do anything else.”
Real leaders know that it is possible to transplant some energy, some resources to those new objectives. And with care both will thrive.
Day lilies behind the garage were thinned so that some could be planted out front. Black-eyed susan’s were divided. Mini-irises were uprooted and replanted.
Transplanting is risky! The act of digging them up and splitting them stresses both the mother plant and the transplants. Both show the stress for awhile. But most often with a little watering, and fertilizing, both thrive.
Leaders understand this. Our talents are often established in one place, one role and one objective. Often we have become comfortable in that role. We’re thriving in the sunshine of knowing we’re making a difference. Fulfilling a purpose. Multiplying where we are.
Suddenly a new objective, an avenue of ministry, a new program, or another need emerges. Is it possible to transplant some energy, some talent, some time to this new possibility?
Some would say, “ NO!”
Some would say, “I can’t.”
Some would say, “I’m totally needed in this endeavor.”
Some would say, “I’m too busy to do anything else.”
Real leaders know that it is possible to transplant some energy, some resources to those new objectives. And with care both will thrive.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
TOP DRESSING
A while ago I had a tree come down in my yard. Yesterday I laid twelve bags of mulch completing the new landscaping. The new bed looks great. It has a three-inch layer of deep brown mulch.
I was very satisfied as I viewed the result. Anyone passing by would notice how well it looks. But the mulch is just a top dressing. It is everything else I did that will truly make the bed a great piece of landscaping.
overgrown ground cover was killed off
the tree stump was ground out
the ground was tilled
weed inhibitor was applied
6 day lilies, 7 bearded irises, 6 mini-irises, 2 azaleas, one mum, one black- eyed susan, one decorated grass, 18 crocus bulbs, 18 tulips, 18 daffodils had all been planted.
Right now the top dressing looks good, but the real work of creating a flower bed had already been done.
As a leader have you settled for top dressing an outward appearance of having it together? Are you doing the hard work that truly develops leadership in you?
Are you planting…
Are you tilling…
Are you fertilizing…
Are you weeding…
…in your life that you might be the leader that more than looks good on the surface?
I was very satisfied as I viewed the result. Anyone passing by would notice how well it looks. But the mulch is just a top dressing. It is everything else I did that will truly make the bed a great piece of landscaping.
overgrown ground cover was killed off
the tree stump was ground out
the ground was tilled
weed inhibitor was applied
6 day lilies, 7 bearded irises, 6 mini-irises, 2 azaleas, one mum, one black- eyed susan, one decorated grass, 18 crocus bulbs, 18 tulips, 18 daffodils had all been planted.
Right now the top dressing looks good, but the real work of creating a flower bed had already been done.
As a leader have you settled for top dressing an outward appearance of having it together? Are you doing the hard work that truly develops leadership in you?
Are you planting…
Are you tilling…
Are you fertilizing…
Are you weeding…
…in your life that you might be the leader that more than looks good on the surface?
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
New Fonts or Software
I had to search for a font the other day. On a different computer, I had previously used a font entitled “The Aeroplane Flies High.” Having transferred the file to my new computer, the document would correctly open without installing the font. The process of looking for the font reminded me of a leadership principle.
Often when a person encounters a problem, the easy response would be to just do some surface thing to cover it up. People selling homes paint over the mildew in their basements. A person with out-of-control spending habits applies for a refinance. A church with a poor self image buys new carpeting. A business with declining sales creates a new ad campaign.
Leaders know that most problems are not so easily fixed. Covering them up, or looking for the quick fix, is like installing a new font. You may change how it looks but the content remains the same.
Fonts don’t change how my computer operates, software does. It changes how it operates, how it allocates its memory, how it organizes information, how it allows me to access and manipulate information. Leaders know that solving problems often entails real change. Real change occurs in the software, it occurs in how a person, a ministry, an organization operates.
What’s your approach to problems, surface answers? Or is it time for an update?
Often when a person encounters a problem, the easy response would be to just do some surface thing to cover it up. People selling homes paint over the mildew in their basements. A person with out-of-control spending habits applies for a refinance. A church with a poor self image buys new carpeting. A business with declining sales creates a new ad campaign.
Leaders know that most problems are not so easily fixed. Covering them up, or looking for the quick fix, is like installing a new font. You may change how it looks but the content remains the same.
Fonts don’t change how my computer operates, software does. It changes how it operates, how it allocates its memory, how it organizes information, how it allows me to access and manipulate information. Leaders know that solving problems often entails real change. Real change occurs in the software, it occurs in how a person, a ministry, an organization operates.
What’s your approach to problems, surface answers? Or is it time for an update?
Friday, October 5, 2007
Focus Factor
A deeply profound leadership truth emerged in devotional time this morning. I realized why I like fishing so much.
Okay, I know that doesn’t seem very significant, the profundity of it may be obscured. But it really was an eye-opening revelation.
Let me explain.
When I fish, all I do is fish. All I think about is fishing. I read the current in the water; I focus on picking up the bait. I think through the next cast, the next presentation. I’m focused on fishing.
But what hit me this morning, about why I like fishing was this: I really like fishing because of what I’m not thinking about. I’m not thinking about the church I lead, the staff I lead, the people, and the ministries I lead. You see one of the costs of leadership, one of the prices we pay, and one of the sacrifices we make is this: Leaders lose the right to think about just themselves. Leaders are constantly thinking about the organizations they lead, the people they lead, the ministries they lead. With leadership come increased responsibilities, and that increase in responsibilities call for a leader to think differently.
The impact of being a leader on how we think is not a bad thing. It’s just that, we cannot escape it. Leaders think for more than themselves.
We all need the moments of distraction but when The Day on The Bank of a Pond is done, the round of golf, the run of night, or whatever it is that you do to disengage, leaders pick up the responsibility to think for more than themselves.
Okay, I know that doesn’t seem very significant, the profundity of it may be obscured. But it really was an eye-opening revelation.
Let me explain.
When I fish, all I do is fish. All I think about is fishing. I read the current in the water; I focus on picking up the bait. I think through the next cast, the next presentation. I’m focused on fishing.
But what hit me this morning, about why I like fishing was this: I really like fishing because of what I’m not thinking about. I’m not thinking about the church I lead, the staff I lead, the people, and the ministries I lead. You see one of the costs of leadership, one of the prices we pay, and one of the sacrifices we make is this: Leaders lose the right to think about just themselves. Leaders are constantly thinking about the organizations they lead, the people they lead, the ministries they lead. With leadership come increased responsibilities, and that increase in responsibilities call for a leader to think differently.
The impact of being a leader on how we think is not a bad thing. It’s just that, we cannot escape it. Leaders think for more than themselves.
We all need the moments of distraction but when The Day on The Bank of a Pond is done, the round of golf, the run of night, or whatever it is that you do to disengage, leaders pick up the responsibility to think for more than themselves.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
DUH!
Duh! Homer Simpson’s exclamation of dimwittedness has been adopted by a generation of TV viewers. Phrases like, “Well Duh!” and “Duh moments” have crept into our vocabulary. I confess that this morning during my study time I had a mind-rending “Duh moment.”
Hang onto your seat. This is it.
People do not follow worthy causes. People do not follow vision or mission statements. People follow worthy leaders who promote a worthwhile cause.
Pretty profound isn’t. I remember the vision statement craze that rushed through our churches a few years ago. It seemed like every church, no matter how small, how struggling, was wrestling with creating a fresh, vibrant vision statement. Boards sat in meetings clarifying, editing and producing concise proclamations. Sadly for some, if not many, of those churches the exercise produced little fruit. Why?
The reason is people follow worthy leaders, not worthy vision statements. The difference has never been the quality of the vision; the difference has always been the quality of the leader.
People followed the Forgiver. They embraced His teachings because they followed Him.
Look behind you. Are people following? They will if you are a leader.
Hang onto your seat. This is it.
People do not follow worthy causes. People do not follow vision or mission statements. People follow worthy leaders who promote a worthwhile cause.
Pretty profound isn’t. I remember the vision statement craze that rushed through our churches a few years ago. It seemed like every church, no matter how small, how struggling, was wrestling with creating a fresh, vibrant vision statement. Boards sat in meetings clarifying, editing and producing concise proclamations. Sadly for some, if not many, of those churches the exercise produced little fruit. Why?
The reason is people follow worthy leaders, not worthy vision statements. The difference has never been the quality of the vision; the difference has always been the quality of the leader.
People followed the Forgiver. They embraced His teachings because they followed Him.
Look behind you. Are people following? They will if you are a leader.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Slap, Drift, Jerk
On a recent fishing trip in Alaska I was reminded of an important leadership principle. I call it the lesson of the “slap, drift, jerk.” People follow who they trust. Trust is based on the experience and the character of the leader involved. Therefore, people follow the leader with proven character.
Having never before fished for Sockeye Salmon, I found myself faced with a dilemma. I observed that people were fishing for Sockeyes with what appeared to be a “slap, drift and jerk” technique that to me defied every fishing practice and skill I had ever learned.
Slap about 12’ of line out into the current with a 1oz. weight and a bead and a hook rigged to it. Let the weight ‘drift’ down stream as it swings on your line. At the bottom of the swing ‘jerk’ the tackle up and slap it down again.
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
The friend I was with is an experienced fisherman, but I’m no slouch. BUT he was an experienced Alaskan fisherman and guide. So my choice was this. Do it my way, experiment with trial and error, or trust the “Alaskan fisherman.”
Leaders should always remember others will follow and trust our leadership because we have developed a measure of proven character. The more proven our character, the greater the perseverance of our followers.
When we started our first morning of ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk” fishing the salmon were elusive. But I trusted in the proven character of my guide, my friend, so I kept up the ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk’ and waited for the results.
We limited out.
Do you want others to trust your leadership? Let your character be proven.
Having never before fished for Sockeye Salmon, I found myself faced with a dilemma. I observed that people were fishing for Sockeyes with what appeared to be a “slap, drift and jerk” technique that to me defied every fishing practice and skill I had ever learned.
Slap about 12’ of line out into the current with a 1oz. weight and a bead and a hook rigged to it. Let the weight ‘drift’ down stream as it swings on your line. At the bottom of the swing ‘jerk’ the tackle up and slap it down again.
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
The friend I was with is an experienced fisherman, but I’m no slouch. BUT he was an experienced Alaskan fisherman and guide. So my choice was this. Do it my way, experiment with trial and error, or trust the “Alaskan fisherman.”
Leaders should always remember others will follow and trust our leadership because we have developed a measure of proven character. The more proven our character, the greater the perseverance of our followers.
When we started our first morning of ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk” fishing the salmon were elusive. But I trusted in the proven character of my guide, my friend, so I kept up the ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk’ and waited for the results.
We limited out.
Do you want others to trust your leadership? Let your character be proven.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Watermelon Dilemma
How good is seedless watermelon? I admit that I’ve had a few that were pretty tasty. I’ve never done a side by side comparison, but seedless melons get at least a B+ in my book.
But seedless melons have led to an unusual consequence for me. Whenever I approach a platter of watermelon at a social setting, a BBQ or a picnic, I look for the seedless melon. Even if the variety being served is not seedless, I look for the pieces with the fewest seeds. There are always a few. Usually cut from the “heel” or the “”bowl” end of the melon. While those pieces have fewer seeds, they are often less flavorful—often a little “rhinny” in taste. The best pieces in a standard melon are cut from the middle, teeming with rows of imbedded black seeds. But the advent of seedless melons has taught me I can avoid seeds and still have watermelon.
What an allegory for our lives. We want the sweetest things that life offers, and we want them seedless, no obstacles, no work required. If something we desire seems like it will take too much work or effort, we look for a way around the seeds.
C. S. Lewis said, “We are too easily pleased.”
Perhaps we lose in our quest for a seedless watermelon life?
James said, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends when you encounter challenges, obstacles and watermelon seeds (my paraphrase).
Pass the watermelon.
But seedless melons have led to an unusual consequence for me. Whenever I approach a platter of watermelon at a social setting, a BBQ or a picnic, I look for the seedless melon. Even if the variety being served is not seedless, I look for the pieces with the fewest seeds. There are always a few. Usually cut from the “heel” or the “”bowl” end of the melon. While those pieces have fewer seeds, they are often less flavorful—often a little “rhinny” in taste. The best pieces in a standard melon are cut from the middle, teeming with rows of imbedded black seeds. But the advent of seedless melons has taught me I can avoid seeds and still have watermelon.
What an allegory for our lives. We want the sweetest things that life offers, and we want them seedless, no obstacles, no work required. If something we desire seems like it will take too much work or effort, we look for a way around the seeds.
C. S. Lewis said, “We are too easily pleased.”
Perhaps we lose in our quest for a seedless watermelon life?
James said, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends when you encounter challenges, obstacles and watermelon seeds (my paraphrase).
Pass the watermelon.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Lifeline
All spiritual disciplines must breathe in the relationship with the Forgiver. Otherwise all they become are workouts in the gym of religious exercises.
Fasting is about mourning Him.
Prayer is about communing with Him.
Worship is about celebrating Him.
Baptism is about uniting with Him.
Study is about knowing Him.
Communion is about remembering Him.
Service is about honoring Him.
Too often we have trumpeted the discipline a part from Him. No wonder for so many engaging in spiritual disciplines is an empty undesirable chore.
Talking with my wife is never a chore. Dating her is never a task. Honoring her with acts of honor or service are not disciplines. They are simply a part of the romance of being married to her.
Perhaps we should see spiritual disciplines as the avenues of the Dance of Romance with the Savior.
“But I have been loved by people who know Jesus. And I don’t know that there is any greater love than the love from those who have been touched by the Messiah.”1
1 Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What (Thomas Nelson, October 13, 2004), p. 212.
Prayer is about communing with Him.
Worship is about celebrating Him.
Baptism is about uniting with Him.
Study is about knowing Him.
Communion is about remembering Him.
Service is about honoring Him.
Too often we have trumpeted the discipline a part from Him. No wonder for so many engaging in spiritual disciplines is an empty undesirable chore.
Talking with my wife is never a chore. Dating her is never a task. Honoring her with acts of honor or service are not disciplines. They are simply a part of the romance of being married to her.
Perhaps we should see spiritual disciplines as the avenues of the Dance of Romance with the Savior.
“But I have been loved by people who know Jesus. And I don’t know that there is any greater love than the love from those who have been touched by the Messiah.”1
1 Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What (Thomas Nelson, October 13, 2004), p. 212.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
David's Prayer
I read this in a Swindoll devotional book today.
David’s prayer as a leader, “Keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
What a great prayer. David understood our capacity, your capacity, my capacity, to overthrow every good thing with one stupid act, one willful sojourn in sin.
What a great pattern of prayer for every leader!
Keep me; guard me from trashing it all.
Where I have failed in the past- free me not first of guilt, but from the act.
We will then know true innocence.
Pray it with me.
“Keep me from deliberate wrongs. Help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
David’s prayer as a leader, “Keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
What a great prayer. David understood our capacity, your capacity, my capacity, to overthrow every good thing with one stupid act, one willful sojourn in sin.
What a great pattern of prayer for every leader!
Keep me; guard me from trashing it all.
Where I have failed in the past- free me not first of guilt, but from the act.
We will then know true innocence.
Pray it with me.
“Keep me from deliberate wrongs. Help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
Friday, August 24, 2007
Good Leaders Seek.....
Good leaders seek to be well prepared and try to head off problems before they arise. But sometimes no matter how well prepared, even good leaders end up dealing with a fire to put out.
This week we had to get both our children off to their perspective colleges. Being our daughter's first semester, we had been working through a long checklist of preparations, including the purchase of a used vehicle in good working order. In May we acquired a small sporty two-door in good mechanical and physical condition. We had our garage check it over and I was assured it had new tires and brakes before we made the purchase.
On Wednesday after we got her moved into the loft she was renting from a former administrative assistant of mine, my daughter and my son left in her car to meet some friends for dinner. My wife and I joined with the landlady for a short prayer of dedication for the coming year.
As we are praying the cell phone in my pocket was vibrating. Cutting short our intercession, I answered the phone. It was my son. The conversation went like this.
“What’s up?”
“The car’s on fire.”
“What do you mean the car’s on fire?”
“It’s on fire.”
“What, is it smoking?”
“No it’s burning.”
“How bad?”
“Pretty bad.”
“Is everybody okay?”
“Yeah, some guy’s putting it out.”
“Where are you? … Okay, we’re on our way.”
You can tell my son is very stoic. Not much fazes him. As my wife and I headed to the scene of the fire, I was laughing out loud. Why? Because I was being reminded once again of a leadership lesson I had learned long ago.
Leaders know that sometimes no matter how thorough the plan, no matter how well prepared you are for an event, sometimes ‘fires’ still occur. When those unexpected fires ignite all we can do is put out the flames, assess the damages, evaluate your resources and options, regroup and press on.
How well do you handle the fires?
This week we had to get both our children off to their perspective colleges. Being our daughter's first semester, we had been working through a long checklist of preparations, including the purchase of a used vehicle in good working order. In May we acquired a small sporty two-door in good mechanical and physical condition. We had our garage check it over and I was assured it had new tires and brakes before we made the purchase.
On Wednesday after we got her moved into the loft she was renting from a former administrative assistant of mine, my daughter and my son left in her car to meet some friends for dinner. My wife and I joined with the landlady for a short prayer of dedication for the coming year.
As we are praying the cell phone in my pocket was vibrating. Cutting short our intercession, I answered the phone. It was my son. The conversation went like this.
“What’s up?”
“The car’s on fire.”
“What do you mean the car’s on fire?”
“It’s on fire.”
“What, is it smoking?”
“No it’s burning.”
“How bad?”
“Pretty bad.”
“Is everybody okay?”
“Yeah, some guy’s putting it out.”
“Where are you? … Okay, we’re on our way.”
You can tell my son is very stoic. Not much fazes him. As my wife and I headed to the scene of the fire, I was laughing out loud. Why? Because I was being reminded once again of a leadership lesson I had learned long ago.
Leaders know that sometimes no matter how thorough the plan, no matter how well prepared you are for an event, sometimes ‘fires’ still occur. When those unexpected fires ignite all we can do is put out the flames, assess the damages, evaluate your resources and options, regroup and press on.
How well do you handle the fires?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
The Slide
Ever been to one of those county fairs where they have the big slide on the runway. You know the one. It’s about three stories tall. You have to ride it on a burlap bag. It’s got two or three humps on it. It’s got parallel tracks so you can race your friends. And for $5 you can wait in line for an hour and enjoy the 3 seconds it takes to slide all the way to the bottom.
I’ve never seen a kid who didn’t want to ride the slide. Even parents who were suspect of the upkeep and safety of other carney row offerings like the ‘whirl and hurl’ and the ‘cereal spiller’ would let their kids ride the slide. Let’s face it, the three hump slide seemed tame next to the upside-down pirate ship.
I’ve ridden the slide. I’ve also watched a lot of people ride the slide. Funny thing about the slide. Every once in a while someone on the slide tries to stop midway. They brace their sneakers against the gun walls, and try to stop their descent. I don’t think they were scared of the slide; most were just trying to show off how cool they were on the slide. Few could ever halt their descent, but a few managed to slow themselves down.
Another funny thing about the slide, it always ended at the bottom. Once you got on it there was only one place you could end up. Down at the bottom.
Leaders know that there are alluring slides all around us. Some are moral slides, flirting with this coworker, viewing this website is no big deal, just a little diversion. Some are integrity slides. Fudge the data on this report so we look a little better. Twist the truth here so we avoid some consequences. Some are discipline slides. I really should study or prep for that meeting, but the Tribe is on. I can skip my workout today. Church involvement isn’t crucial every week, isn’t that important is it?
Little slides but every slide always ends up taking us down. Have you fallen pray to a slide or two? It’s too easy to end up on one time and time again with not much to show for it except a trip down.
Little slides can ruin a leader. Watch out for carney row.
I’ve never seen a kid who didn’t want to ride the slide. Even parents who were suspect of the upkeep and safety of other carney row offerings like the ‘whirl and hurl’ and the ‘cereal spiller’ would let their kids ride the slide. Let’s face it, the three hump slide seemed tame next to the upside-down pirate ship.
I’ve ridden the slide. I’ve also watched a lot of people ride the slide. Funny thing about the slide. Every once in a while someone on the slide tries to stop midway. They brace their sneakers against the gun walls, and try to stop their descent. I don’t think they were scared of the slide; most were just trying to show off how cool they were on the slide. Few could ever halt their descent, but a few managed to slow themselves down.
Another funny thing about the slide, it always ended at the bottom. Once you got on it there was only one place you could end up. Down at the bottom.
Leaders know that there are alluring slides all around us. Some are moral slides, flirting with this coworker, viewing this website is no big deal, just a little diversion. Some are integrity slides. Fudge the data on this report so we look a little better. Twist the truth here so we avoid some consequences. Some are discipline slides. I really should study or prep for that meeting, but the Tribe is on. I can skip my workout today. Church involvement isn’t crucial every week, isn’t that important is it?
Little slides but every slide always ends up taking us down. Have you fallen pray to a slide or two? It’s too easy to end up on one time and time again with not much to show for it except a trip down.
Little slides can ruin a leader. Watch out for carney row.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The Lure of Carney Row
Every year in August the Chemung County Fair would arrive in Horseheads, NY. While we were not die-hard 4H’ers or Junior Jaycees, we would make our way to the Midway each year to take in the sights and the smells of the fair. Quite an alluring place a county fair. Little alleyways lined with booths to entice the passerby. It doesn’t matter how disciplined or self- controlled you were, something along “carney row” would beckon and call to you.
Name your pleasure. Deep fried waffles, corn dogs, Italian sausages, cotton candy, salt water taffy, caramel corn, elephant ears, French fries and vinegar. (It seems that the county fair is the only place people ever eat their fries with vinegar. I’ve never seen anyone in a restaurant or under the Golden Arches ask for vinegar for their fries.)
Turn the corner and a row of “Games of Skill” were lined up each with a hawker calling you to take a chance. There were wooden bottles, the baskets for the softball touch, the revolving spiral with the metal ring to be removed without touching the rod. Dart games, water pistol games, horse-racing tic-tac-toe games. Floating ducks. A penny toss, nickel toss and a quarter toss. (I never saw a dime toss. The price seemed to jump from a nickel to a quarter. Maybe dimes are just too light for effective carney tossing.)
Carneys were always willing to show you how easy it was to beat the game so that you felt like a fool if you didn’t play. Then if you did play and lost, which most of us did, you could walk away and feel like a loser for failing to win such an easy game. To make it worse there were always the few scattered lucky ones who actually won the five-foot orange gorilla or the dog larger than a twin-sized bed.
Around the next corner more of the same. Food rows and game rows. Food rows and game rows. All decorated and painted and at night they were lit up better than the average Christmas display. Everything about the displays was designed to lure us to spend some money on either a tasty delight or a game of chance.
I don’t know what people are looking for when they go to a county fair, but I’m pretty sure it is not an orange gorilla. I don’t think that anyone goes to a county fair and believes that the $6 Italian sausage they have to fight the flies for is a great bargain. I don’t think anyone actually finds what they are looking for at a county fair except maybe for those individuals showing and selling their goats and sheep and cows and pigs. I think most of us go the fair because it comes to town, and not having anything else to do one night, we just show up and discover we’re still a sucker for games of chance and an ove-rpriced sandwich.
County fairs remind me of life. When I lack purpose, mission and drive, I’m easily distracted by the lights and temptation of so many things all around me. They seem compelling, alluring, desirable, a sure thing to satisfaction. But I’ve been to too many county fairs. Who needs a five- foot orange gorilla?
The Forgiver promised abundant life. It will be found in a relationship with Him that gives of worth, meaning and purpose not in the carney rows beckoning all around me.
Name your pleasure. Deep fried waffles, corn dogs, Italian sausages, cotton candy, salt water taffy, caramel corn, elephant ears, French fries and vinegar. (It seems that the county fair is the only place people ever eat their fries with vinegar. I’ve never seen anyone in a restaurant or under the Golden Arches ask for vinegar for their fries.)
Turn the corner and a row of “Games of Skill” were lined up each with a hawker calling you to take a chance. There were wooden bottles, the baskets for the softball touch, the revolving spiral with the metal ring to be removed without touching the rod. Dart games, water pistol games, horse-racing tic-tac-toe games. Floating ducks. A penny toss, nickel toss and a quarter toss. (I never saw a dime toss. The price seemed to jump from a nickel to a quarter. Maybe dimes are just too light for effective carney tossing.)
Carneys were always willing to show you how easy it was to beat the game so that you felt like a fool if you didn’t play. Then if you did play and lost, which most of us did, you could walk away and feel like a loser for failing to win such an easy game. To make it worse there were always the few scattered lucky ones who actually won the five-foot orange gorilla or the dog larger than a twin-sized bed.
Around the next corner more of the same. Food rows and game rows. Food rows and game rows. All decorated and painted and at night they were lit up better than the average Christmas display. Everything about the displays was designed to lure us to spend some money on either a tasty delight or a game of chance.
I don’t know what people are looking for when they go to a county fair, but I’m pretty sure it is not an orange gorilla. I don’t think that anyone goes to a county fair and believes that the $6 Italian sausage they have to fight the flies for is a great bargain. I don’t think anyone actually finds what they are looking for at a county fair except maybe for those individuals showing and selling their goats and sheep and cows and pigs. I think most of us go the fair because it comes to town, and not having anything else to do one night, we just show up and discover we’re still a sucker for games of chance and an ove-rpriced sandwich.
County fairs remind me of life. When I lack purpose, mission and drive, I’m easily distracted by the lights and temptation of so many things all around me. They seem compelling, alluring, desirable, a sure thing to satisfaction. But I’ve been to too many county fairs. Who needs a five- foot orange gorilla?
The Forgiver promised abundant life. It will be found in a relationship with Him that gives of worth, meaning and purpose not in the carney rows beckoning all around me.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Staying In The Game
I played basketball with old friends recently. It was a group of men with whom I had played basketball with for almost eleven years. It had been a year since I was on the court with them. We still knew each others moves, each others strengths and weaknesses. It was good to be on the court with them again. It was good to be in the game even though my 50-year-old knees were aching.
Staying in the game is a challenge as we age; muscles are weaker, reflexes and reactions are slower. We can still compete, but the days of one man shows are over. The days of taking over a game are behind me. When I play basketball today I realize how dependent I am on others to have a “good game.” At nearly 50 I understand and value my teammates more than I ever did when I was 25.
Leaders recognize the same thing as they age. Once they blazed like a brilliant flare, lighting the way with their drive and enthusiasm. No job was too big. No task was too difficult. No challenge could hold them back.
But as they age good leaders change. They understand the value of the team. They recognize that real success will be measured in how well the team functions. So they become more team-focused and less self-absorbed, self-motivated. They recognize that staying in the game becomes dependent on the team around them. Go team!
Staying in the game is a challenge as we age; muscles are weaker, reflexes and reactions are slower. We can still compete, but the days of one man shows are over. The days of taking over a game are behind me. When I play basketball today I realize how dependent I am on others to have a “good game.” At nearly 50 I understand and value my teammates more than I ever did when I was 25.
Leaders recognize the same thing as they age. Once they blazed like a brilliant flare, lighting the way with their drive and enthusiasm. No job was too big. No task was too difficult. No challenge could hold them back.
But as they age good leaders change. They understand the value of the team. They recognize that real success will be measured in how well the team functions. So they become more team-focused and less self-absorbed, self-motivated. They recognize that staying in the game becomes dependent on the team around them. Go team!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Polish Proverb
I had this deep thought the other day. It had to do with mentoring and team building. It was based upon what I am calling a “New Polish Proverb.” I’m calling it that in honor of my Polish Grandfather who said such pithy things to me growing up.
Here it is.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
Whenever my grandfather would say something profound to me he would follow it up with this great statement in his broken English accent. “You understand me that Brucie?”
Read the proverb again.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
“You understand me that leader?”
Here it is.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
Whenever my grandfather would say something profound to me he would follow it up with this great statement in his broken English accent. “You understand me that Brucie?”
Read the proverb again.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
“You understand me that leader?”
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Persistence
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson four is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are persistent. “Reel” fishermen are always ready to fish and they will keep fishing when others have quit.
I’ve gone fishing on a Friday night and suffered through a poor bite. The water color was off, the temperature too high. For whatever the reason, the fishing was poor, but ask me if I want to go back out on Saturday morning and the answer is yes. “Reel” fishermen know that the bite that was off on Friday night may be hot on Saturday morning. So back they head.
“Reel” fishermen are persistent because they will keep trying to catch fish even when the bite is off. I’ve changed lures and techniques numerous times on the bank of a river, the back of the boat, the side of the stream. “Reel” fishermen know that even when the bite is off some fish will bite if they can just present the right lure in the right way. So they keep trying until they catch fish.
Imagine if we were as persistent as fishers of men. Imagine if the night after a seemingly futile witness attempt we headed right back out to the stream. Imagine remaining so persistent in our effort to reach our neighbors that we tried approach after approach, conversation after conversation, invitation followed by invitations until they responded.
“Reel” Fishermen have persistence, shouldn’t we?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson four is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are persistent. “Reel” fishermen are always ready to fish and they will keep fishing when others have quit.
I’ve gone fishing on a Friday night and suffered through a poor bite. The water color was off, the temperature too high. For whatever the reason, the fishing was poor, but ask me if I want to go back out on Saturday morning and the answer is yes. “Reel” fishermen know that the bite that was off on Friday night may be hot on Saturday morning. So back they head.
“Reel” fishermen are persistent because they will keep trying to catch fish even when the bite is off. I’ve changed lures and techniques numerous times on the bank of a river, the back of the boat, the side of the stream. “Reel” fishermen know that even when the bite is off some fish will bite if they can just present the right lure in the right way. So they keep trying until they catch fish.
Imagine if we were as persistent as fishers of men. Imagine if the night after a seemingly futile witness attempt we headed right back out to the stream. Imagine remaining so persistent in our effort to reach our neighbors that we tried approach after approach, conversation after conversation, invitation followed by invitations until they responded.
“Reel” Fishermen have persistence, shouldn’t we?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Optimism
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson three is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are optimistic about fishing. It doesn’t matter if the fish aren’t biting; “reel” fishermen are always thinking that the next cast will lead to results; a lunker waits just beyond that weed bank. If I change my lure, freshen my bait, move down the bank the fishing will change.
Strike out on a Thursday; “reel” fishermen will be back out on a Saturday, trying again. They know that a day is coming when the bite will be on, when cast after cast will lead to fish. Success is just a matter of time, conditions and persistence. No “reel” fisherman is ever defeated, just delayed.
The optimism that a fisherman has is fueled by others. Put ten guys on a pond. Let them fish without success for an hour, wait right up until some are ready to quit, then suddenly someone lands a perch, nails a bass and all ten are ready to keep fishing.
When it comes to being a “fisher of men” we must be optimistic. After all the Master Fisherman has declared that we can do this. Each of us can be successful, so with the Forgiver next to us on the bank, we should keep casting. Success may be only one cast away. If we’re not catching fish, not impacting others with the Forgiver’s story, change the lure, reposition on the bank, but keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away. And when you hear stories of successful fishermen, don’t be discouraged. Listen and learn, pick up a tip or two and keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away.
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson three is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are optimistic about fishing. It doesn’t matter if the fish aren’t biting; “reel” fishermen are always thinking that the next cast will lead to results; a lunker waits just beyond that weed bank. If I change my lure, freshen my bait, move down the bank the fishing will change.
Strike out on a Thursday; “reel” fishermen will be back out on a Saturday, trying again. They know that a day is coming when the bite will be on, when cast after cast will lead to fish. Success is just a matter of time, conditions and persistence. No “reel” fisherman is ever defeated, just delayed.
The optimism that a fisherman has is fueled by others. Put ten guys on a pond. Let them fish without success for an hour, wait right up until some are ready to quit, then suddenly someone lands a perch, nails a bass and all ten are ready to keep fishing.
When it comes to being a “fisher of men” we must be optimistic. After all the Master Fisherman has declared that we can do this. Each of us can be successful, so with the Forgiver next to us on the bank, we should keep casting. Success may be only one cast away. If we’re not catching fish, not impacting others with the Forgiver’s story, change the lure, reposition on the bank, but keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away. And when you hear stories of successful fishermen, don’t be discouraged. Listen and learn, pick up a tip or two and keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away.
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Purpose
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
I finished a book by Ed Young on creative leadership. He ended it with a chapter on fishing for men. This chapter and my own fishing obsession lead to some musing on Jesus’ first invitation. So for the next few leadership devotions here are my thoughts on being a “Reel” fishermen.
Fishermen are obsessed with fishing. There is always another pond, another stream, another river, another spot on the lake, another hole where the fish are. Fishermen long to fish. They find creative ways to manage their schedules so they can fish. They skip sleep, rise up early, endure the bugs, sometimes the cold, sometimes the heat, just so they can fish.
“Reel” fishermen don’t just settle for talking about fishing or reading about fishing or picking up a hot tip about fishing. Fishermen have to fish. They have to be on the water, at the stream, on the bank to be fulfilled.
When it comes to being a fisher of men, how do you stack up?
Are you obsessed with fishing, reaching out to others? Do you see every house, every neighborhood, and every street as a new place to fish? Have you settled for just studying about fishing? Have been content with just occasionally wetting a line? Or do you live to fish? Is it your purpose? Is it what you do?
When it comes to Jesus’ first invitation, how well have you followed?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
I finished a book by Ed Young on creative leadership. He ended it with a chapter on fishing for men. This chapter and my own fishing obsession lead to some musing on Jesus’ first invitation. So for the next few leadership devotions here are my thoughts on being a “Reel” fishermen.
Fishermen are obsessed with fishing. There is always another pond, another stream, another river, another spot on the lake, another hole where the fish are. Fishermen long to fish. They find creative ways to manage their schedules so they can fish. They skip sleep, rise up early, endure the bugs, sometimes the cold, sometimes the heat, just so they can fish.
“Reel” fishermen don’t just settle for talking about fishing or reading about fishing or picking up a hot tip about fishing. Fishermen have to fish. They have to be on the water, at the stream, on the bank to be fulfilled.
When it comes to being a fisher of men, how do you stack up?
Are you obsessed with fishing, reaching out to others? Do you see every house, every neighborhood, and every street as a new place to fish? Have you settled for just studying about fishing? Have been content with just occasionally wetting a line? Or do you live to fish? Is it your purpose? Is it what you do?
When it comes to Jesus’ first invitation, how well have you followed?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
What could be better than fishing?
Some of you know that I like to fish (that is an understatement) I love to fish! But I’ve been discovering something about fishing that makes the experience even better. I like fishing even more when I get to take someone else fishing and show them some of the things I know about fishing. Things like:
• How to catch a bass on a weed-less Texas rigged rubber worm.
• How to catch blue gills on small jigs.
• How to catch their first trout on a fly rod.
I realized this morning when the man I was fishing with nailed his first bass out of the weeds just how much fun I was having just sharing the knowledge. I realized that as much as I like to fish, I liked mentoring others to catch fish.
Imagine if every leader made a discovery that all the things that they loved to do were even more enjoyable when we were teaching someone else how to do them. Mentoring, it’s one of the joys of leadership. Have you discovered it?
• How to catch a bass on a weed-less Texas rigged rubber worm.
• How to catch blue gills on small jigs.
• How to catch their first trout on a fly rod.
I realized this morning when the man I was fishing with nailed his first bass out of the weeds just how much fun I was having just sharing the knowledge. I realized that as much as I like to fish, I liked mentoring others to catch fish.
Imagine if every leader made a discovery that all the things that they loved to do were even more enjoyable when we were teaching someone else how to do them. Mentoring, it’s one of the joys of leadership. Have you discovered it?
Friday, June 22, 2007
It Isn't Heavy - Right!
My son and I were discussing his ministry as Staff Director at a Christian camp and Conference Center this summer. It was interesting to hear him share that he was coming to the realization that with so many things, so many events, so many projects, so many expectations that the buck stopped with Him. It was his responsibility to schedule, to assign jobs, to delegate projects, to ensure that the job get completed, that it’s done appropriately, he also has to worry about staff morale, encouragement and evaluation.
It was interesting listening to him because this summer he was discovering something that every leader wrestles with—the unseen, but often very oppressive weight of leadership.
There is no escaping the weight. It is there on vacation, on your days off, at the beginning of the week and it’s still there at the end of the week. It is always there.
So how does a leader deal with it? How does he cope with the weight?
I eventually came to this conclusion and it was freeing. I remind myself that I stink at being God. But God is actually quite good at it. He is able to care for all those things better than I could hope too.
So I work hard, I study, I plan, I program, I train, I equip, I lead, but through it all I keep reminding myself that it’s His weight and He’s good at dealing with it.
To all those who know the weight, to all those who have been oppressed by its burden, to all those longed for relief, remind yourself.
The weight belongs to Him.
It was interesting listening to him because this summer he was discovering something that every leader wrestles with—the unseen, but often very oppressive weight of leadership.
There is no escaping the weight. It is there on vacation, on your days off, at the beginning of the week and it’s still there at the end of the week. It is always there.
So how does a leader deal with it? How does he cope with the weight?
I eventually came to this conclusion and it was freeing. I remind myself that I stink at being God. But God is actually quite good at it. He is able to care for all those things better than I could hope too.
So I work hard, I study, I plan, I program, I train, I equip, I lead, but through it all I keep reminding myself that it’s His weight and He’s good at dealing with it.
To all those who know the weight, to all those who have been oppressed by its burden, to all those longed for relief, remind yourself.
The weight belongs to Him.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Waiting on the Blossom
For Mother’s Day my son and I planted a new flowerbed—a heart shaped gift of love to the love of my life. We transplanted a number of perennials from other spots on our property. I added a few roses and flox from the nursery. I also added an unknown plant, a tall spindly plant I was sure I had seen in bloom behind my garage. Water, fertilizer and mulch finished the effort.
Over the coming weeks the new bed thrived. Roses bloomed, irises unfolded, black-eyed susans took hold. I added annuals—marigolds and petunias. All the while the tall spindly thing grew and spread.
My wife began to ask me if the tall spindly thing was just a weed. To both of us it looked pretty terrible.
“I think it will bloom. Let’s give it more time.”
I have to confess I was having my doubts. It sure did look like a weed. And if it was a weed it was dominating the center of the flower bed. It’s presence was hard to ignore. But I waited on it.
Eventually I saw buds coming. It was about the time my wife began suggesting we pull it out.
“It’s got buds. It’s going to bloom. Let’s wait.”
Then one day, the hint of color peeked out. Was that blue I saw tipping the buds? A few days later deep blue blossoms were opening on every spindly stalk, beautiful flowers unfolding in praise to the Creator. No more discussion about the weed. No more talk of pulling it out, instead a growing appreciation for its beauty now marked our discussions of the flower bed.
Leaders have to learn this truth. Some things, some people, some programs, some strategies, some changes take a long time in developing. Long before their beauty emerges we may have to endure the awkwardness of their development. Early on in the mentoring of others, early on in the implementation of new programs or strategies, early on in an emerging leader we may see more weed than flower. While every program or strategy may not succeed, while every change may not work, while every potential leader may not develop, good leaders are slow to give up, longsuffering in patience. Good leaders give time for the blossoms to appear.
Over the coming weeks the new bed thrived. Roses bloomed, irises unfolded, black-eyed susans took hold. I added annuals—marigolds and petunias. All the while the tall spindly thing grew and spread.
My wife began to ask me if the tall spindly thing was just a weed. To both of us it looked pretty terrible.
“I think it will bloom. Let’s give it more time.”
I have to confess I was having my doubts. It sure did look like a weed. And if it was a weed it was dominating the center of the flower bed. It’s presence was hard to ignore. But I waited on it.
Eventually I saw buds coming. It was about the time my wife began suggesting we pull it out.
“It’s got buds. It’s going to bloom. Let’s wait.”
Then one day, the hint of color peeked out. Was that blue I saw tipping the buds? A few days later deep blue blossoms were opening on every spindly stalk, beautiful flowers unfolding in praise to the Creator. No more discussion about the weed. No more talk of pulling it out, instead a growing appreciation for its beauty now marked our discussions of the flower bed.
Leaders have to learn this truth. Some things, some people, some programs, some strategies, some changes take a long time in developing. Long before their beauty emerges we may have to endure the awkwardness of their development. Early on in the mentoring of others, early on in the implementation of new programs or strategies, early on in an emerging leader we may see more weed than flower. While every program or strategy may not succeed, while every change may not work, while every potential leader may not develop, good leaders are slow to give up, longsuffering in patience. Good leaders give time for the blossoms to appear.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Wild Sprouts
I was working in my garden yesterday, adding some cucumbers, planting peppers. That’s when I noticed it, a wild yellow squash plant coming up. Unplanted. Unplanned. It was emerging between two tomato plants. It was right where my squash plants had been last year.
If left alone it would continue to grow, but soon it would battle for space with the tomato plants towering beside it. I could kill it, after all it was a wild sprout. I could transplant it, water it, cultivate it, and perhaps enjoy its fruit. If it thrived we would enjoy summer squash. Since I had not planted any other squash, it would be the only squash we might reap this summer.
Leaders are constantly looking for sprouts of new leaders, emerging leaders springing up around them. They are often wild, planted by the will of the Spirit. Sometimes they are in the shadow of other leaders. Sometimes they crowd others for space as they pursue their purpose. Sometimes other leaders overshadow them with their strength. Some leaders are unsure if they want their presence in their garden. But a leader sees their emergence as opportunity; a leader knows that when planted in the right environment that emerging sprouts of leadership with thrive. Cultivated and nurtured, the wild plant will grow and bear fruit.
Around you today are sprouts emerging, are new leaders popping up seeking to discover their role in the Great Leader’s Kingdom?
Go ahead nurture the wild sprouts.
If left alone it would continue to grow, but soon it would battle for space with the tomato plants towering beside it. I could kill it, after all it was a wild sprout. I could transplant it, water it, cultivate it, and perhaps enjoy its fruit. If it thrived we would enjoy summer squash. Since I had not planted any other squash, it would be the only squash we might reap this summer.
Leaders are constantly looking for sprouts of new leaders, emerging leaders springing up around them. They are often wild, planted by the will of the Spirit. Sometimes they are in the shadow of other leaders. Sometimes they crowd others for space as they pursue their purpose. Sometimes other leaders overshadow them with their strength. Some leaders are unsure if they want their presence in their garden. But a leader sees their emergence as opportunity; a leader knows that when planted in the right environment that emerging sprouts of leadership with thrive. Cultivated and nurtured, the wild plant will grow and bear fruit.
Around you today are sprouts emerging, are new leaders popping up seeking to discover their role in the Great Leader’s Kingdom?
Go ahead nurture the wild sprouts.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
When the Days are Dark
I recently have been greatly blessed by the following words from Andrew Murray: (From Gordon Meier)
”In time of trouble say, ‘First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this difficult place; in that I will rest.’ Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child. Then say, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. And last, say, ‘In His good time He can bring me out again.’ How and when, He knows.
Therefore, say, ‘I am here
(1) by God’s appointment
(2) in His keeping
(3) under His training
(4) for His time.’”
In a world where we sometimes think we are entitled to a problem free existence, finding our direction in the times of storms is always a challenge.
”In time of trouble say, ‘First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this difficult place; in that I will rest.’ Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child. Then say, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. And last, say, ‘In His good time He can bring me out again.’ How and when, He knows.
Therefore, say, ‘I am here
(1) by God’s appointment
(2) in His keeping
(3) under His training
(4) for His time.’”
In a world where we sometimes think we are entitled to a problem free existence, finding our direction in the times of storms is always a challenge.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Unimpressive Eagles
Not too long ago I visited a Raptor Rehabilitation Center. This had nothing to do with dinosaurs breaking drug habits. This was no techno savvy DNA engineering center. This was a hospital for wounded birds of prey. Ospreys, eagles, burrowing owls, kites, horned owls, barn owls were just a few of those in convalescence there. With my digital camera I snapped crystal clear pictures of a bald eagle perched just feet way; another of an osprey on a similar roost.
Despite how striking these pictures were, they left me somewhat unimpressed. There is something wrong with a picture of a raptor that cannot soar, a hunter that cannot pursue prey. On the surface the birds looked extraordinary, yet their wounds had forced them to settle for an unremarkable existence. No bird meant to soar is quite as impressive doing anything else.
Leaders know this truth. If someone is meant to soar, doing anything else is just not as impressive. If you are meant to lead, following is not impressive.
Followers of the Forgiver need to learn the same thing.
· If you are meant to be filled with power, struggling with life is not impressive.
· If you are meant to be victorious over sin, wallowing in it is not notable.
· If you are meant to discover your role, to pursue your destiny, to run the race well, to keep the faith, to finish strong, then just sitting back and doing little is easily forgotten.
We need to check our hearts and be sure we have not settled for merely a perch when we were meant to soar.
Go ahead, fly.
Despite how striking these pictures were, they left me somewhat unimpressed. There is something wrong with a picture of a raptor that cannot soar, a hunter that cannot pursue prey. On the surface the birds looked extraordinary, yet their wounds had forced them to settle for an unremarkable existence. No bird meant to soar is quite as impressive doing anything else.
Leaders know this truth. If someone is meant to soar, doing anything else is just not as impressive. If you are meant to lead, following is not impressive.
Followers of the Forgiver need to learn the same thing.
· If you are meant to be filled with power, struggling with life is not impressive.
· If you are meant to be victorious over sin, wallowing in it is not notable.
· If you are meant to discover your role, to pursue your destiny, to run the race well, to keep the faith, to finish strong, then just sitting back and doing little is easily forgotten.
We need to check our hearts and be sure we have not settled for merely a perch when we were meant to soar.
Go ahead, fly.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Understanding the Heart of God – The Prodigal Son #5 of 5
The Forgiver has been challenged by those who should understand His heart, challenged by those who should be with Him at the table reaching out to the sinners, the lost. They have missed the point. They have missed His heart. The Forgiver has turned His attention to grumblers, not in rebuke, but in hope they will understand.
He tells them a third story, the story of two sons. It cannot be dismissed. These are fathers with children of their own. The story about the fate of two sons cannot be ignored.
Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" NIV
The Prodigal, wastes his inheritance, squanders it on sinful living. Destroys his life, sinking lower and lower until there is no hope for a future. Perhaps if he returns home he could be a second class son, like a hired hand, not a real son.
But the father. . . .
Don’t miss this. The father never criticizes, the father shows no sign of rejection, of judgment. The father never says, I told you son, look how horribly you messed up. Instead the father dresses the prodigal in a new robe, kills the fattened calf and celebrates his return. The only thing that mattered to the father was the son that was lost had returned.
The older son feels slighted. The older son wants to point the finger of accusation, the finger of judgment at the younger. After all look what he has done, he has been faithful, where was his reward.
The father’s response is critical. Yes, the older son would be rewarded, the father recognized his faithfulness. His faithfulness did matter, but the return of the prodigal was cause for even immediate and great celebration.
Yes, the Father notes and rewards faithfulness, all He has will one day be ours, but the Father celebrates when one who has been lost is found.
What happened to me at council? I was reminded; no perhaps I understood for the first time, that God has a passionate, frantic love for the lost. A love that led Him to do everything He could do to ensure that a lost person could be saved. His heart breaks over the lost. He desperately reaching out to them, and as they are found, He welcomes them back into fellowship with Himself. And every time it occurs it sets His heart to rejoicing.
One of the many differences between the disciples and the Pharisees concerns the heart of God. The disciples would eventually understand His heart and spend their lives reaching out to the lost. The Pharisees would see the efforts to save the lost as a threat to their established religiosity, and do their best to oppose it.
The Forgiver came to seek and save the lost. At Norwalk Alliance Church we’re Living the Call Together. More than ever before, I am convinced that the key to Living the Call is having a heart like God.
He tells them a third story, the story of two sons. It cannot be dismissed. These are fathers with children of their own. The story about the fate of two sons cannot be ignored.
Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" NIV
The Prodigal, wastes his inheritance, squanders it on sinful living. Destroys his life, sinking lower and lower until there is no hope for a future. Perhaps if he returns home he could be a second class son, like a hired hand, not a real son.
But the father. . . .
Don’t miss this. The father never criticizes, the father shows no sign of rejection, of judgment. The father never says, I told you son, look how horribly you messed up. Instead the father dresses the prodigal in a new robe, kills the fattened calf and celebrates his return. The only thing that mattered to the father was the son that was lost had returned.
The older son feels slighted. The older son wants to point the finger of accusation, the finger of judgment at the younger. After all look what he has done, he has been faithful, where was his reward.
The father’s response is critical. Yes, the older son would be rewarded, the father recognized his faithfulness. His faithfulness did matter, but the return of the prodigal was cause for even immediate and great celebration.
Yes, the Father notes and rewards faithfulness, all He has will one day be ours, but the Father celebrates when one who has been lost is found.
What happened to me at council? I was reminded; no perhaps I understood for the first time, that God has a passionate, frantic love for the lost. A love that led Him to do everything He could do to ensure that a lost person could be saved. His heart breaks over the lost. He desperately reaching out to them, and as they are found, He welcomes them back into fellowship with Himself. And every time it occurs it sets His heart to rejoicing.
One of the many differences between the disciples and the Pharisees concerns the heart of God. The disciples would eventually understand His heart and spend their lives reaching out to the lost. The Pharisees would see the efforts to save the lost as a threat to their established religiosity, and do their best to oppose it.
The Forgiver came to seek and save the lost. At Norwalk Alliance Church we’re Living the Call Together. More than ever before, I am convinced that the key to Living the Call is having a heart like God.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Understanding the Heart of God – The Lost Coin #4 of 5
Jesus has been spending too much time reaching out to sinners. The religious leaders have become frustrated, they have begun to mutter. Rather than dismiss them, the Forgiver seeks to help them understand His heart.
He tells them a second story.
Luke 15:8-10
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." NIV
The Master Teacher uses something we all understand, money. We need no sermon to understand the importance of lost money. The women does just what we would all do to find something lost. She systematically searches for it. Our problem is we don’t understand how important the lost coin was. We don’t sense the urgency; we don’t sense the near-panicked heart of God.
If all you own is 10 coins, losing one is huge. Imagine having 10,000 dollars and losing 1,000. Still struggling to understand how God feels about the lost? Let me help. Imagine being at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the largest mall in the US. You are there with your five-year-old son, or grandson. As you turn to pay the cashier for your purchase he wanders away. When you look for him, he is not there. You look up and down the aisle, he is no where to be seen. Imagine what goes through your mind, what pulls at your heart. Imagine your frantic, near-panicked efforts to find him, to ensure that he is safe.
In those moments you don’t argue about how many times you’ve told him not to wander. You don’t worry about what has caught his distraction, what has tempted him away; all you think about is his safety. Your heart breaks with how much you love him. You’re filled with worry that he won’t be found until it is too late. In that moment we are closer to the heart of God than at any other time.
Is there any wonder that a parent rejoices when a lost child is found? Should there be any wonder that heaven rejoices when a sinner repents? The Heart of God loves the lost more than we have perhaps ever imagined.
But the heart of God will go deeper still.
He tells them a second story.
Luke 15:8-10
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." NIV
The Master Teacher uses something we all understand, money. We need no sermon to understand the importance of lost money. The women does just what we would all do to find something lost. She systematically searches for it. Our problem is we don’t understand how important the lost coin was. We don’t sense the urgency; we don’t sense the near-panicked heart of God.
If all you own is 10 coins, losing one is huge. Imagine having 10,000 dollars and losing 1,000. Still struggling to understand how God feels about the lost? Let me help. Imagine being at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the largest mall in the US. You are there with your five-year-old son, or grandson. As you turn to pay the cashier for your purchase he wanders away. When you look for him, he is not there. You look up and down the aisle, he is no where to be seen. Imagine what goes through your mind, what pulls at your heart. Imagine your frantic, near-panicked efforts to find him, to ensure that he is safe.
In those moments you don’t argue about how many times you’ve told him not to wander. You don’t worry about what has caught his distraction, what has tempted him away; all you think about is his safety. Your heart breaks with how much you love him. You’re filled with worry that he won’t be found until it is too late. In that moment we are closer to the heart of God than at any other time.
Is there any wonder that a parent rejoices when a lost child is found? Should there be any wonder that heaven rejoices when a sinner repents? The Heart of God loves the lost more than we have perhaps ever imagined.
But the heart of God will go deeper still.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Understanding the Heart of God – The Lost Sheep #3 of 5
Our journey begins in a unique setting. Jesus is being criticized by the religious.
Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." NIV
The Pharisees and the teachers had fallen into the same trap that so easily waylays many of us. They stumbled over the misconception that the Forgiver’s mission was about them. They were being ignored, while He spent time and energy relating to sinners. It’s not that they were not important, also. Jesus had spent many hours teaching in synagogues, answering the questions of scribes and Pharisees, but when He turned His attention to the lost, the religious muttered about their perceived slight.
Notice that the Forgiver does not have harsh words for the Pharisees on this point. Instead the Master Teacher turns His attention to them and in three parables seeks to help them understand how He feels about lost people, sinners. He desired that the religious understand His heart.
He tells them a story.
Luke 15:3-7
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. NIV
Notice how He engages their hearts. Jesus makes up a story about one of them owning 100 sheep and losing one. They have ownership. One of theirs is lost. Like every individual the Pharisees could see themselves mounting a search to find their lost sheep. The Forgiver goes further. When a lost sheep is found, everyman there could understand the reason to call his friends and neighbors to celebrate.
This is the first curtain lifted on understanding the heart of God. The lost are His, and He will search them out and when they are found, heaven rejoices. Those who understand His heart, understand His passion to save the lost. It is worth rejoicing and celebrating when that which has been lost is found.
But the heart of the Father is deeper still.
Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." NIV
The Pharisees and the teachers had fallen into the same trap that so easily waylays many of us. They stumbled over the misconception that the Forgiver’s mission was about them. They were being ignored, while He spent time and energy relating to sinners. It’s not that they were not important, also. Jesus had spent many hours teaching in synagogues, answering the questions of scribes and Pharisees, but when He turned His attention to the lost, the religious muttered about their perceived slight.
Notice that the Forgiver does not have harsh words for the Pharisees on this point. Instead the Master Teacher turns His attention to them and in three parables seeks to help them understand how He feels about lost people, sinners. He desired that the religious understand His heart.
He tells them a story.
Luke 15:3-7
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. NIV
Notice how He engages their hearts. Jesus makes up a story about one of them owning 100 sheep and losing one. They have ownership. One of theirs is lost. Like every individual the Pharisees could see themselves mounting a search to find their lost sheep. The Forgiver goes further. When a lost sheep is found, everyman there could understand the reason to call his friends and neighbors to celebrate.
This is the first curtain lifted on understanding the heart of God. The lost are His, and He will search them out and when they are found, heaven rejoices. Those who understand His heart, understand His passion to save the lost. It is worth rejoicing and celebrating when that which has been lost is found.
But the heart of the Father is deeper still.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Understanding the Heart of God -Introduction #2 of 5
Larry L. has called me the “Master of Outreach” and I confess that I liked that sobriquet. I liked being known as a man, a pastor that had a heart for outreach. I have to confess that at council I was under considerable conviction about being the “master of outreach.” I have been passionate about outreach for years, but this year at council I became convicted that I did not have the heart of God when it came to outreach.
For years I have done outreach because I wanted to see the church grow, to see more people engaged in worship, in small groups, in the programs and ministries of the churches I pastored. I wanted to see people saved, I wanted to see prodigals returning to the father, but my motives and God’s were very far apart. At council this year I was deeply convicted about how shallow this was. About how easily outreach could become about me, about our church, about the numbers, our accomplishments.
At council the veil over my eyes was unzipped, the cloud over my heart was lifted and I experienced perhaps for the first time a glimpse of what the heart of God was like for the lost. In those moments of weeping and conviction I believe I became a changed man. My understanding of God’s heart forever changed.
Our great God is not simply carrying out a program, a plan, a strategy to save the world. NO. His heart breaks for lost people. His heart breaks for lost people and He has done, and will do anything to see them saved, including dying on the cross.
How do we understand His passion for the lost, His desire to see them saved. I thought I understood, but God used a message preached by Scott Slocum to renew my eyes. So I invite you on a three-day journey with me as we rediscover the heart of God. Be prepared, you may never be the same.
The heart of the call is discovered in the heart of God.
For years I have done outreach because I wanted to see the church grow, to see more people engaged in worship, in small groups, in the programs and ministries of the churches I pastored. I wanted to see people saved, I wanted to see prodigals returning to the father, but my motives and God’s were very far apart. At council this year I was deeply convicted about how shallow this was. About how easily outreach could become about me, about our church, about the numbers, our accomplishments.
At council the veil over my eyes was unzipped, the cloud over my heart was lifted and I experienced perhaps for the first time a glimpse of what the heart of God was like for the lost. In those moments of weeping and conviction I believe I became a changed man. My understanding of God’s heart forever changed.
Our great God is not simply carrying out a program, a plan, a strategy to save the world. NO. His heart breaks for lost people. His heart breaks for lost people and He has done, and will do anything to see them saved, including dying on the cross.
How do we understand His passion for the lost, His desire to see them saved. I thought I understood, but God used a message preached by Scott Slocum to renew my eyes. So I invite you on a three-day journey with me as we rediscover the heart of God. Be prepared, you may never be the same.
The heart of the call is discovered in the heart of God.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Understanding the Heart of the Call #1 of 5
I’m sitting in the airport waiting for the arrival of Flight 1770 (two hours delayed) reflecting on my week at General Council in Orlando Florida. There were many high points to the week. Incredible worship services, balanced with hours of strategic planning sessions (a new euphemism for business sessions). I had the privilege of representing the voice of the National Committee on Special Orders and General Legislation in the presentation of major changes in our constitution. In some of the limited free time, Cheryl and I were able to get in some time birding among the Flordia Wetlands. Anhingas, gallinules, Louisiana herons, osprey, little blue herons, cattle egret, great egrets and 6 alligators were among the highlights. As memorable as each of those were while we were away, my lasting memory of Council focuses on the messages delivered at Council.
Today I am reminded once again, that what we do matters, it matters a great deal. It matters above all other endeavors. We are those who stand in gap, work often in the shadow of others for the sake of the call. We serve as soldiers, seeking to please our Heavenly Commander, we compete as athletes seeking a heavenly reward, we labor day after day as farmers that a harvest may be reaped (2 Tim 2). We did not choose this time or even this place, but we have been chosen for such a time as this. In the day when the world deems our message irrelevant, our methods and modes outdate (John 15:16). In a time when spirituality is valued but Jesus is ignored, we few, we the church, we her leaders and prophets in all our weaknesses (2 Cor 4:7) lean upon the infilling of His presence and choose to cross the line, to enter the battle against all odds for the sake of the Call (Matt 28:16).
It has never been about us, about our comfort or about our glory, but it is about Him, His call and His mission. We have only just begun to discover all he has for us, all he calls for us to do, to be. Brothers and sisters, fellow warriors in His kingdom, I come home humbled, broken, weeping, excited, dreaming and yearning. My hand remains on the plow, I do not look back, but now my heart burns to push harder (Luke 9:62).
See you in the fields.
P. Bruce
NAC
Today I am reminded once again, that what we do matters, it matters a great deal. It matters above all other endeavors. We are those who stand in gap, work often in the shadow of others for the sake of the call. We serve as soldiers, seeking to please our Heavenly Commander, we compete as athletes seeking a heavenly reward, we labor day after day as farmers that a harvest may be reaped (2 Tim 2). We did not choose this time or even this place, but we have been chosen for such a time as this. In the day when the world deems our message irrelevant, our methods and modes outdate (John 15:16). In a time when spirituality is valued but Jesus is ignored, we few, we the church, we her leaders and prophets in all our weaknesses (2 Cor 4:7) lean upon the infilling of His presence and choose to cross the line, to enter the battle against all odds for the sake of the Call (Matt 28:16).
It has never been about us, about our comfort or about our glory, but it is about Him, His call and His mission. We have only just begun to discover all he has for us, all he calls for us to do, to be. Brothers and sisters, fellow warriors in His kingdom, I come home humbled, broken, weeping, excited, dreaming and yearning. My hand remains on the plow, I do not look back, but now my heart burns to push harder (Luke 9:62).
See you in the fields.
P. Bruce
NAC
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