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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.