Close Encounters of the God Kind…

I had an awesome encounter yesterday.  I just stopped in to Port City Java to get a cup and check my e-mail.  A guy came over and sat down at my table.  He asked me if I would write an entry in his journal.  I thought this was a little weird and for some reason it was a little uncomfortable.  He said he had noticed a book on my table and he asked me what it was about.  I said it was a book written by a Pastor about the journey of following Jesus.  He asked if I was in ministry.  I told him I was a Pastor.  He asked a few other small talk questions then said that he would often ask other people to just write something in his journal and that I could take my time and write anything I wanted.  I felt God move me even though I was tentative.   So I agreed.

Now was the big thing.  What do I write?  After all this is not my journal and I don’t know anything about this guy.  It was a real step of faith.  I prayed to myself asking God to guide me in my thoughts.  Then-I began to write.

What I wrote did not seem as significant as what took place after I finished writing.   When I was done I went over to his table and handed the journal back.  Then I sat down.  I asked him what he was reading.  He explained that it was a book on Zen meditation.  Many thought were firing through my brain at lightning speed.  What do I say to that?  I said “That’s cool.”  Sounds brilliant!?  Was that the best I could come up with?  Truthfully, it was the only thing that came to mind.  He looked at me, backing his head up a little with a questioning smile, and said “I’m surprised you would say that being a Pastor.”  I said “Well the Bible says a lot about meditation.”  He asked where.  I said the book of Psalms in particular.  He said show me.  So I got my Bible and read to him from Psalm 119 about meditation on God’s precepts and fixing our eyes on His ways.

This sent us into a conversation over many issues about Christianity and following Jesus.  For an hour we talked.  It was obvious that something had painfully shaped how he felt about church and Christians.  His mom was christian in a very legalistic denomination and his dad was Buddhist.  They divorced over religious issues and probably others, when the kids were grown.

I told him as our conversation was coming to a close that I really enjoyed the time with him and his openness.  He told me that he hoped he did  not offend me.  I said to him that when it is our agenda to always convert people instead of knowing people we offend them or at least walk away disappointed because we didn’t reach our goal.  When it is our chief desire to connect and know people and we value them as created by God even if they don’t know him, it opens doors through relationship that will never open through trying to argue or convince people. 

God is so good.  If we stay open to people and to His leading we will experience some incredible things and He will use us in the process.

What great encounters have you had lately?

What are you doing about it?

What are we waiting for? 
Jesus said, (John 4:35) “lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest.” As followers of Jesus and especially leaders in ministry we cannot lose sight of this fact.  We can be confused about the difference between waiting for the harvest and preparing laborers for the harvest.  The harvest is always there.  Jesus said in this same passage that we say “four more months then the harvest.”  He then reminds us to look, it’s ready.  The implication is that our eyes or focus is on something else and we are missing the fact that it’s ready.  We have to keep our eye on the harvest. 

Jesus also say that we get to reap from what others have already prepared and labored for.  I like that.  We don’t have to wait to see fruit.  We just have to get out into the field and reap.

This harvest is happening so fast and is so ready that He said the sower and reaper get to rejoice together.  There is a place for all of us in the harvest.

We need to be harvest ready.

How are you laboring in the harvest?

Risky Business…

My highlight from toady’s message - I got to show a clip from the movie Transformers.

I mentioned in an earlier post that me and Jesus were on a journey.  One of the things I’ve been pondering is found in a quote from this movie.

“50 years from now, don’t you want to say you had the guts to get in the car.” - Sam

This is a defining moment for Sam and Makala, will they go home or will they become a part of living the adventure? Will they take the risk?  Will they take the road less traveled?  Or will they play it safe?

Maybe it was not so theatrical and with no building music in the background but this is exactly what was going on when Jesus spoke to Peter and Andrew on the shore of Galilee saying, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  This was a defining moment.  They had no idea what was exactly ahead for them. 

3 years down this road Peter was so in love with Jesus, he said he was willing to go where ever Jesus went even if it was to the cross.  In John 21:15-22 Peter has now witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and failed miserably by denying that he knew Him.  He was probably evaluating Jesus call to “Follow him.”   After the resurrection,  Jesus comes to Peter and has a little breakfast with him on the shore.  Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?”  Peter replies “Lord you know I do.”  Jesus says “Feed my sheep.”  This He does three times.  Then Jesus describe the kind of death Peter would suffer and then again as He did in the beginning, He says, “Follow me.”  Peter goes on to ask “what about John.”  Jesus says “What is that to you if he lives or dies, you follow me.”

Jesus call to us to follow Him.  If we choose, it will be a life filled with meaning, purpose, adventure, mystery, and danger, perril, sacrifice, and unlimited posibilities.  We don’t know all that will happen.  Each persons life and journey is unique as is their purpose.  But will we “get in the car?” 

I don’t want to settle for a life without meaning.  I want to say I had the guts to risk it all, where ever Jesus takes me.  I want to Follow Him!  Will you?

Have you had a defining moment?

Did you have the guts to take the risk?

 

What Great Leaders Are Made Of…

Amy and I took the kids to see Prince Caspian last night.  One of the greatest lines of the movie came near the end.  After the Talmarines are defeated, Prince Caspian, Peter, Edmund and Susan kneel before Aslan.  He says “rise kings of Narnia.”  They all rise except Prince Caspian.  He says again, “I said rise kings.”  Prince Caspian responds, “I do not believe I am ready.”  Aslan says, “It’s for that reason I know you are ready.”

Humility is the key to great leadership.  I know my greatest moments have come when my King has spoken and I feel like I’m not ready.  God can do more with my weakness through humility than all the strength and pride in the world.  It is only through my humility and weakness that God can do His greatest work through me.  When I am weak, He is strong.

This reminds me of an old song, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

When have you felt weak and not worthy and God did great things through you?

Me, Erwin, Jesus & Java…

Just so you know where my head is right now, I’m in my Tuesday Office meeting with Erwin McManus and Jesus.  OK, Erwin is not actually, physically here.  I am so excited about my devotional and study time.  The other day I was in the bookstore picking out a couple of things to read.  I felt really drawn to a specific author, Erwin McManus, who is the Lead Pastor of Mosaic.  Something in me got excited like me and Jesus were about to embark on a great journey.  So I am stoked.

Go pick up a copy of one of Erwin’s books.  It will bless you or maybe I’m just on my own little trip.

What good books have you read lately?

Jam on it.

Amy’s 20th reunion is coming up soon and she is helping plan the event.  My sister sent us her collection of 80’s music and we happened to be listening to some last night when our son (Nathan) came into the kitchen.   Nathan constantly cracks us up.  Here is a spontaneous dance by Nathan - a lip-sinc, robot, gangsta, hip-hop thing.  Jam on it!

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

So what goes on at your house that no one would expect?

Do Your Thing…

Good day.  Up early - cast my vote.  A little time with Jesus, myself, a good cup of coffee and some great music on iTunes.  Proverbs3:3-4  Love and faithfulness brings success and favor in the sight of God and man.

I get to spend some time with some cool people.  Today I got to have lunch with this guy.  I love to be around people who “know their thing and do their thing.”  Nobody can “do your thing” better than you.  You were created for it. Find it, pursue it, love it, do it!

Do you know what your thing is?

What’s your thing?

Are you pursuing it?

The United States and The Kingdom of God…

I did it!  I went and cast my vote this morning.  I hope you do as well.

As sense of excitement comes over me as I sit here thinking about it.  Not so much about the candidates I picked but the process I get to be a part of.  My one vote, as small a contribution as it may be, is a part of a greater whole.  It’s not an insignificant part.  As a matter of fact it’s a necessary part.

Casting my vote made me a part of something bigger than myself.  I believe we all have a longing to be a part of something greater - a sense of belonging - a necessary part.  We hope our part makes a difference.  As it pertains to the outcome of our election and who becomes our next Commander in Chief, I hope my part makes a difference.   After all it affects my life.

The best vote I cast was 22 years ago.  There were only two candidates up for election - Jesus and me.  I cast my vote with Jesus and things have never been the same since.  He has radically changed my life.  No one could be a better Commander in Chief.  He turned my life from a kingdom of darkness to a kingdom of light.  My future changed from death and destruction to life and peace.

That one vote brought a sense of belonging to something so much bigger than myself.  I became a part of the Kingdom of God and a part of God’s family - a significant part, a necessary part.

Have you cast your vote yet?  There are really only two choices.  Choose wisely, it will affect everything.

Saturday Morning with My Boys…

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”  Matthew 4:19

Been fishing lately?

Caught anything?

Who are you teaching to fish?

Leading with clarity…

The ability to lead has so much to do with communication.  The lack of clear communication creates confusion and insecurity. 

I recently realized a habit I have that was creating confusion in leadership.  After a conversation with one of my leaders on the phone, my wife pointed out to me that I have a habit in my communication that may be sending unclear signals to those I have expectation of.  It’s a two letter word - “WE.”  In my efforts to make my leaders feel my support and like I’m in it with them, I will say “we” when I should be saying “you.”  For example, “We need to send out a follow up to all the visitors from this past month.” or “We need to set a date for our small groups to begin.”  You get the point.  In doing this I am creating mixed signals.  Does he really trust me?  Does he really expect me to do that?  When I was unaware of this I realized I was frustrated thinking there was something wrong on the part of my leaders, who possibly could not do what was expected or possibly it was a lack of initiative or motivation.  Maybe they didn’t agree and just didn’t want to tell me.  I found that the problem was me and how I was not leading with clarity in how I communicated my expectations.

Man, what a difference one word can make.  We must continually evaluated how we are communicating in leadership or we might find ourselves talking only to look back and find we are only talking to ourselves.

What have you learned about leadership and communication?