They Thanked Me!!

I am inviting people to our Christmas Eve worship. It is a cool
experience that I believe can open the hearts of people to a future of
life differently. I've been praying for certain people and for
openings. My primary focus is my neighborhood and the YMCA where I go
every morning.

Tuesday was my first opportunity. I had a conversation with the gal
who runs the desk at the Y. Asked about her situation and listened to
a difficult season she and here family are in. So, I asked if they
had found a church. After a bit of talk about that I handed her our
invitation and she THANKED me!

Today I invited 2 more people at the Y whom I see regularly, talk to
as we move thru the weights, etc. And... THEY THANKED ME. These are
my friends. No wonder they would accept from me that this is not just
a goal on a board but that I care for them. I do. And as a part of
my care the invitation came because I believe they will experience
something at GraceRiver that is unique and special, the presence of
the Living God.

It is fun to be used by the Lord in these seasons. Everyone of them
has thanked me for caring and inviting. Amazing.

Pleasure and Joy

We are wired for joy. Pleasure is a slice of joy, a thin slice. God
wired our bodies to experience pleasure so clearly pleasure can be a
God-thing. Indeed, Deuteronomy encourages people at times to have God-
centered celebrations with choice food and sweet drinks, pleasure
indeed.

Joy and pleasure are not the same. Joy is a bigger, wider
experience. Pleasure is one dimension of joy. Just one. Joy includes
pleasure but is not limited to it. Joy includes others, serving
others, giving to others, bringing them joy or pleasure, delighting
their hearts.

When we do not have joy we will go looking for it... and typically end
up looking shortsighted for pleasure instead, the quick feel. Joy is
not optional for life. You need joy and it is accessible all around
you for the Lord has woven it into life, into connection with Him and
others. May God give you some joy today.

Emotions and God

Why did God wire you with emotions? Are they bad? Everyone has had
moments when they wish they didn't feel certain feelings, didn't feel
so passionate about... Our emotions can get us into a mess even when
we wish we could ignore them.

But here's the key insight. God wired you for emotions so that you
could be an agent, a conduit of his presence and accomplish his
purpose. Emotions are a gift. Your passion is a gift because it
pushes you from within. You are not cursed but blessed if you feel
big feelings.

However, the final piece of that puzzle, of you being wired with
emotions is your dedication of your emotions to the Lord so that you
feel what He feels rather than having your own anger, your own
pursuits, etc.

Our emotions are conduits for God's purpose and God's presence
(Galatians 5). But if we are not fully given to Him what was wired
for good will become an agent for destruction as our anger and our
passion burns and burns those around us.

You are wired for life but to live that life you must be fully given
over to the Lord. Are you?

Destiny and Doing the Dishes

Some interesting conversations about destiny lately. The good side is
that people long to discover their purpose and destiny. But how?
Where?

What if we were looking at it all wrong? What if destiny wasn't a
place we need to show up to one day but a person we become along the
way? What if who we are would allow God then to move us from place to
place to play the part (destiny) in the moment and then move us to
another place?

Seems like we are looking for a moment that is big and obvious when in
reality our destiny is becoming (as Romans 8:28-19 makes clear).

Moses had no idea that he was living his destiny when he was just
raising kids and paying the bills on the back side of the desert! But
he was. God was shaping him in that moment for his family just as
much as for later. And later those days in the desert that seemed
like a waste would be significant as he led the people through that
very place.

Maybe you are just doing the dishes. Maybe you are paying the bills
and raising kids. But is it possible that in those moments God is
shaping you and that your destiny is who you are not where you are?
And then as you become God will move you into place after place to be
His person there. Keep doing the dishes, you never know what is at
stake.

The Power of Kindness

The power to change the world may be found in kindness. Romans 2 says
the kindness of God turns hearts. Kindness opens the hearts of
people, lowers defenses, stirs interest. Just being kind to others
may be the first step of evangelism and kindness is not a spiritual
gift but a connection of how God moves thru us to the hearts,
histories and lives of others. One act of kindness followed by
another and another shapes the world.

Symbols and Celebrations For Life

We are people of symbols and celebrations. These give meaning, call
us back to that meaning, root us in a new identity that empowers
choices and determination. Without symbols and celebrations life
becomes a series of moments that are disconnected, where we live in
one moment that has no real connection to something deeper as well as
to the next moment.

Symbols and celebrations go hand in hand. The celebration reminds us
of the power of a symbol (think wedding ring or baptism). The
celebration infuses the symbol with meaning that can alter the rest of
the day and the rest of life.

Of course symbols can become flat and the celebration just another
meal. The symbol and the celebration is a calling to our roots but we
must go there, emotionally and willfully. If we fully engage in the
symbol and celebration the world opens to us once again, and we are
changed.

Symbols and celebrations give us roots which is emotional power,
activates the will and shapes life. The symbol, if reflected upon,
gives us a sense of identity, determination along with awe and
wonder. Seeing someone else experience God in baptism can empower me
to live fully obedient, fully committed. Seeing someone else in
baptism can remind me of my grace-filled acceptance by Jesus. And
that shapes the rest of my life.

We need celebrations and symbols. If we celebrate the moment, not
just have a party but celebrate the specific moment, the world of
God's love and presence opens to us again. If we reflect on the
symbol, as in a wedding ring, our joy in our chosen one is fanned into
a flame again.

We need symbols and celebrations. Just another party isn't good
enough. We need a real celebration!

A New Community

We are wired for relationships. That wiring goes back to our image of
God creation. So wired in fact that we pursue them online if they are
not available in the flesh. Online, it might seem, is safer, more
accepting. But is it? In "You are Not a Gadget" the author says we
all have a troll inside (read, we are fallen and sinful) that comes
out. ONline communities do bash, they do reject, they do hurt and
have powerful influence. In 2008 Korean movie star Choi Jin-sil, some
described her as the nations movie star, committed suicide. Why? She
was hounded by online trolls. ONLINE!!!

She is not the only one hurt by online. Far from it. Online has a
sense of anonymity but that is not safe, just distant. What we long
for is a new community, one where acceptance is given, forgiveness
releases and joy is abundant. Can't find that online necessarily.
That new community is found whenever and wherever we live out the Word
of God. Wonder if we could create a new community in the Innovation
Way of Orlando? If we began with acceptance, forgiveness, the
willingness to listen to understand would that not open ears and
eyes... and hope?

Faith

What is faith anyway? Is it determination? Passion? When Jesus said
we only need a bit of faith why did he say that when so many challenge
our lack of faith? Or could the answer be that faith is our
connection to God's majesty? Maybe what we need isn't great faith but
faith in a great God! Maybe that was Jesus point, that as we walk
with God our faith grows and just a bit of faith in a big God opens
the world while big faith in an idol (not a god) has no effect for the
idol has no power.

For Not Against

Acts 19 the disciples are in hot water as the craftsmen who make the
image of the god Artemis realize their craft is at risk if more people
turn toward the Lord. What is cool is that in Acts 19:37 the city
clerk acknowledges that the disciples have not blasphemed, spoken down
on, Artemis.

Are we for or against? Sure we can be both but being for is a
positive call. Being against is negative and brings up the defenses
of others, creating a culture of antagonism. Wonder what it would be
like if we were known as being for...Christ, families, health,
holiness, serving those in need, etc? Surely being for is much more
attractive than being against!

Decisions

Decisions show the shape our of soul. We make decisions out of our
values! The wonderful truth is that we can also repent so that we are
making decisions that shape our soul. To make decisions based on
truth, righteousness, relationships all shape our soul for today and
forever.

Recruitment

Recruitment is about magnetism. Magnetism of the leader is a positive
but that is personality centered. Magnetism to a service (ministry)
is found in other ways, as well. Relationships is a magnet. People
like serving with those they enjoy being around. The laughter, the
joint accomplishment both add value to the moment. Vision is
another. Vision is fuel to move forward, to sacrifice and serve.
When the vision is hot (not just spoken of but lived out and seen) the
magnetism of the area increases. Having a vested interest is another
magnet. Parents of kids that have special need are highly motivated
by their awareness. So, how can we raise awareness and tap into that
part of other's heart? Experiencing a thank you goes along way to
holding volunteers. Being recognized is a positive affirmation that
we are making a difference and that puts fuel in our hearts. Everyone
faces obstacles in recruitment. Great leaders figure out a way to
increase the magnetic draw to their areas by taping into the
volunteers passion, heart, drives and desires. Great leaders are
grateful to the volunteers. Great leaders do more than "cast vision"
they create a hope that the vision is being experienced one step at a
time.

Rules of Engagment

How does a leader stay on mission when:
-they are resisted regularly?
-they are abused?
-they want to quit?

It is a challenge for leaders to live the rules of engagement
spiritually. Those rules?
-Stay on mission at all times
-Never allow conflict to become personal for that takes us off mission
-Keep your heart strong so that when the resistance is strong your
passion can carry you through

Leaders often give up when the resistance is long and strong. Long
and strong is wearing on the heart and steals the vision.

Leaders often unknowingly give up when their anger is captured by
another battle and they inadvertently leave the mission.

Stay on track. Live the rules of engagement so that you can complete
the mission. That means keeping your knees on the ground in prayer,
keeping your heart clean and filling up on the Spirit of God so that
you can live the verse, "Keep in step with the Spirit" of Galatians 5.

Listening Longer

Listening is hard work, especially when we feel like we already know
the facts, know the excuses, know what the other will say. It is hard
work, too, when we are emotionally charged. Listening longer is a
matter of leaving whatever is going on in us, defensiveness, fear,
anger, etc and entering the content of the conversation without
judgment on our part. That kind of listening is deliberately choosing
to calm our emotions down, deliberately refusing to give expression to
our thoughts and even questioning our own thoughts. That kind of
listening is often done by questions but, again, those questions need
to be open ended. Questions can be disguised accusations or methods
of stating our perspective. Open ended questions have no assumed
answer. Open ended questions keep our minds and hearts responsive to
the information now at hand (new or restated information). Open ended
questions are attempts not to lead nor to box in another but simply to
understand what they see, feel, think, etc. Open ended questions
might be, "Help me understand what this was/ what you were thinking/
what you meant/ how you understood what I said." Open ended questions
must begin with an open heart which opens the mind for even an open
ended question, when it is laced with intonation that accuses,
challenges or pushes back is not open.

Energy

Encourage one another the scripture says. That can take the shape of
words spoken one person to another that the one believes in the
other. But encouragement is available in other shapes and forms.
Another's passion can breathe life into yours. Another's hope can
remind you of yours.

I just had a meeting with some cool people who simply because of their
passion and energy energized me. Amazing how the Lord has so many
ways to bring that pizzaz back into our step, that hope that keeps our
feet moving, that sparkle in our eyes.

Changing Values

Dallas Willard in his book, Renovation of the Heart suggests that the
deepest changes occur when:
-people are given vision of what can be
-people themselves have intention- they want the difference
-people have the means (they know how, the steps to take)

A part of GraceRiver is casting vision of what life could be like when
God is clearly involved, when His hands are active in our lives, when
we hear from Him, see Him, live out of our time with Him. That is
vision of life that is extraordinary, not the blase' mundane of going
thru the motions, but a world alive with hope and possibilities. That
is the story of scripture, that God is alive and well and fills the
world with His presence and purpose.

Then people have to choose. They must activate their will and form
habits that bring that world into reality. Habits like worship,
scripture reading, meeting with others, serving all work together to
form us. But... this begins in us with a choice.

And then means. How? That is the role of a church to do more than
cast vision of what might be and TELL how but to create patterns that
people can choose (#2) that shape us according to the vision (#1). As
I work with church leaders it seems that this is where we often miss
it. We get the vision cast. We know people must choose. But we have
missed that for people to move and become WE must form the means, the
patterns and the habits. We must create opportunities within our
organization for people who have the intention (#2) to have the means
(#3) and therefore grow! When an organization creates means on a
regular basis and cast vision for those means, the culture changes.
People "get it" and over time, it gets them. Simple things like
friend day, serving projects, an evening of prayer take the vision of
a kingdom life and put it into everyday experience. And that is when
the Kingdom of God expands, not with the vision, but when the vision
is joined with intention in repeated moments of means (habits).

Leading From Anywhere

We had a great celebration yesterday of Easter. I marveled at our
band and watched as each member "led" at the right moment. Leadership
is so far from having a position. It is more about being in position
and then being so passionate at your position that you lead. Our band
leader led incredibly well, he plays lead and held the dream of what
the music could be like when synergy ruled the day. He led. So did
our drummer. He led with beat, transitioned us into the next moment,
helped us to experience highs and lows. His beat led. So did our
bass player. His talent is amazing. He used the pedal to shape the
sound and filled in the holes so that we could follow the music to a
high moment. He led and he led well. As did our acoustic. At times
the band droped out and we were all following him and we ended up at
just the right place, in the presence of God. And our volcalists
led. Their pitch was right on and their energy and joy was an open
door to move from wherever we had come to the place where we
experienced God was real.

They all led... with passion and direction. They all led from their
instrument, voice, bass, guitar, drums. They all led from their
heart, with vision of what could happen if they led and we followed.

You can lead, too. From the margins, in the second or third row, from
the back. You can lead. You just need passion to bring your
instrument to the party and the willingness to create synergy with
others around you. You can lead and we will follow... and end up
somewhere pretty special. You can lead. Will you?

No One Is Marginal

Sometimes I wonder why God has put certain stories in the Bible.
Genesis 38 is one of those. It seems to have no connection to the
movement of the key characters so why did God insist on it? It is
full of odd customs and God puts 2 men to death!!! And the father-in-
law watches his 2 sons die and then makes some decisions about his
daughter in law. Odd story to be sure.

I suppose our stories are odd as well. We may live thinking we are
not a part of the main plot (the main characters of Joseph, Isaac,
Abraham, Paul in the Bible) and yet God is there, too, watching and
moving and acting. The margins may be where most of us feel we live
and yet are there margins? Are there margins that only get a glimpse
of God's sight upon occasion?

If so, the decisions I make, the promises I break or keep don't matter
much. But this story says otherwise. God is at work in the margins.
To have promises broken, to be considered the problem and pushed out
of sight (as Tamar was) is not to be removed from the vision of the
Lord. Those little acts of faithfulness alter the world.

None of us live on the margins, though it may seem to be so. Our
supposed margins are the places the world is made or lost and always
the Lord is sovereign, there, bigger than any person's decision to act
or not act faithfully. He sees! He knows! He is God over all! So
be it.

One Thing

Interesting conversation with Sheila last night. Where she works the
boss looks primarily at one number, patient satisfaction. That number
drives everything. When it is up, parties are thrown, managers are
celebrated in front of their peers. Everyone gets that one thing is
the "only thing". When a complaint comes it gets immediate attention
and resolve. Customer satisfaction drives everything.

What's the one factor in a church? What is the one thing the leader
wants everyone to know, do, focus on? How is that known by the
members? Are celebrations thrown? When the one thing misses is
everyone determined to get it right? What would it be like if
everyone in the body was passionate about one thing (making
disciples?) and THAT was our only focus?

I am determined to be focused more on our vision, on helping people
get the one thing and live that out. Then and only then will we be
the heart of our community, taking God's life to our community.

How God Moves

Genesis 31 Jacob has to move. Success brings many possibilities but
also can stir hard feelings and eventually divide people. For Jacob
the picture could have created hard feelings on his end. Yet, the
Lord is always at work. What if the Lord used Jacob's success to move
him back home, to the land promised? What if that would be better for
him and his family?

I wonder if I could somehow see past the frustrations with another
person and look for the hand of God working in my life? Wouldn't that
fed my heart joy instead of anger? Wouldn't that release in me hope
instead of feeling like someone else messed things up for me?

Seeing God's power, majesty and sovereignty is perhaps the key to
healing most every human hurt. The Lord lives. Blessed be the name
of the Lord.