GraceRiver Church

Information May Not Be Power Enough

2011-12-02T19:45:00.001-05:00

Information is power…but information alone often does not bring deep enough change. That is why James challenges us to be doers of the word and not just those who hear it. That is why discipleship is more than knowledge. Even Paul acknowledged that knowledge can lead to a big head and not necessarily a big heart!

Paul and Barnabas

2011-11-25T07:04:00.001-05:00

Even Christian leaders differ. Paul and Barnabas had a major difference in Acts and went different directions. I wonder if one of them thought the other was less spiritual? That is often the tag we place on differences, that one side is more spiritual than the other.

Differences are often a result of more style than obedience! Some football and basketball coaches are in the face of their athletes. Others are not. Who is better? Which one is coaching? Who would you prefer to play for? Caution here, both styles are winners!

Deeper still is the difference between Greek and Hebrew thought. Greeks were logical in their thinking, thus the logical letters of Paul as is Romans. But Jesus taught in stories, the Prodigal son, the wheat and the tares, the Good Samaritan. Who was more spiritually mature, Jesus or Paul? Jesus was straight and in the face of some… the Pharisees who claimed spirituality but weren't. To the woman caught in adultery he was forgiving and instructed her to go and sin no more. Truth with forgiveness!

We skew differences when we use tags like "spiritual" or "mature" when they may very well be stylistic differences. The beauty of the Lord of history is that He has intentionally included all types of writing styles in the scripture. And all of the Bible is scripture, the prose and the line by line.

You will have differences with others who follow Jesus. But the caution is to not place a tag of spirituality when the difference may be a preference!

Leave Tension On The Table

2011-11-25T06:49:00.001-05:00

Human nature is to remove tension in relationships. And leaders are human… But tension is a friend! Tension can surface deeper differences, unsaid and even unknown perspectives. Tension keeps issues on the table. To remove the tension does not remove the issues but mostly shoots them underground to surface at a more damaging time and often incognito.

Tension removed is not tension resolved. Leaders have to learn to live with the dissonance and to use it as a conveyer to the future. Leaders have to learn how to stay in the moment, not lose their cool, stay passionate and focused and resist the human nature to remove the tension but to keep it on the table until it is resolved. That is a challenging skill to learn but essential for leaders, especially spiritual leaders!

God of Heaven?

2011-11-18T07:38:00.000-05:00

In the Old Testament the people (Israelites and the world) often understood the gods to have jurisdiction, god of the mountains or god of the valleys. From that the reasoning would be to try to fight a battle in the locale where their gods reigned. And if you left that place… you would be beyond the scope of your god.

Wonder if I live that, we live that now millennia later? Is God the God of heaven? The God of eternal life but not the God of heaven and earth? If God is the God of heaven and earth wouldn't that mean I could trust him with the earthy stuff like money, relationships, jobs, disease, et? When I am unwilling to go out on a limb and give I am living the limitation "God of heaven". When I face my stress and go through it alone, mostly without really getting with the Father, listening and obeying I am living "God of heaven". When my mountain seems so far out of my ability I am living "God of heaven". But the Word declares it differently, God of heaven and earth, God of life and death, God of resources (my provider), God of health (my healer)!

Today I want to live in my stress a bit differently, God of heaven and earth! God of my earthy portion, my world and the whole world. Today I live the joy of the omnipotent, omnipresence of the real God, God of heaven and earth!!!

Highlights

2011-11-16T08:04:00.001-05:00

I have many highlights of my work week. One is the group of guys who meet on Saturday to learn leadership. Our study of the leadership of Jesus moves us all to be men of faith and obedience. We are afraid to miss, afraid of what we will miss. It is amazing an amazing word with amazing guys.

Another is our small group that meets on Tuesdays. We laugh and love and learn from the Master. We are a community of faith reminding each other of the love and ways of the Father and of the covering of Jesus blood. They stir my faith and cause me to worship. I suppose we have at times those who cause us to curse (smile here) with their harsh treatment, critical spirit, rudeness. These people lead me to worship. I lead the group but the group moves me back to my God.

These two groups are essential to my life, my faith, my joy and my awareness of God. I am thankful for them and the others in my life who do the same. Yes, thankful to be sure!!

Limiting our Leaders

2011-10-31T09:01:00.001-04:00

I was in a recent leaders gathering when one leader spoke of being in a season of heightened criticism. Another leader brought up the scripture of Jesus in Mark 6, how Jesus was not able to do miracles because of the people's lack of faith. The connection stunned me! I had always read this as my faith and Jesus. This leader was pointing to the power of faith or criticism in human leaders. When we believe in our leaders we encourage them and they fly higher. When we are discouraging they do less! And the bad word is they do less because of my criticism! Maybe the gift of encouragement is a big deal after all. Maybe our faith in the spiritual leaders we have been given opens or closes the future for many others. When you are in a culture of faith, of those who see God moving in you and believe in you it is easier to believe in yourself. On the other hand, in a culture of criticism you will likely (at least eventually) believe the critic and begin to doubt yourself and the God who lives within you.

The result is the culture of criticism can ruin the move of God through a leader to bless the very people who are criticizing! The people criticized Jesus, "Just a carpenter's son! We know too much about this guy to believe in him." And as a result, their friends and family were left in their diseases, the people could not open their ears to the Kingdom of God, and they were stuck. Makes me wonder how powerful criticism really can be… not just limiting the life of the leader but the lives of those who do criticize!

Fitting in or Standing Out?

2011-10-12T09:34:00.001-04:00

Isaiah 6 shakes me to the bone. Isaiah sees the holiness of God,
something we want people at our church to experience and from that
senses his own unholiness. Isaiah was already a prophet, likely one
who had a desire for the heart of God. But when he sees the Lord he
sees himself. That is the only way we really see ourselves is when we
see the Lord. Seeing the Lord gives us perspective about our sin but
also about our calling.

Isaiah was a man of God. But then he confesses his sin, a man of
unclean lips. Makes me wonder if he was fitting in to the culture,
using language others used, making decisions others made, fitting in.
The culture is powerful in that it shapes how we perceive right and
wrong. Erosion happens slowly, nearly unnoticed. How do I fit in?
The Lord calls me to stand out but do I? Really? Some of us try to
fit in too much. We go to the same places and do the same things all
in an attempt to relate. But is it really that motive? What is the
line of language that the scripture would warn us against? What is
the line of alcohol or other cultural acceptable behaviors?

Isaiah 6 shakes me to the bone, shakes the foundations of life. The
Lord is holy. Am I?

Where to Find Nourishment and Rest

2011-10-04T08:15:00.001-04:00

Leaders do get tired. Especially in stressful times when they see the
need to extend and stretch beyond their normal capacity, exhaustion
follows. From the patterns of Jesus it is obvious that we must take
responsibility for our own rest. The tasks and the people will come,
endlessly. It's up to the leader to choose to live in the calling and
understand when the Father is calling him or her away for a season of
rest. Things like rest, food, prayer and the Word are essentials for
the journey into a destiny.

John 4 Jesus points to another place of nourishment. It is a bit
surprising, really, when we are exhausted. Serving and giving!
Really? John 4 Jesus is tired. Tired physically and likely
emotionally. But a woman comes to the well and he engages her. The
conversation is intriguing to her and he leads her to a moment of
faith and decision. And here, when he is worn out he comes alive. I
know, to speak of Jesus coming alive is a bit odd. His heart and soul
come alive in the ministry of the moment. The Spirit flows and the
Father is engaged and the Son of God is alive with vision and hope. A
whole town is about to come to eternal life and he is pumped!
Imagine, Jesus pumped!!! How cool is that! When the disciples return
they urge him to eat but he is fired up, maybe too fired up to eat.
His words, "I have food to eat you no nothing about." Then he
explains. Fulfilling the mission of the Father energizes him. The
flow of the Spirit, the impact of the ministry fuels his heart and
nourishes him. If you have ever been used by the Lord significantly
you will know this experience. Just when you are worn out the
Spirit's filling moves in you and you are far from tired. You are
pumped!

The other factors are critical to long term ministry, proper rest,
study, prayer, people (community) and vision. But when those converge
in a moment and we are used by the Father, tired is far from our
hearts and minds. Amazing, really, that serving others can bring us
back to life, fill our hearts with hope and vision as we are filled by
the Father for His use. But then again that is when we are most alive!

Leadership of Jesus

2011-09-30T07:14:00.001-04:00

I meet with few guys to study the leadership of Jesus and it is
fascinating. This past week we looked at how Jesus led under stress.
Leaders all always leading even when they are lost in their own
stuff. This session was power packed and I think altered the way we
will lead through stress and how we will prepare for it. One of the
key factors for leaders is to make sure the patterns of holiness are
established before the hot moment, patterns of community, prayer,
scripture, worship, giving, serving. As Jesus was about to have the
worst day of his life the scripture says he went to the Mount of
Olives as was his custom. His custom, connecting with the God of the
universe, experiencing the Father's love and re-entering the mission
are key factors for any leader. Stressful times are going to come but
our customs, our patterns can be the source of nourishment in the
middle of "it". Thanks to the guys who are taking this journey with
me, paying the price and developing the heart of a lion, after the
Lion of Judah!!!

Getting Ready

2011-09-28T08:51:00.001-04:00

I was about 10 years old and we were at a professional baseball game!
Life was good. My dad told me to wear my ball glove (we were in the
foul ball section) and be ready. Inning after inning passed and
nothing close. I took it off. As you guessed, the next inning the
foul ball came whizzing by my seat... and went on. I wasn't ready. I
missed the chance. Jesus warns us to be ready for his coming.
Abraham Lincoln said when he lost an election, "I'll go ahead and get
ready and maybe my time will come."

When I survey the people who are most used by the Lord the pattern is
always there. They go ahead and get ready, under the radar, when no
one cares to look. Timothy becomes a key player in the New Testament,
as does Barnabas. Both have a history of getting ready. Of Timothy
the Bible says he was a disciple before Paul came to town. He was
getting ready for the ride of his life but didn't know it. Barnabas
first appears on the scene not with Paul but back among the disciples
when he sells and gives property. Back then the disciples renamed
him, son of encouragement! He was getting ready for a world wide
ministry back when he was expressing encouragement, sacrificing for
others.

Getting ready is a belief in the Lord's destiny. Getting ready is
working when it seems to be beyond possibility. Getting ready is
conducting our lives in a pattern that unknowingly opens the future.
We are all getting ready for something. At 10 I was ready to learn a
lesson, the ball only comes this way once in a while, be ready. So,
at my age I am still getting ready for a cool future in the Lord.

Comfort and Commiserating

2011-09-24T08:57:00.001-04:00

Those two are different. In seasons of stress and pain we do need
comfort. What we don't need is commiserating. Comfort is God's care
for me. That can be expressed by Him in prayer or through another
person. Comfort is healing and says I am valuable and have worth
(often opposite of what we experienced in the pain). Commiserating
can different... and often multiplies our anguish. Although the
definitions are mostly synonymous how we understand commiserating can
exasperate the problem is the hurt is relational. Comfort is about
me. Commiserating, as I have experienced it and viewed it, is often
about the ones who did the hurt. Comfort is God's salve to move me
out of being stuck. Commiserating is often us ragging on others and
in that we stay stuck. As long as the problem, hurt, etc is about
another I am not responsible nor am I moving forward. As it has been
said, we cannot control what is done to us only our response. When I
am being comforted or comforting another the focus is on the person
and their hurt, not the ones who caused the hurt. That subtle shift
in focus is the difference in moving forward and staying stuck, in
responding to pain in holiness and ending up in gossip. Commiserating
may feel powerful but in the end it keeps us stuck. Comfort is the
path to the future.

The People You Will Need

2011-09-23T09:18:00.001-04:00

Someone has said to pay attention to the people God brings across your
path, they are important to your future. As I look back I can see
several moments when a person intersected my life and eventually
became a key to my future in ways I could never have imagined. In the
in's and out's of life, the daily moves and travels the Lord is at
work and is forming our future. Acts 15 Silas is sent back with Paul
and Barnabas to answer a key question for the early church. Silas was
to bear witness to the word. But... eventually Silas becomes a team
member of Paul. What appears to be a momentary accompaniment (and
Paul could have questioned if that was necessary) opens the future for
both of them. Could it be that the very people who appear to be just
along for the ride hold our future? How would we respond to those God
is using to open the future for us if we realized today they would be
significant tomorrow? And on the other side, who is Lord intersecting
our lives with for their benefit? Eyes wide open my friends, the Lord
is at work!!!

The Word of Others or the Word of God?

2011-09-23T09:08:00.000-04:00

Last night the Lord came to me in some of my concerns and anxiety. It
was not the biggest word, more like the quiet voice. Today as I
prayed the Lord told me to "give that word weight." We all get to
choose whom to listen to. We need to hear others for sure, and often
the Lord comes through them to us. The word last night was more of a
whisper and I wondered today if even it was a word until... until the
Lord confirmed it by telling me to give it weight. What does that
look like, to give the word of the Lord weight? This is what He said
to me, "Think about it more than the words of others or the worries
you have. Focus on it, bring it back to mind, mull it over. Don't
allow the enemy to steal it (Jesus words in Mark 4 of the Bible) nor
allow it to get choked by your concerns. Take it deep into your
consciousness and allow it to have power and to create in you a new
world. The word of God speaks and worlds are created, chaos is made
into something beautiful.

It is amazing when the Lord speaks. Now it is up to me to give it
weight.

Community

2011-09-23T08:23:00.001-04:00

In a series on Paul's life at GraceRiver. This Sunday we look at two
essential relationships Paul has, Ananias and Barnabas, acceptance and
encouragement. Acceptance is more difficult than acknowledged. It is
about choosing not to focus on a person's past but on their
possibilities in Christ. That is easy when we have had no engagement
with them. But when we "have heard about them" or have had bad
experiences with them acceptance is the last thing we want to offer.
Acceptance can begin simply with a greeting, a handshake, eye
contact. It is amazing how deeply that opens the hearts of others,
how that communicates their value and importance in the eyes of the
Lord. I'm hoping to give a lot of acceptance today and be an
extension of grace!

Your History or Our History?

2011-09-17T10:05:00.001-04:00

We are so amazingly made (fearfully and wonderfully the scripture
says). One of the choices we have to make is to not take the past
into the future lest we recreate the past all over again. Here's a
for instance. One person says to another, "My history reminds me
to... tells me that... etc. Did you catch it? That was their history,
personal history not a shared history. Shared history treats me with
a new beginning and doesn't carry the old story over to a new
relationship. And if we want a new shared history we make that
together and that requires both of us working to not allow the past to
have power over the present and the future. We've all been hurt, all
been in situations we were disappointed in. But is that the story we
want now? Really? Wondering if we could find a way to form a shared
history based on trust and giving the benefit of the doubt so that
your history and my history doesn't shape the future. Learn from the
history yes. Recreate it? I'll pass.

Joy!

2011-09-16T09:35:00.001-04:00

Interesting word in Acts 14:17 Paul says that God has left us
witnesses, indications of His presence and love written into the world
as we know it that call us to a world beyond. Rain, food in the
seasons... and joy. JOY! Joy is a gift from the Lord and a calling
to another world where the Lord is real and reigns and where what
happens to us is not as powerful as what happens inside of us. How
amazing is that? It would seem joy is an after thought, a result of
rain and crops (good food). But... joy is a gift in and of itself.

Whenever we experience joy we taste again the Kingdom of God.
Creating joy moments for others does give them a glimpse of what it
might be like for them to have a real relationship with the God of
heaven and earth, the God who gives the food that is a part of our
joy. Anytime we experience joy it is a gift of heaven to us. So
maybe when I eat that food that is bad for me I now have something
else to say about it. It gives me joy and brings my heart back to
God. In truth every meal is like that, a moment to get ahold again of
God's gift and provision. But today when I eat the bad stuff I will
be joyful... to my Lord!

Impending Death

2011-08-09T07:20:00.000-04:00

Lost a college friend Sunday. Steve was one of the kindest people
I've ever met. Haven't seen he or Bobbi since college but I can't
imagine the loss and pain she has now.

Seasons of life keep moving. I've watched myself and those who are in
the same age/ stage speak a lot about getting older. We look older,
feel older, make decisions like older people. But the new reality is
death. More of us are moving off the face of the earth.

More than ever I am aware of my death. One day the doctor will
pronounce the "C" word or somehow the day will appear on the horizon.
Getting older is one thing. Facing death is another. Facing death is
about eternity, facing the Lord. Getting older shapes decisions but
facing death goes deeper. Facing death is about wondering if my
family will be okay? Facing death stirs me to think about how I am
using my time and money and energy. Facing death I realize what I
thought was so important may not have been. Guess that's what Tim
Mcgraw reflected on in the song "Live Like You Were Dying".

I don't hear many talk about impending death. And only Jesus has come
back. But that is the hope, Jesus, forgiveness, eternity. Everyone
knows they are going to die but at least for me, for the first time, I
know it is true, sad but true. Eternity awaits, opened by the blood
of the savior and for that I am thankful. So my heart feels weird but
my mind reaches for scripture and the promises of God. The Lord lives!

Respect

2011-08-08T08:43:00.000-04:00

Respect may be the first key to open the eyes of those far from God to
the wonder of the Lord. Respect comes as we live rightly, care about
others, make decisions in the way of the Lord. Disrespect distances
others from the God I serve. Small things like tipping the wait
staff, kindness in opening a door, choosing to be pleasant paves the
way for further questions and allows the Spirit to invoke questions in
the heart of others, questions like, "Why would that person do that
for me? What makes them different?"

2 of the most challenging places to earn respect are the home and
work. No wonder, the people in those places see us more often and
less guarded. They see what gets to us, what drives us, what we will
or will not engage in, talk about, etc. They see how we make choices
and why. They listen to how we talk about others.

Without respect the bridge to God is a bridge too far. Respect is
hard earned and quickly lost. I hope to do better here.

Sensitive Leadership

2011-05-18T08:07:00.001-04:00

Sensitivity is a key factor in leadership. Spiritual leadership would
have a clear call to be sensitive to the Spirit. But, every leader
needs to be sensitive to the moment, sensitive to the movements,
sensitive to the goings on in the lives of the people. This is a part
of EQ (EQ 2.0 is a great book here).

Sensitivity can direct us in the moment when we observe the responses
of people, physical and emotional responses. The observant leader
sees the people responding and if the response is the desired one,
knows when to keep pressing and when to quit pressing. If we press to
long as leaders we de-sensitize our people for they will naturally put
up walls and self protect just when we need them to be more vulnerable.

The de-sensitized leader can be so wrapped up in the moment (as a
speaker or board leader) that they are clueless to the room and
therefore miss the moment. The question is hard but clear. Is it
more important that we feel the buzz of the moment when we have the
floor or that the person or people move in the desired direction? Is
it about me or them? When my sensitivity factor is down because the
adrenaline is flowing and the moment is happening God may be working
but I am out of touch and can actually hinder the movement of God!!

What can blind us is our thinking we know, thinking we are good at
something so we excuse our missing the moment. Developing sensitivity
is done by acknowledging every time we have not been sensitive until
our heart and mind hears our mouth say it so much it becomes a quicker
thought. Becoming a sensitive leader is about governing our own inner
world so that our inner world doesn't take hostage the outer world of
others. Becoming a sensitive leader is about Galatians 5, keeping in
step with the Spirit so that we can be used by the Lord, used beyond
our own wisdom and skills, used to do a far greater work. Sensitive
leadership is always monitoring the room, the responses, the stimuli
to know how to lead from one moment to the next.

Sensitive leadership reads the room, the emotions, the culture, the
body language and leads appropriately. De-sensitized leadership
misses the moment. Caught in their own inner excitement a desensitized
leader may control the moment but is unaware of the real thoughts,
responses, reactions of people. De-sensitized leaders may do some
monitoring of the room, but mostly only connecting to those with them
and only picking up the clues of those who are into them.

It's a battle to be sure. But are we aware of when we are captured by
our emotion so that we miss the moment for others?

Vision or Bias

2011-05-18T07:45:00.001-04:00

Some people say they have a vision but what they really have is a
bias. Vision is more than a bias, a preferred way of worship, a
preferred way of doing church, etc. I've been thinking of some
differences:
1) Bias has more to do with MY ideas and understandings. Vision is
more about others than me
2) Bias can often be driven by MY gifts and preferences. Vision is
more about a future that can and should look different.
3) Bias is MY style of worship, what I have seen work, etc. Vision
may flow from my experiences but big vision always includes others.
4) Bias has ME as the center picture. Vision is not as concerned with
me in the picture but visions others.
5) In bias I measure how do I think "it" (the experience) went. With
vision my biggest concern is others, what they experienced or didn't
experience but should have.

Bias is something we all have, preferred styles of music, patterns of
life, etc. Vision moves us past bias to the world of others and the
possibilities for others.

Vision or bias?

Pressure and Perspective

2011-05-10T14:01:00.001-04:00

When we are under pressure / stress one of the "loses" is our
perspective. We must have time away to think and pray to regain
perspective so that we lead well and strategically (lead our family,
lead a church, lead ourselves, etc).

Leadership Values

2011-05-02T09:39:00.000-04:00

Every leader has values. Known or unknown, spoken or unspoken those
values are there and they are HUGE to how the leader leads. If the
value is fear the culture around that leader will be one of threats,
fear, insecurity, etc. If the value is control, the org will be micro
managed. If the value is high trust, delegation and teamwork will
expand. Leaders must think and rethink their values.

But even that is not enough. Leaders must diagnose their behaviors,
decisions, actions and non-actions to discover what might be a hidden
value and then to reflect on the implications of that value. If it is
an unwanted value the beginning step is to know that this value (as in
my insecurity and my need to always prove myself) plays big and take
steps to do deeper reflection about the decision at hand and to set up
boundaries to neutralize that value.

Leaders and Conflict

2011-04-09T21:12:00.001-04:00

Thinking more of conflict being a door to the future. Funny, leaders
can view conflict as a wall and a person with whom they feel in
conflict as the keeper of that wall when in truth what looks like a
wall might be a door to the future. Wonder how that would alter how
we view the people with whom we are conflicted?

Jesus on Leadership

2011-04-09T08:28:00.001-04:00

Luke 22:24-26 Jesus says leadership is a trust given for others.
Servant leadership is not the leader doing the lowest jobs but leading
for the good of the organization, serving a bigger mission, a larger
group. We are given leadership not for ourselves but for others.

Leadership

2011-04-09T08:26:00.000-04:00

A key test of leadership is the use of power. Will we use it for
ourselves or for the good of others and the vision? Power is a trust
given to a leader and the leader must use power but the power must be
visional power, power connected to the trust of leadership.

Conflict

2011-04-07T15:14:00.000-04:00

What if conflict was a door to the future? What if conflict was an
opening to become different, to reshape us personally or
organizationally as happened in the conflict of Acts 6? We would
never desire conflict but maybe we could welcome it a bit more easily.

I Caused the Earthquakes in Japan

2011-03-23T08:45:00.001-04:00

The recent earthquakes in Japan create uneasiness in my life. The
world is unstable or so it seems. And upon occasion I hear others ask
why is the world out of sync? Why doesn't God do something? Why the
starving, the victims of... ?

The Bible tells a different story if we chose to hear it. It is a
story that makes sense and gives us hope but to hear it we must be
willing to lay down our limited views and narrow thinking and enter
that story. Here it is:
1) God created the world and it was good (Genesis 1).
2) God enjoyed people and people enjoyed God. We are the crowing
creation. To be human is not to err, it is to be made in the image of
God. Being human is a good thing!
3)With sin the world was put out of sync (Genesis 3). Snakes became
crawlers, marriage was messed up and weeds entered the world! I get
it! Adam messed up my lawn! It's his fault.
4)When sin entered the world (creation) got out of sync and has been
out of sync. Everything was marred. Everything! The world has been
existing out of sync since Genesis 3.
5)I may think that still God could change it and in fact He is. Just
not the way we would do it.
6)It might even occur to me that God should change it, put it back.
But the problem is that not only has Adam sinned and got everything
out of sync I have as well. So my life has contributed to this out of
sync world. One scholar responded to an editorial, What is wrong with
the world?" He wrote back, "I am!"
7)So what is wrong with the world and what happened? We did. We
happened and that messed it up.
8)God is about making it right but instead of beginning again with a
creation I could get off sync again He is beginning with me! And
you! Our sin messed it up but His righteousness in me is the critical
turn. As Romans 8:19-20 says, creation has been groaning for a new
start (our revelation as sons of God).

We caused the earthquakes. We did. But thru His grace we can be the
healers of many in crisis. Through his making us whole we can become
people who move in righteousness and move toward the broken world and
begin the restoring to wholeness.

We happened to the world. But He happened to us. And now we can
happen to the world again, only this time thru His power and wisdom.
And we can restore the world because we have been restored first. We
happened. But He happened. What a cool story!

Theology and History

2011-03-23T08:29:00.001-04:00

I am intrigued as I read through the Bible, especially I and II Kings
(like II Kings 17:7). History seems to flow as we always have known
it. Nations fight, people are captured, and on and on. But the Bible
has a different take. History moves at the moving of the Lord.
Nations fight and people are captured. But all of this is simply
plays into the promises and warnings of the Lord. God is moving and
acting even in history.

To be living in the time of II Kings would mean I would have been
captured, deported, confused. I would have wondered where God is, why
this is happening, etc. But likely I would not have realized that my
sin brought this about, mine and many others.

History is not free flow and left to the whims of even the most
powerful. They always play to the hand of God. Always! History moves
us toward the realization of God's kingdom and in the process reveals
to us more of what that Kingdom must be like.

That doesn't mean that I can just allow everyone and anyone to condemn
me attaching a painful time to sin. It does mean that God's Kingdom
has come and all of the pieces of life that seem out of control and in
the hands of the powers that be are not. He is in control and is
working His plan. Though it may be hard to see in the moment, God is
in control and the world is not just happening. Behind history we
will find the hand of God taking even the battle over power, even
abuse, even hurtful things and working them toward an end. He is the
God of history.

One Act Of Kindness

2011-02-14T09:40:00.001-05:00

II Kings 6 is an intriguing story. Battle lines are drawn and a
moment comes when the enemy is placed into the hands of the other
side. What to do then? Kill them? It is hard to not respond when we
have been hurt, threatened, accused, cut off, etc. Our human nature
is to strike back. But the striking back typically heightens the
battle. I am hit so I hit and they you hit and then... One act of
aggression typically leads to another. Amazing how we live out that
story.

But what if an act of aggression is met with an act of kindness? Can
it be that one act, one small act can turn a war into a season of
peace? Can one act of power bring us back to our sanity? Can one act
of kindness actually shape the lives of hundreds and thousands of
people connected to us at a distance? Could our one act turn a city?

Does here in II Kings. If your children's future was involved would
you extend kindness when you want to strike back? If your neighbor's
lives depended upon your response could you find a way to extend one
act of kindness and turn aggression into hope? Just one act. Just
one. YOURS!

How To Change the World

2011-01-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

> We are so into finding our purpose and place in the world that we
> have missed the point!!! What if our changing the world "purpose"
> had more to do with our character than our skills or hands? What if
> it was more about who we are rather than what we do? Think about
> that! Who we are is harder than having skills and talents.
> Learning to steward those is more significant than having them!
> Your purpose is not some activities even if they are ministry
> activities. Your purpose is to be a wholly developed into the image
> of Christ. Then what you do will have world impact even if it is a
> small job in a small out of the way place.

They Thanked Me!!

2010-12-09T08:30:00.001-05:00

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

2010-10-24T19:37:00.001-04:00

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

2010-10-18T07:26:00.001-04:00

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

2010-10-05T08:16:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-17T08:46:00.001-04:00

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

2010-09-13T08:12:00.001-04:00

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

2010-09-06T14:29:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-18T08:43:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-26T08:55:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-25T16:18:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-17T07:46:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-15T08:47:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-14T07:37:00.000-04:00

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

2010-06-13T18:35:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-11T08:13:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-05T11:18:00.001-04:00

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

2010-03-17T09:40:00.001-04:00

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

2010-02-17T07:50:00.001-05:00

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

2010-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

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.

Bridges to Community

2009-02-13T06:15:00.000-05:00

Community is a connection of bridges. Bridges that span from person
to person, passports to interact, take interest and do life.
Sometimes those bridges are built from one person to another. But
the bridge can be built by a third party as an attempt of care for
others. I learned that at O'Hare Airport, Chicago. I missed the
shuttle for the second time (long story) and when I saw it I began
trying to run it down, baggage and all. I was running down the
middle of the street hoping the driver would see me. He didn't. He
kept driving. But then another shuttle driver built a bridge for
me. He honked his horn a few times to get my shuttle driver to look
in the mirror and see me. He built a bridge of caring for me,
running down the street baggage and all. I raised my hand never
looking back as a thanks. For a moment we were a community, one
driver caring about a runner chasing another shuttle. That's
community, simple acts of care for those whose path we cross.

1000 acts

2009-01-22T08:37:00.000-05:00

Luke 7:36-50 Jesus' feet was washed by a woman, a sinner, one who
would not have been welcomed. How did she know she was welcomed?
Why would she come to Jesus? Was it not the 1000 acts of mercy and
grace Jesus lived out. He was known to receive sinners. He taught
mercy. The word would have spread about him. 1000 acts of mercy and
grace, more than kindness but the heart of God moving thru us begins
to shape a community. Every encounter with mercy, every moment of
grace, every time we accept, welcome, care for, extend our hands and
hearts the Kingdom of God comes and one more act is in place to move
those far from God to his very presence. 1000 acts takes time, a
deep heart of love, open eyes and arms, genuine outflow of the Lord
thru us to others. But over time, 1000 acts of mercy and grace
captures a community. Over time 1000 acts of living the dream of
God's Kingdom coming, of GraceRiver being the heart of the community
will form us and form those around us. 1000 acts and the hearts of
others can experience that the Lord is not distant from them. 1000
acts and people can begin to discover the God who has always been
there. 1000 acts begins today, with one encounter, one moment of
mercy, undeserved love and forgiveness. 1000 acts begins with grace,
seeing the best in another. 1000 acts begins with one. Wonder what
one ( or two) I could do today that would bring the Kingdom to one,
and another, and another. 1000 acts and the world becomes a
different place. 1000 acts. But today, I will start with one.

Vision

2009-01-14T09:53:00.000-05:00

Vision is essential. But at times casting that vision, speaking and
revealing it can be so difficult. Imagine Isaiah having to tell
people who are captured and taken to another land, a land whose
language and customs are odd or even revolting that they have a
future, that the Lord is at work. Buried in the sea of heartache who
can believe that! Leaders who distribute hope, as leaders do, must
have a deep well of God's heart and a real sense of His majesty.
Once that vision flows from the heart of the Lord keep speaking it
even when... it seems impossible, it seems like a pipe dream, even
when the resources and talent are yet to be visible, even when your
own heart is traumatized, even when you are unsure yourself.

I want to live the pattern of Isaiah, to hear from the Lord what He
is doing and keep distributing hope, that the Kingdom of God is here,
that even though it seems impossible the Lord can bring a
resurrection when we are sure we are dying. Leaders, NEVER STOP
SPEAKING THE DREAM OF GOD. NEVER!

Learning From The Dentist

2008-07-22T08:44:00.000-04:00

I recently had a trip to the "tooth fairy" (dentist) and it was just
as I had suspected, a major event. The cost was $1000 but what was
comical to me was how they handled it. After showing me the
treatment plan and asking me to sign for it the girl helping me then
said, "Let's have you go take care of your bill now and then when you
leave you can just exit." What a way to say it! Were they really
thinking of me? Would I be in such pain as I left that I would not
want to linger longer? Or... is it that they had had enough people
never follow thru on their payment? My guess? The later. But to
make it palatable they turned the challenge on its head, making me
think that this early payment would benefit me. And sure enough as I
left they reminded me I would not have to stop at the counter.

This is the cardinal rule of customer service, turning every moment
into taking care of the customer. Sure they got their payment but
didn't you hear? That early payment was for my benefit, so I could
exit quickly. Funny how that one statement would make the rough
moment of payment a bit more palatable, remove their risk and all in
the light of doing this for me.

That takes a bit of creative ingenuity but it does give people a
positive experience. That is also what we try to do at GraceRiver
Church, take people deep enough into God's heart so that they can see
that responding to the Lord, obeying is not for His good but for
theirs. It is a challenge. We have to think deeply and run the
question further. But it does open the ears of people to experience
the deep sense of God choosing them.

Fruit

2008-05-30T12:55:00.000-04:00

Today was amazing. We have a gal who has been coming to our church
for more than a yea. Over the year the worship moved her heart away
from Hinduism to Jesus. Today was her day. She had already made an
appointment with us and when she got up she knew... she belonged to
Jesus. So we sat at Starbucks and heard her story and then guided
her to do what she had done in so many levels but now just made
declarative. She turned away from anything else that might "save"
her, anything else that might give her life and put her life fully in
the hands of Jesus. Wow. Passionate, decisive, committed. And she
left with a whole new world opening to her heart. Her story is one
of joy and pain, and moves that seem to be so insignificant that now
are clearly paths that God used to bring her to himself. What a
God! Who can move thru the craziness of decisions, the mess of
heartaches and the dream for a child and orchestrate all of that for
this moment this morning. And now, heaven is overjoyed. And so is
she. And so are we. Maybe we are making a bit of a difference.
Just maybe.

God on the Back End

2008-05-22T10:32:00.000-04:00

Talking with a friend today who spoke the question most of us ask.
His friend has been going thru a tough time and asked, "What good did
all of this obedience get me? What use is it when it seems like
those who don't care seem to do better?" Those are questions that
eventually haunt every person. What hit me is that I often want to
find God on the front end, to see immediate response when it seems I
most find God working on the back end, doing just what Romans 8:28-29
says. Psalm 73 is the biblical struggle with the same question. And
the answer is the same, look at the back end, when God's ways and
purposes are fulfilled.

We are front end people, at least I am. It is a strong discipline to
live for the back end, for the future that stretches thru the ages.
Jesus lived on the back end, "For the joy set before him he endured
the cross." Farmers live for the back end. Investors do as well.
But living for the back end is hard. And waiting to find God in the
back end.. calls every ounce of faith. Still, the long view, the
back end may be the only funnel of hope when life gets crazy. "Where
is God when I need him most?" Maybe he is working on the back end,
bringing all things to work for good. And that takes a lot of work
to bring some of the stuff I have to good.

Spiritual Amnesia

2008-05-09T11:54:00.000-04:00

The loss of spiritual memory in our generation is an under the radar
but huge loss. With no biblical roots people live from event to
event, from challenge to challenge and from play to play without a
sense of meaning and without an awareness of the Lord. John 2:20-22
Jesus clears the temple and speaks of building a temple in 3 days.
Later, the disciples put the pieces together and it becomes another
platform that strengthens their faith. Although they heard him in
the moment, they apparently missed its full power and implications.
But because they had heard, later it would bring them strength and
faith.

What then happens to a generation who hasn't heard, who has no memory
of scripture, who has no roots that the Spirit can stir and bring
truth to strengthen their faith? What then for the generations that
have no memory of scripture and therefore miss the clear move of God
and cannot even backtrack and see it because they have no roots?
What of a generation who has moved so far from knowing the scripture
that the moments that could be spiritually catalytic are lost?

I have had this experience as the disciples, reading scripture but
not connecting the dots. And then... all of a sudden it all makes
sense. The scripture opens up life and gives an interpretation that
is rich with God's presence, powerful in faith and gushing with
hope. But if we have no roots? If we have no memory? If there is
nothing there from which the Spirit can draw? Sure, God speaks thru
creation and people. Still, what is to be done for generations that
have less and less to do with anything biblical and now live event to
event?

Somehow we must find a way to get the scripture into the memory.
Somehow. But this will certainly be a challenge.

Awareness

2008-05-08T11:13:00.000-04:00

Awareness is a big topic and should be. The foundation is self
awareness, knowing what is really going on inside with us. But what
about scoping out? What about seeing beyond what is going on with me
to what might be going on with others? Jesus was a amazing at being
aware beyond the surface. Sure, he was God. But awareness of what
is going on with others is a skill that can be learned and is
essential for other relationships, particularly leadership. Watching
others' responses, non verbal and verbal is one key. Deeper still is
the decision to stay open, to be willing to hold off judgment of what
they might be experiencing and going deeper, choosing to look for
more evidence rather than making a quicker decision.

Awareness is a skill for life, to see the things around us, to see
the people around us, to see their story deeper than the moment when
they said or did... Awareness can put us in a position to connect
others to God's heart. Awareness can grant us an invitation to the
deeper parts of others hearts and minds, to the workings of the
Spirit beyond the surface. Becoming aware of my world is one step.
Becoming aware of the world of others is another. I hope to live
that way, aware of who I am and how I am impacts the worlds of others
whether they choose it or not.

The Push Pull of Evangelism

2008-05-05T15:12:00.000-04:00

Talking with a friend today I stumbled across the "push / pull" of
evangelism. A recruiter once told me that for the recruitment
process to match both push and pull is needed. There has to be a
reason for a change, a reason to leave. If not, no matter how hard
the pull, finances or opportunities, the pull is never strong
enough. My friend is a budding evangelist and as we were talking
about connecting people to Jesus I spoke of the push / pull of
evangelism. The push is a reason someone would consider giving their
life to the Lord. That could be regret, desire for a different life,
awareness of sin or fear of death. Whatever, something has to push
the person out of their old life. The bible would describe that as
conviction, an awareness of needing to change, to leave an old
lifestyle for another. Without a push, conviction, a response to the
Lord is likely not deep enough.

The pull is called grace, grace that says life can be more
fulfilling. It is a conviction of John 10:10 that Jesus does offer
life. The pull can be to make a difference, to have peace of heart
and soul or any other benefit of walking with the Lord (the Psalms
speak of remembering the benefits of serving the Lord). Without the
pull, a person is not "pulled" into intimacy and dependency upon the
Lord. Without the pull a person may be leaving their old life but
not walking toward a new one.

If so, then the journey of an evangelist is to stir push / pull
moments, to discern what is needed in the life of another and to
provide either the push or the pull by speaking God's heart about the
appropriate one. Another way is to ask, "What is keeping you from
giving your life to the Lord?" The point of all of this is to be
ambassadors of the Lord, breathing into the moment of push or pull so
that the person continues to move toward the Lord and eventually
gives their life to Jesus.

So, I have a new question as I sit with people and work with them.
Do I stir the push or the pull? Which does this person need to move
toward Jesus?

Recruiting From Outside the Walls

2008-04-30T12:55:00.000-04:00

Just had lunch with a new worker at our local Starbucks, a
guitarist. We invited him to consider being a part of our band. We
learned of his musical skills and began pursuing him relationally.
Today we had the opportunity to explore further his dream and see if
we might connect it a bit to GR. We'll see. His next step is to
experience the GR Sunday moment. But the whole thing has my heart
charged. What if we could be players in God's move in his life? He
hasn't been to church since High School but how cool would it be if
we could connect him to the God who wired all of that creative skill
set in him! Maybe nothing will happen. Maybe he will become a part
of our community but the opportunity is big and how special it would
be if GR could expand the Kingdom thru his life to his world and
those in it!

Creation Theology

2008-04-30T10:37:00.000-04:00

The debate rages. Arguments on both sides and passion ensues which
means the opening of the mouth and the closing of the mind. But it
seems to me that what is at stake is deeper. Evolution verses
creation has cosmic implications to how we live, choices we make,
fears we face and destiny we walk in to. Here's one. Evolution says
you just showed up. The world doesn't want you here, didn't ask for
you nor plan for you. You are on your own in this thing called
life. Provide for yourself, fight for yourself because no one else
will. Hide your weaknesses for this is all about survival of the
fittest.

What a sad life! How much more to have a world created for you that
would overflow with resources! How much more enjoyable to live with
hope that when resources run thin, God who created is still creating
and life is possible. How wonderful to not have to hoard the
resources knowing that God who gives will continue to give in
abundance. How exciting to know that in my weaknesses his strength
is made strong. I do not have to hide my weaknesses, they are the
very places God does his greatest work.

Evolutionary theory goes deeper than scientific debate. It forms who
we are and how we are. Creation theology is written all thru the
scriptures...AS A GIFT! It is a gift that releases us to look at the
world with hope, anticipation, with prayer and possibilities, with
excitement and passion. Creation says I can be authentic, vulnerable
and still be safe. Creation theology says the world is new every
morning, God's mercies are new every morning and each morning is
another opportunity to discover more of who this amazing God is.
Creation theology is the basis of redemption. We were created with
value and still have it even when...

I genuinely feel sad for those who live out of darwinian theory, and
they do live out of it knowingly or unknowingly. It is a closed
world view. Sure, maybe the species will evolve, but slowly. And
that doesn't give much hope for me today. Yep, a lot at stake with
these theories, a lot deeper than the clash of explanation. It is
about a flow of life, joy, hope and destiny. I do believe in
creation. I need it. So does everyone else knowingly or not. And
there it is, lining the pages of the scripture. What a gift!

Gaining Leadership

2008-04-29T08:49:00.000-04:00

Most everyone knows that position is not really an indication of
leadership. Even with position people still are led by others
without. Leadership is gained by influence that is gathered over
time. Strength of personality can bump a person into leadership
ahead of the time curve but the real power comes over time, thru life
circumstances particularly in a crisis. And often one has the
leadership deeply given by others and yet can mostly seem incognito
to those looking outside in.

David, the man after God's heart, the killer of Goliath, is well
known. There is mention of David's mighty men off and on throughout
his story. But mostly they are nameless and not the focus. Then, in
the last words about David is this list of men, the key three who
evidently changed the world thru their valiant and courageous refusal
to concede battles and land to the enemy. These men turned the tide
by their valor. Battles were won, troops were filled with courage
and the nation of Israel was different. Yet, they mostly lived
beneath the radar of David.

That they had leadership is obvious. The very fact that the troops
rallied around them shows influence. The fact that the battles were
turned because of them shows their influence. Maybe courage is one
key component of leadership, one of the traits that draw others and
spread influence. Certainly title is not!

Leaders are everywhere courage is found. Leaders are everywhere a
vision of what must be is lived. Leaders are everywhere one person
chooses to take a stand. Leaders are everywhere, even when no one
knows their names.

Devising Ways To Re-instate

2008-04-22T08:49:00.000-04:00

This one got me. In the story of a father and son estrangement of II
Samuel 14 the anguish is deep. The dad has been separated from his
son and so wants him back but doesn't take the finishing steps for re-
instatement. Funny how we think our discipline of another should be
deep and long, tending to devise ways to be sure they got. In
paradox, God is devising ways for estranged people to be joined to
him. DEVISING WAYS!!! That is God's heart, to find a way to connect
with people. In spite of all of the sins, the wayward, selfish
heart, the disappointments, the whatever else God's heart never
changes, to find someway somehow to reconnect with me. That is an
amazing God! Someway, somehow he wants us to be us again, to do life
with me, to live in me and I in him.

No wonder Jesus said how we get along as followers is a big deal. If
we are divided then we are not living the heart of God, devising ways
to re-instate our wholeness. If we are divided we are not living the
Kingdom dream of being one, not halves. If we are divided then the
culture does not see in living metaphor how hard the heart of God
works to re-instate.

I can feel this one. It gets to me deeply. I want to be that living
metaphor but sometimes my stuff, my anger, my whatever gets in the
way. And I refuse to devise ways. Better figure that one out.

What to do With Glory

2008-04-11T10:46:00.000-04:00

David is known for having a heart that is after God's heart. Along
my reading a reflection of him I see so much depth. His heart for
the Lord is expressed and exhibited in the very details of his life.
II Samuel 8 his victories begin to mount. As is often said,
victories can do more to bring us down than defeats. Victories can
change us subtly under the radar. The heart that once wanted to
serve becomes one that likes the attention, the celebration, the
being special. Truth is that any of these are not wrong. Feeling
excited and pleased (proud of what we have done) is not all bad.
Being celebrated is a cool thing in life. Only when these externals
alter who we are, how we see ourselves and how we relate to
ourselves, God and others does the victory bring defeat.

As David's victories mount his heart does not! When another king
sends his congratulations along with gifts David accepts... and then
dedicates the gifts to the Lord. That act of dedication keeps the
dots connected in his heart. To the victor go the spoils and the
victor is... the Lord.

My observation is that in an attempt to defray the glory people often
push it back immediately, in the face of the person who just said
their congratulations. I haven't always experienced that as whole
and healthy. Still, the passionate act of remembering who we are,
remembering with acts who is leading, of formal acts of dedication
that are more than momentary but deeply worshiping and sitting in the
Lord's provision seem to be the keys to staying healthy. What is
said in a few words would be a longer experience, the act of
dedication. Surface words of "Well praise God" are different than an
elongated sitting in the presence of the Lord and experiencing the
act of dedication.

May the blessings of God change us only appropriately.

Leading When You're Not In Charge

2008-04-03T10:58:00.000-04:00

Everyone is a leader. The question is am I willing to be
"responsible for more than just myself". I find it interesting that
at Starbucks I do not have a position of leadership or employment but
I can still lead there. I lead by encouraging the team behind the
counter. i lead by speaking up to them, celebrating them and
believing in them. I lead by occasionally reminding them subtly the
difference they are making. I don't work there but at times I still
lead there. Leadership is an everywhere all of the time occasion.
And it is fun to lead where you have no title.

Is it Worth It To Be Tenderhearted?

2008-04-03T09:59:00.000-04:00

This is a hard culture to live tenderhearted. The pace of life, the
pressures, the coldness that we can easily encounter can cause us to
adjust, to covering our heart, to keeping our heart warm and tender.
Being tenderhearted means being sensitive to the voice of the Lord.
It also likely means being sensitive to the challenges and cool words
and acts of others. Tenderhearted means my heart is open and being
open is not a one time act. We can learn to open and close our heart
but if we choose to live open, tenderhearted we are likely, at times
going to be surprised and hurt before the shields of protection go up.

Staying tenderhearted is a journey. it requires time with God that
allows him to access the places we have blocked and covered, not just
sins but sensitive moments. To allow anyone in those moments is an
act of courage that will spill out hope and joy on others. But it is
a high act of courage and so most find that once the hurt comes, the
heart closes and discover that it seems better to keep the heart
covered.

Staying tender is a ruthless journey of courage and deep belief in
the love and lordship of Jesus, that he can use all things for good,
that he does love me and is working good in my life, that somehow
this journey is toward a goal of becoming like Jesus. The very
things that close the heart are moments that can be turned into this
ruthless courage that refuses to live on the surface and closed. The
moments that can harden the heart are the same moments when we can
choose to become more tender, more real, wiser and gentler.

Is it worth it to be tenderhearted? That's a question that hangs in
the soul of every person. But the answer of that one person affects
us all.

Where's the Passion?

2008-04-03T09:09:00.000-04:00

Interesting exchange at Starbucks today. Processing with a shift
manager who said the leader wanted to meet with shifts and talk about
their passion (for Starbucks). Here's the deal. A swift kick in
the ... never gets passion going. Vision gets passion going. Vision
that gets deeper than money, that stirs significance and sacrifice
gets passion going. Passion is a heart issue and Marcus Buckingham
says that everyone is passionate what leaders have to do is connect
the passion of each person to the vision and role. I don't know what
will go on in the meeting at Starbucks but I know this. If this is a
"Where is your passion?" speech coming talk to the wall. It won't
help. If it is visionary, if it calls the best of the team out to
put their best out it will be a winner. Leaders, when the passion
wanes it's time for more vision injection!

Tensions that Work For Us

2008-03-27T11:59:00.000-04:00

Interesting conversation today at Starbucks. Thinking with a friend
about how God works and why i stumbled into this moment of "Ah ha!".
The question, "How can God be punishing people when He is love?"
Then it hit me. There is a tension, a good tension between justice
and mercy. Those can seem juxtaposed, working against each other.
Mercy taken to extremes ends up with nothing matters for in the end
consequences are wiped out. "I can always be forgiven so who
cares." Further in the extreme is the accusation against God, "How
can he love and send people to hell?" No justice means no boundaries
and no reason to change.

No mercy has the opposite effect, not a heart of unconcern but a
heart never at rest and always full of anxiety. No mercy makes us
want to hide, not "confess (tell the truth) so that we can be
forgiven (I John 1:9). No mercy will eventually harden the heart and
stiffen the will.

Justice and mercy seem to lie in tension, especially from our short
view and especially for those frustrated with who God is and how we
has shaped the life. Funny how we can accuse God over decisions that
we make. How can God be at fault for justice? Isn't justice right?
How can we accuse God of anything, even not being loving when we
choose to walk past the offer of forgiveness? Isn't it merciful when
God, knowing we were caught in sin, offered us a way out? And
justice? It's still there. The death of Jesus was the expression of
justice, one man dying for all.

Justice and mercy, two tensions that work for us, two tensions that
keep us in balance, two tensions that take us into the heart of a
perfect and holy God.

The Down Sides of Creativity

2008-03-25T18:13:00.000-04:00

Creativity does have down sides. On the upside creativity reflects
the heart of the Lord and opens hearts and minds of people in ways
previously locked. But down sides there are for sure. One is the
drain. Creativity is emotional energy that requires full involvement
of the heart and mind. The euphoria of creating can be met by the
bottom moment of expending energy. People who are creative need time
to think, reflect, and see life from other vantages. As the
scripture says, there is nothing new under the sun. That means
creativity is often the connecting of dots that were previously
connected and thus bring new possibilities, new insights, new ways,
new hope.

Another down side of creativity can be that we can lose the point.
Every creative avenue will not get us to the goal. Often in our own
team gatherings we have to work to stay on focus or we will shift
into being creative and forget the point of the creativity and end up
with another point all together. Even that is a challenge because to
cut the dreaming and scheming too fast may lose the one idea that
will fully help people to catch God's heart.

Creativity must be fed. Wild reading, travel, arts, learning from
all walks of life stir creativity. In The Medici Effect (a really
cool book) the author says that key Islands that cross pollinated
people gave rise to some major breakthroughs. Without that continual
inflow, creativity dries up. Without interaction with a team,
creativity typically becomes a rut.

Creating is fun. Designing experiences for people to intersect God's
heart is off the charts coo. If you have some creative types in your
circle know that they need the time, space and opportunity for
regular infilling!

Behind the Scenes

2008-03-17T10:15:00.000-04:00

Spiritual Warfare is multi-faceted. It encompasses strategy at all
levels, emotion, physicality, spirit and mind. This past Saturday I
could not go to sleep. Getting up at 5:30 to begin the day isn't so
hard for me but when I am watching the clock turn from midnight to 1
AM I realize I'm on the short side of the sleep number. What I had
not realized is how that would set me up for the battle of the day.
When the body is tired the heart is vulnerable. When the body is
tired, the soul is at risk. Leaving the day everyone was moved by
the experience of Jesus last days. But I couldn't fully enter that
joy. My heart was fried partly because my body was over tired. Like
a kid going without rest, my lack of physical energy was a set up.
The same is true for Elijah. Following his encounter with the
prophets of Baal he is threatened and runs miles. In his exhaustion
his persistence is worn out and he is ready to give up.

I was surprised at the experience this past weekend. I was set up
big time and didn't even see it coming. Now for some rest this week
so I'm not set up again like that.

Doormats for Jesus

2008-03-12T09:22:00.000-04:00

From time to time I am a part of an assessment team that assesses
church planters. It is always an eye opening experience and I learn
much more than I give. I learn about myself, people and the Lord.
One of the areas we assess is conflict management. Conflict is a
part of life and a big part of leadership. Somehow in the Christian
culture we have come to an understanding that we must be door mats,
allowing everyone and anyone to walk on us. On the surface it smacks
of love and kindness. We may even have scripture to back it up in
that Jesus went like a sheep to the slaughter without a word. That
is a word from Isaiah 53:7 and it is true. But what if we have
misunderstood it? What if Jesus did actually speak in the moments of
the lies being told about him? What if he non-violently turned the
light on to the darkness that was working to destroy him? John
18:19-23 is a different story. When Jesus is struck by one of the
officials he challenged the one who struck him. That challenge
turned the light on in the darkness. That challenge revealed the
heart of the one who hit him.

What if we could find a non-violent way to call out evil? What if we
were not called to be doormats? What do we do with Jesus words that
those entering the Kingdom of God take it by violence? Could it be
that we should re-think how to live in conflict? This I do know, if
we are always living as doormats we may one day rise up and unleash a
furry of negative energy. No one is made to "take it" all of the time.

One of the gifts we hope to give those moving toward spiritual
leadership is the gift of standing in conflict and knowing that they
are following Jesus when they stand up for themselves. We are called
to lay down our lives but we are not called to be doormats. No we
are not!

Catalytic Questions

2008-03-06T11:55:00.000-05:00

Questions are catalytic. Even if we do not know the answer simply
posing the question opens the heart and mind to other possibilities.
Questions can be life transformational and pivotal. Questions can
get us to see what we missed and dream again. Questions may be the
leaders best friend. The past 2 weeks I've had a few opportunities
to meet with people and out of each of those meetings I've asked a
question. For one person it was, "Have you thought about pursuing
ministry?" Two others it was, "What would you like to lead at GR?"
Those questions have opened doors of conversations and possibilities
I would have never seen nor imagined. The leadership base of GR is
expanding simply because of those catalytic questions.

Leaders do not need to know all the answers. In fact if they had to
choose between knowing the questions or the answers the questions
would be more catalytic, more formative, more directional and open
more doors. Perhaps the best leaders are the best because they keep
asking the questions and know which questions to ask. "Where do you
want to lead at Graceriver?" has become a catalytic question with far
reaching answers.

Puzzle Pieces

2008-03-05T07:43:00.000-05:00

A while back I was part of a group of guys that were speaking into
each other's life. Hearing one guy's story we began to group think
and to speak that he was in transition, meaning would move locales.
Later we discovered that he was in transition, within his current
context. We took puzzle pieces and tried to put them where we
thought they belonged. But we were wrong! Good thing he was willing
to move slowly and even look past our infinite wisdom.

How do we make sense of the parts of life? How can we know God's
leading and direction? It can seem as if we are holding pieces of a
puzzle and then try to put them into the picture as we would know it,
want it or wish it wasn't (that one is called anxiety). I Samuel 23
Saul is pursuing David and when he hears he is in a certain town he
says, "God has handed him over to me." Really? You are about to
kill an innocent man and now that he is in a town that you feel you
can trap him in you think God is behind it?

Funny how we can put pieces together and be sure that God is on our
side when in fact we have been contradicting God's patterns and
laws. We do have to put the pieces of life together to make a
puzzle. We do have to make sense of things and put them somewhere,
bring some order, some chaos. But when we assign God's motive to an
incident we may be stepping a bit to far. Perhaps that is why James
warns us to live each day at a time and say, "If the Lord wills we
will.... ".

I'm trying to be more discerning in putting puzzle pieces together,
to live in the truth that His ways are higher than mine and to be
wonderfully surprised at what the Lord can do. I still have to put
pieces in some order but I do so now a bit more asking and willing to
admit that the piece may not belong there. God may be doing
something very different and very good.

Teams

2008-02-28T09:12:00.000-05:00

Almost nothing is as important as a team. The team here at
GraceRiver Church is full of life, laughter and passion. I love it.
I love being with them. I love the respect I see, the joy, the
determination, the appreciation for what each one brings to the
table. I've had great teams in the past, too! I've been blessed in
that. Teams make you better than you are. Teams cover your
weaknesses with laughter and protect you. Teams feed the members by
bringing hope and joy. Teams accomplish way more than any one person
could. Teams bring synergy that is undeniable. Teams have variety!

If I could give others a gift I would give them the privilege I've
had of working with some of the finest people in the world. Teams
make life exciting and ministry worth doing. To the team at GR and
the teams of the past, thanks. Your heart and passion, your
encouragement and joy have brought strength to my heart and fire to
my soul. You made me better than I am. Thanks.

Getting Older

2008-02-28T09:05:00.000-05:00

In my prayer today I was expressing gratefulness to the Lord for
opening His ways to me. I understand things now I had no clue of in
years (and decades past). Makes me wonder what I am missing now,
too! The scripture says His ways are higher than mine. I can get
that and at times I can really get it with my heart but usually by
looking back. In the moment it is faith, trusting God's heart when
it certainly feels like I should not and then ordering my life as
such, obedience.

Life is a leaning journey, often done not first by lecture then by
trial but first by trial and then by looking back and seeing what was
unseen but still very real. Life opens up God's heart in the
scripture. I understand things now I did not in the past.
Scriptures that made no sense or that I had limited to a thin
application now have so much depth in them and that depth grabs me at
a different level. Getting older does give the opportunity to get
wiser, especially as I follow the Lord. I am hoping to help others
along the journey by listening, speaking and leading them to
experience God's heart as well. His ways are higher, no question.
And yet He invites me into them. That is cool.

Where Leaders Get Vision

2008-02-24T21:15:00.000-05:00

I've posted similar before but the reality keeps stirring my heart.
Leaders get vision from God, from seeing needs, from feeling the
possibilities or the pain of others. They also get it from their
team as they see their team experiencing the dream and voicing the
dream. Tonight we had our second FUEL, our High Octane Leadership
Community and it was powerful to me. I look around and see the
leaders in the room, passionate people who are the evidence that GR
is a people of destiny and my vision and passion spike. Leaders get
fueled with vision when they are with other leaders who are
passionate, visionary, dedicated and willing to lay it on the line.

From me to all of you at FUEL tonight, thanks. You stirred my heart.
Ken

In Your Face

2008-02-20T10:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday a teammate and I were doing some recruiting, vision casting
to another person we really want to become a part of our dream and he
said this, "At GraceRiver we are IN YOUR FACE with what you do well.
We are in your face about that!" How cool! What a neat team to be a
part of, a group of people who celebrate what you are good at, are in
your face about it so that you can't miss it! That's the way to be
in your face! I wonder how the world would change if we had people
in our face with good things? I wonder how we might salt the earth
and light the world so that our own joy would "leak" all over
others? That's what I love about GraceRiver. It's in your face, in
a healthy way!

The Burden of Being So Gifted

2008-02-13T11:56:00.000-05:00

I've met a number of people who have multiple gifts. The problem is
not what can they do but what should they do. What they typically
want to do is EVERYTHING! They don't want to miss anything and have
the desire to be a part of everything. At first that is not really
an obstacle. But... over time they become tired and stretched and
weary and frustrated and wishing they had a life and ... Multi-
gifted people have to steward themselves and their gifts so that they
can make the greatest impact in the Kingdom. And they often will
grieve and think they are missing out. Without stewardship what they
will eventually miss out on is joy, laughter, hope and life. Multi-
gifted people are blessed and challenged. They typically don't want
to say no but eventually find they must. The joy of leadership is to
walk with people as they experience the joy of being multi-gifted and
the anguish of having to choose. It's hard. But that choice has
eternal implications!

An Odd Way to Destiny

2008-02-12T08:38:00.000-05:00

Nothing is ever wasted in the heart of God. How one prepares for
leadership and for impact is far broader than narrow. I Samuel 16 is
the beginning of the story of David. Somewhere along the way he had
harp lessons or maybe just played by ear. However it came, the
scripture says he became skillful at it. But how would being a
harpist open the doors to a future that appeared to have nothing to
do with music? To be a king, music would be a side venture, an
avocation. But in the heart of God nothing is wasted. The hours
spent with the harp did deep work in the heart of this some day
king. And the skill set was the first opened door.

How cool it is that when we follow the desires of our heart we are
following a map to our destiny placed in us by the Lord. Those side
adventures that seem to have nothing to do with nothing, in the hands
of God become paths to the future. Okay so you didn't finish the
education. What if the Lord took you on a journey to stir in you the
capacity for the dream he placed within you? What if the times spent
reading or creating, messing with problems, photography or sports
were venues for the Lord to get deeper into your being and prepare
you for the dream?

Not many harpist become kings I should think. Not many resumes for
leadership would highlight "Harpist for fun!" But then again, God
has an odd way to lead us into our destiny, non-traditional ways that
shape the heart of the moment and open doors in the future. David
begins as a court musician for the king. Later, he moves to being an
armor barer. Sure the armor bearer is more prestigious but without
the time with the harp he likely doesn't enter the king's courts.

Follow your heart and leave the destiny to the Lord. He has odd ways
to move us toward that destiny.

The Mind of a Leader

2008-02-06T15:46:00.000-05:00

Tony Bell in his book "Great Leadership" has this cutting word, "The
most significant thing about an organization is what goes on in the
minds of its leaders." Wow! The mind of the leader creates reality
for those around him. When a leader takes cues from the
circumstances, that leader's mind is likely to be filled with fear
and doubt. I Samuel 13 is the playing out of that word. Saul, the
positional leader, is watching morale crash, people leave and the
enemy charging. That is the moment for leaders! When everyone only
sees what is and not what can be, when their hearts are full of
questions and their feet are moving fast in retreat, leaders can
shine. BUT, what is going on in the mind of the leader is most
significant. Reactionary fear, hasty decisions, avoidance or denial
will not carry the day. Leaders may feel fear but no one can lead in
fear. Sooner or later something must happen in the mind of the
leader and that something is faith, a deep conviction that things can
be different, should be different, will be different.

It isn't the circumstances that dictate our success or lack thereof.
It is what is going on in the minds of the leaders.

There's Always Hope...

2008-02-06T11:13:00.000-05:00

"There is always hope if you know where to find it." That was the
word of the Lord to me recently as I watched people respond to the
word of the Lord. There is always hope if you know where to find it,
always signals of God's presence, always a flow of passion and joy.
Hope is found in one person's obedience. Hope is found in a crack in
the door that appeared closed (as did the door to us for Odyssey
Middle School). Hope is found in a thank you or a word of
encouragement. Hope is found in a possibility EVEN IF that
possibility evaporates. Hope is not determined by circumstances. It
is the energy of the Lord poured into the hearts of people who know
where to find it, who look for it, who choose to feast upon it.
There is always hope if you know where to find it. Cool words from
the Lord!

When Ministry Gets Fun

2008-01-31T06:53:00.000-05:00

Last evening was so cool at our teen community. Love what I see
happening with the students but what is happening among the leaders
is very special. The Epic team is gifted, creative and passionate.
I get excited to see other leaders emerge and then experience the
flow of God's passion and heart thru them. There is nothing like
experiencing the Lord of the universe using you to change even a
small part of the world. That is what they are experiencing. I am
so proud of these leaders and more, I am excited to see how the hand
of God will continue to flow thru them in Epic and who knows how
else. These guys and gals are changing the world... and their world
is changing, too!

Governors

2008-01-30T07:55:00.000-05:00

It is a blast to be on the golf cart, be the one driving and go down
a hill as fast as possible. I love to stir in my golfing partners,
"What's he doing?" But you must know that the golf carts have a
governor, a restriction on how fast they will go. That restriction
is for safety. James 3 says we need governors for our mouths.
Sometimes, especially in heated moments. Our moths can run too fast
and become dangerous for those riding with us in life. A governor is
the ability to stop yourself from speaking something you may feel at
the moment, resisting the downhill movement of the relationship, for
the protection of those you are speaking to and those around you. If
the governor of our mouth is removed, the pace in a heated exchange
picks up and the damage begins to multiply.

Opening the Future Thru Obedience

2008-01-28T06:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at GR Church many new people chose to trust God in
tithing. They are in for such a cool life of seeing God's hand,
having their own God-stories and expanding their faith to many other
areas. Money is such a hard place to trust the Lord and yet, the
choice to obey stirs faith for family, future challenges and
everywhere else. Here's the deal. If money is the hardest area and
the Lord shows up there... where will he not show up? That is why I
am so jazzed today for those who took the risk, took God at his word
and are entering the best days of their lives. I am excited to pray
for them. I am excited for their families. They will see the Lord
in ways others only hear about. So cool to follow the Lord! So cool
to lead others to the open door of God's blessing.

Leaders on the Shelf

2008-01-24T09:16:00.000-05:00

It can happen that we are called to lead but not accepted as a
leader. I Samuel 10-11 Saul is anointed to lead but some question
his leadership. My observation is that we have the tendency to fight
in those moments, to push back. Saul, he goes about life, no need to
assert his position as king. He goes about life and waits.
Eventually, the need for a leader becomes apparent and he steps up,
uses his influence, makes tactical steps and wins the day.

Crisis always opens the door for new leadership. The leader who
pushes their way in will lose influence. Those who know they are
called and are willing to go about life and allow the Lord to open
the moment for them gain credibility. Being put on the shelf as a
leader can be painful. Moses knew he was the leader but it was 4
decades before he led. Eventually, he becomes one of the most
critical leaders of the Bible. Waiting is hard. Waiting for you
time is immensely hard. Watching the months and years go by, knowing
you have something to offer, wondering what God is doing, or is He
doing anything? But the time comes. The Spirit moves and the
opportunity explodes. Time to lead. And then it becomes clear to
others. Your time will come. The call to leadership is about a
larger purpose. Don't let the dream die but don't fight the wrong
battles either.

Leading by Mantra

2008-01-23T07:35:00.000-05:00

We have a strong conviction at GraceRiver that we are people of
destiny. That is our mantra. When that mantra is experienced even
lightly it becomes a flood of hope, passion and conviction that
explodes in faith and determination. We so believe it that we make
decisions because of it. Our current building questions we are
facing thru a deep conviction that we must respond not just to our
circumstances but to our destiny. If we walk in the destiny the Lord
will protect and provide. We, then, will walk in bold faith and
therefore be stretched and as a result we will experience major moves
of the Lord.

"People of Destiny" was the mantra God told the Israelites coming out
of Egypt. It was also the words to the church (The gates of hell
shall not hold you back. I am with you always. You will do greater
miracles than this.). When this mantra captures the imagination of
people the future unlocks, opportunities are everywhere and a people
are formed. When we are captured by this mantra we will live it out
loud and that will capture the imagination of the community. We lead
by mantra. We lead by it. Leading by mantra means saying it,
believing it, making decisions with that deep conviction, facing
obstacles thru that lens, instilling that vision into the hearts,
minds and imaginations of our people. I cannot wait to see how this
mantra, a word we did not make up but received from the Lord, will
unleash faith, form families and neighborhoods and become magnetic.
We have a mantra that feeds our hearts and powers our imagination.
We have a mantra that stirs persistence and determination. We are
PEOPLE OF DESTINY!

Leadership, Placing and Re-Placing

2008-01-23T07:20:00.000-05:00

The journey of GraceRiver Church has been intriguing. It has taken
us a bit to find our stride. Some of that is getting the right
people in the right places. Sometimes that can be a tough job
because a part of that is getting people who are in the wrong places
to be re-placed (put into another context). Tough as it may be it is
always the right step and when it is connected to the right heart
(deep conviction that all people have a part and place but it may not
be in their current context) it is a move of God, an avenue the Lord
uses to re-place them in the context they will flourish and have impact.

The "right place" is not a place without growth and struggle but it
is a place of fully buying into the vision and values. it is a place
that feeds your soul as you lead, give and serve others. Jesus
obviously experienced it. "My food is to do the will of my Father."
He said this when he was tired but was connecting the woman at the
well to the possibilities of life with him. Tired he was, yet
experiencing a passion flow into his own heart.

Leadership is about the right people in the right places and helping
the people who are misplaced to be re-placed (getting out of the
wrong place, put into the place they should be and getting who should
be in their former place... all three actions are essential). Feels
like we are fast approaching this momentum building at GR. These
next weeks and months are going to be very special.

Near and Far Choices

2008-01-22T07:08:00.000-05:00

The alarm went off at 5:20 this morning to the news describing the
sell off of the overseas stock market. Already the government was
speaking to not join the fears. It is amazing how the fears of
people thousands of miles away, people we will never meet nor ever be
in proximity to have major impact upon our lives. What if this kicks
in a worse economic time... and it just might. Our fears do have
consequences upon the world. Our choices and decisions do reach far
beyond our own world. People who will never know us will be touched
by how we live. So, I put in a cancelation of a stock order. I'm
just hoping that my choices here at GR church will have influence on
thousands of people.

People of Destiny

2008-01-21T05:45:00.000-05:00

We've been walking in destiny at GR. Destiny doesn't mean a life
without struggle, challenges and questions. It is however a sense of
purpose that refuses to give up, that opens our eyes wide to see how
the Lord will move and provide. This past week we had amazing God
moments. With having to move out of our building (another move) the
question was "Where to?" And the answer was not obvious. We spoke
with the middle school but no go. Eventually we would come back and
ask again and thru some conversation the door opened. Being people
of destiny doesn't mean we accept things. When the middle school
said no we kept praying and finally found a way to get them to say
yes. Yes it is, to the best school in the area! Yes it is to a
destiny that seems to keep unwrapping as we move forward. Yes, too,
to a group of people walking in faith and being formed by questions,
struggles, challenges and then the obvious move of God.

How do you walk in destiny? One step at a time, and in such belief
that you refuse to take no and should the answer be no, you look for
anther open door from the Lord. This destiny thing is pretty cool.
Can't wait to see how it unfolds in the next weeks and months.

Unconventional Paths To Leadership

2008-01-17T10:58:00.000-05:00

Just how does one become a leader? Or maybe the better question is
what makes a leader? I Samuel is an interesting look at a leader who
doesn't think organizational. Samuel is a "seer" a judge, a
prophet. His leadership "power" flows from his listening to the
Lord, the Lord revealing himself to Samuel. This "seer" is GIVEN
influence by the people who know he hears from the Lord. As is often
stated, leadership is a lot less about position and a lot more about
the person (heart, skills, relationships). Some of us are very
gifted at org thinking and we bring God's hand to people and
communities that way. Others of us are more "seer" types, breathing
God's breath of life into people in decision and crisis times,
pointing direction as the Lord reveals himself to us. Leadership is
influence and influence is given, people choose to allow us to
influence them. Strength of personality can give influence. But so
can the quiet moments of sitting with the Lord and experiencing His
presence (thru the Word).

Say It Again and Again and ...

2008-01-16T07:36:00.000-05:00

This isn't much of a listening culture. I would guess that some of
our aloneness has stirred us to talk... and to be listened to.
Listening is an act of dignifying, honoring, caring, respecting. But
there's not a lot of it going around. It is a discipline to listen
to another, to really stay engaged and not think about our response
before they finish their thought. It isn't hard to identify the
hunger to be heard. When you come across someone dying to be
listened to you might encounter this:
-they talk fast, afraid of not being able to finish
-they say it again and again. Repetition means I don't feel heard
yet. So I keep saying it and saying it and ...
-they get loud. Seems like we feel that the only way we can be heard
is to talk loud.

We do seem to be hard of hearing! But that is less a health problem
than a heart problem. The people we most need to listen to share the
same space with us. But those can be those we are less attuned. It
is hard work. But it is one more way to change the world, one person
and one neighborhood at a time.

What is Faith Anyway?

2008-01-15T07:59:00.000-05:00

What is the difference between faith and foolishness? Haven't we all
known people who trusted the Lord but He didn't come thru? Was that
God's let down or the person's? Was it God wanting to do something
different than they had dreamed? In this journey of GraceRiver
Church we have come across numerous obstacles and challenges.
Believing that this is God's call we keep looking for His hand...and
it keeps showing up...at the last possible moment. The thin line
between faith and foolishness can be hard to navigate. It isn't just
persistence, it is a rock solid belief that the Lord is doing this
AND a willingness to allow him to "re-story" what he is doing. When
it seems like He has abandoned us we keep looking for his presence,
remaining open to the Lord showing us that what we thought he was
going to do was not quite on target. He is still Lord! Faith is
holding on to the word, hanging on to the hope, walking when we feel
like sitting, staying open to His new ways and His timing. Faith is
openness to the Lord to rewrite the journey as He deems it should
be. Faith is trusting that there are reasons to the rhymes we face.
My growing understanding is that God is always up to something
bigger, different, special. Faith is taking the journey with Him and
letting Him tell the story of the journey.

Caught by My Shadow

2008-01-14T09:13:00.000-05:00

I went for a run around 5:30 this morning, early I know but the only
time I would get it in. The street lights create a shadow as I run.
On one turn my attention was grabbed by some trash people had out
(funny how we get caught in other people's trash isn't it). As I
turned to look my shadow came racing past me (the light that was in
front was now at a different angle throwing my shadow to the front
side) and momentarily spooked me. It looked like someone else was
catching me when it was just my shadow catching up.

Our shadow does eventually catch us. Where we've been does
eventually catch up to where we are and can even get ahead of us
("Your reputation precedes you!"). Shadows are distortions, too long
or short, not clear representations of who we are. But, they do "get
ahead" of us as we go thru life. I guess the best we can hope for is
that if we continue to be ourselves the distortions may be
characterizations, taking the best and distinctive components of who
we are and highlight them. I'm hoping my distortions are on the good
side and that as the light changes and moves around me, where I've
been and where I'm going converge and I don't spook anyone else!

Sensitivity

2008-01-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

One of the most significant leadership disciplines is sensitivity.
Daniel Goleman (Primal Leadership) says that EQ (Emotional Quotient)
is THE key to impact upon the world. Sensitivity is about being
aware not only of what we feel but what others might be
experiencing. Sensitivity can be the key barometer that can cue us
when to speak up and when to be quiet and when to think a second time
about what we are going to say before we say it. The "My mouth gets
ahead of my brain" expression is really about sensitivity. Am I so
passionate (frustrated, etc) that I just must express it? Can I
think thru how to say it so that it can be seen and the message not
get lost in the emotion? Increasing sensitivity will open doors to
hearts of people and open doors for life. Without it, people guard
themselves against us, unsure of what we will say and wondering if we
will say it hurtful and in the wrong places. Sensitivity is
increased by our own awareness of what we are feeling/ dealing with
and then doing the hard work of resolving that so that we do not let
it leak. That never means we do not speak the truth but the question
is more of is it truth or "my truth" (my opinion). The bible says it
like this, "Speaking the truth in love..." One part of love is
sensitivity.

Leadership in the Fog

2008-01-10T09:06:00.000-05:00

One of the tasks of leadership is to build momentum. Momentum is
clearly the leaders edge in accomplishing great work. Momentum is
built one step at a time, celebrating the wins and protecting the
momentum by facing and eliminating the obstacles. That in itself is
a challenge. Obstacles can be finances, contacts, places and even
people. "Getting the right people in the right places" is a key part
of leadership. The wrong people in the place that doesn't suit them
will kill the momentum.

Once momentum is kicking, leadership becomes more of keeping it going
by removing the obstacles. But, what if we are leading in a fog?
What if the direction isn't so clear for the moment? What if the
obstacles seem overwhelming? At GR we are in a season of fog, having
to find another place for our worship with not many options. We are
leading thru the fog with lots of prayer (listening as well as
asking), a strong sense of destiny, trying to live out the Bible
stories of the people of Israel as they journeyed from Egypt to the
promised land and lots of talking together. We are walking thru the
fog. I am aware that how we lead thru this fog can be helpful to
many families and individuals as they navigate foggy times. GR, the
forecast is foggy for a bit but the Lord is with us. Let's go!

Where Do Leaders Get Vision

2008-01-10T08:57:00.000-05:00

Where Do leaders get vision? One place is from God. Leaders
experience an inner push, a calling that moves the leader to see the
future and to be drawn to it. That moment can come by prayer but the
God-vision can also come in worship or in a gathering of other
leaders as they share. That is the power of our "Fuel" coming
January 26 at 4pm. Hanging around other leaders stirs our own
leadership and enlarges our vision.

Another place leaders get vision is from the day to day stories of
what the Lord is doing (or in a business, the wins of the day/week).
That is why it is so crucial to pass on the winning moments to those
who lead you at work, church or wherever. Vision is all around us
and we can get it from any number of places, from God, others and
even as we walk thru the streets. Without vision, people lose their
way and end up who knows where. Don't miss the "Fuel" gathering that
will stir your leadership January 26.

Signs Along the Way

2008-01-09T10:57:00.000-05:00

I was driving thru Ohio to WV a few years back and came across a
bizarre sign, "Lowing Flying Aircraft". I started laughing. Low
flying? I'm in a car...sitting down. How low do they go? Are they
going to land on the highway? Should I duck? I'm still laughing and
I still have no idea why the need for the sign. For the record, I
didn't see any aircraft whatsoever as I traveled!

I wonder if the Lord ever places signs in front of us that in the
moment have no meaning, no relevance but still they are placed before
us? Like parts of His word? Some of it has more meaning in one part
of life than another. Some signs are time sensitive I would guess.
Some of the truth of the word is time sensitive, too.

I still have no idea why the sign was posted but I did watch. Some
of the scripture commands can seem a bit weird, too. But who knows,
they just might be directions we will need as we motor thru life.
Watch for the signs along the way. And if they make no sense, keep
watching, you might just see a low flying aircraft!

2008-01-04T15:56:00.000-05:00

Okay so we got a Wii for Christmas. Wii for us most often means WE.
I admit I do some gaming by myself but not much. Sheila and I now
have a mostly sweat free golf experience! And, she now has a bowling
alley in her house :). We got it for us to play together. Families
need to play together to stay together. So do couples. I have one
game (baseball) that I will play solo, otherwise it's we for the wii.

2008-01-04T15:49:00.000-05:00

This past week at GR we talked about having a destiny. If you check
out the Bible, most people who had a destiny constantly fought to
keep the dream in their heart alive. When we are walking toward a
destiny we can look silly, like we are only day dreamers with no
chance in ... That's the cool thing about having a God-destiny, it
doesn't matter what others think, only what you think as you keep
listening to the Lord. That's also why we need others around us who
can keep speaking our destiny to us when no one else sees it and we
doubt it ourselves. The Bible says it like this, "Faith comes from
hearing (the word)". Sometimes you do need someone else to voice
your own destiny so that you can believe it and keep walking in it.
Who speaks that for you?