Back in the saddle again today. Breakfast: a whole wheat tortilla with all natural peanut butter, bananas, mixed nuts and raisins. Lunch: A sweet potato with olive oil, salt and pepper and herbs de provence and some grapes. Dinner: chili!
Philippians 2:
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
If you remember back 2 days...the WAY of Jesus was to make himself low...always taking the role of servant...always being subservient to the Father and to those around Him (and this is to be our exact same attitude!)
Then comes this section...THEREFORE, (anytime you see therefore in the Bible you need to ask what its there for. Its saying Jesus was humble and became obedient to death on the cross...therefore...God exalted Him. The lower He went by our standards, the higher He went in the Father's standards.
Why did this whole process of humility and exaltation take place? FOR THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
The lower we get, the higher He will be placed in our lives. The more I decrease. The more He increases.
It is all about making much of Him! Whether fasting or not...make much of Him.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Fourteen
Doh!
I encountered my first flub up on this fast in terms of diet regiment.
I'll confess my story then give some application to how this works universally then tomorrow we'll pick back up with Philippians 2.
I was pretty much smooth sailing all day yesterday (Saturday) and was filled spiritually by spending some time with lifeWorth Group leaders in the morning.
But then 4 p.m. came. I was hungry and it was Shaina's birthday. My option was leftover rice and natural salsa in a all wheat all natural tortilla wrap or I convince Shaina that it would be good for us to go to dinner to celebrate her birthday and that one flub up for her birthday isn't that big of a deal.
I convince her...namely because leftovers for a birthday dinner aren't exactly exciting her. So we go to Ruby Tuesdays. I order water (still the only beverage I've had for two weeks). Then I order the Salad Bar...with Cheeseburger Sliders...with french fries. Then, we stopped at Giant Eagle on the way home and Shaina picked up a little chocolate cake for her birthday treat. And I ate a piece.
I'm back on the wagon today...but let me tell you a couple things 1) It wasn't nearly as satisfying as my mind told me it would be. 2) My body didn't (and still isn't!) responding well to such harsh treatment. (Curse you John Kohler!) :-)
But here's the point...we will employ any number of tactics to get what we think we want that we're not supposed to have...Here's a few:
Justification...This was a big one..."But its Shaina's birthday...But I've been good to this point...But, others have failed already...etc." Some of us need a good ol' fashioned but amputation.
Blameshifting...Adam said "but the woman you gave me..." Our first way to get out of responsibility is to put it all on someone else...or God. Its as old as Adam...and doesn't help us grow in the area of integrity. I found myself blaming others on the Fast who had slipped up, modified or quit for why I shouldn't be faithful.
Entitlement...13 days of faithfulness ought to land me one day of indulgence right? Wrong...The minute you think you're owed something is the minute your judgment and spirit are clouded. The only thing you and I are entitled to is our sins being punished by banishment from God's presence...But for those who have been changed by Christ, the reality is that we have been set free and are Sons and Daughters of the King.
Flesh is Weak...Some of us try to do it all in our own strength rather than abiding in God's presence and love to sustain us, equip us and rescue us. Then we fall hard. We know that a flashlight without batteries doesn't operate very well...but yet we go around without our batteries all the time and wonder why things are too tough or we are caught in sinfulness.
NOW...IF AND WHEN WE DO MESS UP...ITS NOT ABOUT US RESIGNING OURSELVES TO THE STATUS OF FAILURE...ITS NOT ABOUT US PULLING OURSELVES UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS AND TRYING HARDER...ITS NOT ABOUT SOME TYPE OF DIVINE KARMA THAT GOD CATCHES US WITH BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LESS THAN GOOD...EVERYTHING...ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING...IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE MUCH OF HIM.
I'm doing the Daniel Fast...to make much of Him as the God who is my portion.
I messed up on the Daniel Fast...which today has me seeing more clearly that He isn't my entire portion and I need more of Him. So I can make more of him in my shortfalls.
I am granted my health to make much of Him.
I am diagnosed with a bad report to make much of Him.
I am healed to make much of Him.
I'm not healed, to make much of Him.
Do you understand? The point of this fast...The point of the Christian life... is not ever to be dictated by life's circumstances! It is today and always about
the Glory of God and our opportunity to make much of Him...BECAUSE OF and DESPITE OF our circumstances.
Make that your goal in this final week of the fast. That He would really be the center of our motivation, our sustenance and our victory!
I encountered my first flub up on this fast in terms of diet regiment.
I'll confess my story then give some application to how this works universally then tomorrow we'll pick back up with Philippians 2.
I was pretty much smooth sailing all day yesterday (Saturday) and was filled spiritually by spending some time with lifeWorth Group leaders in the morning.
But then 4 p.m. came. I was hungry and it was Shaina's birthday. My option was leftover rice and natural salsa in a all wheat all natural tortilla wrap or I convince Shaina that it would be good for us to go to dinner to celebrate her birthday and that one flub up for her birthday isn't that big of a deal.
I convince her...namely because leftovers for a birthday dinner aren't exactly exciting her. So we go to Ruby Tuesdays. I order water (still the only beverage I've had for two weeks). Then I order the Salad Bar...with Cheeseburger Sliders...with french fries. Then, we stopped at Giant Eagle on the way home and Shaina picked up a little chocolate cake for her birthday treat. And I ate a piece.
I'm back on the wagon today...but let me tell you a couple things 1) It wasn't nearly as satisfying as my mind told me it would be. 2) My body didn't (and still isn't!) responding well to such harsh treatment. (Curse you John Kohler!) :-)
But here's the point...we will employ any number of tactics to get what we think we want that we're not supposed to have...Here's a few:
Justification...This was a big one..."But its Shaina's birthday...But I've been good to this point...But, others have failed already...etc." Some of us need a good ol' fashioned but amputation.
Blameshifting...Adam said "but the woman you gave me..." Our first way to get out of responsibility is to put it all on someone else...or God. Its as old as Adam...and doesn't help us grow in the area of integrity. I found myself blaming others on the Fast who had slipped up, modified or quit for why I shouldn't be faithful.
Entitlement...13 days of faithfulness ought to land me one day of indulgence right? Wrong...The minute you think you're owed something is the minute your judgment and spirit are clouded. The only thing you and I are entitled to is our sins being punished by banishment from God's presence...But for those who have been changed by Christ, the reality is that we have been set free and are Sons and Daughters of the King.
Flesh is Weak...Some of us try to do it all in our own strength rather than abiding in God's presence and love to sustain us, equip us and rescue us. Then we fall hard. We know that a flashlight without batteries doesn't operate very well...but yet we go around without our batteries all the time and wonder why things are too tough or we are caught in sinfulness.
NOW...IF AND WHEN WE DO MESS UP...ITS NOT ABOUT US RESIGNING OURSELVES TO THE STATUS OF FAILURE...ITS NOT ABOUT US PULLING OURSELVES UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS AND TRYING HARDER...ITS NOT ABOUT SOME TYPE OF DIVINE KARMA THAT GOD CATCHES US WITH BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LESS THAN GOOD...EVERYTHING...ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING...IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE MUCH OF HIM.
I'm doing the Daniel Fast...to make much of Him as the God who is my portion.
I messed up on the Daniel Fast...which today has me seeing more clearly that He isn't my entire portion and I need more of Him. So I can make more of him in my shortfalls.
I am granted my health to make much of Him.
I am diagnosed with a bad report to make much of Him.
I am healed to make much of Him.
I'm not healed, to make much of Him.
Do you understand? The point of this fast...The point of the Christian life... is not ever to be dictated by life's circumstances! It is today and always about
the Glory of God and our opportunity to make much of Him...BECAUSE OF and DESPITE OF our circumstances.
Make that your goal in this final week of the fast. That He would really be the center of our motivation, our sustenance and our victory!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Thirteen
Philippians 2:
5 Let the same mind be in you that wasa in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Remember yesterday...sacrifice and humility begin by taking your eyes off of yourself and looking to bless, serve, and help others.
v. 5 "Your attitude" is how other translations put it...not LIKE Jesus' Not CLOSE TO Jesus'...THE SAME AS JESUS' (What's that like you might ask?)
v.6 Didn't exploit or grasp for power or authority. (But that's so un-American!?)
v.7-8 Emptied Himself...All the power Jesus had over Creation, over others, He relinquished for the cross. He chose to get low.
He took on Human Form (Low)
He became a slave (Lower)
He became obedient to death (Lower Still)
Even death on a cross (Lowest)
Every time we jockey for position, favor and recognition we seek to elevate ourselves. But our minds (and attitudes) need flipped. What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means to empty yourself...to become like the Eucharist...broken and poured out for the world...not for your own fame...but for HIS.
We are entering the final week of the fast and the prayer from the beginning day of this thing was John 3:30...He must increase BUT I must decrease. Let that be true over this last week. Get low.
5 Let the same mind be in you that wasa in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Remember yesterday...sacrifice and humility begin by taking your eyes off of yourself and looking to bless, serve, and help others.
v. 5 "Your attitude" is how other translations put it...not LIKE Jesus' Not CLOSE TO Jesus'...THE SAME AS JESUS' (What's that like you might ask?)
v.6 Didn't exploit or grasp for power or authority. (But that's so un-American!?)
v.7-8 Emptied Himself...All the power Jesus had over Creation, over others, He relinquished for the cross. He chose to get low.
He took on Human Form (Low)
He became a slave (Lower)
He became obedient to death (Lower Still)
Even death on a cross (Lowest)
Every time we jockey for position, favor and recognition we seek to elevate ourselves. But our minds (and attitudes) need flipped. What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means to empty yourself...to become like the Eucharist...broken and poured out for the world...not for your own fame...but for HIS.
We are entering the final week of the fast and the prayer from the beginning day of this thing was John 3:30...He must increase BUT I must decrease. Let that be true over this last week. Get low.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Twelve
Philippians 2: 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Going to walk through Philippians 2 over the next couple days of this fast.
Paul is in prison and he is writing to the church in Philippi to encourage them not to give up or give in, but to continue in the faith.
v. 1 If Jesus has any impact on you...If He's made any difference. If He's comforted you, encouraged you, show you compassion or tenderness...
v.2 Then be united in love, spirit and mind. Don't do this thing on your own...Don't live in judgment of others. Don't live in self-righteousness.
v.3-4 But instead root more for those around you than for yourself. Treat others more than you treat yourself. Seek blessing for others more than you seek blessing for yourself.
The temptation when we sacrifice is to turn our eyes to ourselves and what we're lacking...but Paul is saying the best way to live sacrificially and humbly is to think more about others than ourselves. So today, if there are challenges with your fast, get your eyes off yourself and get them on serving others.
Going to walk through Philippians 2 over the next couple days of this fast.
Paul is in prison and he is writing to the church in Philippi to encourage them not to give up or give in, but to continue in the faith.
v. 1 If Jesus has any impact on you...If He's made any difference. If He's comforted you, encouraged you, show you compassion or tenderness...
v.2 Then be united in love, spirit and mind. Don't do this thing on your own...Don't live in judgment of others. Don't live in self-righteousness.
v.3-4 But instead root more for those around you than for yourself. Treat others more than you treat yourself. Seek blessing for others more than you seek blessing for yourself.
The temptation when we sacrifice is to turn our eyes to ourselves and what we're lacking...but Paul is saying the best way to live sacrificially and humbly is to think more about others than ourselves. So today, if there are challenges with your fast, get your eyes off yourself and get them on serving others.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Eleven
Thought it would be good to put a song on here that is pretty much what the Daniel Fast is all about. Let it be your prayer for today.
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
You’re the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know
More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
You’re the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know
More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Ten!
Matthew 6:16 “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is at the center of all of Jesus' teachings. He unpacks a year's worth of sermons in one sermon.
He addresses fasting in the above verses...but notice where He went right before that...Matthew 6:1 Be careful of practicing your piety for others to see, for then you have no reward from your Father in Heaven.
He then talks about giving (Matthew 6:2-4) and says if you're showing off when you give resources to the Kingdom, your reward will only be that others will see you (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)
He then talks about praying (Matthew 6:5-15) and warns that if your prayer life is only geared toward the public eye, the public eye is essentially all who will hear your prayer (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)
He then goes into fasting. Again, if you are putting theatrics to your fasting, then you will receive nothing from God and only have others watch your performance (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)
This can manifest itself in lots of ways...You might announce that you are fasting everytime there is food that is not on your "To-Eat-List". It can show up as you dramatize excruciating suffering, whether headaches, hunger or some other drama. It can show up in self-righteousness as you scowl at people who are eating far less healthy than you. It can show up in your focus being solely on the weight you're shedding (or not shedding) on the scale.
Jesus is warning...Check yourself before you wreck yourself. He knows our motivations and if we are out of tune with the rhythms and melodies of His grace, He will know...and so will others around us.
But if we press in more and more to His presence...more and more into His sustaining love and grace...more and more into the cross...He will reward us (not with a juicy burger...not with a check in the mail...but with MORE OF HIM. That is the ultimate reward. So the blessing we receive when we give, when we pray and when we fast with pure and right motives is HIM.
And those who have experienced this truly and richly know there is no greater reward.
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is at the center of all of Jesus' teachings. He unpacks a year's worth of sermons in one sermon.
He addresses fasting in the above verses...but notice where He went right before that...Matthew 6:1 Be careful of practicing your piety for others to see, for then you have no reward from your Father in Heaven.
He then talks about giving (Matthew 6:2-4) and says if you're showing off when you give resources to the Kingdom, your reward will only be that others will see you (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)
He then talks about praying (Matthew 6:5-15) and warns that if your prayer life is only geared toward the public eye, the public eye is essentially all who will hear your prayer (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)
He then goes into fasting. Again, if you are putting theatrics to your fasting, then you will receive nothing from God and only have others watch your performance (which Jesus suggests was your motivation to begin with)
This can manifest itself in lots of ways...You might announce that you are fasting everytime there is food that is not on your "To-Eat-List". It can show up as you dramatize excruciating suffering, whether headaches, hunger or some other drama. It can show up in self-righteousness as you scowl at people who are eating far less healthy than you. It can show up in your focus being solely on the weight you're shedding (or not shedding) on the scale.
Jesus is warning...Check yourself before you wreck yourself. He knows our motivations and if we are out of tune with the rhythms and melodies of His grace, He will know...and so will others around us.
But if we press in more and more to His presence...more and more into His sustaining love and grace...more and more into the cross...He will reward us (not with a juicy burger...not with a check in the mail...but with MORE OF HIM. That is the ultimate reward. So the blessing we receive when we give, when we pray and when we fast with pure and right motives is HIM.
And those who have experienced this truly and richly know there is no greater reward.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Nine
"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enablede you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Col 1:9-14
Lets walk through this passage real quick.
v. 9 Paul is praying that the Colossians would be filled...meaning they weren't already full. Our lives need constant filling of the knowledge of God. I need filled...not with vegetarian chili or vegetable medley or a fruit salad...I need to be filled with knowing God today.
v. 10 How do we lead lives worthy of God and fully please Him? BY BEARING FRUIT WHICH COMES FROM KNOWING GOD. I can't even do lasting good without knowing God more.
v. 11 Where does my strength come from? Not by me pulling myself up by bootstraps! But by tapping into HIS GLORIOUS POWER (By KNOWING HIM!) Want to make today's fast simpler...don't go it alone!
v. 12 Is life going to be peachy smooth sailing when I know God more? Apparently not...Why would Paul talk about patience and endurance if everything was going to be perfect when I followed Jesus? Hardship is guaranteed. But those who know God more will endure WITH JOY AND THANKFULNESS.
v.13 God has enabled us to share in His riches...another word for enabled is qualified. You have not earned the Gospel...You've been qualified for it by the grace and sacrifice of the cross. That should leave no arrogance or self-confidence in you, but should leave you humble and desperate for grace to live every day.
v. 14 We've been rescued from darkness! Transferred to His Kingdom! Redeemed by His Son! And forgiven of our sins.
Have a good day today. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Lets walk through this passage real quick.
v. 9 Paul is praying that the Colossians would be filled...meaning they weren't already full. Our lives need constant filling of the knowledge of God. I need filled...not with vegetarian chili or vegetable medley or a fruit salad...I need to be filled with knowing God today.
v. 10 How do we lead lives worthy of God and fully please Him? BY BEARING FRUIT WHICH COMES FROM KNOWING GOD. I can't even do lasting good without knowing God more.
v. 11 Where does my strength come from? Not by me pulling myself up by bootstraps! But by tapping into HIS GLORIOUS POWER (By KNOWING HIM!) Want to make today's fast simpler...don't go it alone!
v. 12 Is life going to be peachy smooth sailing when I know God more? Apparently not...Why would Paul talk about patience and endurance if everything was going to be perfect when I followed Jesus? Hardship is guaranteed. But those who know God more will endure WITH JOY AND THANKFULNESS.
v.13 God has enabled us to share in His riches...another word for enabled is qualified. You have not earned the Gospel...You've been qualified for it by the grace and sacrifice of the cross. That should leave no arrogance or self-confidence in you, but should leave you humble and desperate for grace to live every day.
v. 14 We've been rescued from darkness! Transferred to His Kingdom! Redeemed by His Son! And forgiven of our sins.
Have a good day today. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Monday, January 24, 2011
daniel fast day 8
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us Ephesians 3:20
Week two begins today. For me, I no longer want to make this about diet. This week I want to press in more and more to God, the grace and power of His cross, and the wisdom of His presence.
We need to shift from 'survive mode' to 'thrive mode'. God wants to do more than just get you through these 3 weeks. He wants to do immeasurably more...do we believe that? Do we believe that as we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, He will reveal His will to us.
God wants to take us deeper into Him today...so when your flesh is weak, but your Spirit is willing, ask God to work in power.
An area to focus our prayers on today is the process of finding our new lead pastor. So pray for the Staff Parish Relations Committee...that they would seek God's face and will in this process. Pray for the candidates that are recommended...that he or she will know clearly whether God is calling them here or not. Pray not for your own agenda, but pray for God's will to be done!
Week two begins today. For me, I no longer want to make this about diet. This week I want to press in more and more to God, the grace and power of His cross, and the wisdom of His presence.
We need to shift from 'survive mode' to 'thrive mode'. God wants to do more than just get you through these 3 weeks. He wants to do immeasurably more...do we believe that? Do we believe that as we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, He will reveal His will to us.
God wants to take us deeper into Him today...so when your flesh is weak, but your Spirit is willing, ask God to work in power.
An area to focus our prayers on today is the process of finding our new lead pastor. So pray for the Staff Parish Relations Committee...that they would seek God's face and will in this process. Pray for the candidates that are recommended...that he or she will know clearly whether God is calling them here or not. Pray not for your own agenda, but pray for God's will to be done!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Seven
Powerful Message today in worship.
Couple take aways that should help us with the Daniel Fast
"Sacrifice...Sacrifice"
Making Jesus Lord is not about a resolution. We don't resolve to do it...to make it happen...to try harder to be a good person or a faithful Christian...we surrender...we yield.
Its not enough that we just know Jesus as our Savior...we need to know Him as Lord.
The reason churches are dying is because often they are filled with narcissists who think its about themselves rather than about the God who made them and their church.
How can anyone worship the Most High Living God and be in His presence on Sunday morning and then say "Ok, that will last me all week." Making Jesus Lord is a 24/7 endeavor.
One week down, two to go...you can do this...because the Living God gives you the strength and the grace to do it!
Couple take aways that should help us with the Daniel Fast
"Sacrifice...Sacrifice"
Making Jesus Lord is not about a resolution. We don't resolve to do it...to make it happen...to try harder to be a good person or a faithful Christian...we surrender...we yield.
Its not enough that we just know Jesus as our Savior...we need to know Him as Lord.
The reason churches are dying is because often they are filled with narcissists who think its about themselves rather than about the God who made them and their church.
How can anyone worship the Most High Living God and be in His presence on Sunday morning and then say "Ok, that will last me all week." Making Jesus Lord is a 24/7 endeavor.
One week down, two to go...you can do this...because the Living God gives you the strength and the grace to do it!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Six
Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." (Matthew 6:9-13)
In some ways, the rote-ness of this prayer may steal its potency.
But pray this multiple times today focusing on what all this prayer conveys.
Our Father (It's corporate not private...He's Father/we're children)
In Heaven (He is divine (we aren't)
Hallowed (Worthy of Worship)
Be Your Name (His...Not's ours)
Your kingdom come (He's King...we're not)
Your will be done (He's Sovereign...we're not)
On earth as it is in Heaven (He's a God who gets involved)
Give us this day our daily bread (He is provider/we are provided for)
And forgive us our trespasses (Redemption is on Him/not us)
As we forgive others (We are called to go and do likewise)
And lead us not into temptation (He protects, we're protected)
but deliver us from evil (He delivers, we're delivered)
Amen. (So be it)
In some ways, the rote-ness of this prayer may steal its potency.
But pray this multiple times today focusing on what all this prayer conveys.
Our Father (It's corporate not private...He's Father/we're children)
In Heaven (He is divine (we aren't)
Hallowed (Worthy of Worship)
Be Your Name (His...Not's ours)
Your kingdom come (He's King...we're not)
Your will be done (He's Sovereign...we're not)
On earth as it is in Heaven (He's a God who gets involved)
Give us this day our daily bread (He is provider/we are provided for)
And forgive us our trespasses (Redemption is on Him/not us)
As we forgive others (We are called to go and do likewise)
And lead us not into temptation (He protects, we're protected)
but deliver us from evil (He delivers, we're delivered)
Amen. (So be it)
Friday, January 21, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Five
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
God is disciplining me on this. Last night during Sweet Hour of Prayer I really felt conviction about being prayerful and thankful through this season.
It's not what we are lacking during this fast, but who we have. There are moments where my concern is on what I'm going to eat for my next meal...but I'm missing the blessing that God is still providing richly for me. In Kenya, when our team went two summers ago, these three kids and others like them had orange hair that was receding. This meant that they were severely malnourished and were eating about an average of one meal every three days. I am eating essentially 5 or 6 small meals a day...and when I'm not in the presence of God, I eat them begrudgingly. God forgive me.
Then, I go to the fridge to get a drink and I have one option, good ol' h2o. And I'm not content. I think I'm suffering. Then I see this add from charity:water a non-profit trying to provide clean water to the world.
Again, its not what we are lacking, but what and Who we have. That is what this is about...I'm getting a swift kick in the pants today from the Lord who wants me to know Him deeper and cast off dependence on food, drinks and substances. If you're in the same boat as me with the struggle for contentment...feel free to receive this kick in the pants too. Press in to Him.
Last night, Jennifer Satink shared a little saying she read on a chocolate wrapper (not doing the Daniel Fast). It said "Blessings come to those who notice."
God give us eyes to see.
God is disciplining me on this. Last night during Sweet Hour of Prayer I really felt conviction about being prayerful and thankful through this season.
It's not what we are lacking during this fast, but who we have. There are moments where my concern is on what I'm going to eat for my next meal...but I'm missing the blessing that God is still providing richly for me. In Kenya, when our team went two summers ago, these three kids and others like them had orange hair that was receding. This meant that they were severely malnourished and were eating about an average of one meal every three days. I am eating essentially 5 or 6 small meals a day...and when I'm not in the presence of God, I eat them begrudgingly. God forgive me.
Then, I go to the fridge to get a drink and I have one option, good ol' h2o. And I'm not content. I think I'm suffering. Then I see this add from charity:water a non-profit trying to provide clean water to the world.
Again, its not what we are lacking, but what and Who we have. That is what this is about...I'm getting a swift kick in the pants today from the Lord who wants me to know Him deeper and cast off dependence on food, drinks and substances. If you're in the same boat as me with the struggle for contentment...feel free to receive this kick in the pants too. Press in to Him.
Last night, Jennifer Satink shared a little saying she read on a chocolate wrapper (not doing the Daniel Fast). It said "Blessings come to those who notice."
God give us eyes to see.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Four
"The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.” (Exodus 16:1-8)
It's a pretty bold statement that the Israelites make..."We were better off as slaves back in Egypt." God miraculously brings 10 plagues against Egypt...rescues the people who'd cried out to be rescued...parts the Red Sea to save them, then swallows up their enemy by closing the sea at just the right time...That's what God has done in recent days, weeks and months...and Israel's short term memory has fizzled. Their appetite is bigger than their heart for God. They'd rather choose bondage and oppression than to stick with the God who has proven trustworthy over and over again.
And 3500 years later, we're not a whole lot different. The minute a trial or hardship comes our way, many of us start to question whether God is good, whether God is faithful, whether it might have been better for us to choose a life of bondage and sin rather than the freedom we have in Christ.
Even in this 21 day fast, we are tempted day after day to go back to Egypt, rather than stay on the path we're heading. I had a dream last night that I snuck 3 pieces of greasy, artery clogging, stuffed crust pizza. Every time I go to the fridge and have the singular option of H2O, I think about Egypt.
But God IS good. And God IS faithful. He provided manna (in the Hebrew, literally "What is it?") in the wilderness. It was exactly what they needed to be sustained.
So let's practice the Manna Principle today...GOD WILL GIVE ME EXACTLY WHAT I NEED TO LIVE TODAY.
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.” (Exodus 16:1-8)
It's a pretty bold statement that the Israelites make..."We were better off as slaves back in Egypt." God miraculously brings 10 plagues against Egypt...rescues the people who'd cried out to be rescued...parts the Red Sea to save them, then swallows up their enemy by closing the sea at just the right time...That's what God has done in recent days, weeks and months...and Israel's short term memory has fizzled. Their appetite is bigger than their heart for God. They'd rather choose bondage and oppression than to stick with the God who has proven trustworthy over and over again.
And 3500 years later, we're not a whole lot different. The minute a trial or hardship comes our way, many of us start to question whether God is good, whether God is faithful, whether it might have been better for us to choose a life of bondage and sin rather than the freedom we have in Christ.
Even in this 21 day fast, we are tempted day after day to go back to Egypt, rather than stay on the path we're heading. I had a dream last night that I snuck 3 pieces of greasy, artery clogging, stuffed crust pizza. Every time I go to the fridge and have the singular option of H2O, I think about Egypt.
But God IS good. And God IS faithful. He provided manna (in the Hebrew, literally "What is it?") in the wilderness. It was exactly what they needed to be sustained.
So let's practice the Manna Principle today...GOD WILL GIVE ME EXACTLY WHAT I NEED TO LIVE TODAY.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Daniel Fast Day 3
Can I tell you a secret?
Philippians 4: 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Its the secret to contentment...Paul, who was imprisoned for the gospel, beaten for the gospel, shipwrecked for the gospel, shamed for the gospel, and ultimately would give his life for the gospel knew this secret well. He could do all this through Christ who gave him strength.
That's what this journey is about...is learning this secret. And if I'm honest, my focus through 48 hours has been more on food than it has on Christ. Even now, though our bodies are being detoxed and we're missing out on some staple foods, we are still well fed.
I woke up with this on my mind...that even now, though I feel hungry...I've never once in my life experienced the true depth of hunger. We can do this...because He gives us strength.
So, CONTENTMENT is the word of the day...when your stomach growls, when you feel like being irritable, when you want to cut corners or quit...Whisper this prayer..."Show me the secret of contentment Lord, Give me Strength."
Philippians 4: 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Its the secret to contentment...Paul, who was imprisoned for the gospel, beaten for the gospel, shipwrecked for the gospel, shamed for the gospel, and ultimately would give his life for the gospel knew this secret well. He could do all this through Christ who gave him strength.
That's what this journey is about...is learning this secret. And if I'm honest, my focus through 48 hours has been more on food than it has on Christ. Even now, though our bodies are being detoxed and we're missing out on some staple foods, we are still well fed.
I woke up with this on my mind...that even now, though I feel hungry...I've never once in my life experienced the true depth of hunger. We can do this...because He gives us strength.
So, CONTENTMENT is the word of the day...when your stomach growls, when you feel like being irritable, when you want to cut corners or quit...Whisper this prayer..."Show me the secret of contentment Lord, Give me Strength."
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Daniel Fast Day Two
Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
True Life won't come from food. It will come from me feasting on the presence of God. Too many of us are malnourished in this. The symptoms of Jesus malnutrition begin small; short tempers, sarcasm, selfish motives...but the more we starve ourselves of Christ, the more bitterness, hatred, broken relationships, lack of self-control and dissension that will rise to the surface.
This is the perfect time to change our most important diet and pray life our lives depend on it...because they do.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
True Life won't come from food. It will come from me feasting on the presence of God. Too many of us are malnourished in this. The symptoms of Jesus malnutrition begin small; short tempers, sarcasm, selfish motives...but the more we starve ourselves of Christ, the more bitterness, hatred, broken relationships, lack of self-control and dissension that will rise to the surface.
This is the perfect time to change our most important diet and pray life our lives depend on it...because they do.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Daniel Fast Day One
Our Church is going through a season of intensified prayerfulness. Along with the sermon series, ONE PRAYER, we are also inviting the entire church to partner in one (or more) of 8 unique prayer initiatives.
The first initiative to be launched is one of the most challenging. It is known as the Daniel Fast. In the Bible, Daniel fasted in two different contexts, the first was to abstain from the foods king and his men ate, which ended up being a testimony to God's ability to sustain and strengthen him on an unlikely diet. (Daniel 1) Then, Daniel fasted for three weeks to discern God's will and seek out the plan that God has for Him. (Daniel 10)
So, starting today, a group of about 40 of us are entering into a 21 day fast that will press us deeper into prayer and cleanse our bodies and minds of years and years of mistreatment. The 21 day fast is not a fast from all foods, but instead is 21 days eating only fruits and vegetables and drinking water. Here is the description of the 'shalls and shall nots'
Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast:
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.
Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast:
All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.
So, over the next 21 days, I'm going to walk through the struggles, victories and revelations of what God is doing. If you're doing the fast, feel free to journey with us in the Comment section...give us updates to how to pray for you, some meal options that you've found pretty tasty, etc. If you're just checking out the blog, please continue to do so and pray for me and others doing this fasting journey.
********************
Day One Update:
Apparently, mountain dew has caffeine in it...and apparently if you randomly stop drinking a bunch of caffeine, it will cause headaches. :-) But I am content today. I am convicted that food is a borderline idol for me...and I will not find my security or dependence there any longer.
Prayer Focus today: John 3:30 "That God might increase, but I might decrease." God will you help our eyes to be fixed on you and not on hunger or discomfort. Let this be a day where we can make much of you and continue to work more and more on making less and less of ourselves. Amen.
Day One Food
Breakfast...piece of cantaloupe and an orange with a glass of water
Lunch...Some whole wheat, all natural, unleavened crackers with some all natural peanut butter (Didn't realize that natural peanut butter had oil separated from the peanuts that you have to stir back together...learn something new every day) and some raisins with a glass of water.
Snack...Grapes and Blueberries
Dinner...Homemade Vegetable Soup (Recipe below)
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped leeks, white part only (from approximately 3 medium leeks)
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
Salt
2 cups carrots, peeled and chopped into rounds (approximately 2 medium)
2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
2 cups fresh green beans, broken or cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 quarts vegetable broth
4 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
2 ears corn, kernels removed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup packed, chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 - 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
The first initiative to be launched is one of the most challenging. It is known as the Daniel Fast. In the Bible, Daniel fasted in two different contexts, the first was to abstain from the foods king and his men ate, which ended up being a testimony to God's ability to sustain and strengthen him on an unlikely diet. (Daniel 1) Then, Daniel fasted for three weeks to discern God's will and seek out the plan that God has for Him. (Daniel 10)
So, starting today, a group of about 40 of us are entering into a 21 day fast that will press us deeper into prayer and cleanse our bodies and minds of years and years of mistreatment. The 21 day fast is not a fast from all foods, but instead is 21 days eating only fruits and vegetables and drinking water. Here is the description of the 'shalls and shall nots'
Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast:
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.
Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast:
All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.
So, over the next 21 days, I'm going to walk through the struggles, victories and revelations of what God is doing. If you're doing the fast, feel free to journey with us in the Comment section...give us updates to how to pray for you, some meal options that you've found pretty tasty, etc. If you're just checking out the blog, please continue to do so and pray for me and others doing this fasting journey.
********************
Day One Update:
Apparently, mountain dew has caffeine in it...and apparently if you randomly stop drinking a bunch of caffeine, it will cause headaches. :-) But I am content today. I am convicted that food is a borderline idol for me...and I will not find my security or dependence there any longer.
Prayer Focus today: John 3:30 "That God might increase, but I might decrease." God will you help our eyes to be fixed on you and not on hunger or discomfort. Let this be a day where we can make much of you and continue to work more and more on making less and less of ourselves. Amen.
Day One Food
Breakfast...piece of cantaloupe and an orange with a glass of water
Lunch...Some whole wheat, all natural, unleavened crackers with some all natural peanut butter (Didn't realize that natural peanut butter had oil separated from the peanuts that you have to stir back together...learn something new every day) and some raisins with a glass of water.
Snack...Grapes and Blueberries
Dinner...Homemade Vegetable Soup (Recipe below)
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped leeks, white part only (from approximately 3 medium leeks)
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
Salt
2 cups carrots, peeled and chopped into rounds (approximately 2 medium)
2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
2 cups fresh green beans, broken or cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 quarts vegetable broth
4 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
2 ears corn, kernels removed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup packed, chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 - 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Monday Meanderings on Church and Leadership III
Stomp and The Challenge of Leadership
Shaina and I went to see Stomp this past Friday night in Columbus. It was a lot of fun. And the talent of the percussionists was ridiculous.
One thing that happened that had me thinking about leadership (yes, some people are nerds), was that at different points in the show, individuals from the Stomp Cast would engage the audience in keeping the rhythm. It was almost always very basic. The guy would clap twice and we'd echo it. Then, he might clap three times and we'd echo it. The simpler his clap was, the more precise the crowd's echo was. However, at the very end of the show he tried to get 4 different sections keeping four different beats going. It was an absolute train wreck.
In your organization or your church there are going to be a select few who are All In. They are talented, operating in their strenghts and gifting, on board with the vision and mission and just ready to go at it with all they've got.
But then there are the masses. They are perhaps in it for the paycheck, or in it because that's what they've always done, or in it for a myriad of self-serving reasons.
The challenge in leadership is to figure out how far you can take that audience in imparting the vision and delegating authority.
Many will not trust the masses and give them little to no piece to the vision/authority. This will keep the onus squarely on the select few to 'perform' and keep the machine running. This may work for a while but losing one or two cogs in such a machine will be devastating.
Some will try to give vision away, imparting it to the masses in large quantities and then wondering why its been sabotaged, or why there was revolt, or no buy in, or a rhythmic train wreck.
Good leadership must find the balance between these two extremes, because when the whole organization makes beautiful music, it is powerful.
Shaina and I went to see Stomp this past Friday night in Columbus. It was a lot of fun. And the talent of the percussionists was ridiculous.
One thing that happened that had me thinking about leadership (yes, some people are nerds), was that at different points in the show, individuals from the Stomp Cast would engage the audience in keeping the rhythm. It was almost always very basic. The guy would clap twice and we'd echo it. Then, he might clap three times and we'd echo it. The simpler his clap was, the more precise the crowd's echo was. However, at the very end of the show he tried to get 4 different sections keeping four different beats going. It was an absolute train wreck.
In your organization or your church there are going to be a select few who are All In. They are talented, operating in their strenghts and gifting, on board with the vision and mission and just ready to go at it with all they've got.
But then there are the masses. They are perhaps in it for the paycheck, or in it because that's what they've always done, or in it for a myriad of self-serving reasons.
The challenge in leadership is to figure out how far you can take that audience in imparting the vision and delegating authority.
Many will not trust the masses and give them little to no piece to the vision/authority. This will keep the onus squarely on the select few to 'perform' and keep the machine running. This may work for a while but losing one or two cogs in such a machine will be devastating.
Some will try to give vision away, imparting it to the masses in large quantities and then wondering why its been sabotaged, or why there was revolt, or no buy in, or a rhythmic train wreck.
Good leadership must find the balance between these two extremes, because when the whole organization makes beautiful music, it is powerful.
One Prayer Week Two
Pastor Jerry brought a message on One Call yesterday and spoke on Matthew 16 where Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ (messiah, anointed one) the Son of the Living God.
Everything in our lives hinges on this one question. Who do you say that Jesus is? Many in that day said that He was John the Baptist, or Elijah or Jeremiah or another great prophet. But they all missed out on the true identity of this God-man. There are many today who still consider Jesus a great prophet, a great teacher or a great man.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’
This is a startling passage in Matthew where Jesus makes clear that people who claim Jesus as Lord and even do work in His name aren't guaranteed the Kingdom.
A couple things happen in the Christ Follower upon them professing Jesus as Lord:
1. Surrender of Will (Not once but always)
2. Transforming Sanctification (His grace changes you) If you don't have a before/after story of what Jesus Christ has done in your life, then be very cautious. Jesus changes us. Simon was renamed Peter. Saul was renamed Paul. The disciples left an old way of life to follow him. The lame were made able. The blind could see. The dead were raised to life. If our story is, "I prayed a prayer to Jesus and now I'm 'covered' for Heaven"...we've missed it.
**********
The other highlight of the day was our role with the church. The bride of Christ, imperfect but perfecting is where the transformed person continues transforming. We need each other to walk through this life. If there was such thing as a perfect church, there would be need for Christ, no need for confession and the forgiveness of sins, no need for each the sacraments, etc. Bonhoeffer said it well...Our expectations of what Church 'ought to be' are often the biggest barrier to community.
Next up: Kurt Landerholm on One Lord!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
It was better when...
be careful of that line...
It might cause you to wax nostalgic and miss the Wind of God...
It might cause you to breed negativity in your church or organization...
It might cause you to choose bondage over freedom.
The Israelites used that line...said It was better when they were slaves in Egypt than it was as God led them in the Wilderness.
The way it was generally wasn't as great as you remember it being and your fervor to prove it was makes me think it was more golden calf than movement of God.
And remember, if you're in the Wilderness...that means you're on the brink of the Promised Land.
Don't turn back now.
It might cause you to wax nostalgic and miss the Wind of God...
It might cause you to breed negativity in your church or organization...
It might cause you to choose bondage over freedom.
The Israelites used that line...said It was better when they were slaves in Egypt than it was as God led them in the Wilderness.
The way it was generally wasn't as great as you remember it being and your fervor to prove it was makes me think it was more golden calf than movement of God.
And remember, if you're in the Wilderness...that means you're on the brink of the Promised Land.
Don't turn back now.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Life's a Peach!!!
Week 13 of Pregnancy: Fetal Growth Rates
Your fetus is now about three inches long, the size of a peach — and half of that length is head. By the time your baby is ready to make his or her entrance into the world, the head will be only one-fourth as large as the body.
Your fetus is about three inches long and the size of a peach at 13 weeks pregnant. But don't compare your fetus with the fetus next door. Starting about now, babies begin growing at different paces, some faster than others, some more slowly, though they all follow the same developmental path. Growing at a universally breakneck speed now is your baby's body as it tries to catch up to the head in terms of size. Though your baby's head is about half the size of its body now, by the time your baby is ready to make his or her entrance into the world, the head will be only one-fourth as large as the body.
Your baby's intestines are also in for some big changes right now. Up till this point, they've been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; but now they're moving to their permanent (and more conveniently located) address, in your baby's abdomen. And to serve your growing baby's needs, the placenta is also growing. It weighs about an ounce now and will weigh one to two pounds at birth (something else you'll soon be able to blame your weight gain on!).
Also developing this week: your baby's vocal chords. Because sound can't travel through your uterus (your baby's current habitat), you won't be able to hear any sounds or cries just yet, but oh boy (or girl) — those vocal chords will get a good workout once that baby is born.
(Note...I don't have a uterus...Its the update Shaina gets weekly from What to Expect. I do think that the mammoth head size is indicative of a massive brain) :-)
Your fetus is now about three inches long, the size of a peach — and half of that length is head. By the time your baby is ready to make his or her entrance into the world, the head will be only one-fourth as large as the body.
Your fetus is about three inches long and the size of a peach at 13 weeks pregnant. But don't compare your fetus with the fetus next door. Starting about now, babies begin growing at different paces, some faster than others, some more slowly, though they all follow the same developmental path. Growing at a universally breakneck speed now is your baby's body as it tries to catch up to the head in terms of size. Though your baby's head is about half the size of its body now, by the time your baby is ready to make his or her entrance into the world, the head will be only one-fourth as large as the body.
Your baby's intestines are also in for some big changes right now. Up till this point, they've been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; but now they're moving to their permanent (and more conveniently located) address, in your baby's abdomen. And to serve your growing baby's needs, the placenta is also growing. It weighs about an ounce now and will weigh one to two pounds at birth (something else you'll soon be able to blame your weight gain on!).
Also developing this week: your baby's vocal chords. Because sound can't travel through your uterus (your baby's current habitat), you won't be able to hear any sounds or cries just yet, but oh boy (or girl) — those vocal chords will get a good workout once that baby is born.
(Note...I don't have a uterus...Its the update Shaina gets weekly from What to Expect. I do think that the mammoth head size is indicative of a massive brain) :-)
Mow your path!
Early African Christians were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."
Prayerfulness above all other things, expresses our desperate need for God. If that is true, then prayerlessness for a Christian is as arrogant and defiant of a sin as could ever be named.
Mow your path...and don't pray petty self-indulgent small god prayers. Don't pray out of obligation or duty, but pray because enjoying him is incomparable to any other enjoyment. Pray like your life depends on it...because it does.
Prayerfulness above all other things, expresses our desperate need for God. If that is true, then prayerlessness for a Christian is as arrogant and defiant of a sin as could ever be named.
Mow your path...and don't pray petty self-indulgent small god prayers. Don't pray out of obligation or duty, but pray because enjoying him is incomparable to any other enjoyment. Pray like your life depends on it...because it does.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Monday Meanderings on Church and Leadership II
Within a couple minutes, I read all these blog posts by Seth Godin. As far as I know, Godin has little to know affiliation with church. But he weighs in on leadership in some pretty compelling ways. These were timely for me:
Insurgents and incumbents
Incumbents compromise to please the committee and bend over backwards to defend the status quo.
Insurgents have the ability to work without a committee and to destroy the status quo.
The game is stacked in favor of the insurgents, except--
They're under pressure from boards, investors and neighbors to act like incumbents.
It takes guts to be an insurgent, and even though the asymmetrical nature of challenging the status quo is in their favor, often we find we're short on guts. ... and then the incumbents prevail.
That's not the way we do things about here
Please don't underestimate how powerful this sentence is.
When you say this to a colleague, a new hire, a student or a freelancer, you've established a powerful norm, one that they will be hesitant to challenge.
This might be exactly what you were hoping for, but if your goal is to encourage innovation, you blew it.
Making meetings more expensive
...might actually make them cost less.
What would happen if your organization hired a meeting fairie?
The fairie's job would be to ensure that meetings were short, efficient and effective. He would focus on:
•Getting precisely the right people invited, but no others.
•Making the meeting start right on time.
•Scheduling meetings so that they don't end when Outlook says they should, but so that they end when they need to.
•Ensuring that every meeting has a clearly defined purpose, and accomplishes that purpose, then ends.
•Welcoming guests appropriately. If you are hosting someone, the fairie makes sure the guest has adequate directions, a place to productively wait before the meeting starts, access to the internet, something to drink, biographies of who else will be in the room and a clear understanding of the goals of the meeting.
•Managing the flow of information, including agendas and Powerpoints. This includes eliminating the last minute running around looking for a VGA cable or a monitor that works. The fairie would make sure that everyone left with a copy of whatever they needed.
•Issuing a follow up memo to everyone who attended the meeting, clearly delineating who came and what was decided.
If you do all this, every time you call a meeting it's going to cost more to organize. Which means you'll call fewer meetings, those meetings will be shorter and more efficient. And in the long run, you'll waste less time and get more done.
So which hits home? Insurgents/Sacred Cows or Meaningful Meetings?
Insurgents and incumbents
Incumbents compromise to please the committee and bend over backwards to defend the status quo.
Insurgents have the ability to work without a committee and to destroy the status quo.
The game is stacked in favor of the insurgents, except--
They're under pressure from boards, investors and neighbors to act like incumbents.
It takes guts to be an insurgent, and even though the asymmetrical nature of challenging the status quo is in their favor, often we find we're short on guts. ... and then the incumbents prevail.
That's not the way we do things about here
Please don't underestimate how powerful this sentence is.
When you say this to a colleague, a new hire, a student or a freelancer, you've established a powerful norm, one that they will be hesitant to challenge.
This might be exactly what you were hoping for, but if your goal is to encourage innovation, you blew it.
Making meetings more expensive
...might actually make them cost less.
What would happen if your organization hired a meeting fairie?
The fairie's job would be to ensure that meetings were short, efficient and effective. He would focus on:
•Getting precisely the right people invited, but no others.
•Making the meeting start right on time.
•Scheduling meetings so that they don't end when Outlook says they should, but so that they end when they need to.
•Ensuring that every meeting has a clearly defined purpose, and accomplishes that purpose, then ends.
•Welcoming guests appropriately. If you are hosting someone, the fairie makes sure the guest has adequate directions, a place to productively wait before the meeting starts, access to the internet, something to drink, biographies of who else will be in the room and a clear understanding of the goals of the meeting.
•Managing the flow of information, including agendas and Powerpoints. This includes eliminating the last minute running around looking for a VGA cable or a monitor that works. The fairie would make sure that everyone left with a copy of whatever they needed.
•Issuing a follow up memo to everyone who attended the meeting, clearly delineating who came and what was decided.
If you do all this, every time you call a meeting it's going to cost more to organize. Which means you'll call fewer meetings, those meetings will be shorter and more efficient. And in the long run, you'll waste less time and get more done.
So which hits home? Insurgents/Sacred Cows or Meaningful Meetings?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
One Prayer Week One
TEACH US HOW TO PRAY.
We launched our One Prayer series today and Pastor Jim's one prayer for 2011 is that God would teach us to pray.
Today was a crazy day in the life of our church. Announcements were made about church family diagnosed with cancer, broken foot, and our Pastor announced he is being moved to the role of District Superintendent in the Ohio Valley for the East Ohio Conference of the UMC. He will depart for his new post in July.
The timing of this One Prayer series is impeccable. At a time when there is a whirlwind of 'life' happening, God wants us more than ever to press in to know him more.
We had over 200 people commit to participate in at least one Prayer Initiative during this series. Can't tell you how excited I am about that.
The most frustrating/disappointing part of my time at Wadsworth is the lack of prayerfulness in corporate gathering. In a church that averages between 325 and 375 each Sunday, it baffles me that our weekly prayer meeting consists of 6 people.
Yet in those prayer times, there has certainly been a stirring of anticipation for what God is preparing in our midst. Can't Wait to see what's next.
Next Sunday: Pastor Jerry is bringing the message on ONE CALLING. And next Monday, over 40 people, myself included, will endeavor on a 3 week prayer journey called the Daniel Fast...No meats and No sweets. Basically just fruits, veggies and water for 3 weeks as we turn ourselves to Him.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Worship and Justice
Though none of us alone can tackle the massive injustice and poverty that shatters so many, together we are a force for good that exponentially increases our opportunity to lift those in need.
For us at Passion, being a movement for Jesus means loving the things He loves and moving where He moves in an effort to make Him happy and bring His light and love to all people of the world. Knowing that Jesus always moves to the weak, the poor, the prisoner and to those without a voice, Do Something Now has become a vital part of the fabric of every Passion gathering.
Over the four days of Passion 2011 Atlanta, over 22,000+ were rocked to the core and united for the world. We were challenged to partner with amazing organizations to fund ten local/global causes at a cost of $470,000.
Here’s what happened:
Cause//Goal//Given
Homeless//Towels and Socks for Atlanta area shelters. Given: 18,400 towels and 88,000 pairs of socks!
Clean water//$75,000 for 15 wells in villages in India. Given: 24 wells!
Micro-finance//200 small business loans for Afghan entrepreneurs totaling $40,000.
Given: 387 loans!
Bibles//20,000 New Testaments to unreached in Colombia at $20,000. Given: 31,554 New Testaments!
Feeding Children//Feed 1,000 at risk children in South Africa for one year at $50,000. Given: Feeding 2,225 children!
Homes//Build 15 homes in Haiti at $54,000. Given: 39 homes!
Sponsor Children//Sponsor 150 children and provide family essentials at a cost of $100,00. Given: 442 children sponsored!
Human trafficking//Restoration and a future for 10 girls trapped in sex slavery in Bolivia at a cost of $36,000. Given: 22 girls rescued/restored!
Surgeries for Children//$50,000 to fund 50 Hydrocephalus surgeries in Uganda. Given: 141 surgeries!
Rescue women//$45,000 to fund 10 rescue operations to free sex slaves in the Philippines (each operation frees 15 women on average). Given: 29 rescue operations!
Plus, College fund for Haitian earthquake survivor, Therissa Leo. Given: $23,106!
(This was not planned beforehand or factored into the $470,000 goal.)
Total Given at Passion 2011 Atlanta: $1,167,249.24
If you are wondering if your eyes are playing tricks on you, students/leaders/volunteers at Passion 2011 Atl gave over $1.1 million for the last and least of these in Jesus’ name. While the dollar amount is staggering, we cannot begin to quantify the intangible value of students connecting with those who will benefit from these gifts by writing a note/prayer to women being rescued, praying over a Bible or weeping for a family or a nation.
Do Something Now = worship + justice, what we believe God wants most from us. Something beautiful has shifted and we will never be the same. Stay connected and share Do Something Now with your friends and family who were not a part of Passion 2011 Atlanta at our new site: DoSomethingNow.com.
Thank You Jesus, for loving and rescuing us, and for giving us the chance to invest our money and our lives in the things that matter most in the end!
_________________________________________
Through Jesus, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, which is the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good, and sharing with others, for with these sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16
For us at Passion, being a movement for Jesus means loving the things He loves and moving where He moves in an effort to make Him happy and bring His light and love to all people of the world. Knowing that Jesus always moves to the weak, the poor, the prisoner and to those without a voice, Do Something Now has become a vital part of the fabric of every Passion gathering.
Over the four days of Passion 2011 Atlanta, over 22,000+ were rocked to the core and united for the world. We were challenged to partner with amazing organizations to fund ten local/global causes at a cost of $470,000.
Here’s what happened:
Cause//Goal//Given
Homeless//Towels and Socks for Atlanta area shelters. Given: 18,400 towels and 88,000 pairs of socks!
Clean water//$75,000 for 15 wells in villages in India. Given: 24 wells!
Micro-finance//200 small business loans for Afghan entrepreneurs totaling $40,000.
Given: 387 loans!
Bibles//20,000 New Testaments to unreached in Colombia at $20,000. Given: 31,554 New Testaments!
Feeding Children//Feed 1,000 at risk children in South Africa for one year at $50,000. Given: Feeding 2,225 children!
Homes//Build 15 homes in Haiti at $54,000. Given: 39 homes!
Sponsor Children//Sponsor 150 children and provide family essentials at a cost of $100,00. Given: 442 children sponsored!
Human trafficking//Restoration and a future for 10 girls trapped in sex slavery in Bolivia at a cost of $36,000. Given: 22 girls rescued/restored!
Surgeries for Children//$50,000 to fund 50 Hydrocephalus surgeries in Uganda. Given: 141 surgeries!
Rescue women//$45,000 to fund 10 rescue operations to free sex slaves in the Philippines (each operation frees 15 women on average). Given: 29 rescue operations!
Plus, College fund for Haitian earthquake survivor, Therissa Leo. Given: $23,106!
(This was not planned beforehand or factored into the $470,000 goal.)
Total Given at Passion 2011 Atlanta: $1,167,249.24
If you are wondering if your eyes are playing tricks on you, students/leaders/volunteers at Passion 2011 Atl gave over $1.1 million for the last and least of these in Jesus’ name. While the dollar amount is staggering, we cannot begin to quantify the intangible value of students connecting with those who will benefit from these gifts by writing a note/prayer to women being rescued, praying over a Bible or weeping for a family or a nation.
Do Something Now = worship + justice, what we believe God wants most from us. Something beautiful has shifted and we will never be the same. Stay connected and share Do Something Now with your friends and family who were not a part of Passion 2011 Atlanta at our new site: DoSomethingNow.com.
Thank You Jesus, for loving and rescuing us, and for giving us the chance to invest our money and our lives in the things that matter most in the end!
_________________________________________
Through Jesus, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, which is the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good, and sharing with others, for with these sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16
He who laughs last
This is pretty funny to me. Many of you know I'm pretty disinterested in college football. I don't know why, but its just never been appealing to me. But, its pretty funny when David gets the last laugh...in Goliath's backyard.
If you watched any of the Bowl Games, what was the one can't miss game?
Friday, January 7, 2011
passion 2011 John Piper
There is so much stirring in me from the Passion Conference. But the talk by John Piper is at the forefront...
What is at the bottom of your joy? In other words...if you get an A on an exam and it makes you happy...someone asks you "Why does that make you happy?" and you give an answer (could be any number of answers)...Then someone asks well why does that make you happy? And you continue to answer this line of questioning until you get to the bottom of your joy. If, when you arrive at the bottom of your joy, you are there, you're participating in idolatry of the worst kind.
Those who are born again make the switch from themselves at the bottom of their joy, to God, the supreme joy giver.
God makes much of us so that we will in turn make much of Him...if we've only embraced the first part of this truth, we are not born again and Hell is pressing in.
God loves you. And he wants you to feel loved. You are precious to Him. God says you are so precious that He will not let your preciousness become your god. God should be our God. And our God alone.
-------
The crazy thing is that even when we sometimes go through the motions of being a Christ follower, we put ourselves at the bottom of our joy.
I can read the Bible and if it is to make me feel better or to know more or to comfort me, etc...its borderline idolatrous.
Many of us believe in Jesus because he offers us a way out of hell and we are scared of going there...if that is your motivation...you are at the bottom of your joy...God is not a means to an end...but the end in and of Himself!
The most terrifying verse in all the Bible is the one where Jesus responds to those who healed and prophesied in His name and did all sorts of miracles and Jesus said, "Away from me, I never knew you."
It's not enough to have association, belief, or cognitive ascent to God/Jesus. We must be born again and reorient our lives so that all He does in and for us is done so that we make much of Him.
WHAT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR JOY?
What is at the bottom of your joy? In other words...if you get an A on an exam and it makes you happy...someone asks you "Why does that make you happy?" and you give an answer (could be any number of answers)...Then someone asks well why does that make you happy? And you continue to answer this line of questioning until you get to the bottom of your joy. If, when you arrive at the bottom of your joy, you are there, you're participating in idolatry of the worst kind.
Those who are born again make the switch from themselves at the bottom of their joy, to God, the supreme joy giver.
God makes much of us so that we will in turn make much of Him...if we've only embraced the first part of this truth, we are not born again and Hell is pressing in.
God loves you. And he wants you to feel loved. You are precious to Him. God says you are so precious that He will not let your preciousness become your god. God should be our God. And our God alone.
-------
The crazy thing is that even when we sometimes go through the motions of being a Christ follower, we put ourselves at the bottom of our joy.
I can read the Bible and if it is to make me feel better or to know more or to comfort me, etc...its borderline idolatrous.
Many of us believe in Jesus because he offers us a way out of hell and we are scared of going there...if that is your motivation...you are at the bottom of your joy...God is not a means to an end...but the end in and of Himself!
The most terrifying verse in all the Bible is the one where Jesus responds to those who healed and prophesied in His name and did all sorts of miracles and Jesus said, "Away from me, I never knew you."
It's not enough to have association, belief, or cognitive ascent to God/Jesus. We must be born again and reorient our lives so that all He does in and for us is done so that we make much of Him.
WHAT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR JOY?
Passion 2011 Music!
Expect these songs to be sung in churches across the world in the months to come!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Passion 2011
Passion 2011 is now in the books.
I could tell you about how Louie Giglio and his team pull off one of the most worship driven experiences in the world. I could tell you about how Francis Chan's deep desire for our lives to be congruent with the Bible is still stirring 22,000 young adults. I could tell you about Andy Stanley and bowls of stew, Beth Moore and God's will to transform our minds and set us free, David Platt and his call to the church for obedience, John Piper and his mindnumbing presentation of the gospel and getting to the bottom of our joy, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, David Crowder, Christy Nockels, Charlie Hall, Kristian Stanfill and company leading people in life giving worship, or I could tell you about how Gungor is quite possibly the most musically and worship inspired Christian musicians I've ever come across...or about how 22,000 college students came together and came up with over 1 million dollars to fund micro-finance in Afghanistan, Compassion adoptions, brain surgeries in Uganda, Sex Trafficking rescue missions in the Philippines, etc. I could tell you about laughter and tears, gas and sleeplessness, hospitality and long van rides.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS THAT JESUS IS GLORIOUS. I know people are jaded with church. I know that Christianity often resembles very little, the one they follow. I know that the world is broken. But Jesus is the remedy. I am in love with Christ. He is where all my fountains come from. He is water in desert lands. He is more than enough, more than able, more than I could ask or imagine. He is rescuer, redeemer, restorer. He isn't part of a children's story. He's not my homeboy. He's my king. The king of kings. He is alive, not dead. He is at work, not idle. He is speaking, not silent. And I am desperate for everything in me to be submitted to everything in Him. I want no other message to be on my lips than Him. He is faithful. I want to raise this child Shaina is carrying in such a way that they know nothing of how devoted I am but instead how glorious He is. I want his fame on me. I want my boast to be him alone. I want my fervor to be him alone. I want him to increase and me to decrease. That's what I want to tell you. You will never find life that is sustaining and will echo past your grave apart from Him...But its not primarily about you and I finding our purpose in Him...its in the world finding His glory in us.
Jesus is Lord.
I could tell you about how Louie Giglio and his team pull off one of the most worship driven experiences in the world. I could tell you about how Francis Chan's deep desire for our lives to be congruent with the Bible is still stirring 22,000 young adults. I could tell you about Andy Stanley and bowls of stew, Beth Moore and God's will to transform our minds and set us free, David Platt and his call to the church for obedience, John Piper and his mindnumbing presentation of the gospel and getting to the bottom of our joy, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, David Crowder, Christy Nockels, Charlie Hall, Kristian Stanfill and company leading people in life giving worship, or I could tell you about how Gungor is quite possibly the most musically and worship inspired Christian musicians I've ever come across...or about how 22,000 college students came together and came up with over 1 million dollars to fund micro-finance in Afghanistan, Compassion adoptions, brain surgeries in Uganda, Sex Trafficking rescue missions in the Philippines, etc. I could tell you about laughter and tears, gas and sleeplessness, hospitality and long van rides.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS THAT JESUS IS GLORIOUS. I know people are jaded with church. I know that Christianity often resembles very little, the one they follow. I know that the world is broken. But Jesus is the remedy. I am in love with Christ. He is where all my fountains come from. He is water in desert lands. He is more than enough, more than able, more than I could ask or imagine. He is rescuer, redeemer, restorer. He isn't part of a children's story. He's not my homeboy. He's my king. The king of kings. He is alive, not dead. He is at work, not idle. He is speaking, not silent. And I am desperate for everything in me to be submitted to everything in Him. I want no other message to be on my lips than Him. He is faithful. I want to raise this child Shaina is carrying in such a way that they know nothing of how devoted I am but instead how glorious He is. I want his fame on me. I want my boast to be him alone. I want my fervor to be him alone. I want him to increase and me to decrease. That's what I want to tell you. You will never find life that is sustaining and will echo past your grave apart from Him...But its not primarily about you and I finding our purpose in Him...its in the world finding His glory in us.
Jesus is Lord.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Monday Meanderings on Church and Leadership
20% Rule
I can't remember if I've blogged about this or just thought about this a lot.
I think it was Seth Godin at Catalyst this year who presented a business model that Google uses with its employees that is essentially a 20% model. One day a week, employees are encouraged to stop with the typical day to day operations and dream, think, and create something that could enhance the business. If there is an inefficient area, concentrate on new solutions. If there is an area that has not been tapped into that could revolutionize the business or maximize earnings, dream on that...The only catch is that at the end of 8 hours you have some tangible way to show what you've been working on. Some of Googles best features have been born out of this model.
If you delegate tasks, you create followers and you prevent intensified buy in.
If you delegate authority, you create leaders and you become an entity that people desperately want to be a part of.
So, if you want to get the best out of the people you lead, you have to first find people you trust and then you have to demonstrate in significant ways that you trust them. Let them solve problems. Let them create. Let them dream and run with things.
Generally, the people on the ground, who are in the grind know better than you what is working and whats not. So it is both ignorance and poor leadership that prevent you as a leader from consulting them and empowering them to fix inefficiency.
As this translates to church leadership...The way its always been done will not work as it always has. Allowing (Trusting!) leadership to dream and create is the best way to create buy in around your mission and vision. The more we are stuck in week to week survival mode (Sunday is coming again next week!), the less we are in creative mode.
So if you're a leader, how can you implement a 20% rule for those you lead? If you're being led, how can you fight for your leader's time and space to dream?
I can't remember if I've blogged about this or just thought about this a lot.
I think it was Seth Godin at Catalyst this year who presented a business model that Google uses with its employees that is essentially a 20% model. One day a week, employees are encouraged to stop with the typical day to day operations and dream, think, and create something that could enhance the business. If there is an inefficient area, concentrate on new solutions. If there is an area that has not been tapped into that could revolutionize the business or maximize earnings, dream on that...The only catch is that at the end of 8 hours you have some tangible way to show what you've been working on. Some of Googles best features have been born out of this model.
If you delegate tasks, you create followers and you prevent intensified buy in.
If you delegate authority, you create leaders and you become an entity that people desperately want to be a part of.
So, if you want to get the best out of the people you lead, you have to first find people you trust and then you have to demonstrate in significant ways that you trust them. Let them solve problems. Let them create. Let them dream and run with things.
Generally, the people on the ground, who are in the grind know better than you what is working and whats not. So it is both ignorance and poor leadership that prevent you as a leader from consulting them and empowering them to fix inefficiency.
As this translates to church leadership...The way its always been done will not work as it always has. Allowing (Trusting!) leadership to dream and create is the best way to create buy in around your mission and vision. The more we are stuck in week to week survival mode (Sunday is coming again next week!), the less we are in creative mode.
So if you're a leader, how can you implement a 20% rule for those you lead? If you're being led, how can you fight for your leader's time and space to dream?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
One Prayer...in One Week
One Prayer begins on January 9 and we've asked a variety of leaders in the United Methodist context to come and share their one prayer for the church/world for 2011. We are also looking towards implementing a movement of prayer that will be unprecedented at our church. My one prayer through this time in our church is that God would sweep us up in a story bigger than ourselves. I am hopeful that this will be a time that renews the church and helps us hone in on what matters most.
So, its officially 2011...what's your one prayer for the year? Let us have it!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
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Christmas 2010 in 3 words? Best Christmas Ever! :-)
Shaina is 11 weeks pregnant with our first baby! She is due in mid-July and we are very excited. I definitely feel extremely inadequate to be a dad...and I think God is emphasizing that inadequacy in my heart so that I will press more into him in desperation. There is so little we can control and the faster we relinquish our belief of power to His lordship, the faster we will align with His will.
WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!!
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