Somebody Grab a Bucket!!

Wait... Not THAT kind of bucket!!

Not the I'm-gonna-be-sick kind, but the my-hair's-on-fire-and-I've-gotta-put-it-out kind.

Each year, I fast and pray the week after Thanksgiving to seek the Lord for direction for our church for the next year. It's an absolutely MISERABLE time for me (I LOVE to eat), but it's also an AMAZING time because of all that God burns into my heart.

It actually starts about a week or two before the fast begins, as my brain is full of storms (pun intended, even though it wasn't very funny).

This year, a couple of Fridays before I started fasting, I was driving down the interstate in the Florida panhandle when, all of a sudden & right out of nowhere, this amazing idea dropped throigh my head and into my heart.

Immediately, I was absolutely consumed with this idea. I turned it over & over in my mind as I travelled down I-10 for several hours (if you've ever driven I-10 in the Florida panhandle, you know all-too-well just how much thinking time that stretch of road gives you).

It has been burning in me ever since! Not a day goes by--sometimes not even an hour--when it isn't on my mind. It creeps into my thoughts from every imaginable angle, like that evil flame from that 90's movie, "Backdraft." No sooner than I can quench it from taking over my concentration, it bursts back into the forefront of my attention.

It just keeps burning and burning and burning and burning...

I can't wait until Sunday the 27th, when I will be sharing this idea with our church!

If I don't, I'm gonna explode!

You got that bucket?

I'm Feelin' Mightyyyyy Llllllooooooowwwwww...

I love the old Bugs Bunny cartoons: Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer Fudd... Hilarious!

One of the gags that got repeated pretty often was the old hit-on-the-head-with-a-mallet ploy. I especially remember one where the guy getting hit would get all swirly-eyed, stars would shoot out of his bump(s), and his voice would trail off, slow down, & get really low as he said, "I'm feelin' miiiigggghhhhhhttttttyyyyyyyy llllllllllooooooooooooowwwwwwwww."

Well, I've been feeling that way today (minus the mallet, fortunately) because I'm on the third day of a 7-day fast for our church.

Every year, the week after Thanksgiving, I fast & pray for the next year. God has given me some amazing things during that week, so I have wildly-mixed emotions about it. Revelation is great, but starvation is NOT!

I've done this enough that I've learned a pattern: Day 3 is going to be the hardest.

This time has been NO different!

It's Day 3 & I hit "the wall" today. You may know what I'm talking about: you just feel tired. Tired and droopy. Like your feet are 60 pounds each.

I also fell into "the pit". You may be familiar with that, too: all of your food standards go as low as possible--so low that you have to dig a pit to reach the depths of their descent.

I can prove it...

I took Hosanna to Chuck E Cheese to for a lunch date today & the pizza smelled REALLY GOOD!! I felt like another Bugs Bunny character... Sylvester, when he goes to BA (that's "Birds Anonymous") to kick his Tweety habit.

"Just one little bite!!! I gotta have a bite... JUST ONE!!!"



Pray for me.

Hurts So Good

I have been seeking the Lord lately for a specific area of "personal development".

Have you ever done that before?

There's something inside you that just doesn't feel quite right. You may not be able to put your finger on what it is, but you feel it nonetheless.

Well, that was me.

I just had this "feeling" that there was something that needed God's attention. So, I began to pray & ask God to have His way & do His work in me.

And guess what... He answered!

First it was a strong urge to pray about something pretty specific. Then, this magazine came in the mail with an article inside that--you guessed it--spoke directly & specifically to this issue. Then there was a chapter in this book I was reading. Then there was a blog post I read.

Then there was the icing on the cake: a meeting with a group of our leaders. During our conversation, someone brought up a concern that smacked me right in my face! And guess what it was about? Yep: it was EXACTLY what I've been dealing with.

I have to be totally honest with you: it was an EXTREMELY uncomfortable meeting for me. But, fortunately for me, I knew that it was a necessary conversation. It was one of the most difficult & painful hours of my life. But I needed to hear it!

Herein lies one of the most-important principles I have learned in leadership: just because it isn't fun doesn't mean it isn't good. In fact, sometimes the most-difficult discussion in the short term ends up being the most beneficial discussion in the long run.

It hurts, for sure, but it helps.

Truly, it is the kind of conversation that hurts so good that you're forever grateful to God for allowing you to have it.

Thank You, Jesus!

You've Got Mail (& I Just Read It!)

Have you ever heard that AOL e-mail notification? It's that male, gameshow-announcer sounding voice saying, "You've gotmail!" It's been around as long as e-mail, I think.

We were finishing up our weekly prayer service this past week when one of the ladies in our church family with a strong prophetic gift opened her mouth & started speaking what she felt the Lord was impressing upon her. She has a powerful gift & a strong voice... And when she steps out, she does it boldly! It's awesome!!!

As she began to speak, she let me know that she felt VERY strongly impressed that what she had to share was for me.

Let me pause for just a moment & give you a little history... A flashback, if you will.

The first time I ever met her was after a service. She had been in the altar & the Holy Spirit was really ministering to her. As she began to walk back to her seat, I introduced myself to her (as I try to do with all of our guests) and we had some casual conversation as she gathered her belongings and her family. She left & I went back up to the altar.

Next thing I know, she's standing right next to me, but the look on her face was totally different than the one I saw just a minute or two before. The tears in her eyes had been replaced with a fiery gleem.

She said, "I had already left, but the Lord told me to come back here and tell you..." and she proceeded to say things that only the Lord & I knew about. She was dead-on accurate, if you know what I mean. I thanked her for her obedience to the Holy Spirit and for the encouraging word. But as soon as I was able to tell Jen about it, I did... It was AWESOME, actually!!

Flash forward back to the prayer meeting. As soon she put me in her prophetic crosshairs, I knew the Lord was about to speak to me.

And, wow! Did He ever!! Once again, she said things that only the Lord & I know about!!

As she did, I felt like I was hearing that AOL voice: "You've got mail!" And I also felt like she was reading it!!

I LOVE when the gifts of the Holy Spirit are in operation!!

Both Sides of the Sword

A few days ago, I asked a question on facebook...

"Which side of a two-edged sword cuts deeper?"

I got a bunch of different responses, as I'm sure you understand if you're familiar with facebook. (What makes a post popular on facebook, anyway? Sometimes it seems like the dumbest things get dozens of comments!)

It was very interesting to see what people's thoughts were... Some thought I was being silly (I can't imagine why they would think that), & some responded as though I was being thoughtful &/or provocative (no sarcasm is necessary here: who on earth could have thought that?!), but everyone that shared a comment seemed to share a genuine answer.

Thanks, by the way, to all of you who answered my question.

So, here's what I think: the side of the two-edged sword that cuts the deepest is the side that hits you.

Seriously...

Think about it...

Whenever people talk about a two-edged sword, it's usually in relation to an issue, circumstance, decision, etc that calls for a decision and action but that has potentially-bad (& often-painful) repercussions. In times like these, the selection of one course of action is usually mutually-exclusive to the others. In other words, once you decide which "side of the sword" you're going to go with, you isolate youralef from the opposite side.

I'm not advocating wallowing in indecision, of course,... I'm just affirming the reality of the power of choice.

And warning you to watch out for the back edge of that sword!

By Leaps & Bounds

Someone commented to Jen today that they couldn't imagine her having 3 kids in diapers. So, Jen went through some pictures from "those days" & sent them to the aforementioned "someone" (identified as tAS from here on out).

(Totally unrelated side note: isn't "aforementioned" a GREAT word?)

I walked up to Jen as she was finishing the e-mail to tAS, & she showed me some pictures from way-back-when.

Hosanna was 2 and change, still had her long-&-getting-longer hair.

Faith was 18 months-ish, with the little water-spout-style hairdo people do when the hair is too short to do anything else with.

Leili was an infant, laying on Mommy's lap with almost no hair, totally oblivious to everything... As a newborn should be.

Wow! Suffice it to say that the difference between the girls from then to now is amazing (they're 8,7, & 6 now)!

But, for some reason, Jen hasn't changed all that much. (She'll probably appreciate me saying that when she reads this... Score one brownie point for me!)

The girls have changed a TON (it's been 6 years), but Jen hasn't (it's ONLY been 6 years).

I was spending some time today with one of the guys I disciple, & I had the same experience.

In the last several months, he's grown SO much that his "spiritual portrait" has TOTALLY changed. I've grown during our time together, too, but my change pales in comparison to all the growth-related changes I've seen him go through.

But that's what discipleship is all about... Growing.

By leaps & bounds!

Silent Suffering

So much for light & fluffy posts, huh?

I've noticed several of our beloved brothers & sisters really struggling lately--even more than usual.

Bur this is different.

There's a heaviness that seems to be hovering over them... A spiritual black cloud, if you will.

I'm sure you probably know some people like this. Is it just me or does there seem to be a seemingly-impenetrable coat of emotional isolation engulfing them?

Have you ever noticed that these beloved friends & family of ours seem to be drowning I'm their own silence?

Last Sunday, while I was preaching, I asked for a show of hands from people who felt like they were struggling--alone--with a particular issue. (I'm sure you've already guessed the next part, huh?) Hands went up all over the place. Most hands, in fact.

I had everyone look around & admonished them, "Look! You are NOT alone in your struggle!" I could see the light in some of their eyes & I could feel about a hundred different 2-ton weights collectively lift off the crowd.

Up to that point, almost every one of them thought they were alone--despairingly alone--in their struggle.

So they suffered. Alone. In their silence.

Man, I hate the devil!

Eeewwwwww... Yuk!

Jen & I took the girls to the Toy Story 3D double-feature tonight. It's a great movie, and it was a ton of fun in 3D!!

The only problem is that 2 movies meant twice as much popcorn, twice as much Coke, & twice as much candy.

Don't get me wrong... I like candy well enough, for sure, but--hold on to your hats, kids--there really is such a thing as "too much."

And tonight, we had too much.

I thought it was just me at first, but then Hosanna said she wasn't feeling well either. She even knew that it was because she'd had too much candy (she said so, if you can believe that!).

So, as I sit here somewhere between "uneasy" & "moan-&-groan", the thought occurs to me that sometimes there's a queasiness in the body of Christ, too. And it comes the same way: too much candy!

Think about it: we love to hear messages that are sweet to the taste & go down easy. There certainly isn't anything wrong with a little chocolate to wash down a good meal. There's nothing wrong with even leaving a little on you plate to "save room" for dessert. But there is a serious problem when we refuse the healthy food our bodies need for the sake of over-indulging in the "treats".

When you eat too much candy (like I did tonight... Ugh!), you are GOING to be sick! When your Chrisitianity is all sweets & snacks, you're GOING to be spiritually sick.

So, if you're feeling a little queasy in your walk with Christ, maybe it's your diet.

Sometimes, brussel sprouts are good.

I'm just sayin'...

Merciful Ignorance

The old saying says, "Ignorance is bliss."

I've personally experienced the truth of that statement a number of times in my life. The funny thing is that you can't realize the power of it's truth while you remain ignorant. (Think about that for a minute.)

It makes me think of another, similar saying: "What you don't know can't hurt you."

Really? I've been blindsided in my ignorance--maybe it would be more accurate to say, "by my ignorance"--a few times. The fact that I didn't see "it" coming didn't seem to make it hurt any less. In fact, not knowing prevented me from bracing for the impact... That would've been nice.

But recently, I've had the opportunity to experience something similar in circumstance, but completely different in spirit. Similar in that There was something going on of which I was totally unaware... Different in that it was to my benefit that I was ignorant.

You see, all I really want is to be used by God to be a change-agent in people's lives. While that ambition may be noble in and of itself, there's a lot of room for selfish ambition to ride the coattails of nobility into personal gain. That transparency may seem a little awkward to you, but I've learned that selfish ambition draws it's power from the hidden places of my heart... The surest way to keep it in check is to expose it for what it is.

Having said that, let me continue...

All I want is to be a change agent for the life-giving God... A catalyst for Christ, if you will. I want that so bad--and at the same time I'm so task-oriented--that I have often found myself trying to "help God out" with people instead of taking my place as a tool in the Master's hand. I've tried to live my life that way... Not just my ministry, but my whole life.

For several months now, I've received a bunch of testimonies--often 2 or 3 a week--from people whom God has touched through me. The irony is that it's often completely unrelated to anything I was consciously doing to impact their life.

In other words, God used me in my ignorance. And I'm so glad He did it that way, because it makes it that much harder for me to think--even for a moment--that I had anything to do with it! I do NOT want to share His glory!!

Not only would I try to steal His glory, but the next time I stood to "do the Lord's work", I'd be thinking about the great work that I was doing. Maybe you don't wrestle with those kind of pride issues, but my life is full of them!

So, God--Who is so full of mercy--mercifully keeps me in the dark, giving me just the right amount of encouragement I need to keep my zeal ablaze, and just the right amount of ignorance to keep my pride in check.

It truly is "Merciful Ignorance."

A Great Thrill

We had a baptism ceremony this morning at church.

Of all the things we do, baptisms may very well be my favorite. There are a lot of neat things we do in church, but baptisms stand alone to me as something special and unique.

Membership ceremonies are nice--what pastor doesn't want to add members to the church (s)he pastors?

Baby dedications are fun, too.

Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day... Check, check, and check.

But baptisms are like bringing new babies home from the hospital. New birth. New babies. New members of the family.

Each person that stands in that tank is a life that Jesus has touched and changed for eternity.

One of the great privileges of my life is to be a part of that ceremony.

Today was even more special than usual, though... My youngest daughter was one of the 7.

And it was my great thrill to baptize her!

But As a Group They're Rather Stupid

The girls & I were watching "Mary Poppins" tonight for Daddy-Daughter Movie Night.

It's a great movie with tons of great lines, but I heard one tonight that I don't remember hearing before.

Toward the beginning of the movie, we meet Mrs. Banks, coming in from a rally for women's voting-rights.

She sings a song about her life-long cause, the chorus declaring, "Well done! Sister Suffragette!"

Now hears where the funny line comes in...

As she begins her song, she is reflecting upon her own husband and sings...

Though we adore men individually
We agree that as a group they're rather stupid

Oh, my! My first response to bust out in laughter... I've seen this movie dozens of times, but I don't remember THAT! My second response was to wonder if I should be offended or not. (That lasted for about a tenth of a nano-second.) My third response was a little more delayed, because it didn't occur to me until she finishes her song--because her husband that she "adores individually" is home & she's afraid of getting caught--and she "sings a different tune."

Her persona is totally different around Mr. Banks.

Hmmm. That's when the 3rd (& final) thought hit me...

She's a POLITICIAN!

Yup! She loves voters "individually" (think kissing babies, shaking hands, & telling you things you want to hear), but as a group, we're "rather stupid". I've heard them say these very words on a number of occasions lately (but not just lately, either!).

The final straw for me was that 15 minutes after the movie was over, I looked at my e-mail & had a "Health Care Reform Update" from one of our Senators, Mary Landrieu.

And she bears a striking physical resemblance to Mrs. Banks.

You can do the math.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Leili & I went on our Daddy-Daughter Date tonight.

We went on a picnic--even though it rained all day--at Lafrienniere Park. We picked up a pizza from Papa Johns & took it to one of the shelters at the park in order to stay dry. The game plan was to eat our pizza, feed the ducks & then head over to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream.

One of my favorite parts of Daddy-Daughter Date is just listening to the girls talk. It's eye-opening and more than a little entertaining! Not to mention that it's a great way to hear about what's going on in their hearts & lives.

Leili comes up with some real "hum-dingers", I'll tell you... It may because she talks so much, but she is a stitch!

Tonight was no different!

On the way home, we passed a police car that was on the side of the road with its lights flashing.

Leili was right in the middle of saying something--which never stops her from saying something else--when she suddenly shifted gears...

"Oooooooh... Somebody's BUSTED!"

I somehow managed to stop laughing before we got home.

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut, Sometimes You Don't

I'm sitting here watching some of the news coverage of the ACORN scandal from the week... WOW!

The talking heads are really having at it... It's like "WWE Smackdown" in suits & business wear. To be honest, I'm really pretty entertained. I've found myself smirking--and even chuckling--on a number of occasions.

But then I remember what I'm watching.

And it's not funny anymore.

When I say "It's not funny..." I don't just mean the corruption, the gutter-politics, and the mismanagement of taxpayer money. Those things are certainly NOT funny, but there's something deeper that's really disturbing.

In the midst of the democrat-versus-republican chaos swarming around this bunch of foolishness is an underlying--and sometimes overt--belief by members of both parties that their guy or gal is the savior of the American system & way of life.

That's what I find so disturbing!

Can anyone show me even one politician who has ever been the savior of anything?

How many times have we put our hope in a candidate or a politician only to have the proverbial rug jerked out from under our feet?

When will we learn?

I know the "super-spiritual" answer is to say something like, "Well, that just goes to show you that the only leader you can trust is Jesus!"

Yeah, yeah... I know. But can I just be honest and tell you how sick and tired I am of people having ZERO integrity and the rest of us being OK with it, even if "being OK" means disgustedly rolling our eyes or just giving them that "trust-Jesus" pass?

Corruption is nothing new, of course, and no one is really all that surprised.

But I--for one--am just sick of it... No more nuts for me!

I'm Baaaaack...

I have been on vacation for a while & got to thinking that I really need to get back to blogging. It's one of those hard-to-in-the-habit-but-easy-to-get-out-of-the-habit things. You probably don't have anything in your life like that (especially not devotions, prayer time, working out, right?), but I do... This.

So, while I was away from everything & doing nothing, my 75-year-old dad asks me, "Are you still blogging? I haven't seen any new posts for quite some time." Ouch. Point taken.

I love my dad (I hope to be like him someday), so I certainly don't mean any disrespect or anything to him... It just kind of took me by surprise. I didn't even realize he was reading my posts.

So, in honor of you, Dad, I'm getting back into the habit... Thanks!

Back in the US of A!!

Sorry for the delay since my last post... Jen & I have been in Haiti & unable to connect to my Blogger account for some reason.

We had a great visit & Judah (our adoptive son for those of you who don't know) is getting to be such a big boy! He clearly knows who Mommy & Daddy are!

We played lots of the "Tackle-the-Daddy-&-Giggle-About-It" game & lots of the "Mooch-Food-from-Everyone-That's-Got-Some" game (That's my boy!). It's so amazing to me that God could create a little boy half a world away in two people completely unknown & unrelated to us that is a PERFECT MATCH for our family! (For those of you that know us, you know that means the poor boy is more than just a little off the hook.)

Our adoption is proceeding--far too slowly for our tastes, of course--about as well as we can expect with no major snags so far (notice I didn't say "no snags"). Please pray for us... It tears our hearts out to leave him behind AGAIN! This time, it seemed as though he has begun to understand when we're leaving & he got noticeably upset about it.

Over my next couple of posts, I hope to share some stories--some funny & some not-so-much--about our most-recent trip... Stay tuned!

He Who Laughs Last...

I remember hearing a saying when I was a kid that "He who last laughs, laughs last."

I've seen that saying in a new way as of late. Let me explain...

Maybe it's just me, but life isn't fair.

I don't mean that in some whiny, 6-year-old-not-getting-his-way sense, but in a factual, where-the-rubber-meets-the-road sense. Regardless of how much "in control" of our lives we are, there are infinitely more factors affecting our lives over which we have zero control... Or even any influence! (That's no startling revelation, of course, but it's probably the best starting place for sharing my thoughts.)

In other words, life is inevitably riddled with disappointments, problems, & challenges. No sense fussing... Just face the facts. They're going to happen whether I like it or not, want them or not, deserve them or not, even earn them or not. Life is spelled L-I-F-E, not F-A-I-R!

So what shall we do? Shall we throw up our hands in frustrated futility? (That is, obviously, a rhetorical question... It's really not an option.)

All I can do is exercise my influence over those things I can control. While I have no control over the fact of unfairness, I do have control over my attitude about it!

It's my decision whether I focus on the problems or the potential. It's my decision.

And here's the thing that helps me through the problems: My attitude has a direct impact on the effect of the unfairness. The more I choose to have a good attitude, the less effect the unfairness has on me.

Now, listen: I'm no pie-in-the-sky idealist... I didn't say unfairness would have no effect. Only a fool believes as much! In fact, the unfairness may very well be devastating! (I've had a few of those!)

But if I choose to have a good attitude, both the duration & the depth of the "cut" are lessened!

So, I now see "He who laughs last" to be a comment about my attitude: If I choose to "laugh" through it--to persevere by choice with a good attitude to the end--then I will be far more likely to recover fully & to "heal" more quickly.

I choose to laugh... And I choose to last!

What You Focus on is What You'll See

Jen & I took the girls to opening day of "Up" in 3-D on Friday.

We had a great family day together & the movie was really good!

During the movie, I was noticing the 3-D cinematography & thinking about how neat 3-D movies are... It's really neat how they do that!

At one point I noticed that they would "focus" on the main object of the shot, blurring everything else. This effect draws your eyes to the in-focus part... The part the storyteller wants you to focus on. I'm not really sure why it stuck out to me the way it did, but it really caught my attention. So much so that I found myself thinking about several times throughout the rest of the day.

At one point it occurred to me: we see whatever we focus on. (Most people have "Aha!" moments, but I tend to have "Uh, DUH!" moments.) Seriously. Think about that: whatever your eyes focus on is the image your mind captures & the information your brain processes.

Then this occurred to me: (Uh, DUH!) the same is true in the spirit! If you focus on the negative stuff, you're attention is going to be consumed with it. The positive stuff in your field of vision will fade into the background in a blurred mess. If, however, you focus on the positive, you will be consumed with that. Whatever negative you may be forced to see will stay in the background, obscured by its blurriness.

So, let me ask you something: What are you focusing on? Is it a problem, or should you see it as an opportunity. If God be your God, then the answer is quite clear. Jesus said a man was born blind not as punishment or misfortune, but as an opportunity to show God's glory.

Look around... What do you see?

C'mon... Focus.

What are you focusing on?

'Cause what you focus on is what you'll see.

The Truth Behind My Unanswered Prayers for a Mac

After my last post about my PC frustrations (& my wife's Mac-inspired bliss), my wife sent me an e-mail about my unanswered prayer & God's reasons for them.

She wrote,

"Maybe God has an Apple and that's why he told Adam to stay away..."

Ooh... That's good!

I wish I'd thought of that... That's funny!

My PC, Patience, & a Mac!!

I am so SICK of this PC!!

I'll spare you the rant that those closest to me have witnessed & just tell you that my frustration stems from speed--or a serious lack of it--from my notebook. Things that should take me 3 seconds are taking me 5 minutes or more!

The speed problem seems to stem from a "neat little trick" my PC does.

I don't remember downloading the app for this, but I surely must have... (cue sarcastic voice) Nothing THIS exciting is EVER free! (end sarcastic voice)

Maybe you've heard of the trick... Maybe your PC does it too (I understand most of them do). I think it's called Completely Random Asymptomatic Shutdown Hysteria.

CRASH for short.

And the best part is powering it back up again, going through the 7 or 8 restarts, the "NO ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE INSTALLED" warnings (yes, there is!), the "THIS PROGRAM DID NOT SHUT DOWN PROPERLY" (duh!) dialog boxes, and seeing all the neat little icons that magically appear in my system tray in the place of the ones I recognize.

Through all of my groans, grunts, & frustrated outbursts, Jen sits next to me, typing away on her MacBook that hasn't been turned off in 4 or 5 weeks!! She doesn't even lift her eyes up at me anymore when it happens... She just offers a robotic "sorry" & keeps on getting her work done. (Must be nice!)

So, tonight as it happened AGAIN (The 3rd time today, actually), I slumped back in my chair (again), rubbed my forehead (again... I'm getting blisters up there!), sighed (again!!), & half-heartedly prayed that oh-so-desperate prayer of the PC owner...

"Why, God?! WHY?!!!"

Well, God didn't answer me.

It was either because He uses a PC & couldn't get my prayer in a usable format so Internet Explorer was searching the internet for a suitable program, or because He uses a Mac & therefore I--as a lowly, Steve-Jobs-envying PC owner--am not worthy of an answer.

Whichever was the case, I sat there & thought to myself, "I must've prayed for patience somewhere along the line, & this blasted--I mean blessed--machine is the tribulation that's going to bring it!"

Well, I have had it up to my well-hidden, but undeniably-receding hairline with this PC! I'm going to get a Mac! And--hopefully--some patience.

Something tells me the Mac will be the easier of the two to get!

A Camp-In, A Candle, S'mores & Priorities

Jen has been working nights for the past week, so I get to play Mr. Mom.

I hate it when Jen's not around, but the girls & I usually try to cope with it by doing some special, out-of-the-ordinary, or unusual things. Last night was Jen's last night on this job, so the girls & I decided to spend our last day & night without Mommy in grand fashion!

We started with a full day at the Louisiana Children's Museum (that place is really neat!), then came home for about an hour to visit with Mommy while we had the chance (she only has a couple of hours between waking up & driving back to the set). After some dinner, we decided to go to Whole Foods & Wal-Mart to do the grocery shopping for Jen.

Somewhere along the way, one of the girls shouted out that she loves camping (even though they've never been), so we decided to have a camp-out in the back yard, complete with s'mores (of course!). I checked the weather & learned that rain was forecast for the entire night... And the lightning flashing in the sky pretty well confirmed the forecast in my mind.

So, now what? The girls were SO excited, & I wanted their last night without Mommy to be fun so as to minimize the chances of wailing songs of "I want my mommy" echoing throughout the house... Seriously.

Then I got an idea: They don't really care at this point where the camp out is as long as it's not in their beds! (Thank You, Jesus, for this insight!) So, I asked them, "Since it's gonna rain outsie tonight..."

I had an idea in mind, but Hosanna beat me to it: "Let's have a camp out in the living room!"

"Great idea, Sweetie!" I called back while the other two shouted their approval.

Then I added, "And maybe we can make the s'mores over a candle or something," not really knowing how I was gonna pull off that part of the deal.

"Yeah!!" three little-girl voices cheered for my idea.

So, we made a base camp in the living room, put a candle on the coffee table & toasted marshmallows for s'mores. It was a very simple set-up, really, but it really was special to them.

And to me.

It's times like this that my priorities get re-aligned... When I remember what my first ministry is to 3 little girls who may have several pastors in their lives, but only one Daddy.

And I'm it.

A Spirit of Grrr!

Have you ever had one of those days where you're just in a really bad mood... For no particular reason?

Well, I had one of those days yesterday. It kinda sneaked up on me, to be honest.

I woke up (which is a pretty good start to the day, when you consider the alternative), but it was all downhill from there.

Can someone please tell me where we got the idea that we sleep for the purpose of rest & recovery? I felt like I'd been run over by a truck--in a third-world country! (The kind of place where if they hit you they back over you to make sure you can't take them to court... Grrr!)

I must've drifted back into La-La Land because I was suddenly startled with those nightmarish "Oh, no! I'm 20 minutes late for work!" thoughts, so I jumped out of bed... And missed the floor! (Did I mention it was a bad day from the start? Grrr!)

Once I recovered from that (I'll bet you've got a nice visual right now, huh?), I went into the bathroom & looked into the mirror to see what damage had been done during the night. It was NOT pretty... It never is, to be honest, unless Jen is standing in front of me. I reached up to move my hair & poked myself in the eye. (Grrr!)

I stumbled into the shower, hoping the hot water might help me regain some resemblance of cognitive thought... Instead, the theme song from "9 to 5" kept playing over and over in my head. And I only know like the first 3 lines. (I HATE that song... Grrr!)

To be honest, the rest of the day is a blur, which is probably a good thing since I was in such a foul mood. But the wierd thing is that I don't remember there being any reason to be in a bad mood. It's like I was in some kind of dark cloud & couldn't outrun it. (Grrr!)

I remember at one point turning to Mom and asking her, "Have you ever had one of those days where you're just in a bad mood--for no particular reason--and you dn't seem to be able to snap out of it?" Mom smiled & said she did, but I don't remember EVER seeing her in a bad mood! I'm sure she has bad days, but she hides it WAY better than I do! (I wish I could hide my moods... Grrr!)

On the way home, my girls were... Let me see, how can I describe their behavior...

Oh, yeah, let's try this: SPASTIC!!!

I love for them to have fun, & I love to hear their little giggles & squeals, but I can only take so much under normal circumstances.... Somehow--thank You, Jesus--I managed to avoid biting their heads off. But, Oh my! Talk about finding my last nerve & jumping on it like it's a trampoline!!! (Grrr!)

All I wanted to do was go home, eat dinner, do NOTHING for a while, then GO TO BED! So that's what I did.

Or... What I had planned to do. (Grrr!)

About 30 minutes before I went to bed, I found a lovely little pile of cat-hoark on the bed. (Anyone want a free domestic short-haired cat? It's recovering well from the owner-inflicted trauma in its throat area... Grrr!)

So, I ended up staying up WAAAAAAYYY later than I wanted to, needed to, or should've trying to get the bedspread washed & back on the bed. But it took FOREVER to dry!! (Grrr!)

At some point--& here was my point--you just have to give up & go to bed. Maybe start over the next day... Without a spirit of "Grrr!" all over you.

So far, it's working.

Worthy of Honor

I have very few "heroes".

There are many people whose achievements I respect tremendously, but I also realize that there are faults & flaws in even the most noble among us. To be honest, I trust myself least of all... God has allowed me to "peek" a little into the window of my soul & the evil I have seen inside frightens me to no end! You know that Scripture that says "take heed lest you fall"? Well, it certainly applies to me, even though it wasn't written about me.

One of the people I have a lot of respect for once said, "I want the people who know me the best to respect me the most." Unfortunately, it seems so often that the more we learn about people, the less there is to respect about them... Thanks a lot, Hollywood!

But let me tell you about someone whom I have gotten to know better & better as the years have gone by, and for whom I have more & more respect all the time. Sure, there are faults & flaws, but the overarching issue of her character--Godly character--is truly amazing to me!

I am speaking, of course, about my wife, Jennifer.

I have had plenty of opportunities to see the "chinks" in her armour over the years, but I have to tell you: they've been more like "niks" than "chinks". I have never seen her compromise her integrity, even in some of the toughest predicaments... Ones that--without a doubt--would've taken me for a ride, but she has always handled in perfect stride!

She has always been a woman of her word, and trustworthy like no one else I have ever met.

She has a devotion to her family that I am greatful for: I am far-too easily tempted to sacrifice family on the altar of career-achievement.

She has a determination (aka subbornness when I don't agree with her... wink, wink) that cannot be appeased by anything but success (as defined by her, of course). When she gets her mind set on something, she makes a bulldog look wishy-washy.

As a pastor, confidentiality is of the utmost importance. I have never heard her speak out of turn or say something that made me cringe. I have never had to say to her, "You should not have shared that" or been embarrassed by something she said. I'll admit, though: she certainly has a way with words... She says things (& gets away with it) that I think, but could never get away with!

I could go on & on about her... She is the most-amazing person I have ever known! I love her more & more--I respect her more & more--the more I know her.

She's my hero, & she is truly worthy of honor! Happy Mother's Day, Sweetie!

Things Are Rarely What They Seem To Be

We were at prayer meeting last night, & I noticed a real heaviness on some of our folks... A real weight of discouragement weighing them down.

In fact, I've seen a lot of that lately... Seems like people--especially God's people--are just numb. They seem to be so inundated with bad news that they're just emotionally exhausted.

It's not that people don't care... I really believe it's just the opposite.

I don't think it's apathy... I think it's appearances!

I don't think it's laziness... I think it's illusion!!

Remember what Jesus told the disciples of John when they came asking Him if He was the Messiah or not? He said, "Go & tell John what you have"--watch this--"seen & heard."

The Kingdom of God is meant to be seen & heard!

Now think about this: the devil can't create anything... He can only pervert what God has created. In other words, he's a pretender. A fake! A phony! A fraud!

So, if the Kingdom of God is supposed to be seen & heard, then the kingdom of darkness is going to mimic that with things that are seen & heard!

We don't seem to have any trouble recognizing the devil as a liar, but I'm afraid it's escaped our attention that he's an illusionist, too... he creates visual lies!

Remember 2 Corinthians 10:5? "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Let me put it this way: Things are NOT what they seem to me!

So, PULL DOWN THE ILLUSION & SEE THE GLORY OF JESUS!!

Cookies & Ice Cream

After my last post, I figured I needed to go a little lighter.

I enjoyed sharing my thoughts about perseverance, but my head still hurts from it. I haven't done that much calculus & physics in years.

So, let me tell you a story that's a little less liver-and-onions and a little more hot-fudge-sundae:

Two robins gorge themselves on worms after a hard spring rain, so much so that it seems too much effort to fly all the way back up to the tree-top perch.

Feeling brave, the first robin boasts, "That was DEEE-Licious... I'm so full I can hardly stand it! Whaddya say we just kick back a while right here on this grassy spot & let some of these worms digest... Besides, we wouldn't want to cramp up!"

The second robin, noticing the warm sun peeking through the clearing clouds replies, "I guess we could do that: just sort of bask in that nice, warm sun." Looking around, he continues, "I think we'll be safe here for a while."

So both robins stretch out to maximize their sun, then kick their feet up on some small twigs to drink in the whole experience. Before too long, the massaging warmth & their full bellies put them fast asleep.

Without any fanfare, a pair of snakes sneak up on the robins &... GULP!

As the 2 stuffed snakes slither away, one turns to the other & says, "Ahhh... I LOVE Baskin Robbins!"

See y'all next time!

Arguing with Edison

Thomas Alva Edison said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

I'm in no position to argue with a genius, but let me pretend (maybe "presume" is a better word) for a minute to be in a place to offer a comment on this long-famous quote. Let's play a game of word-algebra while we're at it, too, OK?

A very-simplified definition of the word "genius" could be "a measurement of intelligence quotient (IQ)" which--from what I understand--has nothing to do with how smart you are, but how smart you could become... In other words, it's a measure of potential!

So, let's think about energy for a minute... Every chemical reaction has a specific amount of energy called Total Energy (ie all energy in the reaction) that is the sum of Potential Energy (ie energy available) and Kinetic Energy (ie energy in action). The mathematical formula looks like this: TE = PE + KE.

So, what if TI = PI + KI?

In other words, what if Total Intelligence (ie all intelligence or "real" intelligence) is a sum of Potential Intelligence (that's IQ, remember?) & "Kinetic" Intelligence (let's call it "intelligence in action")?

What is "intelligence in action"? Wouldn't it be fair to call it common sense?

Let me rephrase that TI equation... What if REAL Intelligence is the total of IQ & common sense? Hmmm...

Is it fair to say that common sense is intelligence applied over time? If so, that equation would probably look like this: KI = CS = I/t

So... Real Intelligence = IQ + I/t

Here's an interesting thought (it's interesting to me, anyway): What would you call common sense applied for an extended period of time? I'd call that perseverance, & that equation would be: P = CS x t = I/t x t

Wait a minute! I/t x t = I, so P = I!! In other words, perseverance = intelligence!

If that's true, then Real Intelligence = IQ + Perseverance. Since our IQ never really changes, that means that our real intelligence is directly proportionate to our perseverance!

That means the more we Persevere, the more Real Intelligence we have!!

So, while “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,” Real Intelligence is 100% perseverance!

In other words, y'all: "Don't ever quit or you'll prove yourself to be a total fool, regardless of how smart you may be!"

A Sea of Hands, a Ray of Hope

Probably the most difficult thing for me in pastoring is not knowing if the things I share really make a difference in people's lives.

Seriously... I didn't give up my hopes, goals, & dreams to flounder in useless mediocrity! The bottom line is that I answered God's call out of obedience, but I never imagined my obedience resulting in failure. Come to think of it, do any of us dream about falling short?

No, when I felt God calling me to forsake my plans for my future for His, I imagined that I would always know a sense of purpose and accomplishment... How could I feel otherwise if I was in the service of the King of kings?

But the road from our dreams to our experience is long, hard, & rough, "paved" by these brutal things called "reality" & "time". As I've stumbled along this road, I've wondered at times if I will EVER have a story to tell. I don't mean that in some, read-my-new-book sense, but more along the lines of what would my story be if there ended up being one. Ultimately, only God knows the answer to that question, but something happened recently that--just for a moment--cracked the seemingly-impenetrable veneer of my temporal perspective & allowed me to see things from an eternal one.

I wanted to encourage people in our church that God was, in fact, moving in our lives. One way that I felt would be effective was be to ask a reflective question about a series or message I had recently preached. So, I started asking questions like, "If this series (or message) has ministered to you in some way, would you just raise your hand?"

The first few times I did this, there was a smattering of people here & there who sheepishly, cautiously slipped their hand about halfway up. I could tell by the look on their face that they wondered what I was up to. Then I would tell everybody to look around & see how God is ministering to people in our church. Without any additional fanfare, I would remark how good God is & continue on with my message.

Three weeks ago, however, something TOTALLY unexpected happened!

I was beginning a new series on prayer, & I began my message with a review of the 4 series I've shared so far in 2009. I then asked everyone to slip up their hand if God had ministered to them at any point this year through any of the messages. It was no different than all the other times I'd asked "The Question"... Or so I thought.

What happened next shocked me... A sea of hands shot into the air! Not timidly as before, but with great confidence as though silently boasting in God! I didn't count, but it looked to me like every single person in the room put their hand up. I was so stunned that I did a double-take. As usual, I asked everyone to look around at what God is doing in our midst, remarked at how good God is, and continued on with my message.

What happened in that split-second cannot be described in words, but I have to try! When I saw that sea of hands, I KNEW that God was moving in our church! I KNEW that if God was touching that many people, that it is only a matter of time until all the things that God has spoken & I have seen in my mind's eye are going to come to pass!

That voice inside my head that tells me how lousy, ineffective, inept, & fruitless my pastoring is was forcibly silenced! The years of its taunting while I fasted & prayed were suddenly sliced off into the sea of irrelevant memories! Its mocking calls & accusations as I battled through heartache, frustration, & pain totally evaporated like the last-heard echo of a shout in the mountainous wilderness!

There, in a sea of hands, I was almost blinded by a ray of hope! Thank you, Jesus!!

Making Vision Stick 11: A Final Word

So, now we’ve chewed through the meat of Andy Stanley’s Making Vision Stick… Are ya feeling stuffed? Let’s finish this adventure together with 2 things: a summary of what we’ve learned & a challenge from me to you…

A Summary…

Vision doesn’t stick naturally, so it’s our responsibility as leaders to make our vision “sticky”. Here are the key disciplines: State Our Vision Simply, Cast Our Vision Convincingly, Repeat Our Vision Regularly, Celebrate Our Vision Systematically, & Embrace Our Vision Personally. Once we’re in the habit of doing those 5 things, we must be aware that our vision will tend to slip. When it does, we have to look for Projects, Products, & Programs that distract from our vision and listen for Requests, Stories, & Complaints that reveal what people are thinking.

Remember: we should have a pretty good idea about what people are saying & thinking if our vision is sticking… If they’re not saying & thinking those things, we’ve got to get them headed back in the right direction.

A Challenge…

This comes from Pg 72-74 of the book & it’s just too awesome not to share with you. “It will always be difficult to make vision stick. After all, vision is about creating something new—something that should be, but won’t be, without someone’s dogged determination to see it through to the end. If God has given you a picture of what could be and should be, embrace it fully and refuse to allow the busyness and urgency of life to distract you... It will require you to develop a healthy intolerance for those things that have the potential to impede your progress. All the leaders I’ve met have mental pictures of what could be and should be for theire organizations, but not every leader is willing to pay the price to turn his or her ideas into reality. It takes more than imagination and passion to make what could be and should be into what is. Seeing a vision become a reality requires more than a single burst of energy or creativity. It requires daily attention. Daily commitment. If you are consumed with the tension between what is and what could be… if you find yourself emotionally involve… frustrated… brokenhearted… maybe even angry about the way things are… if you believe that God is behind your anguish… then chances are you are on the brink of something divine, something too important to abandon. Pay the price. Embrace the vision. And do whatever it takes to make the vision stick!”

Making Vision Stick 10: VSIs Part 2

When we feel the passion for our vision “slipping”, we must look for Projects, Products, & Programs, & listen for these signs…

VSIs (Vision Slippage Indicators): Requests, Stories, & Complaints

The questions people ask & the complaints they make communicate what is important to them. The stories they tell are moments of spontaneous celebration. Together, these 3 things reveal a great deal about what’s on their hearts & minds. This is a crucial exercise: imagine everyone has bought into our vision… What questions would they ask? What stories would they tell? What would get on their nerves?

Now, listen.

If what’s being asked doesn’t matched what should be asked, then we have slippage. The same is true of complaints & stories… Make sense? I constantly share testimonies (stories) that reinforce our vision. If we stop getting those stories, I’m gonna be concerned!

Here’s the “bottom line”: Slippage happens… It’s part of life! But the sooner we recognize it, the sooner we can do something about it!

Next time, I’ll finish off this series with a summary & a challenge... See you then!

Making Vision Stick 9: VSIs (Vision Slippage Indicators)

Andy warns us that there will be times when we feel the passion for our vision “slipping”. Here are some signs to look for…

VSIs (Vision Slippage Indicators): Projects, Products, & Programs

Beware of ANYTHING—no matter how new, popular, or powerful it may seem—that distracts from your vision! Let me be clear: new projects, products, & programs are fine (here’s the key) as long as they are vision-centric. Here’s a phrase that will help you look at new ideas through the vision lens: “Think steps, not programs.” It’s great to want to get people involved, but we’ve got to do it right… If it doesn’t help fulfill our vision, we’re contradicting ourselves.

So, keep your eyes on new things. While you’re watching, be listening, too… I’ll share 3 VSIs to listen for next time.

Making Vision Stick 8: When the Passion Slips

Even when we State Our Vision Simply, Cast Our Vision Convincingly, Repeat Our Vision Regularly, Celebrate Our Vision Systematically, & Embrace Our Vision Personally, Andy Stanley warns us that there will probably be times when we feel the passion for our vision “slipping”. When (not if!) that happens, remember: being committed is NOT the same as feeling committed!

What to Do When the Passion Slips

The 1st thing to do is a “don’t do”… Don’t fake it! The people who know you will sense something’s wrong, so just be honest about it. Admit it to some safe people (like in our Vision Team Meeting). I gaurantee you’re not the only one “not feeling it”! If we can come clean with each other, it gives each of us permission to be honest… And then we can pray for each other. Passion comes & goes, but commitment never wanes. We will do better in the long run if we see each other committed to the vision in both the good times & the tough times, when we feel like it & when we don’t; it proves that the vision is more important than our feelings! This transparency builds trust & trust is critical to the stickiness of our vision.

Beginning next time, I’ll share Andy’s VSIs (Vision Slippage Indicators).

Making Vision Stick 7: Embrace it Personally

Here’s the last of the 5 principles in Andy Stanley's book, Making Vision Stick, that he says will help us fulfill our responsibility to get our vision to stick…

Embrace it Personally

Let me put this one simply: we’ve gotta walk the walk if we’re gonna talk the talk. If we’re not living out our vision, we can’t expect anyone else to! When we live out our vision, we are leading from influence… NOT position! When we live the vision out in such a way that people realize we’d be doing it even if there wasn’t a vision, then people see it as more than “just a job” … It’s our calling! And when we live it like we believe it, it sets others free to believe it, too, without reservation or suspicion!

So, now we’ve identified the 5 principles to get our vision to stick: state our vision simply, cast it convincingly, repeat it regularly, celebrate it systematically, & embrace it personally… But what do we do when we feel the passion for our vision “slipping”? I’m glad you asked… I’ll talk about that in my next post!

Making Vision Stick 6: Celebrate it Systematically

OK… Here’s #4 of the 5 principles in his book, Making Vision Stick, that Andy Stanley says will help us fulfill our responsibility to get our vision to stick...

Celebrate it Systematically

Celebrating victories does more to clarify vision than anything else because they provide real-world examples of the vision’s concepts. When we celebrate the things that illustrate our vision, people have a chance for an “A-ha!” moment. Listen to this CRITICAL point: we are celebrating something (intentionally or not!), but if what we celebrate isn’t our vision, it will overpower our vision. Andy puts it this way: What’s celebrated gets repeated. Are you celebrating what you want to see repeated?

Once we state our vision simply, cast it convincingly, repeat it regularly, & celebrate it systematically, we need to embrace it personally… That’ll be next!

Making Vision Stick 5: Repeat it Regularly

In his book, Making Vision Stick, Andy Stanley says Stating Our Vision Simply & Casting it Convincingly are the 1^st & 2^nd of 5 principles that will help us fulfill our responsibility to get our vision to stick. Here’s #3…

Repeat it Regularly

Speaking our vision once or twice will NOT make it stick! We must say it over & over… The only way to do that is to weave it into the fabric of who we are. It’s not hard to do, but it doesn’t happen by accident… We must do it intentionally! Preaching it isn’t enough, by the way… It’s just the beginning. Letters & e-mails can’t convey emotion (& may not even get read), so they aren’t effective enough, either. We need to figure out the best ways & times to repeat our vision for maximum stickiness.

Andy Stanley had a brilliant idea: he recorded a 12-minute message about their vision on CD along with a new pre-release song from their worship team & then gave one to every family in church for 3 weeks & asked them to listen to it on their way home from church. They got GREAT results!!

Once we state our vision simply, cast it convincingly, & repeat it regularly, we need to celebrate it systematically… That’ll be next!

Making Vision Stick 4: Cast the Vision Convincingly

In Andy Stanley’s book, Making Vision Stick, he reminds us that we, as leaders, are responsible for making vision stick… If the people we lead don’t "get it", it’s our fault, not theirs!

Here is the 2nd of 5 things we can do to increase stickiness...

Cast The Vision Convincingly

It’s not enough to have a vision that’s easy to communicate, it must move people to action. Here are 3 principles for casting a compelling vision…

1. Define The Problem That Your Vision Addresses. When people understand what’s at stake, it grabs their hearts! They sit up & say, “We must do something!” Ask yourself these 2 questions: What is the need or problem our vision addresses? And What will happen if this need/problem continue to go unaddressed?

2. Offer a Solution to That Problem. When people believe that you have a compelling solution, it captures their hearts! They sit up & say, “We must do this!” Important: A compelling vision statement says what it’s going to do, but NOT how, who, where, etc… Those details are covered in speeches, newsletters, & websites.

3. Present a Reason Something Must Be Done Now. When people understand why they must act now, it moves their hearts! They sit up & say, “We must do this NOW!” Here are some great questions that create the passion we need: Why act now? What’s at stake now? Why not allow another year or two to go by? What makes this season unique for our team?

Once we state our vision simply & cast it convincingly, we need to repeat it regularly… That’ll be next!

Making Vision Stick 3: State the Vision Simply

In Andy Stanley’s book, Making Vision Stick, he reminds us that we, as leaders, are responsible for making vision stick… If the people we lead don’t "get it", it’s our fault, not theirs!

Here is the 1st of 5 things we can do to increase stickiness...

State The Vision Simply

For vision to stick, it must be memorable. For vision to be memorable, it must be clear & simple… People remember & embrace sentences, NOT paragraphs! Andy adds, “It is better to have a vision statement that is incomplete & memorable than to have one that is complete & forgettable.” If we fail to make our vision stick with a first-time guest, we may never have a second chance… We can always expound the vision for them later.

A clearly-articulated, easily-understood vision will focus our efforts & resources like a laser for maximum effectiveness.

Once we state our vision simply, we need to cast it convincingly… I’ll talk about that in my next post!

We're Baaaa-aaacckk!

The first thing that hit me was the smell of pizza!

No, really!! It's not spiritual, I know, but it's the truth.

The first thing I noticed when I walked out of the plane in Miami last night was the strong smell of pizza. The whole team noticed it, in fact, & several who got off the plan before me had their face stuck against the glass the stood between us & the pizza shop responsible for the wonderful smell (there was a small space in the glass & they had their noses stuck in the space... Seriously!)

So, anyway... We're back, we had a great trip, & we're thrilled to be home.

I'll be posting regularly again now, too.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for us while we were gone... We needed it!

Goin' to Haiti tomorrow... Woo-hoo!

I'll be in Haiti with a team from our church for the next week, so I may not be posting until after March 6th.

Please pray for us!

- Jeff

Making Vision Stick 2: Taking Responsibility

In Andy Stanley’s book, Making Vision Stick, he shares the fact that making vision stick is the greatest challenge of leadership. So, let’s talk about how we get vision to stick…

Taking Responsibility

As a leader, the most important thing to remember about making vision stick is this: You are responsible.

Let me be clear: as the senior pastor, I am the “Vision-Caster-in-Chief”, & I am responsible to make the vision clear. If our leaders don’t “get it”, that’s my fault, not theirs. But if our leaders look around & don’t see the rest of the church following, we need to ask ourselves where we’re failing. If the people at CLC don’t know where we’re going, it’s because we haven’t made it clear.

Ask yourself: How can we make the vision more clear? More simple? How can we make it stick? How can we make sure everybody “gets it”?

Andy Stanley suggests 5 things: ¹ State the vision simply. ² Cast the vision convincingly. ³ Repeat the vision regularly. ⁴ Celebrate the vision systematically. ⁵ Embrace the vision personally.

We’ll take these one-by-one, beginning with my next post.

Making Vision Stick 1: The Greatest Challenge of Leadership

Over the next few weeks, I’m planning to share with our church's Vision Team the meat of a great little book I just read by Andy Stanley called Making Vision Stick . I thought about buying a copy for each of our Vision-Team members, but thought we’d all be better served if I cut through the fluff, carved the meat off the bone, & served it hot & fresh in bite-sized pieces.

So… Open up! Here’s comes some good eatin’!!

The Greatest Challenge of Leadership: Making Vision Stick

The top executives of some powerful companies like Starbucks & GM attribute their well-documented floundering to the fact that they lost their vision… They turned their attention away from the target that led them to their greatness in the first place. This is all-too easy—even for a church—and has 3 primary causes: 1) success, 2) failure, & 3) everything in between.

The passing of time makes room for our human tendancies to lose focus & drift away from simplicity. In other words, time robs vision of it’s “stickyness”. Why? Because, as Andy puts it, “vision is about what could be & should be, but life is about right this minute.”

But the good news is that an uphill battle is NOT an impossible one, & God is the One Who gives vision… If He has given it, then He will help bring it to pass!

So, how do you get your God-given vision to "stick"?

I'll begin sharing what Andy says in my next post.

Thtill Lurking About

I love Bugs Bunny cartoons! One of my all-time favorites is when Bugs & Daffy are running away from Elmer Fudd (you know... The billionaire who owns a mansion & a yacht. Huh-huh-huh-huh).

Anyway... Bugs & Daffy dive into a hole, panting and terrified, listening for Elmer. They hear the sound of his feet pass them by (emphasized by a little orchestration, of course), then wait a few seconds before Bugs whispers to Daffy, "You take a peek and see if the coast is clear."

Bugs gives Daffy a boost, Daffy pokes his head out of the hole, then BLAM!!!

Daffy falls on his butt to the floor, tottering back-and-forth while smoke rises from his head.

"Thtill lurking about!" Announces Daffy in his half-spitting/half-talking voice as he collapses to the floor.

Well, my friends... I'm Thtill Lurking About!

I knew it had been a while since I posted, but when I logged on tonight, I saw that my last post was on Jan 25th. Oops... My bad!

I've been working on some projects that have been taking up the time slot I had set aside for blog posts. I know: excuses, excuses... But it's the truth. The only reason I'm able to write tonight is because I'm up WAY past my bedtime. (Please don't tell my mommy!)

Anyway... I've got a good share of these projects finished, so I'll be back at the keyboard in the days and weeks ahead, rambling, ranting, raving, & writing (not necessarily in that order).

So, for those of you who read my blog more than once (you glutton for punishment, you), I haven't quit.

No, I'm... BLAM!

Thtill lurking about!

It's a Cinch By the Inch

Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I see the size of a challenge looming before me.

I remember being in Denver with Jen a few years ago & looking out the windows of a hotel-top restaurant. Off in the distance, we could see the Rocky Mountains skirting the edge of the city. They seemed surreal, but their magnitude was obvious and undeniable.

In the same way, the challenges I face often seem to lurk just outside the limits of my ability, staring down at me with an I-dare-you-to-try-and-defeat-me posture. In those moments, I am all too keenly aware of my humanity with all of its faults and flaws, weaknesses and failures.

But somewhere along the line of life, someone asked me one of the 5 most-important questions I've ever been asked: "How do you eat an elephant?"

The simplicity of the answer is eclipsed only by the depth of its truth: "One bite at a time."

I didn't see that coming!

This truth has helped me keep my sanity & fight off discouragement during those difficult seasons of life. It has provided me with some perspective that has brought the majestic mountains of challenge down to a manageable size... Every great journey is conquered one step at a time!

I can take the next step... In fact, the next step is the only one I can take. And once I've taken it, the sting of intimidation is replaced by the soothing sense of satisfaction, which has--as an added bonus--the infusing energy of hunger to take the next step. And the cycle repeats.

The next thing I know, I'm well on my way to accomplishing something that seemed impossible before I took that first step.

So, instead of focusing on the daunting challenge, I just focus on the next step... & it's a cinch by the inch!

The Gambler

When I was a kid, there was this song by country-music legend Kenny Rogers called "The Gambler." The song is a story about a late-night train ride where a down-on-his-luck traveler encounters a career gambler who deals advice like he would a new deck of cards.

The oft-repeated chorus encapsulates his poker-based ideology:

You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run

You never count your money
While you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done

For just a few minutes, let's set aside the undeniable truth that only Kenny Rogers could pull off a song like this... And then let me share with you the amazing truth I see in the old-man's half-drunk diatribe.

It seems to me that success--in life, in ministry, in business... wherever--is not the avoidance of challenges and setbacks, but rather the wise navigation through the troubled waters that are both inherent and inevitable.

Truly... The game of life must be played with the hand we've been dealt. More often than not, the hand we get is less than desirable. It does no good to wish for another, better hand when the one we've got is staring us in the face. Only a fool would do so. Another hand will surely come once this one has played out, unless the holder gets up from the table.

Interestingly, it's not really the cards themselves that determine whether or not the hand is a good one... It is how we play the hand we're holding.

The wonderful thing about poker (if you will excuse my almost-sinful analogy) is that a hand of cards with absolutely no power or potential in and of themselves can bring down even the most-powerful hand of an opponent if it is played correctly.

The same is true in life, and therein lies the wonderful thing about it: it ain't what you play, it's how you play it. From beginning to end, one hand at a time, one card at a time, until the game is over.

I can almost hear that old gambler now, "You've got to play the hand you've been dealt."

How true.