Francis Chan is stepping out in faith…
This is a re-post from the Catalyst Blog.
Last Tuesday I had the honor of interviewing Francis Chan at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. I was asked to wait to post this video until today because of the sensitive nature of what Francis shared…
After 16 years of serving as senior pastor for Cornerstone Church Francis is sensing the Lord leading him in a different direction. Despite not having complete clarity on what this means or exactly what is next Francis is stepping out in faith, something he has done for so much of his life. He announced this decision to the church yesterday no doubt solidifying the start of a huge transition for both the Chan family AND the Cornerstone Church family. The beauty of this announcement is that it comes in unified peace and hopeful harmony.
When I asked Francis, “what’s going on with you right now, what are you learning,” I had no idea that he would share all of this…needless to say the remaining questions I had prepared were thrown out the window as Francis spoke from his heart and offered a vulnerable glimpse into his own personal journey…
“I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t go…”
Why do I fear following in faith? What risk is too great if the voice of the Lord is leading?
Francis, thank you for your tangible example of trust and surrender…
Redefining Success In Coaching
What makes a good coach? When somebody says he or she is a good coach what does that look like? How can you gauge whether or not that coach is successful? Reality will tell you that the coach is only as good as his team, right? Nobody ever says that the coach who finished 0-30 is a good coach. Nobody is knocking down his door to recruit him for another coaching position. So really the coach is only as good as the players around him. Of course a good coach can improve and challenge his players, he can put in a system that makes them more effective. He can teach them the fundamentals and he can inspire them to new levels but at the end of the day it’s whether you win or lose that defines your success.
The same could be said about pastors. Nobody is recruiting or knocking down the door of a pastor who took a church of 500 to 200. A pastor is only as good as the team that he has around him. Staff, volunteers and those who buy into the vision. The pastor can teach them the fundamentals, he can challenge his church, he can put in new systems to be more effective. He can inspire them and pray for them. However there is a point where they have to grasp the vision and work together as a team to accomplish the one goal. Multiple goals don’t work. Multiple coaches don’t work. Arguing about how it used to be or how it was different on your former team won’t work. Trying to change the goals and vision of the coach won’t work. What works is everybody understanding their role no matter how big or small. In the end when the team wins and captures that championship, everyone from the towel boy and water boy to the assistant coaches to the head coach to the MVP player gets a ring. Why? Because they all played a part to reach the goal.
So how do you define success with a coach or pastor? Do they buy into the vision and work together to accomplish the one goal. If yes, then regardless of whether they win the championship or not, they are redefining what success is and at the very least they are heading in the right direction.
Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.
– John Wooden
Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men and getting them to believe in you.
– Eddie Robinson
Coaching is a profession of love. You can’t coach people unless you love them.
– Eddie Robinson
How To Become A Legalist:
This is an incredible re-post from Ed Stetzer on how to become a legalist. Obviously this is not the goal of any individual or organization.
1. Make rules outside the Bible.
2. Push yourself to try and keep your rules.
3. Castigate yourself when you don’t keep your rules.
4. Become proud when you do keep your rules.
5. Appoint yourself as judge over other people.
6. Get angry with people who break your rules or have different rules.
7. “Beat” the losers.
In interview with Howard Hendricks, Chuck Swindoll defined the legalism problem as:
…when we get into areas that are not set forth in Scripture, either in precept or even in principle. These may be such things as length of hair, tattoos and other body piercings, skirts or pants for women, makeup or no makeup. Those are not scriptural issues. Sometimes these issues are cultural, and you do have to address them when you are in that particular culture. But I think legalism begins when you do or refrain from doing what I want you to do or not do because it’s on my list and it’s something that I am uncomfortable with.
Then, Chuck gives his blunt advice:
The problem with legalists is that not enough people have confronted them and told them to get lost. Those are strong words, but I don’t mess with legalism anymore. I’m 72 years old; what have I got to lose? Seriously, I used to kowtow to legalists, but they’re dangerous. They are grace-killers. They’ll drive off every new Christian you bring to church. They are enemies of the faith. Other than that, I don’t have any opinion!So, if I am trying to force my personal list of no-no’s on you and make you feel guilty if you don’t join me, then I’m out of line and I need to be told that.
Top 25 Pop 2009 Remix – DJ Earworm
Septic Tanks & The Other Side
I don’t know who “they” are but “they” say the grass is not greener on the other side and I believe that to be true to an extent. I do think there are moments where the grass is greener on the other side. Imagine being a baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and be a perpetual loser or you can be a baseball player on the other side of the state for the Philadelphia Phillies and be a consistent winner. There are several examples like this when it comes to sports. There are also several examples of this when it comes to life, and yes it pains me to admit that sports is not life. A job change could be a “greener” opportunity. A change of location whether it be a home or business could be a “greener” opportunity. A name change could be a “greener” opportunity.
However there is the flip side. What if the grass is greener on the other side because below the surface there is something you don’t see. We have a patch of grass that is greener at the bottom of the hill where I live. It’s a large patch and to the untrained eye it would appear that the grass is greener because of all the water that may accumulate there but the truth is there is a large septic tank that sits below this large “greener” section of lawn. So I guess the thought is, the grass may be greener on the surface of the other side but there could be a lot of crap underneath that you can’t see that makes it appear to be something it really isn’t.
Sometimes we become masters at hiding what is really below the surface and make what is on the surface appear to be great. If people really knew what was below the surface they may find that they really don’t like what they see. I think the key to true happiness and joy in life is to be transparent and real with at least one person, it will help you to be the same way to yourself.
Transcending Sports
I am a huge sports fan. I enjoy the game. I enjoy the competitiveness. I enjoy the sportsmanship. I enjoy those moments that transcend the game. The moment that sticks out to me from this last years NCAA tournament will be that of coach Bob Huggins on the court holding Da Sean Butler after the senior towards the end of the game and the end of his fabulous West Virginia career tore his ACL and likely ended his chances of a future NBA career. Those who follow sports know that Coach Huggins has made some poor choices in the past but all that gets thrown out the window in my book when you see his love and genuine concern for his players. To see the bond that they have. To see how hard they played for him shows their respect for him and his coaching ability.
It made me think of those who are around us. When they are hurting are we willing to get on our knees and hold them through their difficult time? Do we really care more about the person than what that person can do for us? I believe that Da Sean Butler will remember that moment for the rest of his life. It was not just losing in the final four, it was not just tearing his ACL, it will be the moment that his coach was there and walked through one of the most difficult moments in his life that he will remember. That will be a moment that shapes him. It transcends sports. It’s a life lesson that people are important.
Who in your life today needs you to get on your knees and hold them through their difficult time?
Hoarders, Cats & OCD
I was talking to a friend of mine Matt the other day and he knows about my love for cats and how I believe they are tools of Satan and come from the depths of hell. [For those of you who just stopped reading come back tomorrow because I will be back to a blog post that will benefit you more on a spiritual/leadership level.] For those of you still reading, have you ever seen the show Hoarders on A&E? There is a common theme that Matt brought to my attention on the show. Have you guessed what it is? You’ve got it all of the people on the show have cats. Now I am not making any assumptions. I am not trying to make any statements. I am simply stating an observation that was brought to my attention. I have a slight case of OCD where things have to be put back in place before I can start. My office has to be clean before I can start working. It’s something I deal with. I go into stores and fix the shelves just because it’s out of place. When you add in my OCD and my hate for cats then you can see the parallel that if you don’t want to be a pack rat then don’t have cats. I’m not saying that cats cause this problem. I’m not saying that cats drive their owners to the point of insanity that they can’t handle the basics of cleaning a house. Or that they drive their owners to such fear that they hold on to everything in fear that they will throw out the cat with the trash and garbage out of fear of not knowing the difference. So the next time you walk into a house that is packed and trash, ask them if you can see their cat.
Sorry if any of you are offended by this post. It is meant to be funny for all of us who are not cat lovers.
Baskin Robbins Churches
I had a friend mention to me the other day that he was fighting to have the Bible not be taught in their school because it would open the door for “other religions” to be able to do the same. I immediately got upset internally. I asked him why wouldn’t you want to open it up to other religions? Will the Bible not be able to stand up for itself? Will there suddenly be a mass exodus from religion to religion? His response was, “I don’t know what those other religions are going to teach.” We chose to end the conversation by agreeing to disagree.
Fear many times will keep us from understanding and embracing other religions. The goal of a Christ Follower is not to convince everyone that “our” religion is right and “your” religion is wrong. The goal of the Christ Follower is to live and share how to have a relationship with Christ. I love the fact that there are so many different churches. It’s like going to Baskin Robbins and picking from so many different types of flavors of ice cream. Not everybody likes the same thing. There are different styles and approaches for many different types of people on different stages of their spiritual journey. Maybe instead of being afraid of other religions we can work together to help people find what they are searching for. I believe at the end of the day Christ will make Himself known to those who are seeking the truth.
Another Brick In The Wall
“Another Brick in the Wall” is the title of three songs set to variations of the same basic them, on Pink Floyd’s 1979 rock opera, The Wall, subtitled Part I (work title Reminiscing), Part II (work title Education), and Part III (work title Drugs), respectively, all of which were written by Pink Floyd’s bassist and then lead songwriter, Roger Waters. It has become one of the most famous Pink Floyd songs.”
Another brick in the wall, is that how you sometimes feel? That you are unnoticeable or that your part is so small, does it really even matter? I think that sometimes we forget that we are part of a bigger picture or plan. We never see that when were in the midst of the storm or trials of life. We never see it until sometimes it feels too late. Just remember that each brick is important in the wall. Each serves as protection and support. Understand that each brick was made without knowing whether it would be a support on the bottom or a support on top. It was made to be a brick.
This week as you journey through your life. When you come to those moments of feeling like just a brick, remember you are a brick. You serve a part of the bigger picture and plan and you are important. No job or opportunity is to small. Take advantage of each day and serve and life with dignity and pride. When you build a wall you build it one brick at a time. At some point every brick is singled out and is important to the person building the wall. You are important to God and He is crafting and laying your life into a an incredible masterpiece. Just be patient and hold on, don’t quit.
This was written to all my friends barely holding on. Who are ready to quit and throw it in. Who desperately need to know that God loves them and they are important no matter how they or others view them.
One Day’s Wages
I am really impressed with this concept. Do you ever see or hear something and go, why didn’t I think of that? It’s so simple and yet it is life changing and revolutionizing. I love passing on the ideas of others. Passing on their dream and vision. One day you or I may have a God sized vision and who will pass it on for us? One Day’s Wages has blown me away with what they are able to accomplish. Here is what they are about:
In one word: Movement.
In two words: Compassionate Justice.
In a phrase: A Movement of People, Stories and Actions of Compassionate Justice to Fight Extreme Global Poverty.
In one paragraph: One Day’s Wages (ODW) is an international grassroots movement dedicated to ending extreme global poverty. ODW promotes awareness, invites giving, and supports sustainable relief through partnerships, especially with smaller organizations in developing regions.
Our vision is to change global issues of injustice affecting millions of people, regardless of race, culture, sex, age, or religion.
Our vision is to inspire people around the world to simply donate one day’s wages and to renew that pledge monthly, quarterly or yearly on their birthdays to the cause of ending extreme global poverty.
If your wages for a single day cannot save the world, they can dramatically impact another person’s life; consider, then, what millions of you giving your daily wages and renewing the gift at least annually on your birthdays will accomplish!
One Day’s Wages is you, me, us, them: giving, dreaming, and working together to end extreme global poverty. Join the movement.
What an incredible concept. This is not meant to get you to jump all over this but become aware of issues and causes and those who are working to make a difference.
