Been There Done That

“It is so much easier to write about where I’ve been and what I’ve overcome rather than were I’m at and what I’ve yet to figure out.”  I read that quote tonight and it sparked this emotion in me that is difficult to explain.  The truth is I am tired.  Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually tired.

I’ve been here before and you probably have as well.  Sometimes they each hit at different times and other times they just hit you all at once.  It’s the “I don’t feel like getting out of bed and facing the world” feeling.  Can you relate to that?  When you get there what do you do?  You try to overcome it, man up, power through it and pretend that you are not struggling.  I’ve been there and done that and have found that it is not healthy.  You can only run, pretend and fake so long until it catches up to you.

I am having a hard time putting my emotions to words and I am having a hard time seeing an end in sight.  The best word that I can come up with to describe this emotion is DEFLATED.  The Christian thing to do is pray more, read my bible more, journal more, fast more but at the end of the day I feel like I’m just doing more.  I don’t feel like I am in  a dark place by any means but I’m just tired.  I think we can all relate to some of those feelings.  I’ve learned to talk about it is the healthiest way to overcome it.

So my question for you is have you been there before?  What have you done to get through it?

The A21 Campaign and Human Trafficking

Anybody who knows me knows how passionate I have become about speaking out for social justice issues.  It wasn’t until last year that I learned that all of these issues existed.  I guess I can attribute that to a lack of caring and a product of my white, suburban, upper middle class surroundings.  However becoming aware of an issue is only part of a solution because there are many more parts that can be done to make people aware and work towards an end.  Today I am introducing you to an  organization called The A21 Campaign.  The A21 Campaign stands for abolishing injustice in the 21st century. Anyone can join – everyone can make a difference.  Below are some thoughts, stats, ideas and opportunities taken from a recent brochure of theirs.

[def.] the movement of individuals, with the primary purpose of forced servitude or sexual slavery.

Today, an estimated 27 million people are held in slavery, with statistics estimating that 99% of these victims are never rescued. Trafficking in women is the second largest global organized crime, and in some cases girls are forced to service as many as 40 men a day.

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the issue of human trafficking and think that we cannot make a difference.  But do not forget that each one of us has at our disposal the most powerful weapon of warfare – and that is prayer.

PRAY…

FOR THE VICTIMS

For their strength & salvation

For their protection, freedom and justice

For their hope and healing

FOR THE TRAFFICKERS

For conviction, repentance and salvation

For criminal networks to dismantle

For the oppressors to be arrested and prosecuted

FOR GOVERNMENTS

For corruption to cease

For the implementation of just legislation

For discernment in forming alliances

AGAINST ROOT CAUSES

Against poverty

Against greed

Against prejudice

FOR INCREASED GLOBAL AWARENESS

The reality of trafficking is unveiled

For strategies to raise awareness

For people to be stirred to action

THE CHURCH

For the church to prevail

For advocates and laborers to emerge

To unite against injustice

THE A21 CAMPAIGN

For divine favour

For divine wisdom

For divine provision

21 WAYS TO HELP

1. Spread the word
2. Use your talent
3. Invest in freedom
4. Lobby politicians
5. Organize a fundraiser
6. Support survivors
7. Fast on the 21st
8. Volunteer
9. Start an awareness group
10. Buy fair trade products
11. Sponsor those at risk
12. Intern for a summer
13. Educate yourself
14. Stay current
15. Work the web
16. Pray
17. Motivate the media
18. Stay alert
19. Work for freedom
20. Make connections
21. Help victims escape

ALL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMP IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING. -Edmund Burke

Having Our Ideas Stolen By Pop Culture. (Finally!)

This is a great fun read from Jon Acuff over on Stuff Christians Like.

Despite being an early adopter of both Gavin DeGraw and Salt & Vinegar Pringles, people rarely call me a “visionary.” (Both of those things should be more famous by the way.)

No one looks at me as a shaper of culture, as a predictor of fads, as a trendsetter if you will. Until today. A few weeks ago I hinted at something that came to be. I joked about something that actually came to pass. I hate to exaggerate, but I kind of predicted the future.

How?

In a post I wrote on August 23, I asked the shoe company TOMS, if they would be OK if I “started a handkerchief company called, SMOT?”

I found the idea of starting a company so obviously inspired by TOMS to be humorous, dare I say rife with mirth. And I laughed, oh I laughed, until I saw the new shoe by Skechers. At first I thought they were teasing or pulling my leg or even joshing a little bit. But they are not. They recently developed a new shoe called “BOBS.”

Here is a photo of the BOBS:

Here is a photo of TOMS:

Not only do they look alike, but they have the same program of giving a pair of shoes to someone in need every time you buy one, just like TOMS does.

Now clearly, this raises some questions:

1. Would it have been worse, or better if Skechers had named them the “TIMS,” and only changed one letter?

2. If changing TOMS to BOBS becomes a trend, would it be odd if I became a Christian musician named, “Chris Boblin,” instead of Chris Tomlin? My first song will be titled, “How Greater is our God.”

3. For some reason, “TOMS” sounds like a playful kid you went to elementary school with, and “BOBS” sounds like a gentleman who owns an Astrovan and has a thick mustache. The name Bob doesn’t sound that way to me, but making it plural is weird, am I wrong?

4. Is it wrong to want to make an Office Space joke right here?

5. Is this an “ends justify the means,” conversation? Is the bigger issue that kids are getting shoes they need and what’s originality anyway? Nothing is original.

6. Should someone who ripped off the Stuff White People Like site to create this one really be poking someone else for lack of originality?

7. Is it weird that I’m happy that for once, pop culture is copying Christianity? All our years of turning “Got Milk?,” into “Got God?” or “Got Destiny?” have been absolved.

8. Is it possible that TOMS gave Skechers permission? Soles4Souls is the one running the program and I’ve heard good things about those dudes. Is this possibly all on the up and up?

9. If I made a running shoe called, “NOKES,” would Nike get all upset?

What’s your take? Huge flattery or imitation gone too far?

You in Team TOMS or Team BOBS?

Empower Your Team

I follow a large number of blogs and came across this and was reminded about how true it is. I had a chance to interview Brad Lomenick who is the genius behind the Catalyst Conference and this guy oozes humility, leadership, creativity and loyalty. Everything I have heard about him is good and reveals his heart of loving God and serving others. Great example to look at.  During my interview with him on Backstage Leadership he talked about the need to empower those around you.  What blows my mind is that Catalyst is run by 10 full time paid staff people and the willingness of a mega amount of volunteers.  Brad has appeared to master the art of empowering others to greatness.

Couple things I have learned.  Empowerment is not just delegation.  It is not micro-management.  It is not public permission but private control.  It is not easy.  It may never be done like you would have done it.  It is necessary to be successful.  It is needed for a team to stay motivated.

Leaders: one of the key things you must ALWAYS do is empower your team. As I’ve learned over the years, most leaders at their core are control freaks, which is part of the reason they are successful. But we all must learn and recognize the need to empower those around us to succeed and do what they do well. Most leaders think they can do it all on their own, and many try, but ultimately in order to grow a successful organization that outlives the leader you have to empower those around you.

Here are a few thoughts on Empowering your Team:

1. Give them the opportunity to make decisions, and don’t second guess them. A lot of us as leaders are willing to allow our team members to make decisions, but want to step in as soon as we see something done differently than we would do. Don’t make that mistake. It is totally demoralizing to your team.

2. Assign them responsibility by them owning key projects from START to FINISH. So once we allow team members to make key decisions, now we have to allow them to own projects and feel the responsibility of completion.

3. Fight for them. Whether it’s standing up for them to your boss, or standing beside them and supporting them in a disagreement with a vendor, always take the stance of fighting for them and being willing to go to battle for them.

4. Encourage them. This is the one we so often forget. But can go the furthest in creating team chemistry, longevity, and commitment.

5. Counsel, coach and instruct. Not necessarily the same as encouragement. Great coaches do this well. They scream and you and make you better, while also putting their arm around you and giving you “ego biscuits” when needed. Two different parts of empowering, but both equally important. Instruction is key for releasing again and assigning more responsibility.

6. Overwhelm them. Not on a continual basis, but ultimately your team members should constantly feel a bit overwhelmed by the projects or assignments they are working on, not underwhelmed. Many of their projects should cause them to feel like they are not prepared or ready. If they feel underwhelmed, they will probably end up looking elsewhere for greater assignments and more responsibility.

Andy McKee – Guitar – Drifting

The History of Rap With Justin & Jimmy

Justin Timberlake guested on Fallon’s late-night talk show on Wednesday, and eventually the conversation turned to their mutual love of hip-hop.

And then, it was on.

Accompanied by Fallon’s house band The Roots, Fallon and Timberlake took to the stage and ran through a virtual history of hip-hop, starting with the Sugar Hill Gang classic Rapper’s Delight before touching on The Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg and Eminem, among other rap luminaries.

Check out Jimmy and Justin getting their rap on in the video below.

Normally I will throw videos on the featured video site but this is worth getting special attention.  Very humorous and both these guys are so talented no wonder this video is exploding on the web.

Charity Water

You Have A Story

You have a story.

I could pretty much end this writing there and that should be profound for the majority of us, however the majority of us have forgotten how much power that those four little words possess.

YOU HAVE A STORY.

Here is what that means.

• You are important.
• You are valuable.
• You have experience.
• You have knowledge.
• You posses a viewpoint.
• You can make a difference.

Too many times we feel that our story is insignificant or that our experiences are not like everybody else.  If you have been in the church world for any length of time you know what I’m talking about.

Your story consists of the facts that you grew up in church, went to Sunday school your whole life, went to Awanas every Wednesday night and VBS every summer.  You were home-schooled and when you were 12 years old you saw a picture in a magazine that you shouldn’t have and when you were 16 you felt peer pressure to smoke a cigarette even though you didn’t you felt bad for putting yourself in that position.  You feel like your story is insignificant and carries little weight in the eyes of others.

Or maybe your story was that you’ve never been to church before in your life.  Your mom was a crack-head and from an early age you learned to defend yourself with a bow-staff and ninja stars.  At the age of 6 you were supporting yourself on the streets by selling heroine.  You wanted to change but you were making too much money and had to many employees working under you who depended on you.  Somehow you managed to get your GED and do some community college and one day somebody invited you to church and you checked it out and now your life has been changed forever because of that moment.  You’ve been on several shows, written a book and had a movie done about you and your story is impacting millions.

We read those stories and immediately are compelled to think that story #2 is so much more powerful.  Truth is just because a story has more flair to it doesn’t mean it is more powerful.  God can use your story to make a difference in the lives of others no matter what it is and no matter how “boring or powerful” it may or may not sound.  Your story is being written even today.  Your legacy is being formed.  The chapters of your life are yet to be determined.  You can’t change your past but you can change how you will look towards the future.  There is a story in bondage, brokenness, repentance, redemption and restoration.  All of us have been there and no what that feels like and therefore have a story.

Your story has power. What you are going through has purpose. The hurt you’ve experienced has meaning. Your broken heart, placed in the hands of Christ, has the potential to be a tool used to repair the hearts of others. My encouragement to you today is don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t underestimate the power of your story, partnered with the redeeming power of the Holy Spirit to transform, set free and restore the hearts and lives of others. Share your story today.

AND

THEN

LISTEN to their story.  It may be exactly what you needed to hear today from somebody else’s life.  Maybe part of forming your story is being there to help write somebody else’s.