In The Dash- Life Experience

There are a lot of things that really matter in life like which way the toilet paper is put on the roll or when is the sink too full to put another dish in.  In all seriousness there are a lot of things that I have learned that really do matter and sadly most of them I’ve learned the hard way.

There are things I have learned about careers, family and church that you don’t learn in a book but you learn through real life experiences through success and through failure.  Every context is different but the core principle of each life experience is universal, to be able to share that wisdom with my kids is so important to me.  They will make their own mistakes however if they can learn from mine it will save them pain and it will give me joy.

 

Action Step:

◊ A memoir of the things I’ve learned that really matter.

Pay The Price

“Don’t wish for the success of others because you have no idea the price they paid to get there.” Not sure where I heard that quote but it has rocked me several times as I think about it over the last year.

Success doesn’t happen overnight.  It takes time and there is a price to pay.  Too many times nobody wants to pay the price.  We want instant satisfaction.  We want instant success.  We are so used to pushing a button and getting what we want right away.  The problem that I have learned the hard way is if it is easy it is usually not worth a whole lot.  There is something about fighting though your faith or working hard to achieve a goal.

I’ve always envied the success of others.  I see leaders like Winston Churchill and Barack Obama in the world and I see leaders like Andy Stanley, Perry Noble and Steven Furtick in the church world and I catch myself saying I want what they have.  Here’s the deal I’m not them and I will never be them.  The best I can be is me.  The best part about that is that is all that God requires of me.  He didn’t create me to be them.  He didn’t create me to experience their success or their blessings, I have my own prepared for me.

With more success is more problems on a different level.  God gives us what we can handle when we can handle it.  There is no way I could run a church of 20,000 people or run a multi-million dollar company.  But what I can do is my best.  I have had to learn the hard way.  God has been working on stripping me of all pride and measure of what I valued and thought success was.  God has been taking me back to the basics.  Because of that I have learned an entire new respect for authority, serving and what true success in His eyes looks like.

Nobody was asking the church leaders that I mentioned to speak at conferences when they had a church of 20 people.  However they trusted God, were faithful and because of that they are seeing success that is not the norm.  If it was easy everybody would do it.  Truth is though, whether they have a church of 20 or a church of 20,000 it is not the size of the church that matters it is their pursuit of God and how that transcends into their everyday lives and into their everyday relationships.

So the key is pay the price by doing the little things.  Do what you can do.  Don’t wish for the success of other because you have no idea the price they paid to get there.  Just remember with others success comes others problems.  Learn to enjoy the journey and not rush the season of small beginnings.

Leadership vs. Management

I have really learned to enjoy corporate America.  At first I was caught off guard by the cut throat abrasiveness that comes with it but I have also been fortunate enough to connect with some key individuals which I have learned a lot from.  One of the biggest differences between the church and corporate America is that in the church, generally, the mindset is one of service.  Where as in corporate America there does tend to be more of a selfish mindset.  That doesn’t mean that you don’t find both of these mindsets in both organizations from time to time.

So here are some of my observations that I have seen between Leadership vs. Management.

Management:

Managers tend to be more about using people than utilizing people.  They tend to have a personal agenda and are focused on moving up quickly.  Managers tend to be more standoffish.  They don’t let others into their lives in fear that it will appear to be a weak spot or show vulnerability.  They only take risks that benefit them.  They do just enough to get to the next level.  They don’t listen to those around them.  They don’t take criticism well.  They use their title to threaten others.  They tend to take others ideas and sell them as their own.  They do not earn trust or buy in.  They surround themselves with others who are weaker so they appear to be stronger.

Leaders:

Leaders tend to be more about investing in people than the program.  They show a loyalty to those who they work with.  They tend to be more about utilizing people than using people.  They are transparent and vulnerable which earns trust and buy in to the vision.  They are not afraid to take calculated risks for the sake of all concerned.  They listen to the stories of those that follow them so they can better understand who they are and put them in positions to be successful.  They have learned to surround themselves with people who’s strengths represent their own personal weaknesses so together as a team they are more complete.  Leaders tend not to be tied up in titles.  They embrace those who are a stronger than them and are not intimated by others success.  They are focused on the goals, mission and vision of the organization and project.  They want you to be successful.  They reproduce themselves in others.

This is not true of every manger or every leader.  These are just some of my observations that I have seen in both the church and corporate America.  I do believe there are managers who are leaders and will one day posses the title and authority to accompany their characteristics.  I also believe there are leaders by title and position only who simply management and will potentially never take it to the next level.

I am learning more and more to learn from everyone I can.  I have so far to go as a young leader.  I believe wholeheartedly that no matter the age you can learn from the life lessons of others.  My challenge to you is don’t just manage what you have but be a leader.  Be more concerned about others than you are yourself.  Step outside your comfort zone strive to make others better than yourself.

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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

Do You Really Think That The Hope Of The World Is The Church?

I got asked recently by a co-worker who said, “Do you really think that the hope of the world is the church?”  My first response was silence as I thought about what they were really asking and then I said, “It should be”.  I have heard from various pastors over the years that the local church is the hope of the world and I love the way that sentence flows off of my tongue.  However by saying that sentence I feel like I pawn off the responsibility to a building to do all the work to reach people.  I leave all the effort to programs and procedures and systems.  Problem is, what happens if the people in local churches all over the world either don’t know they are the hope of the world or worse have no desire to offer that hope?

Jesus was a passionate individual here on earth who connected with those who were ultimately far from him.  Jesus took the time to hang out with sinners and the very men who walked with him were not the sort that any of us would have chosen to plant a church with or start a movement with.  He sought out the woman who had been married 5 times and was living with a guy who wasn’t her husband and he offered grace to the woman caught in adultery and he touched the lepers and spoke gently with tax collectors.  He healed those who were sick and broken and according to the world were disgusting and were better off dead.  He welcomed all those with questions and insults like they were his friends.

The question that person asked me was followed up with this…did God really create an institution where one day a week people could come to a building and fake the fact that they are really hurting and broken inside and begging for hope that doesn’t seem to be there?  Does God really care about my hurt and my pain and my life?  Truth is we all go through stretches in our lives where we do exactly that and pretend that we have it all figured out and that our life is perfect.  Smiles can only cover up so much.  Truth is we are not doing God or anybody else any favors by getting up early on Sunday and putting on our happy face to only go through motions and emotions.

Many a Sunday’s have gone by in my 10 years of ministry where it was easier to answer the cliche’ question of “How are you?” with “I’m fine”, rather than reveal my heart that was wicked and broken and desperately searching for God.  Now what I have gathered with those that I have talked to about this inside and outside the church world is that the world does not need to see perfect people NOT needing a savior, pretending to be something that they are not.  The world needs to see broken and messed up and fragmented people who have been honest and fallen broken before the cross and are changed and been made new.  I believe that is the church being the hope of the world.  What can the church offer that nobody else in the world can offer…hope.  Hold on to and grasp the hope that is in you today.  You are the church and through you and your story you can change the world.  Why?  Because I really do believe that the local church is the hope of the world.

Life Lessons From Trader Joe’s

I have been working part-time at Trader Joe’s for the last three weeks and there are several things that I have noticed that I wanted to share.  I am extremely impressed at how Trader Joe’s as a company is managed and operated.  From the accuracy of the crew members in how they order products to eliminate massive back room storage to management and how they delegate responsibility.  They truly give ownership of the store to the crew members and coach them when it is needed.

Key Concepts::

• It is more about the customer than it is about the project.
• Telling someone where to go is not as important as showing them where to go.
• How can you purchase something until you know if you like, so try it.  Are you serious?
• It is all about creating a “wow” experience for customers.

It made me think about the church and it is not really any different or at least it shouldn’t be.  It should always be more about people than a project or a program.  Yes projects and programs bring people in but it is relationships that keeps them coming in.  It is more important to lead by example than to tell people how to live.  Actions will always speak louder than words.  There are different churches for different people.  I love the idea of trying out a church until you find the one that you feel connected to that you can serve in and grow in.  Jesus was not boring and neither should the church.  There should be an obvious sign that a church is growing and excited and passionate about what they are doing.  When people walk in they should be in “wow” of the creativity, passion, excitement and commitment.

I’ve watched people walk in to Trader Joe’s and spend a ton of money not just for the product but for the experience.  I wonder if people would be willing to invest whatever it took to enjoy their experience in their church?

Equally Perfect

I went to the Phillies/Nationals game on Friday night with a friend of mine.  It is a priceless trip that we do together each year and each year we try to get to the ballpark early just to soak in the environment and hot dogs.  This year I noticed something that I had seen before but never really took note of.  The grounds crew.  Have you ever watched them prep a field for a baseball game?  There are several people all working together knowing their roles and trying to accomplish one thing, get the field ready for that game.  Dozens and dozens and dozens of guys working together like clockwork to finish the field for the 7:05 first pitch.

One of the things I noticed is how well they prepared the field even for a Nationals game.  I don’t know if this is an MLB standard or if it is different for each team? Each guy took ownership and meticulously  fulfilled their role.  From how the batting cage is rolled away to how how the dirt is smoothed out, to how the lines on the grass are brushed to create a light and dark effect.  How the infield is watered, the lines are chalked to how members of the ground crew walk the field to make sure there is nothing on it.  They demand the best of themselves and for their team.  What intrigued me is they do this in all ballparks across the country.  Whether your team is in first place or last place you would never know based on the field and how it is prepped or how it looks at the end.

It made me think about the church.  Do we put in the same effort to share Jesus with people who will never step foot in our church?  The same effort that if we go out of our way to connect with them and invest with them and they go to the “other” church, was it a waste of time?  Would we put in the same effort if we knew that going into the relationship?  So many times we determine how we will live out our faith based on whether we will “win” or “lose” the hearts of those we are trying to connect with.  Maybe a lesson can be learned from grounds keepers at a baseball game.  The grounds keeper puts in the same effort to prep a field not based on the record of winning and losing but because they simply are connecting people to one of the greatest games…baseball.  It does not matter if they connect with you or your church because at the end of the day the goal is simply to connect them with Jesus.  Eventually we will learn that it is not about us.  There is a purpose and a goal much bigger than the individual.

Francis Chan – #CatWest ’09

Picket Lines & Boycotting

I honestly believe there is a time and place for everything.  With that being said I don’t know the exact specifics about this situation I’ve seen the last couple weeks but I have a couple questions.  Outside where I pull into my local Starbucks there is a group of men with picket signs and they are standing there at 7:30 every morning picketing a local business that is going in.  They apparently are boycotting because of what they call an unfair wage incentive. I have no idea how this works or how the Union works.  On one sign I saw .50 cents is .5o cents…pay up.  I would assume that they are upset that they are missing out on .50 cents an hour for working.  Now in a typical forty hour work week that adds up to $20 pre tax.  The business is still being built by other employees because this is not a full on strike.  These guys have lost three weeks pay since they have been out there all to earn another $20 a week?  To me that just doesn’t make sense.

What makes sense is the civil rights marches demanding equality.  Begging for equal rights to vote and for the simple right to live.  I’ve always laughed at boycotts and pickets.  I’m sure some are justified and really do work and get what they want or feel they need by pressing the hand of their employer.  Growing up I have seen some denominations boycott: Disney, Coke, Pepsi, Abortion, Foreign Cars, Legos, Chicken, Motor Companies, Styrofoam Cups and Beer Companies.  Ok, obviously I am kidding with that list, secretly nobody was really boycotting the beer companies, but several on that list were boycotted.  Even today there are some who are calling for the boycott of Glenn Beck.  I wonder, does it really matter?  Did Disney freak out when the local church boycotted them when they were still experiencing record sales?

My big question today is, do we sometimes waste our time majoring in the minors?  From our personal lives, professional lives, family lives and even our church lives, do we spend to much energy investing in minor things instead of focusing on what is really important?  I’m not saying those other things and what they may or may not have stood for are not important but is it worth our energy?

I would challenge you today to get passionate about the things that would make Jesus’ heart beat faster.  Get passionate about things that will make a long term difference and impact.  Just a thought.

Rethink Possible

AT&T has a new marketing campaign titled “Rethink Possible”.  On their site is a little intro video type thing that explains this.  Here is what it says: Expand your boundaries of can.  See what’s on the other side of to far.  Play the angel’s advocate.  Outsmart can’t.  Put a restriction on your limits and expect to be wowed.  Explore.  Try.  Do.  Because before it could be done, it couldn’t.  These are indeed amazing times.  Rethink Possible. I love it.  We can argue all day long about what cell phone company has the best coverage, lowest rates and least dropped calls but that is not what this is about.  AT&T is trying to get the consumer to think outside the box and think about what can be.

The church is no different.  For years there was a certain way to do church.  Hymnals, KJV, Sunday’s best.  Long talks that lacked application but were full of information.  Then people started to “rethink possible.”  Churches started adding musicians and became relevant and progressive.  People wore whatever they wanted to church. Other versions of the Bible were taught. People started inviting their neighbors.  Talks were shortened and people were challenged.  Life groups and community began to happen.  People began to think missionally.   Satellite churches were launched and multi-site campuses became the norm.  Churches became portable and met in theaters, schools coffee shops and some churches actually double as a business.  Internet campuses were formed and community was developed through social networks like Twitter and facebook.

How we do things today will not be the way they are done in 5 years or even 3 years.  Culture is changing and the church must adapt without losing it’s true identity.  No it’s identity is not in song selections, clothing and versions but instead in what it is doing to connect people to the very core of it all…Jesus.  All the bells and whistles do not replace the work of the Holy Spirit in an individuals life.  So as culture moves so must the church and so must we as individuals who make up the church.  There are people who would be willing to listen if they could understand what we are saying, not in our words but in our actions.  Live out your faith today and “rethink possible.”

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