from oblivious to legacy

Leadership tends to emerge over time.

Sure, there are moments when you might dramatically jump into something because of a crisis "out there" or "in you."

Most of the tie, leadership happens in phases. Think of this in the world of performing arts:

• Oblivious: "I know nothing about theater, acting or singing."
• Audience: "I saw a show."
• Fan: "I rather enjoyed that show and have started following the people behind it."
• Audition: "Maybe I can do something like that, be it up front or behind-the-scenes."
• Chorus: "I'm on stage. Right there. Next to that other person. I have a line. Wait for it!"
• Performer: "I need to study for my part in this. I'm in several scenes."
• Lead performer: "My face is on the poster. That means I have a key role in this soaring or flopping, so I'm all in."
• Creator: "What if we did this? Or didn't do that? Or did something else instead?"
• Producer: "I'm going to invest into making something happen that allows others to shine."
• Legacy: "Those people I invested into? They're now investing into others."

Don't for a moment think that because you're in the audience today and not at a legacy stage that where you are right now doesn't have significance.

Just keep growing... keep moving... keep emerging.

"So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” (2 Samuel 16:11)

one

What are you known for?

I've been spending some time this year reading about the various people in the Bible. None other than Jesus were perfect, but each was known for something. One that has its own unique summary takes place in an era when everyone else had become notoriously corrupt:

"Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation." (Genesis 6:9)

Still, when we think of Noah our mind quickly jumps to images of a ship packed with animals or a smiling man next to a rainbow. These are images we see in baby nurseries or church coloring pages, but there is more to the story of Noah. The biggest lesson comes at the beginning story—the lessons of a man who stood alone for God.

One song can spark a moment.
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest.
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship.
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea.
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation.
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness.
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits.
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom.
One heart can know what’s true.
One life can make the difference.
You see it’s up to YOU!
-Anonymous

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

So can you and I.

Noah was thought of as blameless.

So can you and I.

How? Noah walked with God.

So can you and I.

Be the example.

Be that "one." 

churches partnering together

Today I took part in a monthly lunch I have with area pastors, and appreciated hearing from a couple others who joined us from a nearby city. They've done well at creating a network of churches who really work together well.

Here are some of the notes I took:

Reasons why a network like this matters:

• God responds to our prayers.
• All ages need to be reached for Jesus on their level:
• Kids needs to hear about Jesus in a variety of ways.
• Tweens need mentoring inside and outside the church.
• High School students need character development that impacts every area of their lives.
• Adults need to see how their congregation is linked into the larger Story of God.
• A mentoring network can be across church lines.
• We honor the work of those who ministered before us.
• It keeps us from looking for a silver bullet via a conference, and makes us “stay and pray” by asking God “What do you want to do here with the talent you have?”
• You experience the fruit of other churches/pastors praying for other congregations/pulpits.

Transferable principles:

• Love: People will know if you love them or if they are a project. Love keeps doors open and helps people trust you because they don't feel you're in a hurry with an agenda.
• An observation: Some of the greatest breakthroughs will happen when the timing is right and people trust you enough to see you as a resource.
  
  
• What God wants to do in any one community is bigger than any one church: Everyone in the city can find a church that will connect with them, and pastors can help this to happen by not competing over sheep.

• An observation: When we opt to not compare ourselves to other churches to appear better/healthier/edgier, the inverse ripple is that we model commitment to the Kingdom, which in turn helps church attendees become less consumers.
  
  
• Serve versus scold: Some churches are more known for pointing fingers versus serving needs.
• An observation: The physical analogy reveals a spiritual one - pointing a finger only allows you to close a door; open hands can open doors.
  
  
• Prayer: Spending time in prayer makes us spend time in God together. Pray people come to a saving knowledge in Christ, and grow in favor/wisdom.
• An observation: It will be difficult to get everyone to show up in large numbers every time. It’s up to each person in such a network to not grow resentful if they are the only one able to make it that week.
  
  
• Neutral Ground: It may help to diffuse potential tensions by not meeting at each other's churches, but instead a public or city area. “Until we all get to heaven well all have insecurities – be it parking lot envy or the dynamics of how someone else’s church is healthier than yours.”
• An observation: I wouldn’t argue with these points, but they sadden me. Maybe a long-term goal is for the location to not even need to be neutral?
  
  
• Focus on essentials: Bring Christ into central focus without feeling like you need to abandon your distinctives. Get to know those “other perspectives” without arguing, unless it is an issue of sin. Worry less about trying to get them to think “straight, like you do” versus thinking about what it means to follow Jesus.
• An observation: There will need to be some basic creed that pastors agree on, or else groups that want to be included but really aren’t like-minded will water down the ultimate goal.
  
  
• Let the doors open - don't force them: God is always at work. Hop on for the ride with a serving towel ready.
• An observation: It may be hard on your pride, but you may not be the person who opens the door you’ve been knocking on for years. Another person/pastor/church may be able to get the answer, but if you see them as co-laborers it’s a win for the Kingdom.
  
  
• Real ministry is always incarnational: The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. We try programs all the time, but the ministry that transforms lives is people revealing Jesus.
• An observation: Ministry often is easiest to jump into from afar from from adrenaline, but it's the commitment to "not go anywhere" that lets real life change happen in you and through you.
  
  
• Relational connections with each other make ministry do-able: When you have to deal with grumpy church critics or tough situations, your church can empathize with your role but only your peers can "get it" and its affects on your household.
• An observation: Amen.

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth." (3 John 1:5-8)

things I learned today by listening instead of speaking

This morning in our Connection Church gathering, we gave four guys in our church 10-12 minutes to each share a message out of the overflow of their relationship with God. Each swung at it hard, and so many were immensely blessed because of it. Even tonight as I took part in a "Learning Community" our church is offering I heard some of the chatter about how people were impacted.

Sometimes you need to step back from what you do in order to hear what you would have spoken over.

I said...

Sometimes you need to step back from what you do in order to hear what you would have spoken over.

Today, Patrick Campbell helped me hear:

• God is in the habit of being "with" people. John 1:1 reveals that it is His nature, for He he has been "with" Himself in community as a Holy Trinity since before time began. (Even as I type that, I know that I am merely scratching the surface of understanding that.) He dared me to pray... not so that I can pray, but so that I can open my life up to God instead of forgetting to and gutting out life on my own.

Today, Mike Whipple helped me hear:

• Delighting myself in the Lord isn't a cool catchphrase - it's what I do when I don't want to delight myself in the Lord. As an example, memorizing Scripture isn't easy, and we will either slack off because it's "too hard" or choose to delight ourselves in the Lord to a new growth point. We have to be careful, for the first sin humanity committed occurred when we decided to delight ourselves in ourselves and give ourselves what we thought was the desires of our heart.  We got it wrong then, and still get it wrong today.

Today, Ryan Collins helped me hear:

• There are two common stories people live in politically - one is labeled "Republican," and the other is "Democrat." We will post things online or rant in life about whatever furthers our sense of how the story should turn out, while demonizing "the other side" on a daily basis. What if instead we lived in a deeper Story - one that is highly political yet completely non-partisan? What if instead of setting up kingdoms on this earth we can rule, we lived for the Kingdom of God that He already does rule?

Today, Bryan Alonzo helped me hear:

• What it sounds like to "SHOUT." Not in an obnoxious way, but in a caring proclamation of truth kind of way. I can settle for shouting my ideas or theology at the world, but what if instead I simply shouted out to God and proclaimed with my life a clarity of who He is. Not because of my volume, but because of the "volume" of who He is.  Could my life become a GPS that others use to find their way back to their true destination? Might others say, "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.'"

All of this learning underscored my firm sense that every person in this world has a "sermon" in them, and by that I don't just mean presenting in a church service but in the way we get to speak directional God-sized truth into the lives of each other. It's like a ringback you hear when you call someone and end up tapping your foot to what they've set up for you to listen to. We can set that ringback up to be something that annoys others, or something that changes the world.

I'm honestly looking forward to living all of this out this week... to either find a new victory, or fail miserably while delighting myself in the Lord in the process.

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2)

something for our church leaders

Easter is a big deal for many people, and it should be.  This is one of the reasons that those who serve in a church (as I do) try to make the most of that opportunity to connect with someone's genuine itch to connect with God. 

So last night I wrote something to our church leaders - those who serve on our lead team, support team, and resource team.  As I got to thinking about it, though, I realized this is something I should share with everyone... especially since leadership is more about serving and less about position.

And so I'm posting it here.
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Subject: A note to our church leaders.

Yes... that's you.

Like it or not, you're a church leader. God has put His fingerprint upon you and I've seen it. :)

This is a big weekend, and we need you on deck in every way possible.

BUT...

I want to ask you to try to not out-do God.

Meaning... please pitch in where you can, and stretch into new opportunities.

But the success of this weekend is not on our shoulders. It's on the One who conquered death and will change the lives of anyone who will let Him.

So let's start by asking Him to change ours first.

That means, simply and practically, give this weekend your best swing. If you're responsible for something, don't be trivial about it... while we know this runs on God's power and not our own, don't "not" give your effort. Also, please don't be crass in your words... speak with intentionality to anyone who may be listening (including those who are listening and you don't realize it).

The best way to ensure both of those things happen? Spend time with God... let Him fill your tank. Otherwise the "stress" of the "to do list" will take over and you'll put your best foot forward while leaving your soul behind.

And if you're not directly responsible for something this weekend, please invest into people... all around you. In fact, I'd invite everyone to come to the hospitality planning meeting we're doing Thursday night at 6:30pm.

We are in this thing with God, and He's about to do something amazing,

Just as He always has.

"And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle." (1 Samuel 3:11)

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Together,

Tony