ICONOCLASTIC LOVE

One A+ and Four C's

Do you remember taking tests in school?

One of the popular test strategies I witnessed was to "skip the material you don't know and memorize all of the easy stuff first.  Then come back to the hard material when you have time."

I remember one time I banked on no one in the class knowing the "hard material" either, and hoped the professor would end up not counting those questions.

But there were always about 3 people who "just happened" to study for the "hard material" - and those questions ended up "counting".

Those people are often people who made A+'s.  A+'s typiclly went to people who learned the hardest material... too.

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I've also noticed that making an A+ in something and 4 C's in other subjects may not be that bad.

In fact it's probably better than making 5 B's.  Not for the "GPA" oriented people - but for specializing purposes - A+'s say something don't they?

What if people focused on simplifying and specializing more than they focused on being well rounded?

To Make A+'s - you have to solve problems that most people don't pay attention to.

When you are able to do that - then you have something unique to offer the world.

What problems are in the world that only you have the heart to pay attention to?

When you find solutions to those problems - you're going to get an A+... then all the other B's and C's in your life won't matter.

You will have found a jewel.

I'm chewing on this today....

Church Planting

Check out jesusculture.org

It's no longer about 'starting a church' - It's more about "Invading a culture with the Kingdom of God's Love" and there are a billion ways to do this.

The great thing about church planting today is that it's much more about the Kingdom of God than it is about building an empire or big church... it's about doing something in a culture of people that is so full of God that no one can get the credit for it.

There are so many - millions - of gifted ministers in the world - and church planting has become more about networking and doing life together within a community than it is about building a congregation.

Though -   ....  there's a huge purpose for healthy local congregations of believers and local church government...

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I've been interested in Church Planting for the past 12 years that I've been in ministry.  In 1996, I attended my first Willow Creek Leadership Summit in Chicago, Illinois.

At the conference - I left with the following question in my heart from one of the speakers:

"If you were free to go anywhere in the world and do anything God wanted you to do in order to use your life to make the greatest impact on the world WITH GOD - where would you go - what would you do - what would be your focus - and how would you live?"

My answer to that question was:  "I would start a church for the glory of God!" - that was it - that was all that my 22 year old brain and heart could fathom with the Lord.

I began reading all I could read on church leadership, spiritual growth, personal development, culture, and church planting.  I couldn't get enough of the Lord and I couldn't read enough on "church leadership".

Little did I know that I would be married and divorced within the next 3 years and deeply wondering if anything in ministry was ever going to happen.  I came up against a barrage of obstacles that seriously challenged the "call" in my heart.

But I kept growing - moving forward - pressing through very tough situations and I ended up preaching at a small church in Greenville, Ky and finishing my Master's degree.

In Kentucky, I kept the vision to "start a church" but - it matured into a clearer context of "multiplying churches" in small towns around the world.

Then I moved to Sulphur Springs, Tx - I kept that same vision:  "Plant and multiply churches in small towns in Northeast Texas and around the world."

After all that I experienced in Sulphur Springs - the vision just got more and more clear.  God put me in touch with many many leaders who had a greater capacity than I did for the vision.

NOW I SEE that ALL of the past 12 years has been preparation for me to do what God called me to do and we're now entering the next phases of preparation.

• The key to being an effective church planter is having inside of you what you want to create outside of you.  This is why we've been resting and going to counseling and retreating and slowing down...
• It takes a very still and peaceful disposition to accurately hear from the Lord and it takes and well Spirit Oiled unity in a marriage vision for a church plant to last the long haul
• It's much better to do the tough work up front...

There's such a different strategy for church planting today - IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CONGREGATION!  This is why it's still so fresh to me.  The Lord continually gives new vision and new mercies to the world every morning.

I love How the Lord has taken this all so far beyond "starting a church" - it's now about "Invading a culture with the Kingdom's Love".  It transcends any local congregation and is truly about the Lord and people.

He has/is stripping me of the "mega church/empire" mentality that permeated so many young leaders in the 90's as we all saw what Hybles and Warren did.  What young pastor wouldn't want to "start a church" after visiting the Willow Creek Campus in the mid 90's?

These churches are successful in the Kingdom because of the roots - not the methods.

So - we're relaying the foundation of the vision in our hearts and allowing the heart to catch up with the vision...?

Make sense?

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I like what I've seen over the past 15 years in Pastor Dino Rizzo at The Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, La.

I remember when this church started - I was a sophomore at LSU and just cutting my teeth on the mission of God for my life.

Dino started this ministry as an outreach to the poor and needy.  It was a true mission church that was designed to offer healing to the Baton Rouge community and the world.

Recently, Pastor Rizzo has been heavily involved in a church plant organization called ARC (Association of Related Churches) out of Baton Rouge, La.

They train pastors to plant missional Spirit-Filled churches in North America. 

This week, they hosted an ARC Conference in Birmingham, Alabama and Pastor Dino spoke on "Engaging the Future". 

When I read his post last night on his blog - I felt that I had to re-post it here and give a huge "keep speaking, Lord - we're listening and ready to do something!"

Here is the post:

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Engaging the Future

"Here’s some thoughts I shared at the ARC conference today. Check out Luke 10:33-37.

Here’s verse 33 from the NIV:

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

Here are six hot topics we have to be ready as a church to engage:

1. The need of engaging our very own cities
We have found (and are still finding) new ways to reach out to our city that are proving effective - like kids sports leagues, food distribution, mobile medical and dental clinics, dream centers, strip club outreaches and water giveaways. But what Healing Place Church does in Baton Rouge may not work in Topeka, Buffalo and Santa Barbara. You have to know your community and engage it based on the needs you see.

2. The need of engaging the poor
The Church has to develop a culture of recognizing the poor in and around our communities. They are there. We have to realize that “poor” isn’t just those with little in the way of finances, but those who are less fortunate than us - those who have a shortage in their health, in their family, in their relationships. The poor are among us. The poor are part of us. We just need to recognize and embrace them.

3. The need of engaging clean water
According to www.globalissues.org, 1.1 billion people have inadequate access to clean water. That’s about one out of six people on the planet! They also report that millions of women spend several hours a day collecting water. I have seen it going on first-hand when I was in Africa. We have to engage this problem that quite often can so easily be solved. For more information: Blood:Water Mission, 1000 Wells

4. The need of engaging AIDS
It isn’t just a homosexual problem, or a problem for Africa. It is our problem today. UNAIDS/WHO reports that 2.5 million people contracted the disease in 2007 alone. Statistics state that there are anywhere between 14 and 18 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. We cannot turn a blind eye to AIDS - we have to engage it by caring for those hurting and dying because of it and do all we can to help prevent others from contracting it. For more information: Children’s Cup, Mission of Mercy

5. The need of engaging human trafficking
Equip and Empower’s A21 Campaign site reports that nearly two million children are forcibly trafficked each year by the commercial sex trade industry. How can we not engage this need as the body of Christ? For more information: A21

6. The need of engaging our very own heart
We must increase our capacity personally and as groups of believers in the body of Christ so that we can actually do something about these needs. We have to keep our hearts in check - feeding ourselves the Word of God and spending time with the Author of life so that we can be filled with the truth that will set people free and see lives rescued from these terrible situations. We need to be messengers of hope - so we must continually fill our own hearts with the Giver of hope. We need to develop who we are. For more information: Dan Ohlerking post of notes from a recent HPC staff meeting I taught."

Into the Wild

If you're like me - you've at least heard of "Wild at Heart" or you've read it a 100 times yourself. 

If you're a pastor or teacher - you've probably led a men's study through much of the material or you've come up against the grunts and bravery of the ones who have.

There are extremes to this, I know.  Have you seen Into the Wild?

IN the spring of 1992, after traveling around the country for two years, Christopher McCandless, a 24-year-old Virginian and Emory graduate, hitchhiked to Alaska and set off into the wilderness with little more than a .22-caliber rifle and a 10-pound sack of rice.

Not far from the Teklanika River, he set up camp in an abandoned International Harvester bus, a 1940s relic of the Fairbanks City Transit System. He lived there for four months, from late April to late August, before finally starving to death. When his body was discovered in September, he weighed only 67 pounds.

This is definately a pretty extreme movie for the 21st Century.

As I listened to the soundtrack this morning, I was reminded that there was a time when this idea wasn't very extreme.

It's sort of a mix of Eldredge and Abraham.

Adventure - Risk - Freedom - Survival - No Limits - A Little Social Rebellion - A Cry For More -

I have it deep in me!

I don't have the unbalanced extreme that McCandles had.

Even he wrote at the end of the movie, "Happiness is only happiness when shared."

It is not good for man to be alone. 

It is not good for man to be too independent. 

It is not good for man to be too extreme.

But it is GREAT for man to know who he is deeply, well connected to God and others, and respond to the call of God to leave the familiar routines - when the routines become our gods - and follow him into the Great Adventure that HE has instore for us.

Settled inside and content - but never settling...  Home inside and restful - but not home yet!  Always pressing in -  Always pressing on...

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Take a moment to read Eldredge's post today from The Ransomed Heart:

There Comes a Time When You Have to Leave All That Is Familiar
04/16/2008

"The history of a man's relationship with God is the story of how God calls him out, takes him on a journey, and gives him his true name. Most of us have thought it was the story of how God sits on his throne waiting to whack a man broadside when he steps out of line. Not so. He created Adam for adventure, battle, and beauty; he created us for a unique place in his story and he is committed to bringing us back to the original design.

So God calls Abram out from Ur of the Chaldeas to a land he has never seen, to the frontier, and along the way Abram gets a new name. He becomes Abraham. God takes Jacob off into Mesopotamia somewhere to learn things he has to learn and cannot learn at his mother's side. When he rides back into town, he has a limp and a new name as well.

Even if your father did his job, he can only take you partway. There comes a time when you have to leave all that is familiar and go on into the unknown with God.

Saul was a guy who really thought he understood the story and very much liked the part he had written for himself. He was the hero of his own little miniseries, Saul the Avenger. After that little matter on the Damascus road he becomes Paul ; and rather than heading back into all of the old and familiar ways, he is led out into Arabia for three years to learn directly from God.

Jesus shows us that initiation can happen even when we've lost our father or grandfather. He's the carpenter's son, which means Joseph was able to help him in the early days of his journey. But when we meet the young man Jesus, Joseph is out of the picture. Jesus has a new teacher-his true Father-and it is from him he must learn who he really is and what he's really made of."

(Wild at Heart , 103-4)

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What is going on in your life that looks like you're about to get a new name?

Where is the Lord taking you deep inside that you don't really know yet - and aren't really sure you want to go?

Are you listening?  The journey is deep into the heart of God and doesn't usually require a physical journey - but sometimes does.

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Keeping In Step With the Spirit

I'm so excited about the next few months of our lives!

The greatest advice anyone has given me during the past 6 months has been, "Keep in step with the Spirit."  This is such a powerful statement and requires a daily abiding walk with the Lord.  It also requires:

• seeking counsel from people who love you and know you well
• staying connected to people who are stronger than you
• staying close to people who have been further down the road than you are
• staying open to the Lord and avoiding ALL forms of impulsive decisions
• Asking for help as you need it and accepting it graciously
• staying deeply connected to the Lord through His word, study, listening, prayer, worship.  I can't tell you how many hours the Lord has drawn me in to seek - search - listen - rest - read - journal - rest - repent - discuss - process ...
• Avoiding all extremes and every form of bitterness, vengeance, frustration, control, slander,...
• Believing the Lord cares deeply for us
• EXPECTING for morning to come throughout the journey and envisioning it daily together
• Explore opportunities and remain steady inside regardless of the offers and expectations of other people for my life

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In the process of "keeping in step with the Spirit" - We believe that God sets up appointments along the way that help prepare us as we're open for whatever is next. We believe in seizing every opportunity that the Lord gives us to grow and mature.

We've also been blessed to have had great business opportunities and lots of support from family and friends that has allowed us to remain steady and not have to make rash decisions.  We've stayed still and feel that we've stayed in step with the Lord throughout our transition.  It has been a bit of a roller coaster at times - but we've stayed still and steady.

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STEPS WE'RE TAKING NEXT

We're steadily and slowly packing up the house to close on May 15th. 

We were able to purchase some additional property behind our house and are making plans to close it all in.  Most of it is already fenced in - but we will be finishing up the sides in the next week or so.

After the house closes - we'll be staying in Sulphur Springs for another few weeks.  We'll put our stuff in storage and will be staying with some friends until school is over for Shelby in early June.

Then we plan on traveling quite a bit.  Sarah and the kids will be staying in Kentucky during the month of July.  They're also going to Michigan and will probably meet me at the beach somewhere for a few days.

I hope I have all of my August Fundraisers ready by June - but if I don't - then I'll be finishing up August Fundraisers during the summer.  August is a huge month for Universal Fundraising.

That's the main reason we're waiting until September to buy a new house - it just gives us more time to save - pray - travel - and discern!

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Other than that - here are a few other things that are coming up in the next few months:

April 21st - 24th :  Sarah and I are flying to Orlando for a church planter's conference.  We're so excited about spending some time away with our friends and hearing some of my favorite authors and speakers in America. 

Andy Stanley, Rick Warren, Alan Hirsch, Dave Ferguson, Bill Easom, and many others will be addressing many of the cultural issues in America that desperately need addressing.  I know it's going to be great - I haven't been to anything like this in over 4 years.

There's a Planter's Spouses Track that Sarah will be taking.  She has also enjoyed reading the Church Planting Wives Blog. to help get some perspective from other women who have been a part of the church planting adventure.

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June 18-19 : Sarah and I are making plans to attend THRIVE: I PROMISE.  It's a marriage retreat sponsored by Gateway Church on Friday from 3:00 - 9:00 and Saturday from 8:30 - 12:00.  The speakers will be Dr. Gary Smalley and Dr. Greg Smalley.  They are some of the best teachers on the subject of marriage.  They co-wrote "The DNA of Relationships".

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June 24th - June 29th I will be going on a week long retreat called "The Quest".  It's a part of the Fellowship of the Sword Ministry and this week will be men from Gateway Church.

There are 30 days of prep work such as prayer, journaling, scripture memorization, reading, ... and 30 days of follow up work after the 6 day Quest.  I'm beyond thrilled to get to be a part of this trip.

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August 30th - September 7th I will be going with a mission team to Israel from Gateway Church.  A few friends of mine from Sulphur Springs will be going also.

This has been a dream of mine for the past 15 years or so.  I cannot express the joy in my heart about this opportunity.  We'll be traveling with Pastor Geoff Cohen and Pastor Juan Constantino from Gateway and touring with one of the best guides in the world. 

Our Tour Guide will be Arie Bar David.  This is a photo of Arie and his wife Esther.  Arie's bio is pretty phenomenal - I'll share it in another post.  He conducts orchestras, served as a commander in the 6 days war in 1967 and as a front lines commander in the war of attrition in 1969, the Yom-Kippur war in 1973, and the Lebanon war in 1982. 

He has been a believer in the Lord for many years and has given tours of Israel since he was 21 years old.  In 1999, Arie graduated from the Ministry of Tourism course and is a licensed tour guide. Geoff says that he schedules his trips around this guy's schedule.  I'll share more about that later.

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This trip is sorta the tail end and new beginning of our next steps in life.

We're still not sure where we're going to end up at the end of the summer.

We're not planning to buy a house until September - for several reasons - so we're looking forward to a really FULL summer - lots of time with family and friends - and getting some clear direction from the Lord about what he wants us to do next.

Should be an exciting road ahead!

Can't wait to see it all unfold!

Ideas Beyond Our Time

I read an article by Eric Johnson recently on the concept of having ideas that are beyond what your current circumstances can/will allow.

As I read the article - I related to all of it - but mostly felt that this was most depicted in Christ's life.

His entire life was about an idea - or a reality - of God's heart that was so big that it could only be introduced in his lifetime.  It wouldn't be realized in his "time" because it was "beyond" his time.

So, here are a few thoughts for you to chew on as you wrap up this 2nd week in April and you enter the 3rd:

WE ARE STEWARDS OF IDEAS

What ideas have you had in the past that didn't come to pass?  Were they ideas that you still believe were from God?  Were they ideas that you thought, "man, if this could happen.... WOW!!!!"?

Why have you let those ideas die?  Was it because of the Lord?  because of dream killers?  because of fear?  because of timing?  because of a loss of hope?

• Take a moment or two to go back through the last year of your life and really ask the Lord to bring back the ideas that he has given you over the past year.
• Ask Him to give you clarity about why those ideas "passed" and never came about.
• Ask Him if there's anything you can do to be a better steward of the ideas he has given you

IDEAS MUST HAVE "BUY IN POWER"

When An Idea Has Reached Its Time, It Clearly Enters the Minds of Several People:

In order for any idea to come into fruition - it must be accepted clearly by several people.  This is more about God revealing his ideas with others - than it is with "one person" sharing the idea with "key" people and politicizing the idea.

I've been a part of both - and it's so much better when God gives it to people in His way and His timing.

• He may use you to till the soil of people's hearts.
• He may use you to irritate people to the point of openness.
• He may use you to bring people to their point of desperation where they're hungry or hurting enough that they have to listen.

He has his ways and his timing - He's always on time - and He's never ever late.

He's not slow in keeping his promise nor is he slow in making his plans come to pass.

EVERY IDEA FROM GOD IS A GATEWAY TO A WORLD OF MORE IDEAS

Have you ever noticed that when the Lord shows you something that he wants to do or that he wants to happen - the ideas begin to flood...!

Maybe that's just with me - but what I've found is that the Lord is very clear and doesn't ever intend or have anything to do with "overwhelming people" with tangent visions or random ideas.

He's clear - consistent - full of peace - full of wisdom - full of good fruit - pure - full of mercy!

However - once he speaks - he typically follows it up with a plan and strategy to someone.

Then a whole world opens up.

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Bottom Line:

WAIT ON THE LORD - AND BE A GREAT STEWARD WITH THE IDEAS THAT HE GIVES!

The Power of a Bridle & Love

I can't tell you how many times the metaphor of a bridle has come up for me in ministry and in life.

Over the past year, several people who are close have told me, "Jeff, you're like a stallion who has to learn to come under control and slow down enough to really be maximized in the kingdom."

Two weeks ago, Sarah and I joined some friends at Gateway Church and listened to Robert Morris' message on meekness.  During the message I leaned over and told Sarah - "I need to buy a bridle and carry it in my car with me."

This was after Robert said, "meekness is power under control."

After ministering this morning at Power Based Living - someone came up to me and said, "Jeff I tell you, You're like a stallion and once the Lord gets you into a healthy environment, gets the good bridle in your mouth and you experience the power of a strong surrounding of people who love you and believe in you, you're really gonna fly.  So where are you in the bridle process?"

I left that brief conversation with so much affirmation in my spirit - knowing that the Lord is slowing me down for a reason.

All I can say is, I'm heading to a western store soon and buying a bridle!

Ok, maybe not for real - but I honestly can say that slowing down this Easter season is so refreshing and faith building. 

It's not easy to break - but I want to be broken.

Where's the bridle Lord - I'm ready!

5 Thoughts About Eating REALITY For Breakfast Without Getting Sick

It's a sad reality that many people live their lives without being in touch with reality.  Their heads are simply in the sand about themselves, the world around them, the condition of relationships, the truth about the course they're on in life and faith.

Reality has been the most powerful force in my life and when it is presented, observed, and received in true love - then there's no greater friend on earth.

I wanted to post a few simple things that have helped me alot regarding reality.

1.  Reality is always your friend, fantasy is most often your enemy.  Don't confuse faith and hope with fantasy.  Fantasy is actully placing your imagination or beliefs into something that you deeply know isn't reality.  Fantasy is a friend of denial.  Reality is a friend of God - God is truth.

Stay in touch with what actually "is" not what we wish things were or think things should be or could be.  The only thing that is real in the end is what is real. 

2.  Ask - seek - observe - sort through - weigh carefully - the BRUTAL FACTS.  If you honestly can't handle the truth, then reality is going to always make you nauseated when it's on your plate.

So, how do you accept things like: 

• your spouse not liking things about you, or you in general
• your performance evaluations in the workplace
• feedback on your art, music, profession
• your employees thinking you are a ___________
• your friends believing you're just not any fun
• your children thinking you're disconnected
• God thinking you're.... loveable

If you're a church leader - are you willing to poll your community and hear what they actually think about you?  What do people think about when they think about you.

Can you handle the truth, or do you just want to live your life surrounded by cheerleaders and Paula Abdul's?  "Yes men" feel good, but they'll always prevent you from the Holy Spirit's potential in your life.  (Hey, I'll admit, Paula is getting better at telling the truth.)

3.  Never Ever Ever Ever exaggerate who you are or what is going on around you.  The idea of painting a picture as being 'Brighter" or describing something as being "bigger" than it is is a deceptive management of other people's perception.  It's lying and manipulative to make others think something other than what is.

As long as advertising companies and sales people do this - they easily get caught up in not only overselling and under delivering - but also never owning up to the reality of what is.

The key to overcoming this is deeply believing that:  YOU'RE NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT... WHAT YOU DO!  But as long as you see what you do as a portrait of who you are - then you'll exaggerate reality to make yourself look better - until you embrace reality as loveable.

Exaggerating also plays out in the way you see others.  You are more likely to overlook reality in others if you're the type of person who overlooks reality in yourself.

If you project yourself as better than you are - then you will embrace people the same way.  You'll be in denial about what you're actually embracing, hiring, marrying,...

Reality is loveable!

4. Crucify excuses for why you're not what you want to be.   If you shot an 84, then don't tell everyone about how you should have shot a 76, if only.  Your "if only" story says more about your identity than it does about your game.

Shoot an 84 and own it!  Then actually work on what made you shoot it - instead of talking about what could have been if only.

As long as you live in the "should have been 76" world, then you'll never shoot 76.  Why?  Because you will become content with fantasy and your fantasy will be your reality.

Your reality will always be shorter than your excuses.

5.  Clean the inside of the dish and the outside will automatically be clean also.  Deeply valuing the Holy Spirit's power to clean the inside of your life will give you new eyes to see what is valuable in you and others. 

This will also powerfully decrease or remove your desire to have anything on your breakfast plate other than REALITY.

The truth will set you free!  Eat it and love it!

I'm off to see Tommy - He always helps me get some good reality on my plate.   

You Become What You Imagine, Love, and Hate

I've found that the most powerful influence in human life is not external - it's in the head and heart of man.

"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."  Proverbs 23:7

Everything that has ever been built, made, designed, published, developed, or organized began in someone's imagination.  We definately reproduce what we focus our thoughts upon.

I've discovered that we spend so much of our time reacting to what we don't want to be instead of responding to the call of God on our lives.  We really do waste alot of energy and time trying NOT to be something.

The problem is this:  In order to "not" be something - or in order to "avoid" becoming something, we have to keep it in front of us in order to avoid it.  Does that make sense?  This keeps us focused on what we don't want to be instead of what we're called to be.

In turn - you create what you have in your heart:  Fear of becoming _________?

If I repeatedly envision what I don't want to be or what I don't want to create or what I don't want to become of my situation, then just the process of envisioning it causes me to reproduce it. 

3 Disguised Principles of Forgiveness:

1.  REPRODUCTION PRINCIPLE:  You will typically become like that which you hate.

This is why children typically reproduce the aspects of their parents or offenders that they most despise.  You have to gain power over all of your offenses in life in order to gain a vision for life that is more powerful than your greatest offenses.

Forgiving people is releasing them EVERY time the memory of the offense comes up - UNTIL your hatred is replaced with a genuine heart felt love and desire to see them blessed and forgiven by God.

2.  LOVE TRUMPS HATE PRINCIPLE:  You will only become like that which you love IF your love is stronger than your hatred, pain, and disappointment.

Psalm 37:4 says that if we delight ourself in the Lord he will give us the desire of our heart.

Question:  What is the object of our "delight" according to this?  .... The Lord, right?

So, if we delight ourself in the Lord, what will the Lord give us?

... drum roll please ....  HIMSELF!!!!!

ding, ding, ding!  You win a million dollars!

Question: is your delight in the Lord greater than your hatred, pain, bitterness, frustration, fear, stress, anxiety, or desire for anything else.

You'll only be free to the extent that your desire for the Lord is greater than the other desires and emotions of your soul and the other feelings of your flesh.

3.  PRISONER OF WAR PRINCIPLE:  Many people stay imprisoned inside of situations that they believe are God's will - when in reality - they're captured and held captive as warriors in a battle are captured and held prisoner.

They're fighting hard.   They're trying their best.   They're doing all they know to "do".  But they're not seeing any progress in life, ministry, and relationships.

This is typically a sign that there are serious problems with the beliefs in their heart about their situation.

Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  (John 8:32)

So - what lies are you believing about your self?  What "ought to's" are you repeating to yourself?  What efforts are you putting forth that aren't of God but are things you believe are the "right thing to do"?

This is tricky but worth getting in your heart:  Captives are prisoners of war!  Captives are people who are caught in a fight and held inside the war by tormentors.

Most often, these tormentors are in the head.  They hold you in situations MUCH longer than the Lord wants you there.

The Lord exposes truth, and leads you to move on in life and relationships.

Is there anything that you're stuck fighting in and feeling trapped?

If so - could there be anything inside of you that's keeping you there when you're free to move on.

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Love the Lord!  Release your offenders!  Be free from anything that controls you in life other than the love of the Lord.

Blessings!

Things WILL Get Worse Before They Get Better

I've found that if you're serious about staying through God's process for your life and HIS timing for HIS will for your life, then you can expect many things that are going to be against YOUR own personal grain.  It's actually unnerving at times.

You know you're in the will of God when you're going against your natural tendencies and you actually have the peace of God.

Here are a three things that have been true for me:

1.  If there are things the Lord wants to change in or about you, then:  THINGS WILL GET WORSE AS OR BEFORE THEY GET BETTER. 

When I was in High School - I could squat about 600 lbs and bench press about 350ish.  One of my coaches continually told me, "Jeff, you're using too much of your back in your squats.  You're getting the weight up, but in the long run, you're going to hurt yourself.  You have to have a better arch in your back and you can't bend your back so much."

The problem with this was - that if I was going to start getting technical and working on form, then I would have to deal with my ego.  I would have to squat less weight with better form for a period of time until I strengthened the appropriate squat muscles.

It was going to take me quite a while to squat 600 lbs with proper form.

So:  Do you want to get great results with bad and long term damaging technique - or do you want to sacrifice results for a season in order to get great results with healthy technique?

It feels as though things are getting worse in your life when you begin working out the kinks of your heart and focus less on your performance.  But in the end, you will reap the harvest and avoid much less injury to yourself and others.

You will go through slumps where you wonder if you're even able to even play anymore.  You will have success again - and the greatest success you can have is developing the character to tend the insides to help them catch up with your outside!

But if you'll allow your habits to be changed - then eventually, your new habits will reap the positive consequences of your most healthy performance in life.

2.  You will HAVE to become UNREACTIONARY to either good or bad news:  You will be conditioned by both praising and cursing and will have to develop a sense of presence that isn't dependant upon either, but solely on God.  THINGS WILL CONSTANTLY BE BOTH BAD AND GOOD - AND BOTH WILL LOOSE THEIR POWER OVER YOU.

There has to be a sense of the Lord's Presence in your life - and you have to deepen your reliance on the peace of his voice in order to avoid ANY reaction to competing voices whether they be good or bad.

This awareness of your self in God's presence literally diminishes ALOT of wavering between good or bad reports.

You will gradually loose the mentality of "If I don't, then It won't happen".  You realize that you actually don't have to "make it happen" in order for "it" to happen.

When you're in submission to the Lord, he will exalt the humble IN DUE TIME!  I Peter 5

3.  You will have to become UNOFFENDABLE in order to release God's parking break from your life.  He will only move you forward according to your submission to His power to move you through your personal offenses.  How will you allow him to transition you THROUGH your offenses and offenders.

The best way for me to say this is this:  Get over and through your most hurtful offenses as quickly as possible and refuse to rise and fall with the reports you hear about the situations you go through in life

You cannot progress in life beyond Christ's power in you to overcome offenses.  Believe it or not - your greatest offenses will control your reactions and actions in life unless you release your offenders in life, acknowledge your own responsibility, and recieve Christ's power to move through your offenses.

Waiting

    At 6:00 yesterday morning as I was walking out the door and headed to the Metroplex – I saw an article on our cabinet by Richard Foster, “WAITING”. (Click Here for the archive of Foster's Articles...awesome stuff).

     I’m not sure where it came from and after asking Sarah about it later – she didn’t know what I was talking about. So, I assume that someone gave it to me way back in November and it ended up on my bar. It’s a pastoral letter from Richard Foster to … well … me, I guess.      

Here's the Context:      4/29/2007   Worship War II  mp3

     Back in September – I wrote a blog post commenting on a sermon I preached back in April 2007.  The sermon was on Spiritual Leadership and most of it was based on the story of Moses and how the people of Israel had to spend 40 years in the wilderness because of their fear and lack of faith and disobedience....

     I remember strongly emphasizing why it takes humans 40 years to make 14 day journeys and what "we" needed to change in order to avoid long delay periods in Spritual progress and growth. I thought it was one of the best sermons I’d ever preached.

      I remember boldly stating things about vision – going in circles in leadership – overcoming fear of rejection – and moving forward regardless of the cost!

     At that time – I honestly believed it to be one of the more courageous dead on sermons I’d ever preached.I also remember commenting on how I thought the sermon was a great explanation for the series of events that came after it.

     I actually said things like,

• “No more circling”
• “It shouldn’t take 40 years to make a 14 day journey”
• “I will not fear rejection another day in leadership”
• “I will not fear the loss of support and resources another day.”
• “I will not pay attention to the 150 or so people who are pulling back the reigns and threatening to pull contributions and go elsewhere.”
• “If you’re not on board with the direction the Lord is leading the church, go somewhere else…”

Eeeeeegggggh! I wasn’t just tired and hurting – but I believed that I was courageously calling the people to move forward – stop complaining – and embrace the vision of God’s love for the world.

AND I was also taking out personal frustration and disappointments with individuals and humanity in general/myself in a public format.

Needless to say – there were a few standing ovations and applauses in the 2nd and 3rd services and there were several attaboys afterwards from many who were ready to take the mountain ahead regardless of the cost – and there were several people with hurt feelings.

RELEVANCE

The article by Richard Foster nailed me in the gut yesterday morning. 

Here’s the part that made me just gulp:

Foster says,

“Waiting is the hidden preparation through which God puts his ministers. We neglect it to our peril. I remember as a young, brash pastor waxing eloquent about Moses in the wilderness and telling the people that we need to learn all these lessons so that it won’t take us forty years like it did Moses. (ouch)

Just then, a wise and respected member of our fellowship spoke up calmly; “I doubt it!” he said. Those three words took all the pompous air out of my sermon that day and taught us a valuable lesson. Especially me. Waiting is not something to be avoided at all costs.

In waiting we learn things that we learn in no other way. Our ways are of noise, hurry, and crowds. Our ways are the ways of climb and push and shove. Our ways are of instant-knowledge and instant solutions and instant gratification.

These are not God’s ways!

God’s ways are like rain and the snow that come down and disappear into the earth. No rush. No Manipulation. Then when the time is right up comes the life, “giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” That’s God’s way!

We begin thinking in terms of years and decades instead of in terms of hours and minutes.

APPLICATION

I’ve repented of this and fully acknowledge as much as I can acknowledge about the sheer abusive way I led. I thought I was right, though.  I thought I was being courageous and bold. I thought I was leading bravely. I thought I was overcoming fear.

But maybe, just maybe, I was more concerned with my way and my ideas for the church than I was in God’s way. I thought that God wanted to do a whole lot in a short amount of time and I thought that we were in his way.

In reality – perhaps – I was the one in the way. Hmmmm?

I made a lot of mistakes in that mode. I was as shrewd as a dove and as gentle as a snake instead of the opposite. I’m learning.

So, What is Waiting and How do We Do It:

I’ve heard many messages on “Waiting” on the Lord – but the best teaching I’ve heard on this subject was by Bill Johnson.

He relates “Waiting on the Lord” to Deer Hunting.

If you want to hunt deer – then you put a stand in a place where you expect and know deer show up. And you wait on them to pass by. You don’t set your stand up just anywhere. You go where they are known to be.

Perhaps waiting on the Lord has to do with putting your life in the posture that is able to hear Him – recognize Him – respond to Him – and obey Him – so that when it’s time to move – YOU’RE READY FOR THE LORD’S PASSING AND MOVE.

In regards to how long this takes – it doesn’t matter. He’s God.

We don’t need to manipulate people to believe that God is in a hurry to save a city or a nation.

He’s not in a hurry and never has been.

The only thing that is urgent is our hearts and our obedience. History tells us – that when God wants to do amazing things on earth – he takes his time – and does it at the right time in hearts that are willing to adjust to HIS TIMING.

There’s no way to really get this when you’re in a hurry to build a kingdom, church, city, or move of God. The only way to get this – perhaps – is in the wilderness – with no agenda but to wait on the Lord – expecting Him to pass by – and being ready when he does.

Blessings as you learn to ….. WAIT!

High Performance: When Simon, Randy, and Paula Come To Church

Do you have eyes to see?  Do you have ears to hear?

I've been a steady American Idol fan since the show started.  I can actually predict each season which contestants will be accepted or not based on what I see and hear.  I've learned to judge like Randy, Paula, and Simon.  I've got it down.

However - I didn't like that they kicked the homeless boy - Josiah - off the show.  I really liked him and thought he was good.  He needs alot of counseling - but he was good... ok - until he asked the band to leave the stage and then butchered "Stand By Me".

The point is - I'm getting good at evaluating High Performance on American Idol!

What about Church and Worship Leadership, though?

In regards to Church leadership, you can tell if you're in a performance or American Idol/Idolatry oriented atmosphere when you hear/ask questions like:

• "How did the service go?"
• "So what did you think about _______?"
• "How did you like that new song? new stage set? change in the .....?"
• "Today was dead!" "Today was rockin!"
• Whew - He was sweatin!
• "That was too loud."  "That was too soft"  "That was just right"
• "he was boring"  "He was hilarious" "He was ________"

What about hearing "Man, He was out of the way - I couldn't even tell the band was there today - I saw the Lord"?  Now wouldn't that be a change - Jesus being the focus of a worship experience?

I'll admit:  I am conditioned to perform.

I grew up in a performance oriented faith/heritage.  Everything in regards to my walk with the Lord hinged off of how well or how poorly I performed.  I was even taught that my eternity hinged on how well I performed and got things right.

I knew that Christ's performance was high stuff - but I valued myself and my life on how well I could match up.

The sad thing - is that I never could get a single day to match anywhere near the ballpark of Christ's day.

I've had a lot of talent and natural God given ability to perform well for people - but have never felt the approval of the Lord until recently.  I think it has alot to do with dying to my desire to perform and gain acceptance based on my performance or proving myself to others.

Here's what I know now: it is very likely that  NO BODY KNOWS HOW YESTERDAY'S SERVICES WENT, BUT GOD!  I went to a small church in Sulphur Springs yesterday with my daughter.  I can't tell you how it went. 

I can grade the speaker and band as if I were Randy Jackson - I could give a "No, dawg, I wasn't feelin it today!" or I could give the grandmother/Paula Abdul tender encouragement of highlighting the positives.  Or I could give the Simon Cowell's "absolutely horrendous" or "well done" - as if I really have permission to evaluate the performance of the leaders of yesterday's worship service!

How arrogant has that been of us to bring the American Idol judge perspective to the faith and worship of Christ.

If you were to witness things as the Lord does, what would you say was a high performance:

A rocking worship set?  A Speaker's Ability to _________?  A catching video?

I'll agree - all of these things have an impact on the "worship experience" - but not nearly as much as the presence of the Holy Spirit, Father, and Son in the midst ot the people.

So when God doesn't show up - people always depend on human performance to satisfy.

The greatest way to discern if God is among your hearts in worship is to listen to what you're talking about:  The presence of the Lord - or the performance of the leaders.

Consider this Children's Ryhme:

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?

I've been to London to see the great Queen.

Pussy cat, pussy cat, what saw you there?

I saw a wee mouse under her chair.

Why should we even pay much attention to the mouse when our eyes should be in search of the Queen.  Why place so much emphasis on performance of ourselves or others when Christ is the one we're after?

So what do I take from this:

1. My sole purpose in ministry and church leadership is to help people catch a glimpse of the Lord and encounter him in all of his glory.
2. As a pastoring teacher - It's my responsibility to present the message of Christ in such a way that the Holy Spirit doesn't have to do very much to teach people with me in the room.  In other words - effortlessly present the seed and get out of the way
3. Lead people in a way that is so full of love and selflessness that the Lord Jesus doesn't have to get people away from my presence in order to love them.  He can love them well through me.

High Performance Christianity is ALL about Christ in you!  As funny as it seems - It's really all about Him and people who get that will experience the privilege of watching HIM do amazing things in the world INSPITE of ourselves.

A friend of mine told me a few weeks ago, "Man, I don't remember how to preach.  I'm listening to my sermons, and they're not any good.  But lives are changing.  I'm not funny anymore and I'm not that smart anymore.  But people's lives are changing."

Makes us re-evaluate our standards of High Performance doesn't it?

There's a great difference in Performing your life away - and Having Christ dwell in you and live through you.

True?  Amen!

Why My Family Hasn't Given Up On Church

Take a moment to read Bob Hyatt's article at Next Wave Magazine, "Why I'm Not Done With Church"

There's no doubt about it - if you've been involved in church at all in your life - you've been burned, disappointed, let down, or even hurt deeply.

As a result - your response may have been/be one of the following:

• Hop from one church to the next looking for the right make up for your personal preferences
• Stick your head in the sand and accept that everyone is human and there's no perfect church and go along with the flow of whatever happens
• Stay far away from church and grow cynical about organized religion
• Take a break from organized church hoping that God will one day raise one that fits your style, walk, and expectations - but until then, you're just doing it alone and with Joel Osteen or whomever else "feeds" you without commitment & relationship
• Hey - it's not all about me, Lord.  What do I need to change about me in order to become a more powerful part the church and your plan for my life

Last Sunday, I drove to Walmart at 9:00 in the morning to get a few things we needed.  We were having some friends over for worship and lunch together - and I needed to make a last minute run to the store.

While I was in Wal-Mart - I noticed all of the people in the store on "Sunday Morning" and I noticed all of the cars in the driveways on "Sunday Morning" and I got perspective on the ratio between the church parking lots and the home driveways.

There were many many many more at Walmart and at home than were at "church".

They didn't go on Saturday night either - they - for one reason or another - weren't churchin' it on that day.

Detatchment Issues

While many people go through temporary and even permanent phases of detachment from a physical church congregation, I'd like to suggest that a Christian life without Christian fellowship and participating with a local body of pastoral leadership and ministry is missing something very important:

While my family is in a transition phase between "churches" - there are so many people who do not see their similar circumstances as something to be faced - experienced - and transitioned through; instead, many embrace it as a permanent state.  ...  Detatched.

Many want Christ - without an attachment and commitment to his body.

This isn't possible.

I guess a fact is:  anytime you get people together, at various levels of understanding, spiritual maturity, personality, and commitment to ideals and living them out, you are going to have a place where toes are stepped on and where you are given many, many opportunities to work out what mercy, grace and forgiveness really mean.

Life is simply not worth living if only in an isolated - non-committed - relationless bubble.  For any church experience to be healthy and fulfilling - it will at some point require a commitment to press on regardless of hurt, disappointment, and differences.

Like in a marriage - people bail on processes way too often and way too quickly.  I understand this because pain and frustration can be great and conviction can be very deep about other people.

Relax!

Many of you will find awesome fulfillment in staying committed to a church even through your disappointment or frustration.  You'll grow to see that the deeper you get involved with any body of people - you're going to get hurt and disappointed. 

ALWAYS!!!!!  THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL!!!!  YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED AND HURT!

The only ways to not be disappointed is to:

• eliminate your expectations of people
• drastically reduce your commitment and involvement level with people
• Shrink your vision to the smallest bubble possible
• eliminate your core values and personal life mission

So What About Us?

We still believe that Jesus Christ is the hope and savior of the world. 

We also believe that people who follow him are his body - hands - and feet here on earth. 

We believe that there are eternal benefits of staying committed to people and being submitted to a local group of believers and qualified spiritual leaders.

We believe that the process of growing together with people and doing ministry together in a committed relationship with Christ  and others far outweighs the minor glitches along the journey.

During our transition time - we often remind each other of the joys of getting to know other groups of believers and the longer we're away from a local church body - the hungrier we do get to be plugged back in.

If you're disconnected right now and you're not growing in hunger to be with other believers - then may I suggest that something is wrong?  I recommend that you speak to someone about this and begin asking the Lord to give you healing in your hurt and perspectives.

God is too important for us to miss out on the blessings of being in committed fellowship with other believers and leaders.

He's just getting us ready for our next ride!

He's good!

Agreement

"Agreement" is an interesting word that the Lord has been really dealing with in me.

A contentious person is someone who is practically overtly disagreeable.

How are you when you disagree with someone?  Do you have the ability to embrace a person in conversation even after you've heard them say things you disagree with?

The ability to stay connected with someone even after you've discovered something that you disagree with requires a genuine interest in the person and a much lesser desire to validate your own self.

Here are 5 Lessons I've learned about "agreement" lately that may be worth noting:

1.  Biblical Agreement & Disagreement:  When the Bible says ________________, and we read it and already have objections A, B, & C for why ______________ can't be true - this says more about our own arrogance in our current understanding.  It means that we're not really open to allow God to reveal more of himself in scripture - and that we've already discovered all that there is to know about _______________ based on our little A, B, & C.   

So - how can we become better at having an AGREEABLE SPIRIT in our approach to scripture?  This is a very sneaky form of self-righteousness - it's an arrogance in our current understanding and it sabbotages everything God may want to reveal to us about his Word and will.

2.  Practical Agreement & Disagreement:  When we know something in our "head" to be true, but haven't actually applied it to our own lives - it's simply a sign that we "know" something but haven't "agreed" or recieved it into our own lives as truth. 

Knowing that it's better to give than to recieve is different than coming into agreement with it in your life.  When you come into agreement with it - then you no longer debate it through your actions.  You no longer walk through life as a taker - or a people pleaser.  You are free to become the benevolent love of God to others out of the agreeement in your heart with God's will.

God's will becomes practical for your life when your life comes into agreement with it.

3.  Disconnected Compliance is Disagreement:  Have you ever complied with what God says to do but didn't agree with it?  I call this poorly differentiated spiritual emeshment.  You don't really know who you are or what you're doing - you've just complied to a system for so long, that you no longer know why you do what you do.  You're a good person but it's not connected to an agreement with the will of God.

You wake up and go through the routine of doing right things out of social training and a fading moral conscience - and really have no abiding peace that what you're doing is "WITH" God.

Living in "Agreement" with God requires a growing connectedness WITH him.

Because you know that the connectedness "With" Him is the sustaining power and re-fueling motive to remain alive for the long haul.

Many people do, and do, and do, and do all of the right things but have disconnected hearts.  They're hearts aren't in agreement with God - eventhough they're "performance" is perhaps seen as right.

Perhaps this isn't as much fake as it is robotic and fossilized.

4.  Disagreement with God is demonstrated in Contentiousness:  if you have found yourself to be overtly disagreeable with other people - perhaps this is an extension of your relationship with God.  If you can't come into full agreement with God and the Word - then that lack of peace will leak into your personal relationships.

For example:  Bob and Billy are talking about the presidential election/race.  Bob says _________ about McCain.  Billy agrees with 90% of it but hangs heavily on to the 10% that he and Billy disagreee about.  Their conversation is practically ruined because Billy doesn't have the ability to agree with what is agreeable and hold onto that.

The "disagreement" is not powerful to stimulate learning and growth between the two - it's a WALL and impass.  Why?  because one or both have disagreeable hearts and can't embrace people in the process of disagreeing with them.

Are you contentious?  Are you disagreeable?  Are you finding fault in others and disagreeing with them based on 10% of what you see?  How's that shaping life for ya?

5.  Peace is Evident in the Agreeable Life:  Integrity is a word that comes from the word "integer" or Whole Number.  Integrity means to be whole or in agreement with all of the parts.

Can you say that your life is in agreement with ...  um..... you?  Do you agree with your life?  Do you agree with where you're going or are you a compliant routiner?

What's going on inside?

When your behavior and lifestyle is in agreement with your core beliefs - then you know who you are - you know why you're doing what you're doing.  There are no competing alegiances within you.  There is peace with God - and peace with man.  There's nothing to prove - but simply a confident life to live fully.

Ok - just try this for a week:  Discover what you agree with about God and allow His spirit to bring all of you into agreement with what you agree with.

Should be a fun week for you!

Blessings

The Lord Is My Shepherd...

One of the things that has changed most drastically inside of me over the past several weeks is that the Lord has led me to intercede for the leadership of the Shannon Oaks Church and has led me to begin interceding for the next pastor.

Tough stuff.  I wasn't sure if that would ever become a heartfelt reality in me - but it has.

Today - I finished up a fundraiser at Paris North Lamar High School and drove over to Southlake for lunch with a new friend.  Right now, I'm sitting in Central Market Cafe in Southlake, Tx. 

I love coming into new places like this and just soak in the Lord.  I hear him clearly when I'm around people in new atmospheres like this.  It's fresh - It's alive - It's a great atmosphere to breathe again in.

In just a few minutes I'm having lunch with a new friend at a local restaurant - then I'm joining a pastor from this area in his home to hear what the Lord is speaking together.  Tonight we're having dinner with some wonderful friends in Winnsboro, Tx.  God is good!

This morning as I was listening to "Where You Go I'll Go", by Brian Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding California, I began to almost explode thinking about the power of living life in the will of God - going where he says and doing whatever he says.

I had a personal very close experience with the Lord and began just thanking him for loving me and guiding me.

I think - somewhere around September in a series on Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors/Teachers I spoke/studied the topic of the Lord being the overseer of our souls - our pastoring teacher. 

I've never felt this in my spirit more clearly than I do now - He's truly in charge of it all and is perfectly competant to handle the following:

1. Everything on my plate
2. My entire life before the Lord my God for eternity's sake
3. The sins of the whole world
4. The issues of every human being who has ever lived and ever will live
5. The issues of the entire angelic host
6. The issues of all of the spiritual realm
7. Everything under all creation and beyond

He's perfectly able to take care of it all - and today I trust him.

I trust him with the Shannon Oaks Church and I trust him with my life - my family - and our future.

He's gracious to lead us into a great business and into relationships with people whom we trust to help us become what the Lord is desiring for us to become.  He's gracious to provide us all with exactly what we need for this season in our lives.

Here's what the Lord has shown me:

• He knows what he's doing and knows what we need a lot better than we do
• He is able to provide what we need and more
• He is willing to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think
• He already knows what he has to offer those who will be humble and just love him

He's a great God - and this is a great day!

Those of you who know me well - know how thrilling it is to me when I hear from the Lord and find peace and excitement in what he's showing me.

Well - Sarah and I are both thrilled to be in a place where we feel safe to trust the Lord and take some positive steps forward in transitioning into whatever he leads us to do.

We still don't know what it's going to be - or where it's going to be - but we're both peaceful with whatever he clearly leads us to do - wherever!

Happy Monday - and remember the Lord - he's faithful to complete everything he has started in you.  He doesn't leave his people hanging when he sees that they love him.

He's good!  Blessings!

.

Ride on? Dismount? Take the Dip? Skip the Dip?

READ THIS:  The Big Dip: Ten Questions with Seth Godin

You may have heard the popular leadership/change motto:  "When the ride is dead, dismount".  It's tough to discern when to push harder in life - when to sit still and wait - when to stay steady and slow - when to confront - when to....

Discerning when the ride is over is one thing - but knowing when to dismount is another.

Most likely, in your life - you've been in situations where you were trying to discern "what to do" - or "where to go" or "when to make a move".  We've all been there, right?

The things that are difficult in situations like this are paying attention to our insides - our motives - our buttons - our "issues".

The challenge is maintaining a clarity of focus in the midst of all the competing voices on the outside and inside.  It requires discernment - It requires clarity in vision and purpose - and it requires wisdom & revelation from the Lord.

How do you know if you're in a "Dip" and will come out - or when you're in a canyun that you will not pull out of?

Very few people have written intelligently and wisely on "How to Quit Well".  But recently I found a great book that walks humanity through some great perspectives on when it's time to "quit" or "cut bait" or "move on."

Seth Godin  is the author of, The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick), a book that will definately get you making better decisions about what's going on inside of you when your faced with situations that you either need to "stick it out" or you need to "quit graciously and move on".

This is a MUST READ ARTICLE FOR CHURCH LEADERS AND BUSINESS LEADERS:  CHECK IT OUT!

The greatest advice that I gained from this book is regarding this question:

"I'm in a dip, how do I know if it's worth gutting it out to get to the other side?"

Godin replies:  The best time to ask this question is before you hit the Dip. Smart people can see Dips in advance and plan for them. If you want to be a doctor, the time to decide is before you get to the organic chemistry midterm, not while you’re taking it.

In picking a Dip, you need to think about two things:

1. Do you have the resources to get through it;
2. Is it worth what it will take?

If your goal is to build a top 50 blog, you need to consider what that will take in terms of time and effort and money and what you’ll get if you succeed. If your goal is to displace Microsoft Word as the industry-standard word processor, the Dip is a whole lot bigger. The reward might be too, but you need to figure it out before you invest.

I think it's safe to say that I've entered and approached a few dips lately in my life.  So have you.  And if you're walking with me or have been walking with me over the past few years - you've likely entered those dips with me.

It's been fun and scarry - exciting - thrilling - uncertain - and ever so certain hasn't it?

A few of them I pressed through believing that moving forward was the right thing to do AND believing that I had the resources to get through the dip.

The problem for us is that when you're going through a dip with other people - everyone in the dip has to believe the same things otherwise - the journey can get cut short.  The relationships between those going through the dip have to be trusting - peaceable - sincere - honest - loving - and united.

Have you ever come accross a dip in life that you believed was "doable" but didn't have the wisdom to discern if it was realistic?  Did you have the wisdom to discern what pace to take the dip on?  Did you have the wisdom to discern if the "dip" would be worth what it would cost.

I'll have to admit - I've hit too many dips in my life without considering these two things very well.

I've suffered the consequences of entering "dips" without wisdom and without seriously counting the cost.

I'm young.  I'm naive.  I believe impossible things are possible.  I also get defensive when obstacles come up that I don't believe are from the Lord.

I'm learning.  I'm getting the junk out of my heart so the Lord can lead me better.  it's getting goooood!

Take a minute to read the posted article.

Embrace the reality - that in ministry - the "Surely we can take this land" mentality is great & all - as long as the Lord is involved.

Tough stuff here - have fun chewing on it!

11 Ways To Do Self-Confrontation Well

I typically wrestle sincerely with the issue of "To Speak or Not to Speak".

One of the areas that I feel most uncomfortable speaking about - is any area of life or personal development that I do not own deeply for myself.

It seems that the Lord often probes my heart with, "now Jeff, don't talk about that yet - I just shared it with you.  Let it soak in a while first."  Sometimes I obey and sometimes I just speak it out.

I'm growing more and more to learn that when God speaks to you it needs time to permeate you and you need time to own it deeply before speaking it.  There are many disadvantages to speaking too quickly.

.... slow to speak, quick to listen...

SELF-CONFRONTATION, however - is an area that I want to speak in today - eventhough, I admit that I'm still walking through everything I'm about to share.  It's not something that is owned by me but is something that I'm desperately pursuing.

If you get a chance - get a copy of David Schnarch's "Passionate Marriage".  I've read exerpts from it over the past 9 years - but haven't read it to "own" it for myself until the past few months.

Schnarch shares some basic advise for dealing with yourself in what he calls "Constructing Your Crucible".  It's a simple process for learning how to deal with yourself in the midst of times when you think the problem is all around you.

1.  Confront yourself for the sake of your own integrity and personal development.  Hold on to yourself - this requires giving up all of your favorite and powerful ways to dodge self-confrontation.  Avoid "disproving" that there is something wrong with you.  This only invites other people to "prove" that you need to change. Defending yourself invites attack.

2.  If you're having difficulty identifying your own issues, look at both sides of your dilemma.  When have you faced something similar before and dodged it?  Find ways to identify truth in what others are saying negatively about you while fending off those who are more than ready to tell you what's wrong with you.

3.  Stop taking people's reaction personally.  Ask yourself why you are taking people's reactions to you personally.  If you think you should take it personally - then identify what you've been doing that leads you to assume that what they're saying about you is true and isn't just "them".  There is no need for defensiveness.

4.  Don't count on other people to confront their issues in return.  You simply can't move forward in life by agreeing to acknowledge your issues as long as others do likewise.  If you demand reciprocity, then other people control you and your relationships by simply refusing to confront themselves... in turn, you won't do what is right either.  They win.

5.  Forget about working on the "relationship" - the only thing you can really work on is YOU.  If you change you, then you can change the relationship.  Typically when you become what you need to become, then you begin to get what you want in relationships and you learn to avoid relationships that are out of your character.

6.  For solutions - look in different directions from where you've looked in the past.  Reconsider options you've previously rejected.  Reconsider issues, options, and solutions you've rejected as "unthinkable", "undoable," and "unacceptable" - especially the latter.  Ask yourself, 'what would I have to change or what about me would I have to give up in order for __________ to become an option."

7.  Stop trying to make other people validate you, listen to you, and accept you.  Listen to yourself.  Wise people throughout the ages have said that we do not see the world as it is but we see the world as we are.  Ask yourself, "What is it about me that causes me to see things the way I do?"  WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT ME?

8.  Keep your mouth shut about the other party's issues - particularly concerning things that you are certain are true.  This is only an expression for your need for validation.  When you know something to be true - then be secure in it and be quiet.  You won't need to speak to prove it true to others.

9.  Pay attention to your tone.  Like it or not - what you say and don't say... says something.  There is tone and attitude in what we say and do.  Your attitude and tone will say alot about you and who you are inside.  You leak attitude.

10.  Pretending to be something you're not only interferes with the process of ever becoming what you're pretending to become.  Be Yourself - and don't project an image of something you're not.  Be clear about the difference in who you are and who you want to be.  Be honest about them both.

11.  Let the best in you do the thinking, listening, and talking.  There is a place within each of us that recognizes the truth when we're confronted with it.  That part knows right from wrong.  It knows our motives and desires.  So let that inside part of you - the Spiritual good - the Holy Spirit in you - do the listening and the talking.  By speaking from your best part - and speaking to the best parts of others - you actually bring out the best in you and the best in others.  It sorta naturally tears down walls of hostility - ideally.  Trust is key though.

ALL OF OUR LIVES are full of error and self deception.  Self-deception is when we simply tell ourselves untruths about us and others around us in order to convince ourselves that what we're doing is right.

Journeying inside is just terribly shocking for most of us to do.  It's rare.  It's necessary.  And it's worth it.

If you're really brave - bring a couple of people you really really really trust on the journey with you.  They can help point out somethings that you simply can't see on your own.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY INSIDE YOU!

Double Honor

Someone gave me the book - Under Cover: by, John Bevere.

If you knew the place that I'm at in my life right now you would probably think this is the last thing I would ever say, but...

From cover to cover - this book is exactly what I need in my life right now:  a humble submission to authority.

I didn't grow up with a natural tendency to think that other people have my best interest at heart nor did I grow up with a balanced, trusting, healthy view of people in charge.

I wasn't a rebellious "young" child - but after certain events happened in my life - I developed a bit of an edge toward people in positions of authority - especially ones that i strongly disagreed with.

I simply want that to change - I don't know how or how long it will take, but I want things to be different in my heart in this whole respect and honoring authority stuff.

Consider this:  DOUBLE HONOR!

Scripture says: 

"Let the elders who lead well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine."  (I Timothy 5:17)

Double Honor - Bevere says, "in other words, twice the honor you'd give someone in a place of secular authority."

Wow -  now, this tells me at least three things:

1. (added after post) There's a transaction that takes place in a person's heart who fully submits to God.  in that transaction, God gives a sense of brokenness to "our" will and gives us the capacity to consider "his will".  Giving ANY man "double honor" is impossible to do without being fully submitted to God's rule and authority in your life.  And the lack of submission to human authority is a great sign that one is not in submission to God either.

2. Leaders in the church should pursue a leadership style that is worthy of "Double Honor" from people they call and expect to 'follow them'.

3.  People who choose to follow a particular Christian leadership must raise the bar in regards to the ways they honor those who are leading them and should give Double Honor to those who are leading well and ministering the Word.

What comes to your mind when you chew on this stuff?

Are you in submission to anyone on earth or are you your own man/woman?  How are you doing at respecting and honoring the positions of others - especially those who are in positions to give you direction.

How is your tongue doing behind their backs?  What's difficult about all of this stuff for you?

Presentation Zen

I still am intrigued by people who understand the art of communicating well.  Of course - I think Jesus was simply the best and is the best teacher.

I'll also admit - there's a huge difference in being a great communicator and a great pastor, however, it's difficult to be an effective pastor and not be an effective communicator.  You simply can't influence people effectively without communicating to them in a way that connects with their lives.

There's a HUGE God element to communicating His heart effectively - and that aspect of communications simply can't be trained or taught.  But there are many aspects of communicating effectively that can be learned.

Guy Kawasaki reveals several "tool tips" and a few of the "learnable" things that can help communicators do what they do most effectivey.  He does so in an interview with Garr Reynolds, author of: Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter). 

Some of the points discussed in this "Ten Question" interview are in reference to another book I recommend, Made to Stick.

Enjoy!

Surely We Can Change... Something

I've spent the past 2-3 months soaking in alot.  Life isn't the same and never will be.  When you go through challenging transitions like so many of us have been through - you sorta hit a wall where you have to decide whether or not you're going to "change" or if you're going to just fight to protect who you already are and what you already know.

Change is hard - isn't it?

During this time - "Surely We Can Change" by David Crowder has been very powerful to me and has sorta been a theme song for me in the steps that I feel the Lord is leafing me to make.

I can't get the thought out of my head - if Christ is AT LEAST who I believe he is - then Surely We Can Change... Something.

For instance:  consider the phrase "Lynch him in a back alley."  It is either offensive or its humorous.

Even though it was used by a friendly news anchor to sarcasticly emphasize how impossible it is to stop Tiger Wood's dominance in golf - the "world" is stirred up a bit to hear a news anchor use these terms... period.

The News Anchor Appologized and made things right with Tiger.

Today, on ESPN Radio - Michael Irving commented, "We can put people on the moon but we can't change how we relate to one another.  Why is it so hard to change?  When are we going to move on and stop being so offended.  When is 'lynch' going to be ok to say?"

I thought about this...  When will the world change?  Why is it so hard to change?

We can put people on the moon easier than we can resolve differences and become healthier cultures of people.

My focus is this... "Surely We Can Change... Something!"

And by the grace of God and the Spirit of Christ - we will change.  I can't seem to shake this passion out of my soul.  I can't seem to get rid of the burning desire to use my life to do something to change the world.

I'm not naive enough to believe that I can do it - but if Christ is AT LEAST who I believe he is - then the whole world is about to change!