More wisdom

A lot of times it feels as if my interactions with my daughter Destiny involve our drastically different sense of style. Destiny is and always has been one of the more fiercely independent people I know. She has a sense of style that is all her own - hence the photo. Yesterday Brandie overheard a conversation of Destiny's with a neighborhood boy as she was outside playing with some friends. The boy apparently was lacing his end of the conversation with some language that was more vulgar then Destiny appreciated so being the strong person she is - she told him to stop. He of course responded with it was ok and he liked to talk that way. Destiny informed him that she was a Christian and did not like to talk that way. The boy apparently indicated he too was a Christian.

One of the challenges I see with students, and adults for that matter, is they tend to only apply their faith in certain areas. Some times it is limited to only while they are at church, or maybe only with certain friends, or maybe only in certain situations. Like the little boy in the neighborhood - like the behavior doesn't contradict the statement. Maybe there are different versions of Christianity and his version includes profanity? I suppose mine does too at times.

I don't intend this as a "my refuse doesn't stink" kind of thing. I just was very proud of my daughter yesterday that despite our differences on many, many things including hand socks - she believes as I do that Christianity is something that affects her whole life and guides her actions and even language around others. Not that we don't slip and fall periodically but if I am what I say I am then it stands for something. So again I thank one of my kids for a profound lesson and reminder of what it is all about.

From the mouths of babes

Yesterday Brandie told me Dylan had shared with her he wanted to be a pastor when he grows up. Initially my response was to be flattered but understanding that little boys just want to do what their dad does. When I worked at the car dealership he wanted to do that too. But as the conversation progressed she said he has expressed this on numerous occasions and when pressed for the reason why Dylan responded with because I love to read the Bible. I am not sure what if any influence my current profession has on his desire. I was intrigued by this so I asked Dylan myself. He again indicated that he wanted to be a pastor because he loves reading the Bible and if he was a pastor he could do that more. Now I know it has nothing to do with my influence because I am rarely accused of reading the Bible all the time.

I was especially intrigued by this because I just finished reading the book "It" by Craig Groeschel. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend everyone read "It". The premise is that some churches, ministries and/or people have a special quality that he calls it. It defies definition but you definitely know it when you see or experience it. The challenge that Craig gives is that especially as leaders of people, ministries or churches we have a responsibility to fall more in love with Jesus every day. From that passion springs forth an understanding that God moves and works in my life and anything good is because of Him. The danger is that we tend to focus on us and what we do or need to do as being the most important thing but "It" is all about Jesus and His Spirit working in us and through us. For me the lesson from my son and from Craig was the same. If I am a pastor I get to do what I love which is to learn more about God, fall in love with His son Jesus more every day, and see His Spirit at work in and through my life. I had to read a book - Dylan just gets it. So this week - we are going to read the Bible together. I can't wait to see what else Dylan can teach me.

The way staff meetings should be

Yesterday we had our monthly "All Staff" meeting. I guess I am new enough that they haven't become mundane to me yet but I confess especially lately it has been easy to focus on how much I have to do. The meeting plan was to spend some time in prayer and worship over people who are far from God. The 67% as we tend to refer to them because of a statistic that referenced 67% of people do not have a relationship with Jesus. Some people were asked to prayer specifically and then others were invited to prayer for their ministry, campus or just the specific people on their hearts. From there we would return to our normal stuff which isn't bad stuff by any means. We have been blessed with some great stuff in staff meetings lately - Scott Hodge, Alan Hirsch and that Dave Ferguson is no slouch either. As the prayer time unfolded it became apparent that God's Spirit was really powerful in that place. The staff that prayed out loud poured out their hearts and their passion for helping people was so apparent. It was really cool. Dave responded to the Spirit and just scrapped whatever else we were going to do and we just spend the whole time and a little extra just praying and worshipping. I know I needed it big time. I need Jesus to intersect my life when I get focused on me and what I have to do all the time even if it is something good like ministry. I need to know that the people I am in the trenches with working, creating, and sweating along side are there because they love Jesus and love His people.

The cool part was after the meeting I got to have lunch with my friend Nick. I have really come to appreciate my meetings with him in a new way. First it is just plain fun. We love to laugh, at each other, life and the crazy people we get to work with. It's also great joy to strategize and talk about ministry. What can we do different, better, more - all of that. As we took a moment and reflected on the events of the morning Nick, as usual, made a poignant statement. He said "I bet you don't miss staff meetings from a year ago." A reference to my "old days" in the car business. Another excellent reminder that I am so lucky to be where I am doing what I am. I love doing this! And I love the people I get to do it with. I worked for a long time doing something I didn't have any passion for and it is so good to not be in that environment anymore.

And I love when Jesus knocks me off my donkey - what a great day!

With

This is a word that has been on my mind a lot lately because it is the name of the first series we are doing at StuCo this year. With. It is so simple yet so complex. I have been considering my relationships and who I am with. Because of the addition of my responsibilities at the Shorewood campus I am about to be "with" more people. That is going to be the single greatest challenge in my mind as I attempt to balance the responsibility of 2 locations instead of just 1. More leaders, more students, more parents - more people to be "with". It should be a good thing - a very good thing.

The challenge of the "With" series really is about who are we influencing and who is influencing us. The fact that I get to influence people is something that both humbles me and challenges me. I want to be an inspiring leader - as leaders inspire me. I never want to take for granted the awesome privilege it is to encourage, support, challenge or otherwise influence someone on their journey of finding their way back to God. I know the people that have served that purpose for me are very dear to me even if they are no longer near to me.

When a message challenges me as I prepare it, I find that I enjoy it a lot more as I grow through the progression of development. So I find myself embracing the idea of how can I be intentional in my relationships. Of course for me, I always seem to learn best through failure and I had a significant 1 with my most important earthly relationship over the weekend. I once again neglected to be intentional with a relationship I should be most intentional with and not only that selfishly lashed out. Now I need to begin to rebuild and invest anew where I should never have withdrawn. Interesting how I can spend so much time thinking about something and than completely miss the application of the idea.

The challenge then is this - who are you with? Who do you choose to be an influencer with and have influence over you? Who has God directed your steps to and how is He stirring in you to step out and be His voice to? It's an amazing thing that God let's us be part of that process and is so cool when we allow Him to use us. Of course if you are not with God in the 1st place, than get with the program.