WWJD

What would Jesus do? A very valid question completely ruined by the cheesy Christian merchandising machine. I don't need a bracelet, T-shirt, coffee mug or desk top pen set made from wood from the Holy Land engraved with this thought. However a couple of situations have come up this week that have had me literally asking what would Jesus do.

I met with my friend and fellow leader Charissa this week. I miss not working with her everyday but as Forest Gump would say - that's all I have to say about that. We were catching up but also talking about a direction God seems to have been taking our ministry. We have been blessed (and I don't mean that sarcastically for those of you that know my gift in that area) with several students with some alternative lifestyles. I don't know all the answers. At times it feels as if I have more questions than answers but I know that God loves them and desperately wants to have a relationship with them. I think it is amazing that they feel comfortable and willing to ask tough questions and I honestly believe God is at work in their lives. I am a little dumbfounded because in the past I have not been gracious or open to accept people that were that different than me. God did something amazing by allowing me to fall in love with some people and then learn about that aspect of their lives. It's much harder to hate when you are sitting knee to knee with someone close enough to wipe the tears from their eyes. Especially the ones you have caused. Generally I prefer to throw the first stone from far away. The only thing I do know thru out this is I keep asking myself - what would Jesus do? How would He love them? How would He challenge them to grow closer to Himself? I figure if I follow that mantra I can't go wrong.

The other situation arose when I heard from an old co-worker this week. I have been inviting her to church since we worked together. It has been one of those unique relationships where someone has seen my "testimony" at it's very worst but yet God keeps opening doors. I just have to remember ultimately it's not about me and regardless of my past mistakes of not living a very Christ-like life it's all about Jesus getting hold of someones life. Since she lives near the Shorewood campus, the conversation has started up anew. This week she indicated she might come, however she reminded me that the deal I struck when I worked with her was - the church of my choice for the bar of hers. I remember thinking I was pretty clever at the time but now my personal fears of reputation and what people think make me feel less so. Then I start wondering what would Jesus do. And I remember what Jesus did and does everyday - He meets people right where they are. Without qualification, without reservation, without any thought of self, He recklessly and wildly pursues His beloved creation. He gave of Himself til the point of even death. So I am again reminded that it is not about me. My poor decisions and over-indulgences of the past cannot overcome my friends need for Jesus. They can be a distraction and I am thankful that God has given me a chance to still introduce her to the Jesus I love. A bar of her choice is a small price to pay. And I will go to where she is knowing that Jesus will be with me all the way. In fact He is already there.

Maybe I need that desk set after all.

Why do they come?

I recently was chatting with my friend Zach (like an hour ago). We were talking about the growth we have been experiencing at our Wednesday night student service. For the sake of not focusing on a number I will just say that our average attendance has jumped dramatically over last year. From our perspective as leaders we see all the challenges we experience on a nightly basis. Video elements that don't work or are poorly conceived, transitions that are abrupt or awkward, messages that aren't smoothly delivered. We see all these things but yet we continue to grow. So Zach's question was why do they come? It's a valid question. In fact it's a brilliant question. I recently read the book "It". The book attempts to deal with that question from the perspective of why do some people, some places, some experiences have the "It" factor. "It" can be hard to describe but you definitely recognize that something is special when you experience it.

I was pleased with the fact that I actually had a response for Zach's question. Until it came out of my mouth I am not sure it was a fully developed response but here is what I came up with. I don't think it has anything to do with great music, the best videos, amazing teaching (I know that's not the case!)or other programming elements. This is not an excuse to not improve because as a matter of personal pride I always want to grow and develop. In fact personal pride is what often stands in the way of people experiencing "It" in my opinion. If we have any bit of an "It" quality (and I believe we do) it's because I see an extremely high level of buy in. Students and leaders are not coming to a program or something they merely participate in. They own it. Our experience is theirs. They are the critical element. When they are there they make it happen, they provide the heart and soul of whatever we do. I see it as the difference between watching from the sidelines and being a player on the field. The students and leaders I am privileged to be with every week are fully engaged and you can sense that. When new people come they feel the energy and see the passion and it is contagious. I love it. My goal now, and I have actually been experiencing some anxiety about this recently, is to not get in the way of that.

Of course this all leads to another question - how did we get this level of buy in? I will let you know when I figure that out.

Chili and Surprises

One of my favorite things to do is cook. I don't do it a ton but when the mood strikes and I have the time I always enjoy it. I even thought of attending a cooking school at one point and who knows I might still someday but for now it is just a hobby I dabble in. In a couple of weeks I will be entering our annual chili cooking contest at Church. I won a couple of years ago so I am looking to regain my title. I even got on stage and talked a little smack last weekend. Competition and cooking all in the same event - does it get any better?

Some one asked me if I had a special secret recipe. Since the recipe is only known to me and not written down anywhere and is subject to change every time I make it, I think it qualifies as secret. Special is a whole other issue. Sometimes it comes out really spicy. Other times it is bold and full of flavor. When I am really lucky it is both. I think that may be part of what makes cooking Chili so much fun - it's always a surprise. Mostly good but sometimes not. A few years ago I had the dubious distinction of being a judge for a chili cook-off. That was a horrible experience. I never knew there could be so many ways to make bad chili out there. But there was. I have never eaten dog food but I suspected some of them would not even be fit for canine consumption. Again though the surprise is part of the mystique and excitement of chili - especially a cook-off where you sample lots of different ones.

All of this got me to thinking about how life is like a box of choca.... no, like a bowl of chili. Yesterday I got 2 distinct surprises - one was funny and the other decidedly was not. My wife revealed in a small group ice breaker that if given a week to spend with any group, anywhere, at anytime she would choose the Amish. I nearly pee'd myself laughing because my wife is an amazing women of unbelievable strength but also really likes her comforts. I can't imagine her for a week of no Diet Coke, iced coffee's, or hot showers. Upon explanation it seemed to make sense although I don't recall what it was but it surprised me. I love that after nearly 15 years of marriage and close to 20 years of knowing each other she still surprises me. It was a funny moment.

The not funny moment came when I discovered a former co-worker, who I had considered a friend, had been indicted and faced significant jail time for stealing from the company we both worked for in excess of $400,000. It was one of those unnerving revelations that someone I thought I knew pretty well was unimaginable corrupt. I still feel saddened by this more so than I would have expected. We were not close friends by any means but I never would have thought he was capable of this. I recall even defending his character on several occasions when we worked together. Certainly his greed, or whatever motivated him to do this, does not taint his entire person but if I may return to my chili analogy, it sure does give his particular flavor a bad after taste. I have and will continue to pray for him and his family. I cannot imagine facing the consequences and what that will mean for them.

The best chili is cooked slowly over a long period of time. It ultimately is a result of the influences of all the ingredients. The blending of different flavors that together produce an overall experience that is in the best case both bold and spicy. I can taste it know even as I type. The aroma that fills the house as it cooks. Even feel the anticipation of testing it and maybe adding a pinch of this or a dash of that. Or maybe I will sample it only to find - mmmm it's perfect. You never know what you are going to get in a bowl of chili.