Tiger

There is a lot going on in the news about Tiger Woods and his 'transgressions'. I think we can all figure out what happened as I won't use this blog to explain. There are some things to be learned from the events that happened with Tiger.

1. Everyone is vulnerable to moral failure. This whole thing has been real disappointing to see as it seemed he had a great image.

2. We are just as bad as Tiger even if our transgressions happen in our mind or somewhere else. To me we should show the same grace to Tiger that we have from God. We are all sinners in need of a savior. The only difference for some of us is that we know that. I pray that Tiger figures that out.

3. We can't play God and think we won't lose control. Our sins will come to the surface because we are human. It is a lot better for you to confess your sins than letting the world do it for you.

4. We all have sinned or transgressed.

5. We all need a Savior.

6. We as Christians need to show love and grace to Tiger. We need to embody Jesus Christ. In years gone by I could see Christian groups standing up and protesting Tiger, never watching Tiger ever again, or stoning him if you will. What did Jesus do in John 8? Don't protest Tiger. Jesus isn't.

¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?¹¹"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Discipleship

What is a disciple? That is the central question of our day in the church. I believe that the waves are shifting as to what a true disciple of Jesus Christ is. I think that when we answer this question it has impact on the way we see the rest of the world as Christians. It affects the way we spend money, our marriages, friendships, family relationships, politics, leadership, the way we work, etc. I think to define discipleship we have to explore The Gospel. What is the Gospel and how do we live it? If we answer that question then we will begin to see what it means to be a disciple. What are your thoughts? What do you think a disciple is? What is the Gospel? Obviously, make sure that your answers are found in scripture.

I am thinking of doing a class in the winter on this and would love your input/attendance at the class. Let me know what you think.

Just One...Discipleship from The Book of Acts

As pastors most of us set out to save the world for Jesus. It is our desire to see the multitudes come to know Him. Yet so few of us see that happen. We ask questions how did the early church do it? The early church is something that the current church always strives to be like. As we look multitudes were added. How did that happen? This is a great question to ask for a passionate pastor who wants to save the world for Jesus. The early church did it so how can we. I believe it is because they started with just one. It starts with yourself. If those individuals did not gather to meet with God in the upper room then who knows? If Barnabas didn't go spend time with Paul then who knows? If Paul didn't spend time with Timothy then who knows? If the early church didn't start with just one then maybe things would be different. So if you are setting out to change the world and have the numbers of those being saved added daily be in the multitudes you have to start with Just One. Who are you investing in? Are you taking yourself to the upper room to connect with the Father? Maybe the one you need to save is yourself? If you can't save yourself what makes you think you will change the world? If you can't save just one what makes you think you can save the world? Start with Just One.

College

Last night I attended our Immerse Worship group in Nyack, NY. It was an awesome time of worship and reflection. It was a very relaxed and come as you are environment. A couple of instances reminded me of my College days.

1. The evening didn't start until 9pm. (I am normally winding down for bed at this time)
2. We finished the night at 11:30pm. (I am normally dead asleep at this hour)
3. We then went out to BW3's, an amazing chicken wing place. (brought back lots of memories of college as wings from BW's was a staple in the ole' diet)
4. got back to house at 1am. (last 9 months or so this was a time Joshua would wake us from our sleep) This house is shared by 5-6 college guys. I was originally supposed to crash on the couch.
5. College pranks. Let's just say I was in a house full of college guys on April fools day.
6. Disgusting bathrooms. We are getting close to the end of the school year, probably no one has ever cleaned them.
7. Decide at 2am that there is no way I am sleeping on the couch and head to one of my friends college dorm rooms to crash at my old seminary housing building, Jaffray.
8. Spend some time talking with the guys in the room I was crashing in. (very reminiscent of late night talks in the dorm room)
9. 3am, other roomate slams door probably to send a message that we were talking too loud:)
10. Finally go to sleep at 3:30am, my body let me sleep until 8:30am.

College life has its place but I am definitely living the good life with Kelly and Joshua.

Pursuit

Yesterday I came home from work and Joshua, my son, saw me immediately squealed, smile, started waiving his arms over his head and then started crawling as fast as he could towards me. While he was crawling toward me his head was looking up at me smiling and he had no regard for whatever lay in his path. He just bulldozed over toys, clothes, and our dog. It was an awesome feeling to have Joshua do that just to be with me. I immediately dropped everything to pick him up, hug him, and just hang out with him.

My son always gets me thinking about how God is. I really think that God is standing there much in the same way waiting for us to come running to him. And once we start running towards him he will drop everything to run towards you. Do you pursue God with reckless abandoned? Do you pursue him joyfully? Do you let things distract you from God? I often wonder what our worship services would be like if we pursued God with the kind of abandoned that my son pursued me with.

Rescue Mission

I think many of us have forgotten what the mission is all about. In today's Lent reading in John 3 Jesus started his conversation with Nicodemus. As I was reading the story it reminded me of the fact that we should be having those kinds of conversations everyday. I was under conviction as I read because it has been a little while since I shared with someone.

The last person I had a conversation like this with was about a month ago. I was in the San Diego area and my car broke down. We had to get the car towed back to the rental place and get a new rental car. After I found a ride for Kelly and Joshua back to our hotel I got in the tow truck for the hour drive back to the rental place. The driver was Michael. He was from Iran. He was open to the Gospel. I shared with him the story of Jesus, Jesus' story in my life, and how Jesus could change his life. Michael shared stories of his life of alcohol and drug abuse. To me it was evident God had a hand in his life. To me I feel like God used me to help Michael take a step closer to Jesus. By the end of our conversation he said he believed in Jesus but he also said he still believed in Islam. I believe he was genuine based on stories he told and other people God had in his life. It is my prayer that those Christians in his life God uses to help him realize that Jesus is THE WAY.

How many of us have a story like Michael in the past month? I am convicted that I have not had one. I have heard people say that isn't my gifting or I am not called to that. That is redonkulous because we all have the same mission in Matthew 28 of Going and making disciples. We as Christians are called to be like Christ and Christ shared the Gospel all the time. It is our job to rescue as many as we can from eternal destruction. Yesterday we took a group of young adults down to the homeless shelter Rescue Mission. We sorted clothes and helped in their thrift store. All of this is to help the homeless and less fortunate. This was an opportunity to live the mission of God in a practical way. You never know what might happen in a setting like that. We had a good turnout relative to previous weeks but the number of people showing up was poor. It made me ask the question are many of us even on a Rescue Mission or are we on the coast mission?

When we get to the throne of God we are going to be asked to give an account.

What will your story be?

Church Leadership

In my opinion leading people in the church is a lot harder than leading in the corporate world or coaching world. I came from an environment where I was leading a group of players and I could lead like a dictator or kick them off the team and they lose their scholarship. In my opinion same with corporate America. In many ways as a leader in the secular world you can lead with extrinsic motivation and get the job done. I do think that if you want to go above and beyond where anyone thought possible you have to lead your people intrinsically as well. But in the church world there really isn't anything extrinsic you have to motivate people. So, if you are leader in the secular world join a church and lead a ministry full of volunteers. You will have to learn real fast how to lead intrinsically.

5 Reasons the church fosters intrinsic leadership:

1. In the church you are leading all volunteers.
2. There is no paycheck coming for most of them.
3. They don't need your ministry because they could just go down the street.
4. You are fighting to get your volunteers time.
5. Most of ministry is a praiseless job. (you might get praise from a few but most people in ministry are not famous)


Here are some lessons I have learned on leading intrinsically.

1. Find out what inspires those you are leading.
2. Give the people you are leading a clear and compelling vision that inspires them.
3. Be transparent with those you are leading. People don't want to follow someone who is fake.
4. Have Moral Authority. Do what you say you are going to do and be willing to do what you ask those you are leading to do.
5. Spend time with the people you are leading. Laugh with them, Cry with them, and be there friend. If they know that you are there for them they will be there for you.
6. Empower them in their gifting. Find out what their gifts, talents, and dreams are and help them utilize those things.
7. Give those you are leading ownership. You do this by letting your vision come from them. Sit down with them over coffee, food, in their home, and anywhere outside your office. This doesn't mean they set the vision. You influence them and let your vision come from them. This will only happen when you share your heart and spend time with the ones you are leading.
8. Give those you are leading your time. Those that directly work for you should be your priority.
9. Communicate stories of success relating to your vision.
10. Empower those you lead to find someone who they can multiply themselves into.