Things I Caught Along the Way

In my personal library, I have over a hundred and fifty books on prayer. These books range from how to pray like the Desert Fathers of the Third Century (who fled from the cities to the desert in order to meet with God in solitude and silence) to how to influence suburban America by prayer walking. Books that teach about prayers of petition, praise, intercession, not to mention praying for friends, family members and the needs of others. Others portray prayers of examination, reflection and praying through the Bible. You get the idea, a lot of books about prayer. Did I mention I really like books?

Some of these books have been instrumental in challenging my life of prayer with God over the years. But, if I’m honest, when I think about prayer, there’s an image that out weighs all these pages of the sages. It’s the image I have of a mentor of mine during my late teens, early twenties. There he was sitting in a chair -  early in the morning – every morning. Praying. At times, words were flowing or passages of Scripture being quoted. At other times, silence, not a word was uttered, rather simply being present before God. I have images of him driving to and from work, praying as he drove. He would pray for me and others, as well as upcoming Bible studies, ministry endeavors, and the like.

LIFT :: Leadership Institute for Transformation

It's easy to get caught up doing good stuff... All the while not realize the atrophy that's beginning to take place deep within one's soul.

Moreover, it can be challenging to find venues conducive for helping us to facilitate on-going learning and spiritual formation. The LIFT courses are a great way to be challenged as a leader, interact with others on the same journey and engage spiritual practices for a healthy soul and sustainable rhythms of life and ministry.

The Greatest Compliment

Who doesn't like a good compliment? 

 We all like a little affirmation here and there, it doesn't matter who you are. Unfortunately, it's easy to fall into the trap of living for the compliment or into the head-spin of asking yourself, what was wrong when you don't get your quota. But let's not kid ourselves, compliments, can at times be like Christmas presents to distant family members, it's just something we do.

There are, however, compliments that push beyond the veneer of superficiality and obligated courtesy. Recently, I recieved such a compliment. Two days after last week's teaching, Drawing a Prayer to God, I was visiting my sons school and was approached by a fourth-grade teacher. She begin to communicate:

I'm always looking for ways to engage my students in new and creative ways. Constantly, I'm asking God for ways to help my students engage God in real and authentic ways. Yesterday, I retaught your whole teaching on prayer from Wednesday night. Then I handed out paper and markers and instructed them to begin drawing a prayer to God. I was amazed at what transpired. Students were fully engaged in what they were doing. Some were actually weeping as they drew. Others, that I've not seen engage outwardly in prayer or worship, became some of the most focused in the room...

This is one of the greatest compliments, I think, that a communicator/teacher/preacher can receive. "I listened, was influenced, practiced myself, then went and taught another and actually lead them to engage it as well..."

Pass on what you heard from me--
the whole congregation saying Amen!-
to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others.

2 Timothy 2:2 MSG

The Power of a Storytelling

Stories have enormous power, unfortunately the very essence of that power is often crippled in the telling. True storytellers simply know how to communicate old stories in new ways. And, even when they use the same plot as before, it always seems to take on new life. This life flows not from some new fabrication of the events at hand, rather the outworking of a life that's actually been there. The aliveness comes from the life the story has within them, it just simply can't be contained.

Martin Buber once commented about the power of stories:

"A story must be told in such a way that it constitutes help in itself.

My grandfather was lame. Once they asked him to tell a story about his teacher. And he related how his teacher used to hop and dance while he prayed. My grandfather rose as he spoke, and he was so swept away by his story that he began to hop and dance to show how the master had done. From that hour he was cured of his lameness.

That's how to tell a story."

I'm fascinated not only how our very lives have been shaped by stories, but how powerful stories become in the authentic creative telling. Creativity is often simply pausing long enough to allow new ways to emerge for telling an old story. It is the very pause of contemplation that becomes the path that simply takes one deeper into the story itself.

The following is a short video by Storyteller Jay O'Callahan talking and demonstrating the power of stories.

Eight Rules of Leadership

So a few friends and I are weekly getting together to work through Jack Welch's book Winning. In his chapter titled "It's Not About You," he outlines Eight Rules of Leadership. Personally, as I've recently reflected on these in context of my own leadership, I've been challenged significantly.

When you attain a leadership position, everything changes. Leadership requires distinct behaviors and attitudes.

Prior to your leadership position,
your success is all about growing yourself.
Now that you’re a leader,
success is all about growing others.

There are Eight Rules of Leadership:

The Power of Being Lead

Over the past several months I’ve made an interesting observation. My children may be watching television or some other mindless activity. On such occasions, the motivation emerges within me to help engage them in some mind-stimulating activity or at least something that will cause them to exert some physical energy. I can say to one of my children, “Hey, you wanna do a puzzle?” The almost immediate response will be “no.” I can follow that up with something like, “How about we build something?” The response? “No.” I can go through a litany of options, “A bike ride?” “Too hot.” You get the picture. Of course there are some wild cards. Chuck E Cheese’s always gets a thumbs up. However, often the end result is potential discouragement or frustration.

Here’s where the interesting observation comes in.

On a given day, my children could be engrossed in a movie of some sort. I can nonchalantly walk through the room, grab the youngest child, put them on my lap, spread a box of puzzle pieces on the floor... and within seconds. The couch is empty, the movie is mere background noise and I have kids all around me fighting over who gets the corner pieces. I can waltz through the room and say, “Oh... I’ll see you guys later... I’m gonna go for a bike ride around the block...” (pause)... and I have three kids begging to go with me. Did I mention the heat index is a hundred-and-eight? Suddenly, being hot is no longer a factor. Regardless of the activity, if I merely begin doing it, engaging it, etc - my children join me. Interesting!

It’s like they wanted to do something more active and engaging, they just didn’t know it! They needed to be lead. They needed to be shown. They needed to be engaged. I wonder if much of our parenting frustration is caused simply because we tell them what to do, but fail to show them how to do it? We ask them if they want to do something, when all they need is to be invited to join us.

Now, let’s turn the tables a bit.

How does this principle apply to our own spirituality? How often do we not want to do that which is most needed to do? Perhaps engaging some spiritual practice (Scripture, Prayer, Serving, Fasting, Giving, etc)... I’ve discovered, quite often we’re just like our children. One of the keys to spiritual maturity is being able to discern what we need and how to do something about it. Often, I’ve learned that if I simply begin engaging a practice or discipline, before long (like my children) I actually enjoy and find pleasure and benefit in doing it. I just need to be lead.

Often we spend too much time following our heart,
and not enough time leading it...

The Learning Revolution

A while back, I referenced one of my favorite talks by Sir Ken Robinson. In this talk, he explores the idea of - Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Recently, Robinson gave another talk Bring on the Learning Revolution. Here, he makes several interesting comments that have great relevance on education, creativity and personal pursuit of passion(s). Several of his later remarks would make great conversation pieces as it relates to the Church. Rather than extract various thoughts and quotes, I've simply posted the 18:00 presentation.

The Truth about Motivation

The following is an interesting clip about motivation by author Daniel Pink.

Summer Days

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 11:1)

In short, first of all, we are told that every year “in the spring” the kings would “go off to war.” It was a part of the rhythm of the king(s). On this particular occasion, the text says, “David remained in Jerusalem.” Things go down hill from there…

Something happens every year about this time. As schools wrap up, people begin to get in “summer mode.” There’s a mindset that many people undertake. An element of ease fills the air. We begin to think about vacation. About unwinding. About getting away.

Is there anything we could learn from 2 Samuel 11?

Interestingly, studies among Christian publishers show that books sales significantly drop during the spring-summer season. People still buy the Christianized romance novels and the like. However, as it relates to the books on spiritual formation, growth and development -- sales diminish.

Many churches even seem to fall prey to this. Expectations are lowered. At times less energy, creativity and resources are invested in messages, series and programs. Numbers are expected to drop.

Be that as it may, summer is actually a time to be intentional about one’s personal growth, as well as that of the local church. Many of us have more time. What would it look like to really dig into a formative book or an in-depth study of a book of the Bible?

Many have extra time and increased desire to engage others in community. How could the local church use this to create venues for others to get together?

What would it look like (for individuals and church ministries) to raise the bar over the summer season?

"Woe to you who are at ease in Zion."
~Amos 6:1

The Pulpit Calls

“The pulpit calls those anointed to it as the sea calls its sailors; and like the sea, it batters and bruises and does not rest…. To preach, to really preach, is to die naked a little at a time and to know each time you do it that you must do it again.” Bruce W. Thielemann, The Wittenburg Door, no. 36 (April–May 1977)

Creating Community

Recently, Kent Shaffer posted a quick review of the book The Tangible Kingdom Primer, a self-described 8-week guide to incarnational community. Written by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, The Tangible Kingdom Primer explores how to become mission-minded and then act on it by creating authentic community.

It is a cleverly designed workbook with lots of graphics and even more questions intended to take you on a journey through the ideas. To get the best flavor of this workbook, here is a sample question from each week:

1. How much time per week are you willing to give to building deeper relationships with them?
2. Who in your life needs you to be an advocate for them now?
3. Is your own view of the Gospel missing anything?
4. What would you need to change to incorporate more opportunities for community to take place in your life?
5. Considering the relationships that God has brought into your life, what are your responsibilities to them now?
6. Who are some of the people in your life that you are currently investing in relationally?
7. As you consider the differences between passive discipleship and apprenticeship, how would you describe your own life?
8. How can you work with God so that you are more accessible to people and more available for God?

The Tangible Kingdom Primer is a great way to immerse yourself in thinking about community. It is an area that I need to improve. What about you?

Do you thrive at creating community or do you get lost in your own world? What are your pitfalls or keys to success?

The Role of a Teacher

"We are not asked to teach a discipline like mathematics, physics, history or languages, but we are called to make our own faith available to others as the source of learning. To be a teacher means indeed to lay down your life for your friends, to become a 'martyr' in the original sense of witness. To be a teacher means to offer your own faith experience, your loneliness and intimacy, your doubts and hopes, your failures and successes to your students as a context in which they can struggle with their own quest for meaning. To be a teacher means to have the same boldness as Paul, who said to the Corinthians: 'Take me as a model as I take Christ' (1 Cor. 11:1). To be a teacher means to say as those who want to learn what Jesus said to his disciples: 'Come and see' (John 1:39)" - Henri J.M. Nouwen (cited in Wounded Prophet by Michael Ford, 106-107)

Something Worth Pondering :: Wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr.

Lately, I've found myself in a reflective mood. That is, to simply take a phrase or sentence and allowing it to mull over and over in my head/heart...

...this is a powerful practice!

...Today, being what it is, I thought I would do that with some of the writings of Martin Luther King Jr.

...The more I read and pondered, the more and more amazed I became at some of the things this man said, wrote and did.

The following are a few more thoughts that served as speed-bumps in my pondering... Thoughts that caused me to pause, think, reflect and ultimately will require a response, as all truth does...

"Our lives begin to end the day we
become silent about things that matter."

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.
He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition
was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.
This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for,

he isn't fit to live.

If physical death is the price that I must pay to free
my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit,
then nothing can be more redemptive.

If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values - that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is,
'What are you doing for others?'

Love is the only force capable of
transforming an enemy into friend.

Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than
sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.

That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind.
The time is always right to do the right thing.

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was:
"If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?"
But... the good Samaritan reversed the question:
"If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those
who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.

The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live.
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power.
We have guided missiles and misguided men.

The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars
are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.

The quality, not the longevity,
of one's life is what is important.

There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life,
devoid of breadth.

To be a Christian without prayer
is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.
He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.
There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.
When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Martin Luther King Jr :: Inspiration for Injustice

Martin Luther King Jr was a phenomenal individual. Recently, I listened to a series of talks about his teachings and writings. King was far from perfect, and controversy still stirs regarding elements of his life. Yet, the reality of the message of injustice was and still remains to be seen as a powerful display of truth.

If we took these same truths, that lead to a reshaping of America and applied them to the far reaching regions of the world, we would find ourselves living in a different world indeed.

Here are a few of my favorite sayings by Martin Luther King Jr.

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

“Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.”

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon.
which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.
It is a sword that heals.”

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice.”

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

“We must use time creatively.“

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

Leaders Should Act Like Artist :: Artist Should Act Like Leaders

Recently, Kem Meyer, author of LESS CLUTTER. LESS NOISE, linked a couple of great posts on the inter-connectivity of the skills demonstrated by leaders and artist, and how they can learn from each other.

How leaders should act like artists (from Harvard Business):

1. Artists constantly collaborate. The example given was the common occurrence of an exhibition with multiple artists showing together, or the so-called "group show." Even in the context of a solo show, the artist works with the gallery owner, the curator, the framers, the installers, the lighting person, the publicist to bring their vision to life. Every exhibition is a collaboration to the nth degree.
   
   
2. Artists are talented communicators. The whole point of a work of art is to communicate something — a thought, an idea, a feeling, a vision. More explicitly, the artist frequently gives a talk to explain the thought process behind the artwork. Engaging the audience in a meaningful, expansive dialogue is often critical to the exhibition's success.
   
   
3. Artists learn how to learn together. Perhaps the reason why artists collaborate and socialize so well is that they learn in the studio model — ten or more students in the same room for hours on end. Bonded together in a personal space of intimate self-expression, they come into their own through the familial ties of the studio setting. When interviewed recently about the differences in her education at Brown and at RISD, one student who is getting a dual degree from both institutions said, "At RISD there's a lot of learning from your peers. Brown (in the classes I've taken so far anyway) is about listening and note-taking in class."

How artists should act like leaders (from Accidental Creative):

1. I speak my mind and fight for ideas but refuse to play the “victim” when my idea doesn’t win out.
2. I do what’s in the best interest of the team and the project, even when it costs me something.
3. I do the little things that matter even when I could feasibly cut corners.
4. I stretch myself to see things from new points of view.
5. I think strategically, even when I don’t have all the information I want.
6. I don’t point fingers, talk trash or assign blame behind closed doors.
7. I have something that guides my creating beyond comfort and preference.

Know Thyself

Some people are self-starters, self-motivators, even serve as a pretty good self-coach. Others, may be good at the start, but not quite as savvy at providing the mojo for on-going motivation. We each have our unique make up when it comes to temperament, discipline and motivation.

Spiritual maturity emerges as we grow in our awareness and understanding of what our make-up is and what we need to keep-going.

Spiritual wisdom then is the faculty by which we surround ourselves with the needed resources (material or relational), that foster an environment conducive for ongoing growth.

What Matters Now :: Free ebook

More than seventy extraordinary authors and thinkers contributed to this ebook organized by Seth Godin.

It's designed to make you sit up and think, to change your new year's resolutions, to foster some difficult conversations with your team.

Best of all :: It's Free. Download a Copy...

Or, to find out more about contributing authors go here.

Faith and the New Atheism

Next week, we wrap up the fall teaching series at Palm Valley's New Community, Philippians: Discovering God in the Midst of Life. As such, I’ve been spending quite a bit of time over the past several weeks sketching out the next teaching series, not to mention engaged in my share of research, gathering materials and resources. I’m looking forward to this series...

In the series, which will begin Wednesday, January 20, 2010, we’re going to wrestle through several tough questions that have been elevated to surface with the recent surge among the New Atheist. In each of the teachings, we will explore both sides of the spectrum. We'll look at things from the perspective of an Atheist or skeptic, as well as that of a thinking follower of Christ.

Over the four weeks we’ll look at:

Faith and Doubt

There is a healthy tension between faith and doubt. Doubts aren't inherently evil, in fact, there’s much that we can learn by exploring our own doubts and those of others. We will explore what some of the fundamental claims of the New Atheist and how can we intellectually respond to their questions, criticisms and dispositions.

Faith and Science

Are Faith and Science at odds with one another? Does that which can be deduced through science discredit what Scripture says?

Faith and Evil

If God exists, why has so much evil be perpetrated in His name? After all, isn't the Church is responsible for so much injustice.

Faith and Suffering

How could a Good God allow so much suffering?

The following are a few of the things that I’m reading, watching and listening to in preparation. Some of these are from the perspective of a Christian Apologetics and others are from significant voices within the New Atheist movement.

What's So Great about Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller

Faith and Doubt by John Ortberg

Apologetics for a New Generation: A Biblical and Culturally Relevant Approach to Talking About God by Sean McDowell

Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge by Dallas Willard

fora.tv is a great visual resource. There are a number of videos by Atheist such as Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), Sam Harris (The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason), Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything), as well as presentations and interviews by authors like Dinesh D’Souza (mentioned above). Flora.tv also has a video page within iTunes University.

Websites:

Reasonable Faith with Dr. William Craig Lane

Christian Apologetics with Ravi Zacharias

The New Atheism

When Perceptions and Reality Collide

In the book unchristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters, authors David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons expoase a number of perceptions held by people about church.

A few of those perceptions are,



These perceptions, as noted, more often than not, have nothing to do with Jesus or His message. It's not the mystery of the cross, nor the cost of discipleship that become snares.

Here are a few of the questions I believe each of us must wrestle with.
Does our church actually provide an environment congruent with what we hope people will experience?

Are the aforementioned perceptions of those not a part of the church confirmed during their "worship" experience or are they presented with a new reality of "church" and the people of God?



My hope is that not only will people discover the life-transforming power found only in the message of Christ, but that they will also experience the essence of community.

Statistics are not Boring, Neither Should We...

We've all sat through our share of boring lectures, classes, even sermons.

Frequently I'm amazed at how subjects that are multi-layered and awe inspiring like the Story of Scripture, the wonder of creation or the dynamics of human history can be flattened down to a mere linear-monotone-humdrum captivity, resulting in what feels like a fatal death by bullet-point.

Let's face it, communicating to a group of people, regardless of the size can be a challenging undertaking. Further, there are certain subjects that seem to not leave much room for creative interpretation or innovative and engaging communication.

Statistics could be one of those subjects.

After all, how much can one do with numbers and graphs to captivate an audience? Hans Rosling is one of those aforementioned persons who deals with copious amounts of data. He is a professor of International Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Rosling is however, an example of someone who can take a subject as seemingly mundane and sleep inducing as statistics and communicate it in a way that is humorous, informative, entertaining, no to mention inspiring.

Recently, Hans gave a talk at TEDIndia in which he vividly demonstrates that statistics are not boring. He brilliantly presents more than numbers, data and statistical predictions. He conveys the story that is actually behind the statistics and the names behind the numbers.

His video is one worth watching. (link)

Hans' video causes me to imaginatively wonder what other subjects have we marginalized to boring, irrelevant, or simply unappealing? Subjects and topics, that if only communicated in the form of a story could come to live with penetrating power?