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stream of consciousness

Friday Stream of Consciousness – 80

May 17, 2013 — 3 Comments

Here are some things on my mind this Friday morning:

  • Among sporting events, choose a baseball game if you want to spend quality time with someone else. Last night, I took Anna to a game, and it was one of the best father-daughter experiences I’ve ever had.
  • I’m really, really sad for the churches led by the three megachurch pastors who resigned due to adultery this week. I won’t throw any rocks at those guys, but the damage this brings to their families, churches, and Christ’s name in Orlando is significant. Let all Christians (and pastors especially) watch out for the enemy, who prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
  • These three things are beautiful, and as rare as unicorns: an honest, quality, good-value mechanic; a happy and efficient DMV worker, and politicians taking responsibility for mistakes and giving credit to others.
  • I saw the Great Gatsby. Compared to the book, I thought they made it more of a love story than commentary on greed and excess. However, it’s superbly acted and beautifully filmed. It’ll probably be nominated for three or four artsy Oscars. It’s one you’ll want to see on the big screen.
  • It’s surprising how much some non-Calvinists hate Calvinism. Some of the blogs this week were unbelievable.
  • I’ve never tried guacamole. As a native Californian, this is blasphemy…but a blasphemy I plan to continue.
  • I never tried salsa until I was 30 years old.
  • Congratulations to Bill Gates for once again becoming the world’s richest man. At least he gives a lot of it away–90%.
  • Other than the obvious problems, the IRS’s biggest problem in their current malaise is that most people hate them. They have few friends, and the masses are cheering for their defeat. Thus, it’s good for politicians on both sides of the aisle to appear upset and push for serious carnage here. They perform a necessary function in our society, but in the eyes of the masses they have gone from being those who protect against fraud to the fraudulent abusers of power. Whether that’s fair or not will be born out as we see what actually happened. If they were forced to do it by the White House, trust may be partially restored.
  • Going back to my post on accountability this week–let’s apply it to the current White House scandals. In each case, the Justice Department is being asked to investigate the issue. Hah!
  • Remember when the Justice Department was asked to investigate the Justice Department’s Fast and Furious scandal?
  • In each case, there will be an underling sacrificed. In Washington, it’s never the fault of those on top. Good leaders accept responsibility for the actions of those under their management.
  • I’m sorry to rant on the subject…but it’s one of the most stark examples of failed leadership I’ve seen in my lifetime. This isn’t to say the President hasn’t had some shining moments as well. I’m saying this is clearly not one of them–and you can often see a leader’s true leadership qualities when they’ve failed.
  • It feels like the NBA playoffs started a year ago. They really should make the format a little more concise.
  • There is a fitness-Nazi trend among pastors these days. I think this is pleasant reversal from the days of pear-shaped pastors–and I’m jumping in.
  • However, I hope we don’t get vain or judgmental about it.
  • The only book I prefer in paper form is the Bible. I can’t do devotional reading of the Bible on my phone or screen. It just feels too weird. Give me a good leather Bible.
  • According to the ECPA, the best-selling Bible translation in May is still the NIV–though some of this might be the scooping up of NIV ’84 bibles (now out of print) in response to the 2011 update. The New Living translation comes in at number two. They are followed by the KJV, NKJV, and ESV.
  • A study released this week says those who tithe have healthier personal finances than those who don’t. It reminds me of the old Dave Ramsey quote: “If you can’t live on 90% of your income, you can’t live on 100% either.”
  • It’s a shame what’s happened to Detroit. I think it’s a great city–and I hope it can get back on the right track.
  • Suddenly, California is running a surplus. How about that?

What’s on your mind this Friday?

In Books, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Strategy, Current Affairs, Family Life, Film, Generosity, Leadership, New Vintage Church, Preaching , , , , , , , ,
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Change

Your Problem is Not the Problem

May 9, 2013 — 3 Comments

Right now, you may think you’ve got a huge church problem. You probably do…but it may not be the problem you think you have. We humans are notorious for thinking, “If they would only…” or “If I could stop…” Sometimes, what we fill in that blank with is the problem. Often it isn’t.

In the church world, the problem is invariably leadership. Is your church stagnant or in constant tumult? It’s a leadership problem. Does the church need to change? That’s a leadership problem. Most, if not all church problems are leadership problems, which is why we ought to focus on the change of heart, mind, or system of leadership rather than the specific change itself. For, until that change happens, tinkering with what is may lead to worse conclusions than the status quo.

If you find yourself saying, “we’ve tried for years and they won’t change,” realize you probably can’t do anything about it. So, ask yourself if you can settle for what is, whether you need to change personally, or whether you need to graciously go somewhere else. That last one is a last resort–for when the environment is truly spiritually toxic or leadership is sinning and will not repent–that sort of thing.

HOW WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM

Sometimes, we contribute to the leadership problem from the pew or the preacher’s office by assuming only they can change, and our job is to tolerate whatever they do or decide. This isn’t true. In fact, we often help sustain an unhealthy system through quiet subservience. So, sometimes, our problem is us.

Some would call it being like Jesus to quietly endure dysfunctional leadership in silence. In fact, I heard someone I greatly respect teach this last week.

The problem is, that’s barely Jesus at all.

Nothing about it resembles Jesus’ intolerance of vain religiosity or abuses of power. When one reviews Jesus’ encounters with the religious leaders of His day, it’s hard to make the case for silent tolerance of sin or hypocrisy in church leaders. So, why do His followers put up with it? Because we are taught that’s what it means to be like Christ. Sometimes, it’s good old-fashioned fear. Or, we’re taught that we’re outranked and have no right to speak up.

Hogwash.

Being like Christ means being for truth, for justice, for mercy, for what’s courageous–and doing so for the sake of others without pride or malice. Remember you don’t have all the answers, and be willing to admit when you’re wrong. Don’t expect everything to go your way, and be steadfast in loving the church. Communicate in biblical ways that are seasoned with the fruit of God’s Spirit.

But, don’t be the problem. Don’t be the leadership problem in your church, or sustain such a sickness in the Body.

In Christianity, Church Strategy, Leadership, Religion, Spiritual Formation, Theology , , , , , ,
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Time Management for Pastors

Planning for “Whatever”

April 17, 2013 — 4 Comments

Leveraging one’s schedule is vital to effective ministry, and there’s one tool that’s helped me a lot: blocking out certain times for “whatever.” It’s not an elegant name for it, but it accurately describes what can be done during those times. Whatever. This way of scheduling my day changed my attitude toward “interruptions” in my hardened schedule that had little margin. Here’s how I do it:

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In Christianity, Church Strategy, Leadership, Personal, Productivity , , , , , ,
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Teamwork

Hire People You Like

April 10, 2013 — 6 Comments

It isn’t enough to simply do what you’ve been asked to do. That’s a given. Ministry staff teams must be cohesive units that execute ministry’s calling. I’ve observed that some churches emphasize “getting the job done” without looking at how to get the job done in a way that reinforces other church objectives…like cultivating team chemistry or building godly character. There’s no reason “getting the job done” has to be the only thing that happens when staff works on something–ever. The job will get done better and more consistently if those on a staff team like each other.

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In Christianity, Church Growth, Church Staffing, Church Strategy, Leadership, Leadership Vault, New Vintage Church, Productivity , , , , , ,
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Hands in Prayer

Heightening our Awareness of God

April 8, 2013 — 5 Comments

Heightening our awareness of God’s constant presence may do more for your life and ministry than anything else we can do. The supposed urgency of religious tasks can deceive us into thinking religious tasks are “God’s work,” and thus God is near to us as we do them. That can surely be the case, but it isn’t always. God’s work and God are not the same. Ministry and God aren’t the same, even though it’s service to God. Service to God without an awareness of God’s presence leads to mechanical ministry and often ministry malpractice. After all, it is God’s Spirit that provides our passion and integrity.

How do we heighten our awareness of God’s presence? There are other ways, but none better than prayer.

I’ll confess I’ve always found it easier to read the Word or worship God in praise or service than to pray. It’s not that I never pray, or that Word and worship aren’t prayerful in their own ways. It’s just that devoting concentrated time to “conventional” prayer has never felt like it fit me well. My mind would wander if I prayed for more than just a few minutes…particularly if I wasn’t praying for someone else.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that praying more briefly but more regularly works well for me. However, until quite recently my prayer life had no real structure to it. As a result, the awareness of God’s presence prayer ebbed and flowed as I went about the daily tasks of ministry. I soon came to find I was not alone among either my fellow ministers or the congregation. So, I decided to work on it, and I hope you will too.

We kicked off a message series on prayer at New Vintage Church yesterday, and one suggestion I made for heightening our church’s awareness of God throughout the week is resurrecting the practice of “praying the hours.” The Apostles observed the
Jewish custom of praying at the third, sixth and ninth hour and at midnight (Acts 10:3, 9; 16:25; etc.). For us, that’s 9am, 12pm, and 3pm. It’s an echo of Daniel, who was known by others for his custom of going to his upper chamber and praying three times a day (Dan. 6:10). It’s nothing to be legalistic about, it’s just adding a spiritual practice with a rich legacy to give some structure our prayer efforts. I hope you’ll consider joining us this week.

Why do something like this? There are many reasons, but perhaps the greatest of these is that it heightens our awareness of God’s presence. It’s one of God’s greatest gifts–to know He’s there and to walk by His Spirit. Prayer cultivates this, especially in our fragmented, frenetic culture. It’s not just good medicine for ministers. It’s good for all of us following Jesus.

 

In Christianity, Church Growth, Leadership, New Vintage Church, Personal, Preaching, Spiritual Formation, Theology , , , ,
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