We had a little adventure the other week where two (or three) stories collided:
Story 1: We live in a neighborhood with 100's of homes, and have been trying to be a little more assertive meeting and getting to know our neighbors. It's hard because most of the time we are home, we are exhausted and interested in quiet, uninterrupted family time. None-the-less, we believe that we should have an impact in our neighborhood and that we should tangibly "love" our neighbors. There's a particular house on the next street over that I have taken note of for years. Perhaps it's strange, but I know who the woman is who lives there - I've seen her family members (people I know) coming and going and have put two and two together. I've also observed her as I've driven by the past several years - her bumper stickers, her aesthetic tastes - and thought, "she seems like a phenomenally interesting person, and I should totally stop and introduce myself to her". But I've kept walking, or running, or driving by, and I still had not met her. One recent Tuesday, I was out to lunch with some co-workers and there she was - at least I was 95% sure it was her. We made eye contact, and I did the "do you recognize me?" eye-brow lift. She clearly did not, so I didn't risk embarrassing myself making an introduction in case it wasn't her.
Story 2: That same Tuesday, after a long day at work and a short dinner break at home, I was preparing for a wedding-planning meeting with a couple who I had been counseling. They were scheduled to arrive at our home in about 10 minutes. As I relaxed upstairs for a few minutes, casually perusing the daily Facebook fodder, I noticed it was National Dog Day or something similarly ridiculous. I thought, I'll join the mayhem and posted a lovely post about my pup, Prada. I stated that she was a wonderful dog, hardly causing any trouble for anyone as she spends a good 22 hours a day sleeping! In a hilarious twist of irony, at the same moment my post was arriving on the world wide web, my dog was running out our front door, as the couple arrived. We live in a "must have leash" homeowners association, so our dog doesn't know what to do if she's not on a leash...and she split! No looking back! She just followed her nose and was off on her joy run!
We checked the houses she typically visits when she runs away, but saw no signs of her, so with great shame, I hopped in my car and started the awkward creeper drive around the 'hood to look for signs of her. Fast-forward. I was making my second loop and returning to my home, dogless and unsure of what to do. As I crested the hill, there she was, on a leash, held by none other than the neighbor I mentioned in Story 1. I couldn't believe it. I stopped my car and the further-awkwardness ensued.
First, I introduced myself and said, "this may sound terribly odd, but I think we ate lunch at the same restaurant today...and also, I know who you are...and also, I've been wanting to meet you for several years!" She laughed (thankfully) and I further explained my comments. After that brief exchange, she explained to me how my dog ended up on her leash. It turns out that she is a self-proclaimed cat lady. She takes care of making sure the lingering neighborhood felines are fixed and fed. Her elderly mother lives with her, and she had just explained to her mother that she was going to go let one of the cats in the house. As she opened the door, MY DOG ran in their house instead, still following her nose and heading straight for the dish of cat food, which she quickly inhaled. The mother said "well that's not a cat"!
We ended up connecting on Facebook after the entire incident, where my new acquaintance gave me her contact information and suggested that we meet at that restaurant for lunch sometime. I think I'll arrange that very soon!
As I re-tell the stories, I can't help but laugh. But I am also reminded of my need to be more pro-active in getting to know the people I come in contact with on a daily basis. If I say I believe Jesus is who he says he is (and I do), then I MUST - as a primary priority - care about every person around me. "Saving" them is not my responsibility. Loving them is. I need to be better about reaching out a friendly hand. Or maybe I just need to let my dog loose more often...
What about you: Who do you "pass by" every day? Do you need to stop and introduce yourself? Do you realize that any/every interaction you have with someone may be their only exposure to God - as He shines through you? How do you show that you prioritize the commands and example of Jesus to love your neighbor? Your brothers and sisters in Christ? Your enemies?
Monday, September 8, 2014
Sunday, August 31, 2014
What's that smell?
On Fridays and Saturdays, I head out to a old railway-bed-turned-running-trail to "run". It's my treat to run there on the shaded, flat, peaceful trail compared to dodging school buses and angry morning school traffic around our hilly neighborhood the rest of the week. Because I'm not much of a runner, but merely a "runner", I become quite the heavy breather at times. I'm always a little embarrassed when I pass someone I know on the trail because instead of smoothly saying hello it usually comes out like more of a cough or spit as I gasp for breath. Okay, I'm not that bad. But I do breath heavy enough through all orifices that take in air to notice many distinct smells.
Muggy days are especially interesting. In addition to the freshly cut tobacco in the field next to the trail, and the freshly paved parking lot at the adjacent sports facility, you can smell the baking "road apples" from the horses who walk the trail, as well as the cows chilling in the field along another section. There are distinct smells in distinct locations. The worst is a chicken barn after crossing the first roadway. That's the section where your drive is tested as each breath of putrid fowl-ness (get it?) seems to steal more oxygen.
One very strange thing I have noticed, however, is how pleasant most of the people I pass smell. Strange, right? I don't know if people perfume up before they run, or if they have some Old Spice body wash action going on, but you inevitably get that windy waft when you pass them by. And when you're huffing like me, you can't avoid a whiff. Today I wondered how awful the whiff I'm wafting must be...maybe that's why people shower before they run...common courtesy?
It got me thinking about the aroma that I'm wafting in a spiritual sense. The word aroma appears a lot in the Old Testament, typically connected to the system of sacrifices that produced an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Things change with the New Covenant as Christ fulfilled the Law and instead of the system of animal sacrifices, we instead become living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). Instead of burnt animals, vegetables, or grain, our lives should produce an aroma; an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord, and an aroma that captures the attentions of others breathing in the air around us (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
What are you wafting? What whiff are those around you getting? Is your life producing an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord? Are people blessed by the aroma your life is producing, or are they gasping for air and wishing they had taken a different route around you?
Muggy days are especially interesting. In addition to the freshly cut tobacco in the field next to the trail, and the freshly paved parking lot at the adjacent sports facility, you can smell the baking "road apples" from the horses who walk the trail, as well as the cows chilling in the field along another section. There are distinct smells in distinct locations. The worst is a chicken barn after crossing the first roadway. That's the section where your drive is tested as each breath of putrid fowl-ness (get it?) seems to steal more oxygen.
One very strange thing I have noticed, however, is how pleasant most of the people I pass smell. Strange, right? I don't know if people perfume up before they run, or if they have some Old Spice body wash action going on, but you inevitably get that windy waft when you pass them by. And when you're huffing like me, you can't avoid a whiff. Today I wondered how awful the whiff I'm wafting must be...maybe that's why people shower before they run...common courtesy?
It got me thinking about the aroma that I'm wafting in a spiritual sense. The word aroma appears a lot in the Old Testament, typically connected to the system of sacrifices that produced an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Things change with the New Covenant as Christ fulfilled the Law and instead of the system of animal sacrifices, we instead become living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). Instead of burnt animals, vegetables, or grain, our lives should produce an aroma; an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord, and an aroma that captures the attentions of others breathing in the air around us (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
What are you wafting? What whiff are those around you getting? Is your life producing an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord? Are people blessed by the aroma your life is producing, or are they gasping for air and wishing they had taken a different route around you?
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Get it RIGHT!
Tomorrow, the mechanical tech will visit for the third time - maybe THIS time he'll get it right and fix our air conditioning. I still haven't figured out why I'm responsible to pay for something that he has yet to actually fix.
As I wait for the cool evening air to replace the stagnant, sticky air of the day, I can't help but recognize the first-worldness of my discomfort. How quickly I can complain about a lost luxury, forgetting that it's just that. A luxury.
I know people personally - I have friends who aren't confident they will be able to feed their children tomorrow; who are praying that they won't get sick because they have no access to healthcare; who will spend a massive amount of energy to retrieve a tiny bit of fresh water miles from home today. But I'm feeling 'hot'! Poor me!
I don't know why God chose my birth place, but I know that there is a great responsibility that comes with the bounty of these circumstances. It's not my place to determine anyone else's convictions, but I'm trying to live more simply, to be more aware of the plight of the poor and destitute in my community and in the world, and to give and serve in ways that help them. I guess I'm saying that I'm thankful for the occasional discomfort.
What about you? What's your latest complaint? A lost luxury? Or something a little more "relevant"? How's your gratitude? What are you doing with your bounty? Should you give up something today to help someone else?
Philippians 2:14 - "Don't grumble...ever" (DK version)
As I wait for the cool evening air to replace the stagnant, sticky air of the day, I can't help but recognize the first-worldness of my discomfort. How quickly I can complain about a lost luxury, forgetting that it's just that. A luxury.
I know people personally - I have friends who aren't confident they will be able to feed their children tomorrow; who are praying that they won't get sick because they have no access to healthcare; who will spend a massive amount of energy to retrieve a tiny bit of fresh water miles from home today. But I'm feeling 'hot'! Poor me!
I don't know why God chose my birth place, but I know that there is a great responsibility that comes with the bounty of these circumstances. It's not my place to determine anyone else's convictions, but I'm trying to live more simply, to be more aware of the plight of the poor and destitute in my community and in the world, and to give and serve in ways that help them. I guess I'm saying that I'm thankful for the occasional discomfort.
What about you? What's your latest complaint? A lost luxury? Or something a little more "relevant"? How's your gratitude? What are you doing with your bounty? Should you give up something today to help someone else?
Philippians 2:14 - "Don't grumble...ever" (DK version)
Friday, September 7, 2012
What You Need, When You Need It
I had two random, but similar experiences the other day.
I had a particularly busy and stressful morning and early afternoon. Upon returning to my office from a meeting, I decided that a cup of coffee would really help me stay motivated for the many hours of work that were still in front of me. Typically, this requires a walk to the office kitchen, and about 10 minutes to prepare and brew a pot. To my great surprise, as I walked into the kitchen, there were two giant carafes filled with piping hot coffee from an event earlier in the day! I thought, "this is great, the coffee is already made"! And then it dawned on me, that I would have to walk ALL THE WAY back to my office to grab my mug (pathetically, it's only about a 30 yard trip...but I was REALLY tired...or something). But as I turned around I saw one of my mugs in the drying rack right next to the kitchen sink! This is highly unusual, as I typically do not leave my mugs in the kitchen. I still don't remember when or why I left it there, but I was thankful I did. So, in a matter of seconds, I had a great cup of coffee.
Later that same evening, I was feeling the need for some more liquid encouragement. (This particular day was a 14-hour work day). I took my exact change ($1.25) to the vending machine - another 30-yard trip from my office. I carefully put my dollar in the machine and looked at the selection before me, trying to decide which beverage would be my victim. But as I looked, I realized that the price had been changed. Drinks were now $1.35!!! Again, in great frustration, I tried to decide if it was even worth the trip back to my office for the additional dime, or if I should just give up on the drink. I pushed the "return" button to get my dollar back out of the machine. It spit out four quarters, and as I reached into the slot to pull them out, I found in addition to those four quarters, a dime! Perhaps it's bad theology, but I think God wanted me to have that soda!
I probably would have thought nothing of these two random occurrences, except that they happened in the same day, only a few hours apart. It got me thinking about God's promises to provide for our needs, all the time. Sometimes it seems impossible that He will provide. Sometimes He keeps us waiting until the last minute. Sometimes He provides differently than we had expected. But He ALWAYS provides what we need. The money for that bill. That vehicle that keeps on running though every mechanic says it shouldn't. A child, through different means than you planned. The right word from the right person. The perfectly timed card or verse of Scripture. There's no doubt: His love for us is clearly demonstrated in His provision of every need.
As a Matter of Chat:
How has God provided for you? Why do you suppose we so easily run from the opportunity to express faith in His timing and provision? Why do we try to insure and ensure so much - and eliminate our need to trust God to provide, when He has promised to do so - and made good on His promise? Why are we so impatient? How have you shown gratitude to God for providing for you - even for the small things?
I had a particularly busy and stressful morning and early afternoon. Upon returning to my office from a meeting, I decided that a cup of coffee would really help me stay motivated for the many hours of work that were still in front of me. Typically, this requires a walk to the office kitchen, and about 10 minutes to prepare and brew a pot. To my great surprise, as I walked into the kitchen, there were two giant carafes filled with piping hot coffee from an event earlier in the day! I thought, "this is great, the coffee is already made"! And then it dawned on me, that I would have to walk ALL THE WAY back to my office to grab my mug (pathetically, it's only about a 30 yard trip...but I was REALLY tired...or something). But as I turned around I saw one of my mugs in the drying rack right next to the kitchen sink! This is highly unusual, as I typically do not leave my mugs in the kitchen. I still don't remember when or why I left it there, but I was thankful I did. So, in a matter of seconds, I had a great cup of coffee.
Later that same evening, I was feeling the need for some more liquid encouragement. (This particular day was a 14-hour work day). I took my exact change ($1.25) to the vending machine - another 30-yard trip from my office. I carefully put my dollar in the machine and looked at the selection before me, trying to decide which beverage would be my victim. But as I looked, I realized that the price had been changed. Drinks were now $1.35!!! Again, in great frustration, I tried to decide if it was even worth the trip back to my office for the additional dime, or if I should just give up on the drink. I pushed the "return" button to get my dollar back out of the machine. It spit out four quarters, and as I reached into the slot to pull them out, I found in addition to those four quarters, a dime! Perhaps it's bad theology, but I think God wanted me to have that soda!
I probably would have thought nothing of these two random occurrences, except that they happened in the same day, only a few hours apart. It got me thinking about God's promises to provide for our needs, all the time. Sometimes it seems impossible that He will provide. Sometimes He keeps us waiting until the last minute. Sometimes He provides differently than we had expected. But He ALWAYS provides what we need. The money for that bill. That vehicle that keeps on running though every mechanic says it shouldn't. A child, through different means than you planned. The right word from the right person. The perfectly timed card or verse of Scripture. There's no doubt: His love for us is clearly demonstrated in His provision of every need.
Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
As a Matter of Chat:
How has God provided for you? Why do you suppose we so easily run from the opportunity to express faith in His timing and provision? Why do we try to insure and ensure so much - and eliminate our need to trust God to provide, when He has promised to do so - and made good on His promise? Why are we so impatient? How have you shown gratitude to God for providing for you - even for the small things?
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Enemy's Brilliant Plan
Someone recently told me of an "addiction" they have. They wanted help from me. As I've processed the situation a bit, I have wondered how this person knows it's an addiction. I did some reading recently that suggested that we often call things addictions prematurely. I'm not trained or experienced enough to know the proper definitions...but I have noticed something.
A lot of people I know (cough, cough, myself included, cough, cough) have a tendency to focus more on the specific sin issues that we struggle with, than on getting to know the One who has provided victory over sin for those who place their faith in Him. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't pursue holiness and address the temptations and failures in our lives. However, we have to be careful that we don't spend so much time focusing on these "particular" sin issues that they become an idol. The battle against these weak points needs to be accompanied by a holistic approach to sanctification and holiness.
Here are a few ways I've seen this play out.
Accountability - If people who are holding me accountable are always asking me about whether I "did" or "didn't do" something, rather than asking me about the real state of my relationship with God, my life becomes about religious duty. Sure, some of the do's and dont's are good indicators, but the push has got to be for me to fix my eyes on Jesus - not just to do or not do. I can read my Bible, "not" sin in my particular areas of weakness, and pray, and still have a non-existent relationship with God.
Focus - I've also noticed how quickly we can focus on one particular sin issue in our lives to the point that we let our guard down in other areas. The person to whom I referred earlier - if this person is stuck focusing ONLY on his/her particular sin issue, they leave themselves vulnerable for attack in other areas. This is why I'm concerned about a premature title of "addiction". I've experienced the same in my own life - where you get to the end of a day and are praising God that you succeeded in one particular area that is a constant struggle, but suddenly realize that in your amazing, super-human, almost Godlike focus on succeeding in your fight against it, you have fallen short in many others.
If my attempts to become free from sin that enslaves are not properly focused, I can become a slave to a false gospel - one that depends on me, rather than the one who has already given me victory in His name!
I need to continue to fix my eyes on Jesus. Thankfully, God's grace is sufficient!
As a matter of chat...
Can you relate to this at all? Have you ever experienced it? Why is it so easy for us to lose focus? Are there areas where a "seemingly good" focus has actually distracted you from what really matters to God? Is it fair to say that we can be "too focused" on defeating a sin area in our life?
A lot of people I know (cough, cough, myself included, cough, cough) have a tendency to focus more on the specific sin issues that we struggle with, than on getting to know the One who has provided victory over sin for those who place their faith in Him. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't pursue holiness and address the temptations and failures in our lives. However, we have to be careful that we don't spend so much time focusing on these "particular" sin issues that they become an idol. The battle against these weak points needs to be accompanied by a holistic approach to sanctification and holiness.
Here are a few ways I've seen this play out.
Accountability - If people who are holding me accountable are always asking me about whether I "did" or "didn't do" something, rather than asking me about the real state of my relationship with God, my life becomes about religious duty. Sure, some of the do's and dont's are good indicators, but the push has got to be for me to fix my eyes on Jesus - not just to do or not do. I can read my Bible, "not" sin in my particular areas of weakness, and pray, and still have a non-existent relationship with God.
Focus - I've also noticed how quickly we can focus on one particular sin issue in our lives to the point that we let our guard down in other areas. The person to whom I referred earlier - if this person is stuck focusing ONLY on his/her particular sin issue, they leave themselves vulnerable for attack in other areas. This is why I'm concerned about a premature title of "addiction". I've experienced the same in my own life - where you get to the end of a day and are praising God that you succeeded in one particular area that is a constant struggle, but suddenly realize that in your amazing, super-human, almost Godlike focus on succeeding in your fight against it, you have fallen short in many others.
If my attempts to become free from sin that enslaves are not properly focused, I can become a slave to a false gospel - one that depends on me, rather than the one who has already given me victory in His name!
I need to continue to fix my eyes on Jesus. Thankfully, God's grace is sufficient!
As a matter of chat...
Can you relate to this at all? Have you ever experienced it? Why is it so easy for us to lose focus? Are there areas where a "seemingly good" focus has actually distracted you from what really matters to God? Is it fair to say that we can be "too focused" on defeating a sin area in our life?
Thursday, July 12, 2012
I "Pray" That...
"God, I pray that..."
What does that mean?
For me, that phrase actually represents a lack of faith. In Jesus' example of prayer it was pretty clear what He was praying for. For example:
- Holy is your name..
- Your kingdom come...
- Give us...
- Forgive us...as we forgive
- Lead us not...but deliver us
Do you see what I mean? There is not wishy-washy language. He's talking to his Father, telling Him things directly, and asking Him things pretty bluntly.
Maybe it's like this:
"God, 'I pray that' you would help me not to sin."
VS.
"God, forbid me from sinning."
I can't judge anyone's heart or prayers, but the first one (something similar to what I often pray) could be translated "God, I'm probably going to screw up big time today, and to be honest, it's not that big a deal to me. Maybe you could help me out by making life a little easier - or by making this whole "Christian" walk a little more attractive and a little less difficult".
If I'm at a place where I'm praying the second one, I'm likely at a place where I'm saying: "God, I recognize who you are, and I recognize who I am in light of your saving grace. Do whatever it takes to keep me on the paths of righteousness that you've called me to. I'm committed to obeying you no matter what the cost. Help me."
Maybe my prayers need to be a little more direct - need a little more conviction. Maybe, I need to record my prayers and listen to the other bad habits I've fallen into.
What does "bless this food to my body" mean anyway? Probably not worth praying over a Whopper and fries...
As a matter of chat...
Are you missing out on God's blessing because you're not really asking for much, in faith? Do you pray with conviction? Is your mindset one of actually communicating with God? Or are you simply going through the motions of a cliche, "good work" because it's what you've always done? How would your prayers be different if you eliminated the phrase "I pray that..."?
What does that mean?
For me, that phrase actually represents a lack of faith. In Jesus' example of prayer it was pretty clear what He was praying for. For example:
- Holy is your name..
- Your kingdom come...
- Give us...
- Forgive us...as we forgive
- Lead us not...but deliver us
Do you see what I mean? There is not wishy-washy language. He's talking to his Father, telling Him things directly, and asking Him things pretty bluntly.
Maybe it's like this:
"God, 'I pray that' you would help me not to sin."
VS.
"God, forbid me from sinning."
I can't judge anyone's heart or prayers, but the first one (something similar to what I often pray) could be translated "God, I'm probably going to screw up big time today, and to be honest, it's not that big a deal to me. Maybe you could help me out by making life a little easier - or by making this whole "Christian" walk a little more attractive and a little less difficult".
If I'm at a place where I'm praying the second one, I'm likely at a place where I'm saying: "God, I recognize who you are, and I recognize who I am in light of your saving grace. Do whatever it takes to keep me on the paths of righteousness that you've called me to. I'm committed to obeying you no matter what the cost. Help me."
Maybe my prayers need to be a little more direct - need a little more conviction. Maybe, I need to record my prayers and listen to the other bad habits I've fallen into.
What does "bless this food to my body" mean anyway? Probably not worth praying over a Whopper and fries...
As a matter of chat...
Are you missing out on God's blessing because you're not really asking for much, in faith? Do you pray with conviction? Is your mindset one of actually communicating with God? Or are you simply going through the motions of a cliche, "good work" because it's what you've always done? How would your prayers be different if you eliminated the phrase "I pray that..."?
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Engaged in Church. Engaged in Life.
There's a great church right up the street from our home. On our way home the other night, it was clear that there was some sort of event going on. As we turned the corner, we saw a guy that we graduated from high school with. He was walking around the flower beds, pulling weeds. He wasn't dressed in work clothes...I assume he was at the event, and just pulling a few weeds on his way to leave.
I was blown away - partly because my impression of this guy in high school was that he was definitely not a church-goer. But moreso, because people who are that engaged in church - that engaged in life - that they simply see needs and meet them without prompting, programs, or payment are so inspiring.
This Sunday, as I arrived at my own church, I was frustrated by the mulch that the birds had scattered all over the sidewalks...I notice it every Sunday and think "someone should clean that up!" But I KNOW where a broom is stored. I KNOW how to sweep sidewalks. I had every resource needed to get the job done, including time...so I just did it.
As a matter of chat...
Are you truly engaged in life? Are you responding to the opportunities that arise each day? Are you a spectator at church? Or are you engaged? Do you call it YOUR church? What kind of investment and engagement are you practicing?
There's a great church right up the street from our home. On our way home the other night, it was clear that there was some sort of event going on. As we turned the corner, we saw a guy that we graduated from high school with. He was walking around the flower beds, pulling weeds. He wasn't dressed in work clothes...I assume he was at the event, and just pulling a few weeds on his way to leave.
I was blown away - partly because my impression of this guy in high school was that he was definitely not a church-goer. But moreso, because people who are that engaged in church - that engaged in life - that they simply see needs and meet them without prompting, programs, or payment are so inspiring.
This Sunday, as I arrived at my own church, I was frustrated by the mulch that the birds had scattered all over the sidewalks...I notice it every Sunday and think "someone should clean that up!" But I KNOW where a broom is stored. I KNOW how to sweep sidewalks. I had every resource needed to get the job done, including time...so I just did it.
As a matter of chat...
Are you truly engaged in life? Are you responding to the opportunities that arise each day? Are you a spectator at church? Or are you engaged? Do you call it YOUR church? What kind of investment and engagement are you practicing?
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A Lesson from the Dentist Chair
I always go to the dentist in the morning to try and avoid disrupting my work day. The staff at my particular dentist's office are wonderful. Too wonderful! They are always SO HAPPY to see me. I just play along (as difficult as it is for me pre-coffee). It's like we're old friends. Today, my hygienist was especially friendly. She was asking all about my wife, my parents, current events, etc. On multiple occasions I thought, "Did I miss something? Are we better friends than I thought?" But I just rolled with it - because I really appreciated her genuine care for more than just my teeth.
Even when I approach the receptionist's desk to schedule my next appointment and remind them to bill my insurance - not me - I hear stories about how much they loved seeing me as a child come into their family-owned restaurant. Oh, indeed, my sister used to go back in the kitchen and sample all the pies. Yep, I remember that! (Nope, I sure don't). Smile. Nod. Give an overly friendly goodbye! I mean, it's just so much fun going to the dentist! These people make you feel like a million bucks!!!
And yet, as I lay in the dentist chair this morning, I couldn't stop thinking about how much I HATE laying in that dentist chair. Besides the fact that it was built for someone who is NOT 6 foot 3, the fact that they always ask you questions while their tools and fingers are in your mouth, and that bright light is shining in your face, there's just a natural dislike for the experience. For me it's fear of being told "we need you to come back for another appointment to fix that little spot. It's no big deal - we won't have to numb you or anything - it's just precautionary to avoid any problems later"! YEAH RIGHT!!! Give me the Novocaine!
The fear of such consequence leads me to be more disciplined in my life. See, another thing I hate is flossing. And there are many nights I want to just go crash into bed...without brushing my teeth and without a thought of flossing. But my dread of the consequences inspires me to take care of my teeth appropriately!
As a matter of chat...
Do you take care of your teeth? Why? What's your motivation? Avoidance of consequences? What motivates your actions in general? Fear of consequences? Routines or habits? The expectations of others?
Even when I approach the receptionist's desk to schedule my next appointment and remind them to bill my insurance - not me - I hear stories about how much they loved seeing me as a child come into their family-owned restaurant. Oh, indeed, my sister used to go back in the kitchen and sample all the pies. Yep, I remember that! (Nope, I sure don't). Smile. Nod. Give an overly friendly goodbye! I mean, it's just so much fun going to the dentist! These people make you feel like a million bucks!!!
And yet, as I lay in the dentist chair this morning, I couldn't stop thinking about how much I HATE laying in that dentist chair. Besides the fact that it was built for someone who is NOT 6 foot 3, the fact that they always ask you questions while their tools and fingers are in your mouth, and that bright light is shining in your face, there's just a natural dislike for the experience. For me it's fear of being told "we need you to come back for another appointment to fix that little spot. It's no big deal - we won't have to numb you or anything - it's just precautionary to avoid any problems later"! YEAH RIGHT!!! Give me the Novocaine!
The fear of such consequence leads me to be more disciplined in my life. See, another thing I hate is flossing. And there are many nights I want to just go crash into bed...without brushing my teeth and without a thought of flossing. But my dread of the consequences inspires me to take care of my teeth appropriately!
As a matter of chat...
Do you take care of your teeth? Why? What's your motivation? Avoidance of consequences? What motivates your actions in general? Fear of consequences? Routines or habits? The expectations of others?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Death
There were two significant deaths in my life recently.
First, one of my former students was murdered a couple weeks ago. She was 21 years old, and inside of her, a child or 7 months. I have never known anyone who was murdered.
Then, last week, we received word that the African orphan boy who my parents had been financially and prayerfully supporting died after a 13 year battle with HIV AIDS. I had the opportunity to meet him in person twice over the past few years, so it was quite personal. Here is a video about Fiacre.
In both cases, lives were cut significantly short by circumstances beyond their control. It’s impossible to experience such tragedies without the conjuring of overwhelming emotions and a wide range of thoughts.
Life is short. That’s what I keep coming back to. It’s easy for me to assume that my life will last 75.6 years, the current U.S. male life expectancy. But it’s also very possible that it could be cut short. We just don’t know. This fact should impact the way I live my life.
The other thing I keep coming back to, is that earth, and this slightly overweight body, are a temporary home. Each of these precious lives is now experiencing life fuller than I can even imagine in an eternal home. My eternal home.
"In Christ, there are no goodbyes". So I'll see these friends again...when I finally go home.
As a matter of chat…
Do you think you're invincible? That your life can't end tomorrow? Are you living like it? Or are you living each day with purpose? What's after this life for you? How sure are you?
First, one of my former students was murdered a couple weeks ago. She was 21 years old, and inside of her, a child or 7 months. I have never known anyone who was murdered.
Then, last week, we received word that the African orphan boy who my parents had been financially and prayerfully supporting died after a 13 year battle with HIV AIDS. I had the opportunity to meet him in person twice over the past few years, so it was quite personal. Here is a video about Fiacre.
In both cases, lives were cut significantly short by circumstances beyond their control. It’s impossible to experience such tragedies without the conjuring of overwhelming emotions and a wide range of thoughts.
Life is short. That’s what I keep coming back to. It’s easy for me to assume that my life will last 75.6 years, the current U.S. male life expectancy. But it’s also very possible that it could be cut short. We just don’t know. This fact should impact the way I live my life.
The other thing I keep coming back to, is that earth, and this slightly overweight body, are a temporary home. Each of these precious lives is now experiencing life fuller than I can even imagine in an eternal home. My eternal home.
"In Christ, there are no goodbyes". So I'll see these friends again...when I finally go home.
As a matter of chat…
Do you think you're invincible? That your life can't end tomorrow? Are you living like it? Or are you living each day with purpose? What's after this life for you? How sure are you?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Motivation
My dog and I headed out to the woods for a long walk on an old railway trail this afternoon. It was really muggy and hot, so on my way back to the car I switched up my music, hoping for some audio motivation. I must have made a good choice. (And no, it wasn't Celine Dion). I suddenly found myself walking taller, walking faster, and feeling motivated to keep going.
I started thinking about what motivates me in life, in my spiritual journey, in my work...when things seem difficult. There are several things that motivate me:
- Focusing on things of which I am sure: keeping a record of God's clear whispers in the past few weeks/months.
- Picturing a preferred future - thinking about what "could be" and imagining the process of getting there. (Visioneering)
- Relationships – those few close friends who get the phone calls when I'm down or need a little extra encouragement.
As a matter of chat...
What keeps you going when times get tough? Do you tend to turn to unhealthy habits or negative activities to make you "feel better"? Or do you have healthy outlets to refocus you and keep you heading in the right direction? Do the people that encourage you aware of how important they are to you?
I started thinking about what motivates me in life, in my spiritual journey, in my work...when things seem difficult. There are several things that motivate me:
- Focusing on things of which I am sure: keeping a record of God's clear whispers in the past few weeks/months.
- Picturing a preferred future - thinking about what "could be" and imagining the process of getting there. (Visioneering)
- Relationships – those few close friends who get the phone calls when I'm down or need a little extra encouragement.
As a matter of chat...
What keeps you going when times get tough? Do you tend to turn to unhealthy habits or negative activities to make you "feel better"? Or do you have healthy outlets to refocus you and keep you heading in the right direction? Do the people that encourage you aware of how important they are to you?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Creator vs. Created
What do you worship? If someone were evaluating your life, what would they say is the object of your worship?
I'm afraid that people evaluating my life would say that I worship people. I love people. I prefer noise and company over quiet and alone-ness. I spend hours trying to "relate" to people, develop people, train people, disciple people. Sounds noble. But I need to be careful that these intentions have their proper place - that people, as important as they are, don't become the object of my worship.
I was reading in Romans the other day. Paul uses a phrase that caught my attention:
"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator"(1:25).
I don't think Paul is saying that created things are insignificant. In fact, Scripture is pretty clear that mankind is a prized creation – but a creation, none-the-less. However, our affections and admiration for the creatED ought to pale in comparison to those for the CreatOR.
As a matter of chat...
How do you know when you are worshiping someone/something? What/who would people say you worship? Are your priorities in line? Where is the line of "loving and serving people" and "worshiping" people? How can you increase your worship of the Creator today?
I'm afraid that people evaluating my life would say that I worship people. I love people. I prefer noise and company over quiet and alone-ness. I spend hours trying to "relate" to people, develop people, train people, disciple people. Sounds noble. But I need to be careful that these intentions have their proper place - that people, as important as they are, don't become the object of my worship.
I was reading in Romans the other day. Paul uses a phrase that caught my attention:
"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator"(1:25).
I don't think Paul is saying that created things are insignificant. In fact, Scripture is pretty clear that mankind is a prized creation – but a creation, none-the-less. However, our affections and admiration for the creatED ought to pale in comparison to those for the CreatOR.
As a matter of chat...
How do you know when you are worshiping someone/something? What/who would people say you worship? Are your priorities in line? Where is the line of "loving and serving people" and "worshiping" people? How can you increase your worship of the Creator today?
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Collections
This week, a friend of mine brought me a Pilsner glass from the HardRock Café in Gatlinburg, TN…because I collect them. I don’t know how, when or why I started the collection, but I love it! (I just hope that one day I have a great place to display it - currently they are in boxes in my basement). And I love that friends of mine know about it too, because they’ve helped me build a great collection. Here are the ones I have (I *’ed the ones that I’ve actually been to)…feel free to help me collect more!
USA
*Atlantic City
*Baltimore
Boston
*Chicago
*Cleveland
Gatlinburg
*Hollywood
*Indianapolis
*Las Vegas
*Los Angeles
Miami
Nashville
*New York City
*Orlando
*Philadelphia
*Pittsburgh
*San Antonio
*San Diego
*Washington D.C.
INTERNATIONAL
*Amsterdam, Netherlands
Barcelona, Spain
*Cairo, Egypt
*Cancun, Mexico
*Cologne, Germany
*Dublin, Ireland
*London, England
Madrid, Spain
Munich, Germany
Nassau, Bahamas
*Niagra Falls, Canada
*Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Ottawa, Canada
*Rome, Italy
*Paris, France
*Stockholm, Sweden
Sydney, Australia
Toronto, Canada
I was also outside the Moscow, Russia HardRock about a month before it opened…so I’m still bitter that I don’t have that glass.
The Ocho Rios, Jamaica location is just a souvenir shop, not an actual café. The time I was there, they were sold out of the glasses. Thankfully, my sister and bro-law were there a few years later and picked it up for me!
My wife and I took a taxi to the Cairo location – again, a shop, not a restaurant – oddly, it’s right across the street from the Sphinx! It was one of the scariest experiences of my life as we were unable to communicate with our driver. We also had a little boy in another vehicle point a gun at us. We are pretty sure it was fake…but not 100%!
As a matter of chat…
Do you have any collections? What is the most unique collection you’ve ever heard of?
USA
*Atlantic City
*Baltimore
Boston
*Chicago
*Cleveland
Gatlinburg
*Hollywood
*Indianapolis
*Las Vegas
*Los Angeles
Miami
Nashville
*New York City
*Orlando
*Philadelphia
*Pittsburgh
*San Antonio
*San Diego
*Washington D.C.
INTERNATIONAL
*Amsterdam, Netherlands
Barcelona, Spain
*Cairo, Egypt
*Cancun, Mexico
*Cologne, Germany
*Dublin, Ireland
*London, England
Madrid, Spain
Munich, Germany
Nassau, Bahamas
*Niagra Falls, Canada
*Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Ottawa, Canada
*Rome, Italy
*Paris, France
*Stockholm, Sweden
Sydney, Australia
Toronto, Canada
I was also outside the Moscow, Russia HardRock about a month before it opened…so I’m still bitter that I don’t have that glass.
The Ocho Rios, Jamaica location is just a souvenir shop, not an actual café. The time I was there, they were sold out of the glasses. Thankfully, my sister and bro-law were there a few years later and picked it up for me!
My wife and I took a taxi to the Cairo location – again, a shop, not a restaurant – oddly, it’s right across the street from the Sphinx! It was one of the scariest experiences of my life as we were unable to communicate with our driver. We also had a little boy in another vehicle point a gun at us. We are pretty sure it was fake…but not 100%!
As a matter of chat…
Do you have any collections? What is the most unique collection you’ve ever heard of?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Short-Term Missions: The Importance of Processing
It's really important to process your thoughts before, during, and after a short-term missions experience. I find that it's often in these thoughts that God teaches us.
To help with this, we gave each of our team-members a journal several months before the trip and challenged them to record some thoughts. Many of them have come back again and again to say "thanks" for encouraging them to do so.
I have several "lists" in my journal from the trip:
BEFORE THE TRIP:
"Goals" - this was a list that was created long before the trip, but also had things added along the way. Having these in front of me helped to keep me focused as a team leader and even helped in making decisions about our time while we were there.
"Prayer lists" - in the months before the trip, I made several different lists of things to be praying for. One list focused on team members. One list focused on our planned schedule. One list focused on all the people we'd have the opportunity to interact with while on our trip. And one list focused on different emotions and feelings we'd experience - praying that God would help us in each of those circumstances.
DURING THE TRIP:
"God-things" - this is several pages where I recorded events and conversations that were totally orchestrated by God. When I remember this trip, I want to see the fingerprints of God all over it.
Bible study reflections - these focused on answering questions based on the Bible studies we had asked each team member to do.
General journaling - these were tidbits of things I simply wanted to write about. I try to focus less on "what we did" and focus more on "what God is doing" and the feelings and emotions that I'm experiencing, as well as the stories I don't ever want to forget.
DEBRIEFING AND PREPARING TO GO HOME:
"So What?" - whenever I teach, I end with this question - challenging people to consider how they might apply what they have learned or experienced to their daily living. Each team member was encouraged to begin a list of "So what's" for the trip in three categories: 1. Immediately applicable; 2. Applicable in the next 1-6 months; 3. Applicable for the long-term.
"How was your trip?" - another portion of our debriefing focused a lot on this question - because this question gets asked about a million times within the first week of returning home. I challenged students, again, to make bullet points for answering this question in 3 ways: 1. 30 second answer; 2. 10-minute answer; 3. Long answer. Sharing about the trip and how God worked is vital. Every time you remember the details and re-live them, God has another opportunity to remind you of the lessons he wants you to learn. It is also important that the "senders" see how their investments have returned.
As a matter of chat...
Do you journal? Do you think there is value to recording your thoughts? Are there certain seasons where journaling is more important or relevant? How do you process situations? How do you bridge knowledge, learning or experiences to everyday life application?
To help with this, we gave each of our team-members a journal several months before the trip and challenged them to record some thoughts. Many of them have come back again and again to say "thanks" for encouraging them to do so.
I have several "lists" in my journal from the trip:
BEFORE THE TRIP:
"Goals" - this was a list that was created long before the trip, but also had things added along the way. Having these in front of me helped to keep me focused as a team leader and even helped in making decisions about our time while we were there.
"Prayer lists" - in the months before the trip, I made several different lists of things to be praying for. One list focused on team members. One list focused on our planned schedule. One list focused on all the people we'd have the opportunity to interact with while on our trip. And one list focused on different emotions and feelings we'd experience - praying that God would help us in each of those circumstances.
DURING THE TRIP:
"God-things" - this is several pages where I recorded events and conversations that were totally orchestrated by God. When I remember this trip, I want to see the fingerprints of God all over it.
Bible study reflections - these focused on answering questions based on the Bible studies we had asked each team member to do.
General journaling - these were tidbits of things I simply wanted to write about. I try to focus less on "what we did" and focus more on "what God is doing" and the feelings and emotions that I'm experiencing, as well as the stories I don't ever want to forget.
DEBRIEFING AND PREPARING TO GO HOME:
"So What?" - whenever I teach, I end with this question - challenging people to consider how they might apply what they have learned or experienced to their daily living. Each team member was encouraged to begin a list of "So what's" for the trip in three categories: 1. Immediately applicable; 2. Applicable in the next 1-6 months; 3. Applicable for the long-term.
"How was your trip?" - another portion of our debriefing focused a lot on this question - because this question gets asked about a million times within the first week of returning home. I challenged students, again, to make bullet points for answering this question in 3 ways: 1. 30 second answer; 2. 10-minute answer; 3. Long answer. Sharing about the trip and how God worked is vital. Every time you remember the details and re-live them, God has another opportunity to remind you of the lessons he wants you to learn. It is also important that the "senders" see how their investments have returned.
As a matter of chat...
Do you journal? Do you think there is value to recording your thoughts? Are there certain seasons where journaling is more important or relevant? How do you process situations? How do you bridge knowledge, learning or experiences to everyday life application?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Short-Term Missions: The Importance of Flexibility
A key to survival on a missions trip is flexibility. We were blessed to learn this lesson in several ways.
As we pulled out of the church parking lot to head to the airport, we realized that one of our vans had a flat tire. That's right, before we even began driving to the airport, we had a situation. Plans were adjusted from the first moments of our trip...to the very last moments of our trip. You see, when we arrived back in the U.S., our connecting flight to our final destination was cancelled. Of course, that didn't happen until after we had waited in the airport for several hours.
It's humorous now (I think), but both were great reminders...that God is in control of the schedule. Planning is important, but leaving room for God to move as He pleases is also important! Sometimes, He has surprises for us - He wants to move in ways we're not aware of.
As a matter of chat...
Is there room for God to move in your life? Do you have margin? Are you looking for where/how God is leading you on a regular basis, or are you to "busy"?
As we pulled out of the church parking lot to head to the airport, we realized that one of our vans had a flat tire. That's right, before we even began driving to the airport, we had a situation. Plans were adjusted from the first moments of our trip...to the very last moments of our trip. You see, when we arrived back in the U.S., our connecting flight to our final destination was cancelled. Of course, that didn't happen until after we had waited in the airport for several hours.
It's humorous now (I think), but both were great reminders...that God is in control of the schedule. Planning is important, but leaving room for God to move as He pleases is also important! Sometimes, He has surprises for us - He wants to move in ways we're not aware of.
As a matter of chat...
Is there room for God to move in your life? Do you have margin? Are you looking for where/how God is leading you on a regular basis, or are you to "busy"?
Short-Term Missions: The Importance of Teachability
I talk about this all the time…Leaders are learners! I think the greatest leaders are people who are constantly looking for ways to grow and improve. They find something to learn in any situation and are continuously stretching. PROACTIVE TEACHABILITY!
Teachability is especially important when going to do ministry in a foreign context. Those who are not planning to learn, grow or change can do a lot of damage. Things that are "normal" in your world may be offensive in another context. Assuming that everything about your worldview is "right" is a roadblock to effective ministry.
Cultural training, humility and acceptance of differences, and an open, teachable spirit are essentials to a great short-term missions trip. Paul talks about being "all things to all people". He seemed to know what he was talking about.
Practically speaking, we include plenty of time for "orientation" with our missionaries when we go on trips to make sure we are adapting to the new culture as best as possible.
As a matter of chat...
Are you teachable? Do you look for ways to learn and grow when you are in different cultures and surroundings? How might some of your "cultural norms" be offensive to others?
Teachability is especially important when going to do ministry in a foreign context. Those who are not planning to learn, grow or change can do a lot of damage. Things that are "normal" in your world may be offensive in another context. Assuming that everything about your worldview is "right" is a roadblock to effective ministry.
Cultural training, humility and acceptance of differences, and an open, teachable spirit are essentials to a great short-term missions trip. Paul talks about being "all things to all people". He seemed to know what he was talking about.
Practically speaking, we include plenty of time for "orientation" with our missionaries when we go on trips to make sure we are adapting to the new culture as best as possible.
As a matter of chat...
Are you teachable? Do you look for ways to learn and grow when you are in different cultures and surroundings? How might some of your "cultural norms" be offensive to others?
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Short-Term Missions: The Importance of Spiritual Preparations
Do you think it’s crazy to make a list of every single outfit you plan to wear on a trip? My students seemed to think I was nuts, but it ensured that I had the exact number of outfits necessary. No more. No less. (It also prevented me from having any “repeats” in photos of the trip...because trust me, people notice)!
Preparations for traveling internationally are significant. Fund-raising, sending thank-you notes, getting a passport, planning, packing, purchasing needed supplies, figuring out what electrical fixtures you need and how you’re going to spend money…it’s a lot of details. But if you’re not careful, these preparations can quickly distract you from spiritual preparations.
The enemy would love you to have a great tour of a new place, discovering great new shops and souvenirs, but never doing a thing to benefit the Gospel! Spiritual preparations help you to create focus before you go, and to maintain your focus while you are there.
As I mentioned previously, we required the team members to go through a series of devotionals before, during and after the trip. These devotionals focused on the cost of ministry, cultural lessons from Scripture, and a range of other relevant topics. We also had a daily prayer focus that linked the Bible study with our trip.
Making the “spiritual journey” a priority allows hearts and minds to be open for what God wants to do in and through us. That’s one of the greatest adventures of a trip like this – you do a lot of planning and preparing, but ultimately, you have no idea what God is going to do!
As a matter of chat…
Have you ever been in a situation so “new” that you were forced to be more open to God’s leading? How did it feel? What did you learn? Do you typically get distracted by life’s planning and preparations? How much of a priority is the spiritual journey in your life?
Preparations for traveling internationally are significant. Fund-raising, sending thank-you notes, getting a passport, planning, packing, purchasing needed supplies, figuring out what electrical fixtures you need and how you’re going to spend money…it’s a lot of details. But if you’re not careful, these preparations can quickly distract you from spiritual preparations.
The enemy would love you to have a great tour of a new place, discovering great new shops and souvenirs, but never doing a thing to benefit the Gospel! Spiritual preparations help you to create focus before you go, and to maintain your focus while you are there.
As I mentioned previously, we required the team members to go through a series of devotionals before, during and after the trip. These devotionals focused on the cost of ministry, cultural lessons from Scripture, and a range of other relevant topics. We also had a daily prayer focus that linked the Bible study with our trip.
Making the “spiritual journey” a priority allows hearts and minds to be open for what God wants to do in and through us. That’s one of the greatest adventures of a trip like this – you do a lot of planning and preparing, but ultimately, you have no idea what God is going to do!
As a matter of chat…
Have you ever been in a situation so “new” that you were forced to be more open to God’s leading? How did it feel? What did you learn? Do you typically get distracted by life’s planning and preparations? How much of a priority is the spiritual journey in your life?
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Short-Term Missions: The Importance of the team (the “sent”)
In my last post I talked about the larger “TEAM” (including the senders, the sent, and the receivers). I wanted to zoom in for a second on the “sent” – those who actually GO on the short-term missions trip. If you don’t get this part right, you can have a disaster on your hands. In fact, I can tell you after 9 or 10 short-term ministry experiences that team unity is one of the most difficult things to maintain.
Stress, fear, nerves, jet-lag, adrenaline, fatigue…all these things make humans think, say and do crazy things!
Selecting or creating a team, once again, comes down to the purpose of the trip. The team members must “fit” the purpose of the trip. (For example, I’m not the kind of guy who is going to get invited on a trip to fix cars or lay brick for a new building). In our case, the trip was only open to a small group of students who had been involved in a year-long leadership development program. The other aspect that is incredibly important in the entire process is prayer. God should make it clear to each team member and to the leader whether or not he/she is called to be a part of the trip.
There are some tools/activities we do to keep the team functioning well. One of those things is a team covenant (sample below). Every student and adult (including the leader) was required to sign this from the very start of the process. We reviewed it on several occasions and encouraged everyone to take it very seriously. It’s a good “foundational” piece for when conflicts arise – it gives you something to go back to.
We also met as a team several times before the trip to plan, explain expectations, and simply pray together and ask God to mold us together as a team.
Another significant team-builder is Bible studies. For a week before the trip until a few days after the trip (and during the entire trip) we required all team members to work through Bible studies that focused on issues related to cross-cultural ministry. The purpose of this was to align our thinking and to ask God to work in us through His Word and our interaction with Him. Each Bible study also gave us a daily prayer focus so that we were praying in similar ways.
Another important piece is to have “team-times” built into the ministry time. If you go through an entire trip without stopping along the way to breathe and debrief as a team, you will miss out on a lot. We would spend these times in worship, in prayer – reflecting and thanking God for His provisions thus far, to assess what we are learning so far, to process observations, to begin thinking about applications to our lives, etc. We also tried to make these times memorable and enjoyable by having them in a nice park in the city, or in a cozy coffee shop. Some days it might be most beneficial to require this time to be individual time alone with God. This often gets overlooked when we are busy “doing ministry”, yet it is so important that each individual serving out of the overflow of God’s work in his/her own heart. Ideally, these times happen daily (even if they’re not as long each day), but I would say it’s important to have a “significant” team time at least every-other day or every third day depending on the length of the trip.
As a matter of chat…
Do you work or serve as part of a “team”? Are you functioning well as a team? Do you think any of these suggested concepts are applicable to every-day life teams? How important is “unity” in the Church to God? (Read I Corinthians if you’re not sure). How is your church, group or team building and protecting unity?
Sample Team Covenant:
As a member of "X" team, I commit:
- To maintain a servant attitude
- To be respectful
- To be a teachable
- To not complain
- To resolve all team conflicts according to biblical principles
- To avoid exclusivity in relationships
- To prioritize personal quiet times with God
- To give our best in every situation
- To encourage each other
- To follow our leaders and hosts
I desire to be part of a team of people characterized by Christ-like behavior, exhibited through unconditional love, unselfish service and unified teamwork.
Signed/Dated: ____________-
Stress, fear, nerves, jet-lag, adrenaline, fatigue…all these things make humans think, say and do crazy things!
Selecting or creating a team, once again, comes down to the purpose of the trip. The team members must “fit” the purpose of the trip. (For example, I’m not the kind of guy who is going to get invited on a trip to fix cars or lay brick for a new building). In our case, the trip was only open to a small group of students who had been involved in a year-long leadership development program. The other aspect that is incredibly important in the entire process is prayer. God should make it clear to each team member and to the leader whether or not he/she is called to be a part of the trip.
There are some tools/activities we do to keep the team functioning well. One of those things is a team covenant (sample below). Every student and adult (including the leader) was required to sign this from the very start of the process. We reviewed it on several occasions and encouraged everyone to take it very seriously. It’s a good “foundational” piece for when conflicts arise – it gives you something to go back to.
We also met as a team several times before the trip to plan, explain expectations, and simply pray together and ask God to mold us together as a team.
Another significant team-builder is Bible studies. For a week before the trip until a few days after the trip (and during the entire trip) we required all team members to work through Bible studies that focused on issues related to cross-cultural ministry. The purpose of this was to align our thinking and to ask God to work in us through His Word and our interaction with Him. Each Bible study also gave us a daily prayer focus so that we were praying in similar ways.
Another important piece is to have “team-times” built into the ministry time. If you go through an entire trip without stopping along the way to breathe and debrief as a team, you will miss out on a lot. We would spend these times in worship, in prayer – reflecting and thanking God for His provisions thus far, to assess what we are learning so far, to process observations, to begin thinking about applications to our lives, etc. We also tried to make these times memorable and enjoyable by having them in a nice park in the city, or in a cozy coffee shop. Some days it might be most beneficial to require this time to be individual time alone with God. This often gets overlooked when we are busy “doing ministry”, yet it is so important that each individual serving out of the overflow of God’s work in his/her own heart. Ideally, these times happen daily (even if they’re not as long each day), but I would say it’s important to have a “significant” team time at least every-other day or every third day depending on the length of the trip.
As a matter of chat…
Do you work or serve as part of a “team”? Are you functioning well as a team? Do you think any of these suggested concepts are applicable to every-day life teams? How important is “unity” in the Church to God? (Read I Corinthians if you’re not sure). How is your church, group or team building and protecting unity?
Sample Team Covenant:
As a member of "X" team, I commit:
- To maintain a servant attitude
- To be respectful
- To be a teachable
- To not complain
- To resolve all team conflicts according to biblical principles
- To avoid exclusivity in relationships
- To prioritize personal quiet times with God
- To give our best in every situation
- To encourage each other
- To follow our leaders and hosts
I desire to be part of a team of people characterized by Christ-like behavior, exhibited through unconditional love, unselfish service and unified teamwork.
Signed/Dated: ____________-
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Short-Term Missions: The Importance of the TEAM
Many people think of a “team” as those who are actually going on a trip. But the real “TEAM” includes so many others.
The Senders:
This may be the most overlooked part of the TEAM. I believe that having a large base of “senders” is critical to an effective ministry. These are the people who buy-in to the vision of the trip and offer financial and prayer support.
Some people have a hard time asking for money, but we need to remember that God has given some people a passion (and the ability) to give. I can’t speak for everyone, but investing financially in these types of experiences for others is an enormous blessing to the giver! I don’t want to rob anyone of that opportunity, so I’m not afraid to ask.
The enemy is on the attack when teams head to dark places for the purpose of furthering the Gospel. One way to prepare for battle is through a hefty covering of prayer. Again, there are people who prayer warriors – I want as many of those people in my corner as possible, so I garner their support in any way possible.
The Sent:
Selection of those who actually go on the trip is important. This ultimately revolves around the purposes of the trip. For example, work trips may require people with certain skill sets or evangelism trips may require certain language skills. No matter what, it is important that each individual feels called to participate. (I will elaborate more on this group in another post).
The Receivers:
It is rare that you would go on a trip without coordinating through a host missionary or “national” (someone who lives/works in the host country). It is important that you have a good relationship with them, that you have clear communication, and that you are clear on each other’s vision/purpose for the trip.
In our case, the receiving missionaries had ministry projects that they needed a team to help them pull off. Our goal was to engage our students in stretching ministry experiences in a different culture.
All of these people, together, make up the TEAM. Each has an important role to play for a trip to be successful.
As a matter of chat…
Have you ever been a sender? How did God bless you through being on the TEAM in that way? How can the “sent” effectively communicate and update the “senders” so that they are involved in the entire process?
The Senders:
This may be the most overlooked part of the TEAM. I believe that having a large base of “senders” is critical to an effective ministry. These are the people who buy-in to the vision of the trip and offer financial and prayer support.
Some people have a hard time asking for money, but we need to remember that God has given some people a passion (and the ability) to give. I can’t speak for everyone, but investing financially in these types of experiences for others is an enormous blessing to the giver! I don’t want to rob anyone of that opportunity, so I’m not afraid to ask.
The enemy is on the attack when teams head to dark places for the purpose of furthering the Gospel. One way to prepare for battle is through a hefty covering of prayer. Again, there are people who prayer warriors – I want as many of those people in my corner as possible, so I garner their support in any way possible.
The Sent:
Selection of those who actually go on the trip is important. This ultimately revolves around the purposes of the trip. For example, work trips may require people with certain skill sets or evangelism trips may require certain language skills. No matter what, it is important that each individual feels called to participate. (I will elaborate more on this group in another post).
The Receivers:
It is rare that you would go on a trip without coordinating through a host missionary or “national” (someone who lives/works in the host country). It is important that you have a good relationship with them, that you have clear communication, and that you are clear on each other’s vision/purpose for the trip.
In our case, the receiving missionaries had ministry projects that they needed a team to help them pull off. Our goal was to engage our students in stretching ministry experiences in a different culture.
All of these people, together, make up the TEAM. Each has an important role to play for a trip to be successful.
As a matter of chat…
Have you ever been a sender? How did God bless you through being on the TEAM in that way? How can the “sent” effectively communicate and update the “senders” so that they are involved in the entire process?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Effective Cross-Cultural Experiences
I recently led a group of nine students and three other adults on a short-term missions trip. Over the next month or so I will be sharing several of the things that I believe are important to effective short-term cross-cultural experiences.
*Note: I will be intentionally vague about some of the details of the trip for privacy and protection purposes.
I believe that this particular trip was a very effective short-term, cross-cultural missions trip. Unfortunately, during my time in student ministry, I have heard of many trips that I would categorize as ineffective – or at least, not effective enough to be worth the tens of thousands of dollars it takes to pull it off.
The importance of VISION and PURPOSE
So what makes a trip effective? A clear vision and purpose! I believe you need to be able to clearly define a purpose (or multiple purposes) if a trip is going to be valuable. Often times we think of these purposes or goals being for the “receiving” side of the project OR for the “sent” side of the trip, but I believe the richest experiences have great benefit for both.
Here are a few examples of goals we had for this particular trip:
- To broaden our students’ Christian worldview (we want them to be “world Christians” not just “American Christians”).
- To push our students to consider the differences in service and leadership in cultures that are very different than theirs.
- To encourage missionaries who call our church “home”.
- To better connect our church with the missionaries they support.
- To encourage our students to consider whether God may be calling them into cross-cultural study, work or ministry in the future.
Different participants probably get more excited about different aspects of these goals. As the one responsible for the trip, I get jazzed about the big picture – that so much was accomplished in regards to the “senders”, the “sent”, and the “receivers”. I’m sure I’ll talk more about all of that in future posts!
As a matter of chat...
Have you ever taken a short-term missions trip? What was the purpose of the trip? Did it accomplish its purpose? How have you seen God change the lives of people who have gone on short-term
*Note: I will be intentionally vague about some of the details of the trip for privacy and protection purposes.
I believe that this particular trip was a very effective short-term, cross-cultural missions trip. Unfortunately, during my time in student ministry, I have heard of many trips that I would categorize as ineffective – or at least, not effective enough to be worth the tens of thousands of dollars it takes to pull it off.
The importance of VISION and PURPOSE
So what makes a trip effective? A clear vision and purpose! I believe you need to be able to clearly define a purpose (or multiple purposes) if a trip is going to be valuable. Often times we think of these purposes or goals being for the “receiving” side of the project OR for the “sent” side of the trip, but I believe the richest experiences have great benefit for both.
Here are a few examples of goals we had for this particular trip:
- To broaden our students’ Christian worldview (we want them to be “world Christians” not just “American Christians”).
- To push our students to consider the differences in service and leadership in cultures that are very different than theirs.
- To encourage missionaries who call our church “home”.
- To better connect our church with the missionaries they support.
- To encourage our students to consider whether God may be calling them into cross-cultural study, work or ministry in the future.
Different participants probably get more excited about different aspects of these goals. As the one responsible for the trip, I get jazzed about the big picture – that so much was accomplished in regards to the “senders”, the “sent”, and the “receivers”. I’m sure I’ll talk more about all of that in future posts!
As a matter of chat...
Have you ever taken a short-term missions trip? What was the purpose of the trip? Did it accomplish its purpose? How have you seen God change the lives of people who have gone on short-term
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Embarrassing Moment : Lesson Learned
So one Wednesday morning I was on my way to work. I was running a little late and was going to arrive just in time for a 9 a.m. meeting…under normal circumstances.
However, I came upon a slow moving vehicle on the straightaway where I typically make up for my lateness. I was stuck behind this snow-capped driver for a while as cars came the other way, but then I floored it, and flew past her!
There’s two ways to pass people – the nice gentle way that seems to say “hello, I simply prefer to drive a little faster than you”! And, the other way that seems to say “get off the road and get out of my way”! My pass was the latter. (I’m ashamed to admit).
Did I mention that I work at a church? So as I pulled in the parking lot and got ready to get out of my car, wasn’t I surprised to see the same lovely car pulling in the parking lot behind me. I WAS MORTIFIED! How could I be such a jerk?! Wait, it gets worse…you see, I recognized this lovely Senior Saint as someone who once taught me in Sunday School as a child! She was arriving for an event that began at the same time as the meeting I was late for.
I literally squatted as I got out of the car and ran around a back entrance of the offices because I was so embarrassed. I’m confident that she didn’t put all the pieces together, so I think I’m safe! (Unless she reads my blog)!
As a matter of chat…
Any embarrassing moments? Did you learn from them? Are you like me – always in a hurry? Do you need to just “slow down” and be late once in a while?!
However, I came upon a slow moving vehicle on the straightaway where I typically make up for my lateness. I was stuck behind this snow-capped driver for a while as cars came the other way, but then I floored it, and flew past her!
There’s two ways to pass people – the nice gentle way that seems to say “hello, I simply prefer to drive a little faster than you”! And, the other way that seems to say “get off the road and get out of my way”! My pass was the latter. (I’m ashamed to admit).
Did I mention that I work at a church? So as I pulled in the parking lot and got ready to get out of my car, wasn’t I surprised to see the same lovely car pulling in the parking lot behind me. I WAS MORTIFIED! How could I be such a jerk?! Wait, it gets worse…you see, I recognized this lovely Senior Saint as someone who once taught me in Sunday School as a child! She was arriving for an event that began at the same time as the meeting I was late for.
I literally squatted as I got out of the car and ran around a back entrance of the offices because I was so embarrassed. I’m confident that she didn’t put all the pieces together, so I think I’m safe! (Unless she reads my blog)!
As a matter of chat…
Any embarrassing moments? Did you learn from them? Are you like me – always in a hurry? Do you need to just “slow down” and be late once in a while?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)