We are exploring reformed theology and living in community. Here are some thoughts and observations along the way.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Don't let the Lord rest

Isaiah 62:6-7
"O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth"
The Lord is speaking to me - that I am not to grow weary in doing good - in working to perpetuate the Kingdom. i know that it isn't something that I have to create - for the Lord is the "Lord of the Harvest." But, he does call me to be an active participant with what he is doing. I am to be a sower. And the more I sow, the more others have the opportunity to grow. My sowing will "give the Lord no rest."

Jesus, I pray that today you would renew me with strength that comes from your Spirit alone. After a long journey this summer, I am physically weary, but I pray that you would renew me spiritually so I may be able to sow more.

Today, I am all yours.


Tuesday, July 29, 2008

What now?

A friend has left.

Josh flew home to the Netherlands today.

I am sad.

Josh is a good friend, a lifter of the lids in my life and a great encourager to all around.

I honestly am having a hard time picturing what life will look like around here in Hillsboro and at Evergreen Christian Center without him. Yes, he has made that much of a difference.

For now - I am transitioning - the year of the European ID students is over. The time of my church providing lots of administrative help for me is over. It is now time for me to focus on the coming year - I need to become better at empowering others to ministry, need to have greater faith than what I have had before and need to give time and space for planning and vision!



Josh, I miss you already.

I pray that your flight is wonderful, that you catch your connection to Amsterdam and that we can work together again in the future.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Lifters around me

I am studying leadership. Leadership has always fascinated me - perhaps because I have always been told that I am a leader. I have found that I am most functional as a leader when I am taking the time to honestly evaluate myself as a leader. I have to really try in order to be effective.

I think some are more naturally inclined towards positive and effective leadership. These people I envy, for they, out of habit or impulse, lead effectively. I find that I have to grind some stuff out - focus on leadership development constantly.

Why? Because most leadership revolves around character. In order for me to lead, I must be leading myself - and that doesn't happen on accident.

Today, Jesus, I need to be led by you. I need your Spirit to guide me and hone me. Thank you for the many opportunities to grow, to learn and to change. Thank you for being patient with me, for directing my steps and for always placing me where you want me to be.

David had Jonathan. Jonathan was the next in line to be king (according to normal royal-bloodline progressions), but David had been anointed to be king. Instead of hating David, Jonathan served David and directly helped him to become who he was called to be. John Maxwell points out 3 things that Jonathan did for David, so that David could overcome obstacles in his life
  1. He lifted up David with his words
    David needed encouragement - he needed affirmation and he needed to be challenged. Jonathan was able to thrust David forward with the power of words. Two things for me - I am stating today that I am going to increase my positive words and encouragement to the leaders around me. Secondly, I am so grateful for the people in my life who speak encouragement to me.
  2. He raised David up with his actions
    David needed Jonathan to equip him and to ratify his leadership. I see that need in my own life. I have people in my life - praise the Lord - who rally around me. Without these people I would not be in the place that I am. May I never take it for granted - I am where I am because of others! Thank you Jesus!
  3. He 'gave up' so that David could 'go up'
    Jonathan gave up his "rights" so David could be successful. Am I giving up my "rights" so that others can be successful? Am I grateful for the others around me who have given up theirs for me?
Lord, it is good to be called. Thank you for placing people around me. I want to grow, to learn and to be the best leader I can be.

I give you this day.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

When a leader improves

I am a lid on the potential of the people who serve with me. As their leader I can hold them back or I can choose to expand and grow so that those around me expand and grow.

I think it is tempting to want to blame the followers or those in less significant positions for the lack of movement forward in any given organization.

David is a guy who lifted the lid of leadership. When all (including Saul) were afraid to jump into the fight and take on the behemoth Goliath, David went for it and released the potential of Israel's armies:
Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road...
I have to ask myself - where do I hold the armies back? in what way are my own limits, fears or inadequacies holding us back from exploding in fruit?

What lids can I lift? How can I improve today as a leader?

Any suggestions? I am open...

Monday, July 21, 2008

Leadership Lids - Saul and David

Every leader's success will be determined by their leadership ability, not by their personal gifting or charisma. There are things in every leaders life that inhibit their overall success. It is my goal to identify the lids in my life so that I can become the best leader I can be.

Saul had his lids. Mostly they were character flaws:
  • Fear
  • Jealousy
  • Impulsiveness
  • Anger
These things caused him to be unable to cope with the strains of leadership. Eventually he crumbled and those he was leading suffered. If Saul had been able to overcome his insecurity and humble himself, he might have been a great leader.

David also had lids. He was the youngest and was overlooked by his own father. When Samuel went to choose one of Jesse's sons to be king, David wasn't even invited to be considered. David was able to overcome that obstacle through hard work and dedication to the Lord first.

What are my lids?
  • Fear - sometimes I assume failure will happen rather than success. Also, I hesitate in getting to know new people - I am afraid my efforts won't be successful.
  • Inconsistency - I can be emotionally driven and therefore am often times up and down in my leadership. I know the Lord is teaching me to be more stable and faith filled.
Jesus, I lift to you my lids - I don't want to be held back any longer, but I want to overcome these obstacles so I can be the best leader I can be.

Monday, April 21, 2008

The mud is thinning

I was surprised by today.

I have been quiet lately - thinking and processing a lot, but not always certain of what it is that I am thinking and going through. I have been reading Team of Rivals, which is a book on the genius ability of Abraham Lincoln to draw together various opposing people and ideas in order to accomplish great good.

I am in awe of this man and his great capacity to lead through humility. I find that most people aren't able to lead in this way. Mostly people feel that the leaders have to have all of the right answers and that those who follow only follow because they are less able to lead and more able to do the bidding of the said leader. Lincoln, to me, turns that on his head.
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He wasn't able to do everything, nor did he have all of the answers for everything, but was able to gain a great unity between opposing and difficult ideas and people. On might suggest that Lincoln was the great mediator of the Civil War. He kept the country from total destruction through his tremendous political skill not based upon power and favors, but upon real and lasting virtues of love, tenderness, compassion and honesty.

I was challenged by a mentor several months ago to gain a broader perspective and compassion for various leaders and leadership styles. I have been very critical in the past of weak leaders and poor communicators.

This reading is a timely infusion of wisdom and know-how. I see the need to be a great unifier. I recognize that I am especially excited about the possibility of drawing strong and gifted leaders onto a team in order to accomplish something great.

I am surprised today because yesterday I was so tired and seemingly unable to process the swirling mush inside my head. I am glad to write that today, through several conversations, I am able to see more clearly where in leadership I am and where I am still being challenged to grow.

May I be a glowing light for Jesus. May I carry his humility and compassion with me...


Saturday, April 19, 2008

Blood and War and Lying

An interesting confluence of events in my life.

I watched Blood Diamond last night. I spend most of the movie reflecting upon how much people need Jesus.

We all have a need - to be with God.

We all have a problem - sin. Vile, selfish and disgusting Sin. We are born with it.

God has provided a Remedy - Jesus.

In the story we see the horrific circumstances in Africa that grossly illustrate the nature of man. There is the consumeristic greed of the Western countries driving the demand for diamonds. And then the war over diamonds between races and classes. And the corrupt military who poses as a conduit of righteousness while laying out strategies to lace their own pockets. Finally we see the journalist who realizes that her nobility, couched in the facade of objective journalism, is shallow and, at the core - selfish.

From every angle we see people motivated by themselves.

I was surprised that the movie, in a brief dialog, posed the question - "is man good or evil by nature?"

The characters, in the midst of devastating war, concluded that man is basically good. A not-so-clever attempt to sow some opinion that leads people away from God and back to man. For, if we believe that man is basically good, than we are saying that man can basically solve its own problems.

Has this ever been true? Is there less war today than before? I was recently told that there are more slaves today than at any other time in history. How far we have not come.

This week I also have been studying the story of Ananias and Sapphira from Acts 5:1-11. They sold a house and then claimed to give all of the money to the Apostles but in reality had kept a portion from themselves. No doubt their motive was to appear to be righteous and noble. They weren't required to do any of this, but they saw an opportunity to elevate themselves in the eyes of others.

God killed them. Ananias first and then Sapphira.

Some would say - shame on God. I say shame on man. We are so different from God in that we deserve to have our blood spilled. How many of us have committed little white lies just like the unfortunate couple in Acts 5? We love to allow our image to be inflated while nursing a habit of destruction on the side.

And so the question of the decision of God isn't that difficult. I didn't lay awake in bed this week wondering why God killed these two.

I simply wonder why he hasn't killed me yet...I deserve it.

The blood is on our own hands.

I am so grateful for the blood of Jesus - that intercepts my sentence of eternal death. Now I live forever with him.

I love this song by David Crowder - Remedy
Here we are
Here we are
The broken and used
Mistreated, abused
Here we are

Here You are
Here You are
The beautiful one
Who came like a Son
Here You are

So we lift up our voices
We open our hands
To cling to the love
That we can't comprehend

Oh, lift up your voices
And lift up your heads
To sing of the love
That has freed us from sin

He is the one
Who has saved us
He is the one
Who embraced us
He is the one who has come
And is coming again
He's the remedy


Here we are
Here we are
Bandaged and bruised
Awaiting a cure
Here we are

Here You are
Here You are
Our beautiful King
Bringing relief
Here You are with us

So we lift up our voices
And open our hands
Let go of the things
That have kept us from Him

Monday, April 07, 2008

A morning in Creswell

Donia and I decided at the last minute to travel after church yesterday to Creswell in order to celebrate our nephew, Samuel's, first birthday. The celebration took place at my parent's house complete with cake and my favorite, peanut butter frosting.

The whole family was there. It is always a blessing to spend time with them. We all love Jesus with passion and are involved with ministry. And we all have energetic kids. What a privilege to live this life!

This morning I walked over to the local grocery store in order to find some coffee and a place to read the Word. Ray's opened at 6am and the first customers were a group of crotchety old timers buying coffee and donuts. They then sat in 2 booths and begin playing some sort of coin game. it was loud and boisterous as all of them accused each other of cheating at some point. It was a good natured game...I wonder what I will be like at 70ish.

I was blessed to observe the relationship that existed between them.

I read in John 4 this morning. Jesus and the Samaritan woman. I was struck by how bold the woman was in asking Jesus about the Jew's insistence of Jerusalem being the holy place. I appreciated her candor. I am encouraged to be bold with the Lord. I see my need for continued knowledge of the word of God and how we "got" the word of God. I need to be able to concisely share with others the firm beginnings of the word of God.

Jesus, please lead me today. Make more like you. I pray for safety as our family travels back to Portland. And as we head into another week I pray that we would be able to know you more deeply. I pray that Jenna would make decisions to follow you! Please give Donia and I wisdom as we raise her and Owen.


Saturday, March 29, 2008

Courage

Courage.

Strong. Strength. Faith.

Taking a leap. Jumping off. Its the backflip into the pool.

Its getting up early in the morning when it hurts. Taking a cold shower when the hot water is gone.

We are all courageous sometimes. We choose to bite our tongues and not say what is deserved.

Sometimes we open our mouths and say what is needed.

Maybe you have prayed for someone out loud.

Or trusted a friend to keep a secret. Or said sorry first.

Courage is doing what is more difficult. Eating a salad rather than the cheeseburger.

Or maybe for you its eating the cheeseburger rather than the water. Water cannot be eaten.

It allowing someone else to make decisions...and living with them.

Marriage is courageous. Getting a job is courageous.

Paying for someone's lunch is courageous.

So is sharing Jesus with another person.

So is dying for your faith.

So is putting faith in Jesus.

So is praying, even secretly, for your friends.

Peter and John had courage. It would have been easier to walk by the paralytic.

That was the accepted thing to do. That was the normal thing to do.

It would have been simpler to smile and nod to the Jewish religious authorities.

But they didn't.

They proclaimed that which was real. And tangible and lovely. They proclaimed Jesus.

Courage isn't as hard as we think it is.

We save this word for superheroes and firemen. We allow Dateline and the CBS Evening News to monopolize this word – we begin to believe that only people born with or thrust into extreme places of difficulty are worthy of being called courageous.
I don't mean to say that these people who do amazing things shouldn't be called courageous, but we should also recognize the fact that our selfishness and greed are the biggest deterrents for each of us.

It is our sin nature which keeps us from being heroic and bold and courageous.

We don't want to be uncomfortable, we don't want to be challenged, we are lazy and we don't want to reach our potential for fear of a new expectation being thrust upon us.

Tomorrow when you face your sin nature – and when you allow Jesus' re-making work to be more powerful within you – you are being courageous.

Who knows where that courage will lead.

Your ordinary life might not feel so ordinary anymore.

Ordinary Dancing

Ordinary.

Plain.

Normal.

We are. I am. You are.

We exist only for a moment, a gasp of time. Today here and gone tomorrow. Life slips away and we have one chance.

A chance.

A roll of the dice.

We have been dealt a hand. And its ordinary.

Not the same as Jim, Bob, Larry or Joe. Susie, Sally, Joceyln or Jessica may be able to pen a slightly different tale - But its normal.

What is normal? Breathing. Sleeping and waking. Getting sick, getting better, dying and disappointment and being good at something, but not everything.

Not being in control. Having a bad habit that we try to break. Wanting to be loved. Wanting to be significant.

Sin is normal. It reeks and is disgusting, but it is normal. Ordinary.

Complaining. Backing out of promises. Thinking sick, but acting healthy.

All of this and much is the dance floor of life. On our circumstances and upon the hand that we have been dealt we express, through our actions and attitudes, our response.

There are some dancers who sit on the sidelines wishing that the floor was different. They hang their heads regretting failure. Or they sit envious of the place on the floor that another gets.

Bitter and dark these dancers gradually die – never having really danced.

There are others who try to fix the floor. They tear it to pieces, trying to ascertain why it is built the way it is. They toil and struggle, carefully diagnosing each splinter, so that one day they might be able to rebuild the floor.

Well meaning and hard working – these dancers die having deconstructed life only to have ran out of time to rebuild it.

But the most beautiful dancers are the ones who lightly tread on the floor – their response is not dictated by the floor, but is simply a soft response to the music.

Light, free and full of love – these dancers fulfill their purpose and never regret the dance floor.

LA Mission View of the Day #6

LA Mission View of the Day #5

Friday, March 28, 2008

On the road

Well - after 6 hours at Disneyland we are headed home.

It took us about 2 hours to get out of the LA area...and we took what we thought would be the way with the least amount of traffic.

As i write we are about 3 hours south of Sacramento.

Greg is at the wheel - he has been a great partner this week. He and I have had several great conversations. I really value his relationship with the Lord.

The team is a bit hyper - after all of these great bonding experiences and a day at Disneyland they are going nuts! It is fun to see the relationships developing.

Pray for no snow tomorrow!

Church in the City

We attended church last night at Angelus Temple. It seats around 4,000 people and it was packed on a Thursday night.

They put on quite the mid-week presentation...moving worship, dancers...and a guest speaker from Illinois.

Our students were really touched. I myself was challenged to be the best pastor and leader that I can be. I am moved to be a bigger dreamer and to not all god to only exist in what I know or have experienced.

I am excited for the opportunities that are before us. We really have the resource and people power to impact our church.

This morning we are at Disneyland. It is a bit anticlimactic.

The Dream Center puts a large amount of energy and resource into its effort to draw people to the ultimate source of light and glory. Disneyland put that energy and effort into creating an experience that numbs people or distracts them.

I am not saying that D-land is evil - but we should recognize what it is. Oooh...thats challenging, eh?

I am looking forward to the conversations with the students after this contrasting experience.

Do pray for us...we travel to Sacramento this afternoon - about 8 hours (with traffic) - and then we will be up bright and early tomorrow so we can arrive in Hillsboro by 3pm.

Also - pray for the weather to be favorable. Snow on the passes would put a damper on things.

Greetings from Adventureland...

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Street Witnessing - Day 5 PM

There is nothing more intimidating to the Christian than cold turkey evangelism. I have never liked it - maybe more because of me than the actual task.

This sort of action requires such a deep amount of trust, humility and courage.

I was so proud of our students...they didn't back down and gave it their best shot.

We were sent by the Dream Center to Pasadena City College. That didn't make the task seem any easier. Going to talk to young people who think they know more than they do isn't the sort of environment that soothes apprehension.

I myself was apprehensive.

We were given a survey to use as a tool to begin spiritual conversations.

Our students - in pairs - boldly approached college students. They met ex-catholics, Buddhists and agnostics.

They engaged the people and had opportunity to pray with several.

Wow.

One young lady prayed a prayer of faith in Jesus for the first time.

Praise the Lord.

Our time is drawing to a close here at the Dream Center - but we know that we are going to go home not the same.

Praise the Lord for that!

Tools in LA - Day 5 AM

We have such a great team.

I am so impressed by the collective ability of the group to just plain "go for it."

This morning we were placed at the mercy of the onsite "discipleship" team. The discipleship team consists of rehabilitated guys who are charged with the massive task of keeping the grounds around the Dream Center neat and tidy.

We painted.

We swept.

We trimmed and cut and cleared.

Josh and I were sent to Angelus Temple. We were given 2 brooms and a well-used dustpan. We swept all the leaves, trash and dirt from the sidewalks, gutters and street.

We were then given a long hose and a push broom. Just behind Sister Aimee's house we attached that hose to a water source.

We scrubbed the whole sidewalk - Josh on the hose and Isaac on the push broom scrubber.

Juliana and Brittany painted in Angelus' Temple. They painted on an official Historical Landmark in Los Angeles! How cool is that?!

We had a great morning. We served in a practical, blister causing way. It was refreshing and invigorating! (And Michelle's health was great!)

Metro Kids - Day 4 PM

Tu hablas espanol?

We spent Wednesday afternoon helping with a weekly outreach to a low income, mostly Hispanic area. "Metro Kids" takes Sunday school to the neighborhoods of LA.

We helped set up, played with the kids, joined the program festivities and our Nicole led all of the girls in singing and motions to all the songs. She did great!

I was able to pray with 5 little boys at the conclusion - "Pray for my daddy - he smokes and drinks a lot - my mom works a lot - my dad is really sick - my mom has 14 children...its why we are really busy..."

Our hearts were moved to compassion as we served. We were all excited to see the potential for our church's daily outreach to Mckinney Park this summer.

Unfortunately Michelle became dehydrated yesterday afternoon, so her and Edna stayed behind. After resting for the afternoon she was much better.

We are all in good health today - but keep praying for us!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Loading the Food Trucks - Day 4 am

Today we had the privilege of loading the food trucks that go out for delivery this afternoon.

I personally love this sort of work. It reminds me of my days loading trucks for UPS at the Ontario Hub while I was in college.

The boys formed lines (like sandbag lines) and filled up 4 Fed-Ex trucks with pinto beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, lemons, tangerines, snow peas and grapefruit juice.

Our lovelies filled bags with lemons and tangerines.

It was a blast flexing our muscles, calling out the number of boxes loaded and watching those trucks fill up quickly. We worked up a sweat, but thankfully the LA sun wasn't too warm this morning. It was probably 70 degrees and partly smoggy...

After loading we were moved to the trash/recycling area to clean up. I also loved this - breaking down hundreds of cardboard boxes reminds me of working food service in college (before I worked for UPS).

We got that done with leftover time to help with cleaning the streets around the Dream Center. It was "fun" to observe who has worked hard at sweeping before and who looked as if they have never picked up a broom before.

Nicole was especially proficient with the broom! Her, Josh and I attacked the pavement with gusto!

All in all our team is wonderful! Everyone is working hard...several of the leaders around here have mentioned how much they are impressed as we work together!

This afternoon we will travel to South Central LA to work with the "Metro Kids" program. I am not clear on all of the details, but I know it includes tons of children and outreach!




About Me

Hillsboro, Oregon, United States
Just a guy in Oregon