I had the privilege of speaking at the NACBA National Conference last July 4th in Washington, DC (a great place to be to celebrate the 4th!). During the presentation I asked the question, “How many of you are suffering with facilities that weren’t well designed to meet ministry needs?” I had expected a few hands to be raised, but I was not prepared for what seemed to be nearly everyone raising their hand. That experience led to a blogpost that led to an email conversation with Phill Martin (CEO of NACBA) that led to a research project to better understand how facilities impact ministry. We conducted a survey with the NACBA active membership between September 9 and October 7, 2011 with over 10% responding.

The original concern that led to the research turned out to not be as bad as originally thought (I guess that’s why you do the research). Ninety-two percent (92%) of the total respondents said that they “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree” that the facility was very well designed to meet their ministry needs. However, there is a drop off in satisfaction for older facilities. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of the negative answers that were given as “somewhat disagree” or “strongly disagree” came from projects over 3 years old and all of the “strongly disagree” answers came from this group.

Some of the research would suggest that building programs were generally positive experiences (that agreed with research we did with Dr. Thom Rainer and the Rainer Group in 2005).

There are a couple of important dates for me this week.  First of all, its my anniversary (Love you, Baby!). The other is Thanksgiving - my favorite holiday. I'm not sure why that is, but who could argue with a day of family, food and football.  Honestly, though, I think it's the fact that Thanksgiving is just about that - thanksgiving.  There's not usually the hustle and bustle of a holiday like Christmas. Instead, it's just sitting back, reflecting and simply being grateful for what we have. 

We are reminded in Psalms 107, 118 and 136 to “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever.” I am glad that God is truly great and truly good. Paul encourages us on how to live together in Ephesians 5 by instructing us to “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (my bold). Even when we pray we are told in Philippians 4 to bring every detail of our needs to God “with thanksgiving.”

An attitude of gratitude is a good way to live.

That’s because there is a direct correlation between your level of gratitude and your level of happiness. Above a certain level of subsistence, there is no (or perhaps a negative) correlation between your level of net worth and your level of happiness. Luke reminds us that, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Look at the people around you – wouldn’t you agree? There are secular confirmations from Maslow to the Harvard Business Review. The HBR had one of the best articles on compensation I’ve ever read. The article groups all the ways we try to inspire people in a workplace into “Intrinsic Motivators” and “Hygiene Factors”. Money was a hygiene factor, meaning it needed to be at an appropriate level but, beyond that level, it wasn’t effective at motivating people.

How wealthy are you? I encourage you, whatever you’re going through, to spend time with God everyday this week telling him what you’re thankful for.

LIVE THANKFULLY!

We’ve hosted a number of thought leader events as a co-founder of The Cornerstone Knowledge Network (www.theckn.com). One of the events ended with a distinguished panel of five – researchers, consultants, and a mega church/movement pastor – all are authors. At one point in the conversation, there was a disagreement between two of the panel members. One said that branding was dead and the other felt branding was very much alive. As they talked further, it became clear that they were actually in agreement. What the first panel member was saying is that it’s no longer possible to grab a brand identity outside of who you really are. Both agreed that branding must come from an authentic expression.

That was an understanding that benefitted us all. Had the dialogue not continued, we would have been left to believe the two experts disagreed. But further dialogue drove a deeper understanding of the overall subject, as well as the point in dispute. But that would not have been possible without the right atmosphere. Disagreement, event forceful disagreement, is important to improvement but it is only possible in the right setting. Maybe it’s better said… 

Dialogue - In the right atmosphere - Drives Understanding.
                                      
So how do you create the right atmosphere? I think there at least 3 components to the right atmosphere:
1) There was an atmosphere of Openness - Each of these guys was comfortable with the fact they would not be ridiculed or maligned in any way so they could be completely open. They didn’t feel vulnerable so they were not inhibited from sharing their points of view.
2) There was an atmosphere of Acceptance - There was genuine mutual respect. Each of these guys had genuine respect and admiration for each other.
3) There was an atmosphere of Excellence - There was an overriding purpose to get at the truth, even if that meant someone was wrong. Neither of these guys had a personal agenda they were trying to push for selfish benefit. Knowing the truth was more important than being right.

Openness – Acceptance – Excellence. Anything I missed? 

Are you developing the right atmosphere?

For many of us that were raised in the church, “missionary” always referred to someone taking the Gospel to a foreign land, typically third world areas. I can remember as a kid being surprised to find out there were missionaries in western Europe. It just seemed odd that there would be missionaries in developed countries. And I was blown away a number of years ago to find out other nations were sending missionaries to the U.S. However, that definition of missionary is too narrow.

An understanding of mission that starts with the Jesus of scripture finds that we are all to be “on mission”, regardless of where we live. Yet many churches act like work overseas or in domestic impoverished areas are the only places that demand missions work. They seem to think that missions is something we do, instead of a characteristic of who we are. As Bill Easum said,

”If a church has a missions committee, it’s failed to grasp the significance of what it means to be a church.”

I always marvel at the fact that God has chosen to work through us. Think about it. If you can feed 15,000 with more left over than you started with, did you need the 5 loaves and 2 fish to begin with? We are his hands and feet to do works of service that bring comfort and peace. We give voice to his words of encouragement, strength and hope. He brings restoration through our sweat and struggle. He uses us to share the message of salvation and sanctification. Dr. Spurgeon is right – we are all missionaries. And each of us travels a separate journey that uniquely connects us with others. God is at work in their lives and wants to use you to connect the Gospel in a tangible way. Where is God at work with the people in your journey? Where is He calling you to be a missionary in your journey? The bottom line is…

We are all full-time missionaries (we just don’t all draw a paycheck from the church).

(This is a blog that was a little painful to write because it involves confession. But a friend of mine encouraged me to share it because of what I learned.)

I was returning my rental car after a week of vacation in the Rocky Mountains. I have rented more cars than I can count and, by using a single rental company, I have racked up a lot of free days. The reservation was set up using the free days I had earned on line. However, I had also received several free day coupons by mail so I brought those to add on to the discount. When I picked up the car the attendant said she thought they could apply the additional coupons when I returned the car.

What I found out was that, for some reason, Hertz will not let you combine free days they give you online with the ones they send you in the mail. That didn’t seem right to me so I complained. Why would Hertz not let me use both sets of coupons since I had earned them the same way – by being faithful to Hertz week after week renting cars from them? I’ve been a “Number 1 Club Gold Member” for years and, besides, the girl that released the car to me told me I could use them when I returned the vehicle. I raised my concern (not my voice) to the point that they brought in the supervisor. After some discussion (that, essentially, involved each of us stating our individual positions over and over again) she finally acquiesced and told the counter worker in exasperation, “Just give it to him.”

I won!

But I didn’t feel that way. In fact, I felt pretty empty – even lousy. As I played the situation over in my head I understood why. I didn’t win; I lost. Because, not only did I miss an opportunity to bring a word of peace and comfort, I brought distress and anguish. And because I lost, they lost. God is a god of restoration and we are the instruments that he chooses to work through. The reason we teach our kids manners and to say nice things about people isn’t to comply with some societal norm. It’s because kind words bring the healing and restoration of the Holy Spirit. What makes it worse is that I have no excuse. I wasn’t tired or stressed. I was wrapping up a week in the Rocky Mountains where we spent a good part of the week above 10,000 feet enjoying the scenic views that are only available above the tree line. And I had just finished a 3 ½ hour dinner with friends in Denver.

I had brought hurt, not healing, at Hertz. I pray for that supervisor and that God keeps her in my mind so that I always remember…

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 12:18

A

2) They thought of incarnational ministry before they thought attractional worship. The church has about 7,000 weekend worship attendance and no permanent facility (their main campus is a high school they rent on the weekends). Instead of developing a large worship center to serve the people already part of the church, they bought a facility where they felt led to do ministry.

3) They redeemed a building that housed death and transformed it into a building that brings life. The building they bought was a “retirement center.” The reality is that it was a place they sent people to die – even younger people who were in their last days. Now it’s a place of hope and restoration.

4) They didn’t go with the “grand plan.” The campus pastor showed us the original design that he was given to use after being brought on staff. It was a beautiful plan that demolished the existing structures in favor of modern structures that any megachurch would be proud of. But it just didn’t feel right so, to the chagrin of the designer, they decided to renovate the existing facilities and add on. It save hundreds of thousands of dollars and, more importantly, was a better fit for the ministry they were called to do there.

I’ve just finished seven out of the past eight weeks on the road. In fact, this year I have been on the road over twice as much as I’ve been home. This is not something I expect to last; it is for a season - an unusual season in life. We all experience these seasons from time to time. Sometimes we see them coming, so we can prepare for them mentally and practically. But, perhaps, they’re most often thrust on us by an unexpected changes in circumstances. Sometimes even tragic circumstances.

If your unusual season was brought on by tragedy, I encourage you that this time will pass. It’s not necessarily that the circumstances will go away. I don’t believe in “closure” (that’s something for the media and others that are not directly connected so that they can move on). But God will help you deal with the emotions and, over time, help you grow because of what you’ve been through. Whatever the reason for your unusual season, it’s important to recognize that what you’re going through is, in fact, for a season.

Here are my notes from this unusual season:

1) Be Present: Wherever you are, be there. There can be a tendency in unusual seasons to be somewhere else mentally and emotionally. You can find yourself dreaming about the past or fantasizing about the future. It’s natural to want to be out of this season. But it’s better to acknowledge the season is here and determine to make the most of this time. Whether you realize it now or not, it is a gift from God. Do the work you’ve been given to do to your very best. And look for the daily gifts from God whether it’s unexpected sunshine, an encouraging word or the genuine smile of a child. 

2) Seek Harmony: So often we talk about balance in life. But I agree with Len Sweet that a better metaphor is harmony. Balance makes us think that equal time needs to go into the various areas of our lives. That’s not realistic at any time in our lives and, especially, in unusual seasons. Harmony is a metaphor of vitality. It’s better to think in terms of harmony: “a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts.” Jesus lived a life in harmony, not balance.

3) Listen Openly: It’s easy to lose your bearings when you’re in an unusual season. But the people that know you best can help you most. Listen to the people that are close to you. What do they have to say about your attitude? Your perspective? Ask them what it feels like to be on the other end of you. And listen, really listen, to the emotions and meta-messages for the adjustments you need to make to stay on course.

4) Establish Rhythm: Find constructive activities to build into your daily routines. I am a big believer in the power of habits. For instance, you don’t become a reader by tackling a book over a weekend; you become a reader by building 15 minutes or more everyday reading. Devotions are the most important daily activity I can think of. Spending time meditating on God’s word can be foundational for everything you face. Exercise is another good way I have found rhythm (by now I think I’ve used every brand of exercise equipment a hotel has to offer). And, as silly as it sounds, I have found Starbucks to be an important routine for me. My daughter and I spent time every week of her senior year on Starbuck dates so there’s sentimental value (and they have the best chai). They have done a good job of creating a familiar vibe from San Francisco to Miami to Chicago to NYC, and everywhere in between. So I set a lot of my meetings in Starbucks, and it’s where I go to work when I’m alone.

5) Embrace God (and allow him to embrace you): For some reason when we’re in the regular routines of life, we can actually take God for granted. When I step back, it’s hard to imagine that we could become blasé about the God of the universe and His incomparable grace and unfathomable love. But we do. So unusual seasons can be an opportunity to connect with God in new and exciting ways. Seek God with an expectation of things you’ve never experienced before. And take time to sit back, listen and allow Him to embrace you.

Have you ever experienced an unusual season in your life? What did you learn to add to the list above?

 

What does it take to make a life well lived? You know, one without regrets?

For some reason, I have always been interested in the studies you see from time to time asking people near the end of their lives what they would do differently if they had the chance. I think it comes from a desire to keep my life on track and not, as they say, “find out at the end of my life that I had my ladder on the wrong wall.” Though the wording varies slightly, the same answers seem to come up time after time. One such study by Chuck Swindoll found what people over 85 would do differently included:

1) Spend more time meditating and reflecting
2) Invest time on eternal issues
3) Take more risks

Maybe the first two aren’t all that surprising. Most of us are busy enough that we can understand how easy it is to speed past moments of meditation and reflection. And we know how the tasks of the day can consume our time and energy, barely leaving any time for the eternal. We know we should do better and these reminders help. But what does it mean to take more risks when almost everything we do is in an effort to mitigate or eliminate risk? Our tendency is to seek safety and security yet we know there’s something missing. Perhaps it’s the excitement of a real adventure.

As Christ-followers, we are called to give up everything for a relationship with Jesus. At least six times and in all four Gospels Jesus is recorded as saying to us: “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39 – see also Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33 and John 12:25). Now that’s a risk! In fact, in the latter part of Luke 14 Jesus cautions us to count the cost of becoming a disciple. It is not something to be entered into lightly but some people give more thought to a two year cell phone contract. For many their association with Christ is nothing more than hitting the “Like” button on Christianity’s Facebook page.

Somewhere along the line we have accepted the idea that we’re on our own individual journey. And God’s role is to come alongside us along the way to serve our needs as a sort of divine butler. But that’s a tiny, hollow, self-centered way to live. The reality is that God is calling us to a Great Adventure - His great adventure! Yes, it costs us everything but, paradoxically, it’s the only way to gain anything. Live your life so that at the end you are not saying, “I wish I would have risked more.” What is God calling you to do now? Move your ladder to the BIG WALL and Live the adventure of a lifetime!

”The goal of faith is not the elimination of risk. In fact, the greatest risk is in taking no risks.”
(Mark Batterson from In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day)

_________________________________________________________________________
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Mark 8:35
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Luke 9:24
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Luke 17:33
Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.
John 12:25
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Is there a burning passion to see Jesus change your city? Do you find your heart troubled when you see the statistics documenting the decline of the church in the U.S. in the face of such great need? Are you questioning why it seems we’re creating consumers of “Christian” goods and services rather than real disciples of Jesus? Have you ever had that sense that something is not quite right with the way we’re doing church? Do you feel a kind of holy discontent you don’t fully understand? As Morpheus said to Neo in The Matrix:

“I know *exactly* what you mean. Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain, but you feel it. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I'm talking about?”

I talk to pastors, church leaders and everyday Christ-followers all the time that have that “splinter in the mind” - that sense that God wants to do something more, something different, something amazing. Just last week, I spoke to a pastor of a church with 1,700 in weekend attendance who was struggling with the reality that his church was producing consumeristic, materialistic, self-focused Christians. He had a sense that he might be alone in trying to figure this out. He was thrilled to hear that he was not alone.

The truth is God is working through many people to resolve the splinter. One initiative I’ve had the privilege to be a part of is Future Travelers www.missional.com. Thirty mega/multi-site churches are working right now to understand how to use the prevailing model of the U.S. church to launch a movement. To understand how to develop real disciples of Jesus. To learn how to move from simple addition to multiplication. You are not alone but, as Morpheus said to Neo, you have a choice:

“You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”

Take the red pill and live out the promise of Ephesians 3:20.
The Holy Spirit wants to take you beyond what you can ask or imagine.

If you’re looking for resources or you want to talk more, please feel free to contact me directly at wlc@cogun.com.

- was a member of the Hall of Fame
- was a homemaker and much more
- won the City Bowling Tournament in 1969
- was a Sr. Vice President of Leasing
- enjoyed traveling and gardening
- was noted for his artistic abilities as a young child
- loved to cook and host gatherings
- was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War
- especially loved dancing, and had won trophies for dancing in the past
- enjoyed his wife’s cooking
- was an avid reader in the disciplines of art, politics, foreign language, literature, religion and philosophy
- enjoyed hunting, playing cards and farming
- had worked as a truck driver hauling milk
- was devoted to the grandsons
- was a member of the prayer chain
- was a man dedicated to his faith

Those are just a few comments I collected from today’s obituaries. They are probably common to any day, any place. They’re meant to communicate the essence of a person’s life, but for me they raise more questions than they answer. Did he enjoy his job? Why didn’t he do anything with the artistic talents from his childhood? What was it like for him in the war? What could he teach us from all he read? What was the favorite dish that his wife cooked? How did she feel when she danced? Was she a true “prayer warrior”? How did God work in his life to make him a man of faith?

An obituary is not even a good snapshot of a life. We can read about careers and hobbies. We can read about achievements and accomplishments. We can read about the high points, but no obituary can capture the essence of a life. So what does form the essence of our lives? Our tendency is to focus on our remarkable moments. The times when we won. The times where a lot of hard work culminated in something that we were proud of. Something that might even make others stand up and take notice. Certainly those times are important, but I have come to believe that…

…it’s not our accomplishments, but the way we live our time in-between that tells the true story of our lives.

As I look back on my life and then look forward into eternity, it becomes evident that most of my accomplishments will mean nothing. What will mean something – everything – beyond me – will be the way I treated my wife, what I taught my kids by example, the people I poured my life into to disciple and the common acts of service (especially to the disenfranchised). Did my attitude and demeanor bless or burden people? Did my words encourage and enlighten people or did they break their spirit? I pray God redeems the in-between times I have not lived well. May we commit to living well in the in-between times of everyday – beginning today.

The story formed from our everydays will be the wake that ripples throughout eternity.