The thing Jesus did the most, we do the least.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IRONY #1:
The thing Jesus did the most, we do the least. 

I’m not talking about abstracts, deep emotions, or complex morals. I’m talking literally about the thing Jesus DID most. 

He shepherded and mentored.

Over the past thirty years or so, many great churches have risen up and grown massive in size.  From an engaging Sunday worship service to a replacement for what you remember from your sixth grade school cafeteria, they have it all.  However, the one thing I still see even the biggest and most modeled-after church leaders fail at consistently on a massive scale is mentoring their future leaders to take over and replace them.

Now, I don’t say this to in any way rip at mega churches. I love them - a lot.  But I single them out because it appears that even the churches that we idolize the most and place on a towering glass pedestal can’t seem to get this one thing right.

If you don’t believe me, just ask Bill Hybels what happened when he tried to leave his church. Don’t know Bill personally?  He’ll tell you in his book, Courageous Leadership.

The fact remains, as much as we try to write books on vision and leadership, form giant conferences, and sit down for coffee visits in our suits or trendy jeans and buttoned down shirts with the suave fabric that just screams hip leader in the room, we aren’t mentoring people at the depth and level that Jesus Christ did with his disciples. Now, at this point you might be saying: “Well of course not because we can’t live up to a perfect example.” To which I will reply: “Absolutely, I agree, but we aren’t nearly where we could be.”

There’s a commandment that Jesus commands us to follow – yep, I just said commands right next to commandments because we don’t seem to get the connection.  That command goes something like this: Go out and make Christians of all Nations.  Oop, doesn’t sound right?  Well, it’s not.  The command is actually this: Go out and make Disciples of all Nations (see Matthew 28).

Here’s catch number one: Making Christians, for a lot of us, means someone accepts Jesus, you give them a Bible and maybe a cookie to go with it if you’re one of those churches. You may send them to some guy in a corner to talk to for ten minutes, tell them to join a small group, and then they are on their way.  

So how is making disciples different?  Well according to Jesus, who I trust more than Wikipedia although even Wikipedia references Jesus here: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35). Therefore making disciples means making – or might we say shepherding and mentoring – people to love one another as Christ loves them. There’s no dump and run in Jesus’ model. Sure different people might be in charge of different parts, but as a Church, we’re to be committed to the whole deal.

Do you know the number one thing that college students tell me they want that they don’t get from their small groups?  It’s mentors.  Did you know that in 2006, which is decades ago in today’s fast paced world, 25% of young adults had ZERO close friends with whom to discuss deep personal matters. This is the world we live in and it is screaming for companionship and screaming for mentorship.

Here’s another catch: When Jesus says make disciples of all Nations, he doesn’t mean you personally all by yourself.  No, in fact, Jesus, the greatest superhero of all times (yes, even better than Iron Man, Captain America, or Optimus Prime)… he had twelve who were his closest companions, and even among those twelve some were closer to him than others. Only a couple of them got their own gig in the Bible.

In our society, time is possibly the largest yet least recognized thing we idolize.  We fill our days so full that we barely have time to stop and listen to a song, and I mean just listen without doing twelve other things.  If you want a take-away, it’s this; make time for mentoring people – LOTS of it.  If you are a leader and you don’t have at least 30% of your time free, I encourage you to find people who can take on some of your duties and burdens. I know it’s a catch-22, but find that free time and eventually you may just find that you have someone who’s 100% capable of taking over your work 100% of the time and doing it 110% as well as you did – why 10% more, well I didn’t want to scare you ego trippers out there.  If you’re feeling threatened at that thought though, the good news is that by the time you finish building other people up to that point, you’ll probably either be called somewhere else or ready to retire.  And yes, don’t mentor just one. Go for twelve.  Jesus wanted at least eleven with room for one bad apple.  Don’t mentor one person and go playing those odds.  As I like to say, what has greater impact - raising ten thousand lukewarm Christians, or one Billy Graham or Luis Palau (two men well known for massive scale evangelism)?

How much time do you spend shepherding?

Take It Out with the Trash

Owen and I went up Mt. Hoy today and hung out there to watch the sun set. For those who don't know, Mt. Hoy (maybe better known as Mt. Trashmore) is a reclaimed landfill that is now part of a forest preserve.

Just look at how something that is complete garbage can be turned into something beautiful. That kind of reminds me of how God works in our lives. He can take a terrible situation and mold it into something truly wonderful. God is awesome.

Wow Moments

Okay, so first below is some context for what I have to say later. This is from my daily devotional.

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The Columbia space shuttle’s guidance system kicks in when you’re in motion. That means you’ve got to get off the launching pad! Are you stuck in the same spot praying “Lord, I won’t make a move until I hear from You,” while He’s saying, “You’ll hear from Me once you’ve done what I’ve already put before you to do?” Sometimes we know what God wants, but we don’t like it. So we pray hoping He’ll change His mind and rubber-stamp what we desire.

The Bible says, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Heb 11:8 NIV). When you follow God you’ll go out not knowing as much as you’d like to. Counselors, study groups, committees, business plans and projections notwithstanding, there comes a time when you have to move in the direction God is pointing. Will you have unanswered questions and unspoken concerns? Absolutely. Just like your car’s headlights don’t shine round the next corner or over the next hill, God will give you direction on an ‘as need to know’ basis. That’s why Paul writes: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7). Actually, it’s the only way to go! It keeps you close to God, dependent on Him, and helps you remember Who the credit for all your successes belongs to. And by the way, God’s guidance system usually takes a lifetime to learn.

God guides us by closing one door then opening another. Abraham didn’t know where he was going, but he knew he couldn’t stay where he was – and that’s enough to create movement in the right direction. Knowing you can’t stay where you are is often the starting point of God’s guidance. And it usually begins with an inward stirring and restlessness in your soul. Seasons have beginnings and endings. When a season is over, you sense it’s time to move!

“They headed north [to]…Bithynia, but again the Spirit…said no. So instead they went on through Mysia province to the city of Troas. That night Paul had a vision. In his dream he saw a man over in Macedonia, Greece, pleading with him, ‘Come over here and help us.’ Well, that settled it. We would go to Macedonia, for we could only conclude that God was sending us to preach the Good News there” (Acts 16:7-10 TLB). Notice, when God kept Paul from going into Asia, Paul didn’t stay there praying and asking “why?” – he just kept moving. For Paul, trying something and it not working out was no big deal. He believed that his gift to God was his willing heart and his mobility, and that God’s gift to him was that He would always guide him to where he needed to be. What God prevents, denies, or keeps us away from, is as much divine guidance as what He permits and opens up to us. Every door that didn’t open, every opportunity you didn’t get, every call that didn’t come, is as much God’s guidance as those that did. Think about it!
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Now that you have that context, let me share my story.

I’ve been feeling God leading me towards a field where I am working much more closely with others in my life – something more towards the field of psychology or ministry. I still don’t know exactly where he is leading me – at least that is what I have been telling myself. I’m just lying to myself though. I know that he is leading me towards a different path.

Sally and I had a long talk out at one of the forest preserves the other day. I think it was very beneficial for the both of us. At one point we talked about a big decision that Sally has to make in her life. Her friends have given her some good advice on the subject and I believe they all agree with each other too, but Sally is still uncertain about what she should do.

I’ve never been one to want to offer suggestions for anything really big in someone’s life. I have my opinions, yes, for sure. And I have opinions in Sally’s case too, but I don’t feel like it is my place to tell her. I can tell her what I think is right and best, but that is still only what “I think.” Instead, I like to help people draw out the answers that God gives them. As we talked, things became clear to me as Sally described these occasional moments when she wasn’t distracted or busy with life when she had these feelings of knowing the action that she needed to take. I became inspired in that moment to ask: “Well do you ever get those kinds of feelings telling you to do the opposite or take a different action?” The answer was of course no. This made me really start to think about how we consume our minds with thoughts and reasons for both sides. But then there are these moments when we truly forget about all of the well ifs and what ifs and let God speak through. I call these the Wow moments. Those moments when your mind is clear, you’re thinking about the situation, and something just hits you - the puzzle pieces suddenly fit. These moments may come rarely, but they are consistent in the direction that they direct us towards.

For me, often the Wow moments come as I am driving along in my car listening to music, praising God, and thinking about my future or while I am just relaxing outside. In these moments, I get a “Wow, is God really actually calling me to go into a ministry field.” A deep gutting (but in a good way) feeling comes over me. But then the what ifs and well ifs start to set in and it scares me terribly. Well if I go into another field that means three more years of college, maybe more school after that. I have built up so much already around Biology and I do really enjoy it too. I have already been regionally recognized by multiple organizations for my work. I have so many friends who won’t understand my choice for change. I stood up this spring at an awards banquet as I had a plaque handed to me and the presenter joked about how people change their majors a lot during their Junior year. Then I would start to doubt things further about changing my major. I think about all my faults and shortcomings. I start to dwell over the responsibilities. I start to fear the unknowns. And just like that… What happened to my Wow moment? Maybe it was just me, maybe it wasn’t really God talking, besides how could he really be asking me to do something so crazy?

Our fears hold us back from so many things. Remember the story of how Jesus calms the storm? It was always one of my favorites as a child. Jesus is asleep in the boat as the group crosses the sea. Suddenly, a huge storm came upon them and began to fill the ship with water. The people come and wake Him up - pleading to Him. Then Jesus calms the storm. Mark 4:40 – “And he said to them, Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?” Isn’t that just like all of us? We are sailing along and Jesus is right here in the boat next to us and yet STILL when something big comes up we fear we are going to drown.

What dumb things to think. But the Wow moments are there trying to work through. Come now, you know where they come from. And who are we to doubt God’s works? God has built up this radiant, bizarre love inside of me. I can’t really explain it, but I know that I am being led to use that gift and give it back in a big way. I know the direction that he is leading me. Even if I don’t know which road to take, I can still walk in that direction. I know that he can build me up for whatever task he has set out before me.

God will guide us. We are so afraid of the unknown, yet it is one of the very things that can draw us closer to Him. Let God manage the unknowns. Just act upon what bits and pieces of wisdom he allocates to you. And goodness, when God gives you a piece of the puzzle, don’t turn it over in your hand. Like me, do you get such a clear picture and then turn around and doubt it. Do you ever pick up a puzzle piece, stare at it, and ponder over which side is the top? Have you ever tried to put together a puzzle upside down? It’s pretty hard to match up the blank brown pieces. And even if you do, what picture do you have when it’s finished?

Gather up your pieces, turn them all right side up, and start trying to fit them together. Even though you don’t have a box cover to refer back to, after awhile you will start to recognize a picture and the pieces will fit more easily. There will still be holes and gaps, but you will have a direction to go on. Just like a puzzle, when we choose to follow God’s will, we start by connecting together the corners and edges. They may not seem like much at first, nor seem like important parts of the image, but they act as the corner stones and boundaries within which the image will unveil itself in greater detail over time.

Thanks Sally because our talk also helped me see where God is leading me. I hope it was helpful for you too and will help others here who are facing big decisions in their lives.

Oh yes, and I would certainly like to invite anyone reading this to have a one-on-one talk about whatever you are trying to work through most in your life right now - whether you just want a listening ear or want some direction. It’s something I’ve been feeling led to do for a long time. Just give me a call or drop me a note and let me know.

Favorite Places

I took a little family road trip to the Mississippi Palisades today. I think this spot may have my favorite scenery in Illinois. It's amazing to look out from the bluffs down over the Mississippi River. It's s0 beautiful compared to what I'm use to in Illinois. Here are some pictures, but I really wish you could be there to experience it with me in person some time.

Springtime Nature

I've been getting out and enjoying my time off this Spring / Summer. I've been out birding a lot with friends and doing photography this week. Here are some recent photos.

Happiness

Today marks the end of a week long fast for many students at Judson College. Congrats to everyone who participated in this. During a fast we take something ungodly out of our day, week, or month that we lust or yearn for. I challenge everyone to stop and take a deeper look at this from a life perspective. Regardless of whether or not you participated in the week long fast, stop for a moment right now and think about everything that is driving and influencing your life apart from God.

What things are you holding on to? What is idolling your life away? What past or present experiences are you unwilling to let go of in your life. What truths do you know, but not want to admit? Who are you mad at or unwilling to forgive? What sin, what guilt is still heavy on your heart? What pain are you unwilling to cease dwelling upon?

Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales, spoke at the iMAGO film festival and I really liked what he had to say. I was really moved by what he had to say about his life in particular because it rings so true with my ideals: when you let go “your dreams will become God’s dreams”

Letting go is what it is all about. Unfortunately (though fortunately in the long run), for most of us, truly letting go first requires really loosing something big. We lead these mundane, but seemingly happy lives, all the while not noticing how distant we truly our from God.

Even a man like Phil Vischer – a man who brought Christianity into many homes through the Veggie Tales characters of Larry, Bob, and others – ended up slipping away despite his seeming success.

Happiness is when you can give up everything that you are holding on to and just praise God. Through the Holy Spirit we are filled with joy, a joy that comes through praising God and putting ourselves to work for others.

Loosing everything is ultimately what restored Phil Vischer’s life. Suddenly, a man at the forefront of a booming, popular media craze – who became wrapped up in his desires and dreams instead of the Lord’s – found himself wrongly convicted in a court trial and the head of a now bankrupt company.

You know when it seems like everything bad that could happen to you does… and all at once? Well, pay attention, because the term coincidence is often little more than an atheistic word used to brush away the works of God. How ironic that those challenging things, those things that can never be adequately explained away, when they appear… suddenly the word coincidence becomes a justified, scientific term – a rational non-explanation in a modernistic society with a hard driven purpose to explain and prove without doubt every little unimportant question in life.

For Phil Vischer, like people everywhere, going through this time of trial was a wake up call that brought him much more in line with God’s purpose and filled him with a happiness and love much greater than that which he had previously known.

Let go of your life. Allow God to take control. Desire to live for God and share his love with others. Listen to what he tells you and look for his comforting hand when you are struggling – through nature, friends, dreams however he shows it to you.

As you allow yourself to focus more and more on God and allow yourself to stop managing and randomly using up time in your life, you will find an amazingly strong, lasting love and happiness that comes only through Christ.

PRAISE

I walked slowly down the concrete sidewalk. Oh the night air - it is so cold. I cross my arms in front of me trying to keep in the warmth. Hunched over slightly as I walk, my cold back grows ever more stiff. Cars whiz by me to my left, nothing between the sidewalk and the road and brick buildings to my other side pressing me ever closer to the road. Yet still, I feel an eerie silence. I look down. The street light above casts a cool bluish light. It draws a harsh shadow on the concrete in front of me. Barred windows trim off the buildings. Passersby walk along with firm faces looking so gazingly forward down at the path in front of them that they almost loose a sense of life. But I lift my head. I look at their faces; what I can see of them…

I take in the air and let out a deep, slow breath that seems to ride upon it, fading but never ending. So damp here. So cold. Potholed streets. Littered alleys. Glowing, yet lifeless signs hanging above struggling businesses with locked doors. Then I breathe in again – drawing in the souls of those walking by me with heads down. Oh how I see them. How wonderful. How drawn in your image, Lord. But so many, how so lost. Let me breathe out again, but this time let your love ride on the warmth of the air. Let your life light the streets. Let your image clean the litter. Let your spirit lift laden heads. Use me for your purpose. Use me to bring your word of life - to them.

I am a shameful man. A sinner beyond reproach. And you have saved me. You have filled me with a love soooooo amazingly strong. Rays of love break through my soul and body like pins, exploding beams of light, dancing out from within me. My head leans back, my arms down yet in my mind outstretched as wide in praise. I close my eyes. A love so strong I grow ever more weary, literally my body aches from joy. I return it all to you. Give it to others too. Let me share it with others. Let me scour the world for them. I have something to share. I have found a path in my life. It comes through Jesus Christ. I have found purpose and joy beyond earthly justification. It is in the Holy Spirit. Lord use me! Give Me Words! Fill My Spirit! Let me do your will! Let me pour out your love! Lord, I come to you now. Turn my ways and guide me. Give me direction. Let me turn my life to you. Oh Lord, I LOVE you with all my heart. I LOVE you. Use me now! Use me for your will!