Monday, September 20, 2010

Get your life in shape

"I haven't been able to start this yet..." "I haven't felt powerful enough for that..."  "I don't feel really focused..."  "I've been lazy..." "I haven't had time to..."  Ever said any of those before? In our church we recognized ourselves saying these same things over and over again this last summer, and felt like God was trying to tell us something!  So we responded, and this month our church has been focusing on a series about discipline!

What is discipline, you ask? Great question. Maybe it's like what Louis Armstrong said about jazz - "If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."  But I think we can take a look at a couple of definitions.  Off the top of my head, I can't remember who said these, but they've stuck:

Being able to do what needs to get done, when it needs to get done.


Applying pain or restraint for redemptive purposes.
The Bible, of course, also has a lot to say about discipline.  If I were (and I'm going to) take a stab at defining discipline according to the Bible, I would say that discipline is...
To be corrected, shaped, trained, punished, or restrained from errant behavior, usually in the context of obeying God, living righteously, or accomplishing a calling/purpose.
I'm crafting this definition mostly from the two places that the topic of discipline explicitly occurs the most: in the book of Proverbs and in Hebrews 12.  Proverbs is a book about choosing a life of wisdom. Hebrews is a book about heroes who lived an adventurous faith. So if you take the occurrences of discipline from both these books, you can draw two very powerful conclusions about embracing a disciplined life:

1. It is wise to be disciplined (Proverbs)
2. Discipline is the key to becoming great (Hebrews)

So if you'd like to live a wise life that actually accomplishes the great purposes for which God has called you (albeit in your marriage, your career, your ministry, etc.), then this is for you.  But it takes a little shaping up for us to move in that direction. So I'd like to share some practical keys that we discussed on how to do that. But first, I need to share a couple of rules of thumb to make sense out of those keys.

You reap what you sow
You will only be as capable as the effort you put in, and what you are is what comes out.  So the more you work and maintain an aspect of your life (health, a skill, hobby, career, relationship, walking in the Spirit, etc.), the more effective you will be at it. Transformation and success don't just come to you. You have to work at it intentionally.

No discipline = death
Sorry to be so harsh, but Proverbs 5:21-23 is pretty clear about what happens if you fail to work at the things that are important - they die.  A lack of discipline will result in death to your dreams, opportunities, career, relationships, etc.  But the ones who are the most disciplined in life will experience fuller lives.  Unfortunately, while many people don't "finish" well, especially leaders, it's just as true that many more people don't start well. Or start at all!

Ok, so here are 5 keys of discipline to shape up your life:

1. Have a vision for your life, and write it out.
What is it that you want to do? What do you need to do? What does God want you to do? What is your calling? Where is your life going? What are your opportunities? What are your obstacles? What are your dreams and goals?  The point is, be aware about what your life is about and should be about.  And put that into writing.

2. Have a "Game Day" for your life
Most people don't like discipline because they feel  like they're working hard for nothing. We all know that athletes or musicians practice because they have to perform.  What is it that you're working for? When do you need to "perform". If you aren't already an athlete or performing artist, then maybe your performance is your job, your relationships, your family, your ministry, etc.

3. Have a plan for your vision, and write it out
How will you accomplish your goals? What will it take for you to do that? What are your steps to get there?  When you will work on it? The idea here is to be intentional about prioritizing what needs to get done, when it needs to get done. If you don't have a specific action plan and schedule, then you'll constantly find yourself on dates with Mr. TV or Miss Couch Potato.

4. Have some accountability
Who knows about your goals? Who is going to help you and challenge you?  If you communicate these things to other people, then it greatly increases your chances of being successful at those those important things in your life.

5. No more excuses, just do it.
Actually, most people are good at steps 1-4. It's 5 that is the killer.  But if you want to be a person of integrity, who does what you say want to do, then you'll just do it.

On that note, I'll leave you with this classic Nike commercial of Matt Scott.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Leadership is stepping back to the plate and hitting a home run

 Want to see an example of leadership? You would have seen it in the game the White Sox played against the Twins this last Thursday.

Let me set up the scene for you. Twins' pitcher Carl Pavano hits White Sox captain Paul Konerko with a pitch just under the nose and bloodies Konerko's mouth.  Pause.

Konerko hit by pitch in 1st inning.

 

Now let me set the background for you. All season long the White Sox have been battling back from a poor start in the season. They had an amazing run midway through the season, coming from 9 games behind, to put them in first place. But then their bitter rivals, the Minnesota Twins started playing out of their minds and eventually overtook the Sox in the standings. And they especially did that by outmatching the Sox all season, winning 13 of 18 games against the Good Guys.  The Twins didn't play that well against any other team, and statistically, they're no more talented than the Sox. They should have at least split wins this season. But instead, it just seemed like they had the Sox number mentally all season, even to the point of bullying the Sox with bean pitches. (It kind of reminded me of the rivalry betwen the Bulls and Pistons in late 80's).  So this was the last game of the last series that the Sox would play against the Twins this season. Before the start of this series, the Sox were 6 games back from the Twins with about 20 games left in the season. Their only chance to stay alive was this very series, and they had to sweep the Twins.  But by this game, the Sox had already lost the first two games of the series.  Their season is basically over for them.

Let's give a little more back story. Paul Konerko is a 10 year Sox veteran and World Series hero. But as he ages, he also has been battling for his career over the last few years with the Sox.  Trade rumors have regularly surrounded Konerko. But this guy has always been totally committed to his teammates, always the toughest leader on the field, and always the best player, no matter what. He's the kind of player that makes Chicago a great sports city. He's not the overly vocal type, because his game and his character speak for itself.  Not suprisingly, this season he has been playing out of his mind as well, on track to having one of his best seasons of his career.  But there's a very strong chance he won't be back next season in a White Sox uniform.

So back to the game. The trainers insist that he come out of the game. Why wouldn't they? The season is basically over. Why kill yourself for nothing? But Konerko insists on staying in the game.  At his very next at bat, Konerko allows Pavano to throw him one pitch.  Konerko hits a home run.

Konerko hits home run in 3rd inning.
The Sox lost that game. They needed to sweep the Twins that series. The Twins instead swept them. The Sox aren't going to the playoffs, and for all other intents and purposes, this will be a forgettable season for them. But that moment will be unforgettable for me, and not because of baseball, and not because I'm a Sox fan. (I promise I would have done this if it were a Cubs player - but this just makes me feel better about being a Sox fan).

I just want to be clear about something...this about way more than baseball. So let me take my Sox hat off as I evaluate this.  This is the kind of guy you want to be around. This is the kind of guy that you want in your organization, in your church, in your neighborhood, in your family, in your brigade, in your school. You marry your daughter to this guy. This is the kind of guy that shows you what leadership looks like: you get hit in the mouth, you come right back and hit a home run.  This is the kind of guy you do not get rid of.


Friday, September 17, 2010

A church about nothing...well, hopefully something

Earlier this week we were casting some vision to a group of our friends about our church.  To fill you in, our church is a grassroots/simple style approach - so for some in the room, it was probably a slightly different paradigm. So afterward, my good friend Vince comes up to me and says, "I think I can sum up your church for you with one word: nothing.  You go to a cafe and talk to someone - that's a church!"  And we started laughing. (If you don't know, he was alluding to a classic Seinfeld episode where Jerry and George are giving a pitch for their show "about nothing" to a bunch of NBC executives.)

At first blush, grassroots paradigms of church like ours seem really disorganized and loosy-goosy.  "You don't meet in a centralized building, you don't have classic ministry programs, no lead pastor etc.  What do you do?!  Seems like you just meet anywhere and anything happens and everything is church." Some people misconceive it as that, but in reality, some leaders in those churches also actually do them like that. I think both sides are wrong. When it comes to reimagining new ways of doing and being church, it's important not to throw the baby out with the bath water.

When Jesus taught his disciples the metaphor about renewing wineskins, he was attempting to help them understand the relationship between the substance (wine) and the form (wineskin) of faith. The wine being what's most important. So to imagine refreshment and positive change means doing it in a way where you don't throw out the wine, or the baseline subtance that you're supposed to experience.

But people still have a hard time thinking of church (wine) in a different way (wineskin).  On the one hand, some people have a hard time letting go of the old "wineskin." They can't view church any other way than being in a central building on a Sunday morning, and having neat programs, and being administered with business-like organization, etc. On the other hand, some pioneers are letting go of the "wine" and begin shaping up all these "wineskins" with nothing to fill them. They don't want to be confined to institutional structures of the church, but end up doing...just whatever.  So in an attempt to be more "authentic," they are actually experiencing a church about nothing.

Frank Viola refers to this latter set of people as "Post Church Christianity:"
This paradigm is rooted in the attempt to practice Christianity without belonging to an identifiable community that regularly meets for worship, prayer, fellowship, and mutual edification. Advocates claim that spontaneous social interaction (like having coffee at Starbucks whenever they wish) and personal friendships embody the New Testament meaning of "church." Those who hold on to this paradigm believe in an amorphous, nebulous, phantom church.

Such a concept is disconnected with what we find in the New Testament. The first-century churches were locatable, identifiable, visitable communities that met regularly in a particular locale. For this reason, Paul could write a letter to these identifiable communities (local churches) with some definite idea of who would be present to hear it. (Reimagning Church, 40)
There are also several others who ponder that same issue of what actually constitutes a church. And if you go to any church and ask any pastor what are the basics of what his or her church does (or should do), you'll likely discover that church basically boils down to three experiences:
  1. Communion - people gathering together for discipleship, worship, celebration, etc. It's our connection to God.
  2. Community - people gathering together for fellowship and relationship building.  It's our connection to each other.
  3. Commission - people gathering together for evangelism, outreach, service, etc. It's our connection to the world.
(Notice that clever alliteration - makes for a good sermon outline!)

So maybe a very simple definition of a church is a set of people who intentionally experience communion, community, and commission together.  That would be the "wine." So as long as people are committed to doing those three things regularly, then...that's a church!  No matter how big or small, or where or how.

If we understand Jesus' wine/wineskin thing correctly, then can we be content to imagine various ways of experiencing church that are both substantive (wine) and creative (wineskin)?

Unfortunately, as my college theology professor always said, the church tends to major in the minors and minor in the majors - we confuse our priorities. For these purposes, we fail to imagine new ways of being church because we put the "wineskins" before the wine - that's a lack of creativity and flexibility. And it's also clear, on the flipside, that there are people who don't major or minor in anything, and try to pass that off as church - that's a lack of substance, commitment, and accountability.

So for us to say that church should Be Organic (that church should happen right where you are in the rhythm of your life) means that people should be gathering intentionally right wherever they are to experience communion, community, and commission together. And that's a church. And I believe that "where you are" is where the richest and most Spirit-empowered experience of Christian community takes place. It's not the only way, but we should validate and bless that expression as another legitimate and powerful way  to experience church.  But it's got to be about something.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Subverting poverty through sharing

The Chicago Tribune just released an article revealing that 1 in 7 Americans live in poverty.  Sometimes it is hard to believe that this is the case for such an "affluent country," and I do agree that sometimes as Americans we throw pity parties for ourselves about being so poor. Many of us don't actually know what it means to be poor - especially if you've been to some really poor countries. But at the same time, I don't think there are enough Americans out there who realize just how poor some of our pockets of America are. Not just that, but how close poverty actually is to us.  That may be something that is surprising to people, and it may also be something that many of us ignore. But that is the exact reality that I hope people would begin to recognize.  Namely, that poverty is much closer to us than we think. That would include poverty being close in proximity (where you live) and relationship (who you know), but also experience (you!).

I'm always floored by people I meet in our Fresh Market Food pantry who would never have thought to find themselves being jobless and unable to buy groceries, and here they are in a food pantry, painfully and pridefully holding back tears of embarrassment and insecurity.  But the thing is, you never know how close poverty is to you.  In this sense, life is very delicate.  And for some people, also despairing and absurd.

What is just as tragic, though, about poverty, is that it just seems like our quality of life and the scope of our service to others depends so much on the economy.  Meaning, it's as if a good economy means we'll be happy and that we can do good things in the world, but a bad economy terrifies us and we restrict the good we do in the world. In the back of my mind, coming from a non-profit/ministry environment, I guess I'm thinking about how sad it is that so many good ministries and non-profit programs (for the poor!) have had to close down because of the economy.  And it seems like we base our entire lives on financial stability. And that our quality of life and our benevolence are directly proportionate to the state of the economy. Granted, while I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I realize that I have never been that poor, nor have I been laid off from a job, so I say this, as Arloa Sutter would say, with my hand over my mouth. But I just feel like that quality of life:quality of economy proportion is false - that the economy shouldn't paralzye us from living joyfully, and should not determine our ability to keep doing good. 

And it makes me wonder - "Can simple sharing subvert poverty?"

I think the right thing to do to for some immediate poverty relief is not just rely on the government to create programs to stimulate the economy or to increase public welfare programs, but for neighbors, friends and family members to do little things like sharing to subvert the realities of poverty. It's not a democratic or republican issue - at the root I think it's a sharing issue.

When someone you know needs to pay for school, but will need to take out a loan and live in debt to do it - can you help them out? When someone's car breaks down and they can't afford the costs - how can you come alongside of them? When someone needs to work two jobs and still pay for day care - will you be there for them? I can go on.  But what if you become that person in need? Will you let someone help you?

Unfortunately, two things happen that should never happen in a place where they should never happen. In a church, 1) people are too prideful to admit that they have hit rough times - it's that good old American can-do spirit, and 2) there are people who do actually request prayers to others for God to meet tough financial needs, and friends will pray sincerely, but they will not answer that prayer by simply sharing.

So that above-mentioned economic paralysis confronts and threatens sharing in two corresponding ways: 1) Someone who newly experiences poverty is usually ashamed to receive help - so it's hard for them to accept it. 2) People who are not poor (or people who are in a position to help) are often either blind to those in need, or become too tight-fisted (because of money being tight) to help others in need.  So no one gets help.

I know povety is a big issue that needs to be resolved in a multifaceted way. And I know that organizations need money to keep their programs open. But I wonder what difference it would make if we, the regular Joes and Janes, just had a posture to share - just like they did in the old days. (They did that in the old days, right?). Because a posture to share is a currency that we can always control.  Aside from well advised economic development and policies, which are needed, average people like you and me can still make a powerful impact through a simple gesture and posture.

Jesus told his followers, "you will always have the poor among you."  But Jesus also would have said that not everybody is poor. Meaning, there are always going to be people who have and who do not have.  And sometimes those nearest to you are the ones who become poor. And sometimes the one who becomes poor is you.  So what role will sharing play in your life when poverty comes a knocking?

On my way out of here, I will speak to both crowds:
1. If you're in tough times, bon't be ashamed to let someone else share with you, especially from people who are near to you. It's a spiritual practice that helps them draw nearer to God and become a better human being in His image.  And...duh...it helps you. So stop being stubborn!
2. If you're in a stable economic situation, Be prepared and willing to share with those in need, especially those who are near, in whatever way you can.  God has given to you freely, so you should freely give, since...duh...it's not yours anyway. So stop being stingy!

I think it's that simple.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The Invisible - a new must read!

A new book just hit the scene by a woman whom I respect very much. Arloa Sutter, the founder and executive director of Breakthrough just released her first book called The Invisible.  This is the kind of book that will hit you between the eyes so that you can begin to see and serve the invisible poor around you.
But if you really want to get an idea about what kind of woman Arloa is before reading this book, check out this article about her experience being inside the invisible world of the homeless.  She's the real deal, and this book will change your life, I'm sure.