What kind of a Pastor are you? ….and does your church know it?

August 26, 2008

My friend Bill Tenny-Brittian has a great post today on his blog. You have got to check it out!

I have worked with a lot of different churches and church people over the last 20 years and a consistent theme is that they all seem to think that pastors are either superbeings or schmucks. The truth, of course, is that we are somewhere in between.

Bill makes this so clear as he explains the five different kinds of pastors. Read it and tell me what kind you are (or your pastor is).

Maybe once we get in touch with reality - we can start doing the Great Commission.

Spiritual Food from Soul Calibur IV

August 23, 2008

You don’t even have to buy this game much less play it – just ask yourself the question that is the slogan on the advertisement:

What’s within your soul?

This is such a cool question - because it can and should be asked of each of us and the institutions we belong to.

Everyone has four aspects to the self.

Physical or Body Intellectual or Mind Emotional or Feelings Spiritual or Soul

Bodies are shaped by what we eat and how we exercise (or not) Right now my physical self is impacted by the the fact that I am hungry and haven’t started dinner and the fact that I missed my exercise today.

Minds are shaped by what we put into them, too. Haven’t you played BrainAge2 or started doing crossword puzzles to keep your mind fit? My mind is shaped by my curiosity and all the mysteries I read.

Our Emotional selves need friends and connections so we don’t get isolated and lonely. Aren’t you grateful for your family, friends, and pets? I don’t know where I would be without family. And all of us agree that Sheba, our 140 lb Newfoundland dog, is a great therapist.

Souls need…what?
I am not the first to ask this, people have talked about it from the beginning of time. Most have concluded that our souls need to worship. And that need is so strong that we will worship even when we think we are not. The answer to What’s within your soul? is found in your answer to the second important question:

What do you worship?

The thing or things you worship are the things in your life that you put above everything else. Theologian Paul Tillich called those things our “ultimate concerns”. What are those things for you? Work, family, music, money, football, church, the way things used to be…

What do you put above everything else in your life?

What do you worship?

What’s within your soul?

Monsterquest, the Search for Faith, and the North American Church

August 21, 2008

I’m a Monsterquest fan.

I watch it on Wednesday nights (8:00pm EST on The History Channel). I admit that I have serious questions about the scientific rigor of some (okay – most) of their experiments. But I enjoy watching these intense people describe their encounters with the Hairy Beast, The Grass Man of Ohio, or the Super Rats in New York City.

They have something to believe in and - even though it might be scary – they have a peace about it. Their belief has given them a passion, a certitude and a purpose that isn’t possible without faith. Their faith is in Sasquatch, or The Black Beast of Exmoor, and mine is in Jesus Christ, the Hope of the World. But I am sure to Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins, we look pretty much the same.

Most churches in North America could benefit from more passion, more certitude, and more purpose. Churches that have these three characteristics are the ones that thrive. But for churches to change, the people in them have to change first and I think the most churchgoers in North America are afraid that they will end up like the people on Monsterquest facing humiliation on a national TV show as they discover that the tracks they believed were the Black Beast are really those of a neighbor’s Bernese Mountain Dog.

The problem is that we don’t even have the guts of the Monsterquest people who always continue in dedication to their monster even though their experiments don’t bring the certain proof they long for. Most Christians I know are not even willing to tell of their experiences of Jesus Christ – most Christians I know do not even expect experiences of Jesus – so – they don’t know them when they happen. Monsterquest people expect great things, most Christians sigh “Well … what do you expect.”

The first step to change is to expect great things – and the second is to have the guts of a Monsterquest person. After all faith in Jesus Christ brings transformation, and let’s face it, the Grass Man of Ohio doesn’t bring that.

Serenity now, aka I have control of my blog!

August 19, 2008

Thanks to my friend, Glenn  (check out www.churchmedic.com )  I can now blog in freedom!

   The whole process of building my blog has helped me to understand more fully the complexities of control and controllers.  Churches are filled with controllers.  They are the people who do everything they can to prevent change.  Why?  Because change is scary - because they don’t want to “go with the flow” they want to control the flow!

   But the reality of faith is understanding that we are not God, and therefore we are not in control.  It is the basic message the spiritual life.  Look at the basic precepts of Buddhism, look at 12 step programs, look at what Jesus taught - it is all about changing what you can and trusting in God.

Years ago, my then 8 year old son, Mike, was having a tough year in school.  I found a great saying to put on his wall - and 12 years later it still hangs there; just 10 little words:  Mike, Trust me, I have everything under control.  Love, Jesus

Give me the serenity to  accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and  the wisdom to know the difference.

Are you a Hero?

August 6, 2008

I have been thinking about heroes a lot lately.  For two reasons mainly, the newest and last Harry Potter book, and the fact we will be learning about the Biblical Kings David and Solomon throughout the Fall at my church.

The sad reality is that we have few heroes these days, and we really need them.

In past times, people could hear the stories of flawed, but great leaders, like David and Solomon, Mary Magdalene, Mother Teresa,  and, yes, Harry Potter, and learn from their lives.  Now we tend to pay so much attention to the weaknesses of heroes that we can’t benefit from their struggles and strengths.  The result is that, for us, greatness is defined by money, success, and fame, instead of by perseverance, courage, and faithfulness.

Yet there are heroes all around us, if we just choose to see them.  They are mothers, like my friend, Lisa, who goes to school and works and still provides a safe and happy home for her kids.  They are fathers, like my friend, Mark, who works long hours so that his family will know that they are loved and protected.  They are husbands, like my friend, Ken, who faithfully cares for his disabled wife.  They are Christian leaders, like my friend, Tim, who works diligently to help young people make the right choices.

The commonality in all the heroes I have described (and I admit I changed some of their names) is that they live by faith and not by sight.  They know they have chosen the more difficult path, but they can not choose any other, because it is the path to which God has called them.

To what path does God call you? 

Do you know a hero?

Great New Book on a Challenging Topic

Hallelujah – a book on evangelism for the rest of us!    I just finished reading Hitchhiker’s Guide to Evangelism by Bill Tenny-Brittian (soon to be released by Chalice Press).  In the interests of full disclosure, I will admit that Bill is a friend and we sometimes work together.  But you should also know that I did my doctoral project on Evangelism and have read and taught mucho books on the topic.

Folks – you have got to get this one. 
Hitchhikers is clear, practical, and down-to earth, with no assumptions the you will ever be able to  instantaneously lead the person next to you on an airplane to Jesus.   That is not the point of this book.  The point is sharing the good news in a positive, authentic way - while maintaining your integrity and respect for wanderers (Bill’s term for non-believers). 
Especially while maintaining your integrity and respect for wanderers.  This is not about manipulation.

Hitchhiker’s Guide to Evangelism has shot straight to the top of my favorite books on evangelism.