Monday, June 29, 2009

Mass Customization

A few years ago I worked for the manufacturing department of an awesome retail chain. One of the departments I oversaw was the department that made the custom picture frames sold at the retail outlets. Each day we would produce some 2000 unique frames. Each one would be made from the moulding of the customer's choosing and to the size of the customer's individual need. The business world term for this is "mass customization". Every customer got exactly what he or she wanted or was willing to pay for. Americans love uniqueness. We love to have something made just for us, just the way we ordered.

We tell people that God has a unique plan and purpose for each individual life. And it is true that an infinite God has infinite ways to accomplish His purpose in our lives. But many wait on the sidelines for a revelation of this individual plan and purpose before doing anything for the cause of Christ. As much as we don't want to admit it, much of God's will is general and applies to every believer. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind , and spirit applies to everybody. So does love your neighbor as yourself. That one is all encompassing and pretty much is a lifetime's work for any of us. So what if you don't get a clear audible voice telling you to go to Africa or to study music at a certain school. You already have more than a lifetime of work ahead of you. Just start doing it. Don't wait for God's mass customization of his will.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Help Wanted

I was talking to a pastor of one of the local churches a couple of weeks ago. He told me that they were going to do something they had not done in years; they were going to put on a pancake breakfast to raise money for a certain missionary. He knew that I had done many breakfasts and asked if I would help them. I planned to help but then found that I have a Teen Challenge board meeting that same morning. When I called yesterday to say that I wouldn't be able to come, the pastor told me that they had just made the decision a day before to cancel the breakfast because they couldn't find four people in the church who would help. That broke my heart.

My prayer is that as Catalyst School of Ministry goes forward we will be sending many trained and motivated people into churches such as this one to help them. I'm looking forward to the day when our people are saying, I've been sitting at the table long enough. It's time for me to go to work. And they go to churches they wouldn't normally attend if it was all about them. And they help pastors who have a vision but lack help. By faith, that day is coming.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

High School Reunion

Last week was the 35 year reunion of the Putnam City High School class of 1974. I didn't attend. I had other plans, but they could have been changed if I had really wanted to go. I had a good time in high school. Putnam City was and is a very good public school. I feel I got an above average education. It was an enormous graduating class, numbering 925. I was fairly treated, and have no memories of great humiliation or embarrassment. It was at PCHS that I met Carole, the love of my life. So why, with all those good memories, didn't I want to go? It is because I didn't make any friends in high school, other than Carole, that I keep up with. There wasn't anyone coming I was dying to see. Isn't that awful? And it's all my own fault. I chose to be an anonymous student. It's easy to do in a big school. Show up for classes, make average grades, don't cause any trouble, and no one will remember if you were there or not. Then, 35 years later, you can envy those who still keep in close contact with their high school friends, even though they live in different parts of the country. My advice to young people in high school and college: Make lifetime friendships and keep them current. Not doing so is the only regret of my youth.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Cataracts

Both of my parents and two of my grandparents had to have surgery for cataracts, so chances are real good that at some point I will have to, also. Cataracts develop slowly and the person really isn't aware that their vision is getting cloudy. When the surgery is complete, every patient is amazed that colors are so vivid and that lights are so bright.

It is also common for people of vision to develop "spiritual cataracts". After a lifetime of risk taking and problem solving, their life vision begins to dim. It happens slowly over time and the visionary is not even aware that he no longer sees opportunities; he begins to see obstacles. What is sad is that when visionaries lose their vision, there is no surgery to correct it. Many times they never realize that their vision has slipped. They just slip into irrelevance.

Eli, who was priest at the time of young Samuel's coming of age developed physical and spiritual cataracts. His eyesight dimmed, and so did his spiritual vision. He didn't see how he was no longer taking a stand for what was right and he chose not to see the evil that his sons were doing at the temple. God bypassed the experienced man of God and spoke directly to the inexperienced young Samuel.

On the other hand, Caleb, who, along with Joshua had faith to receive the Promised Land got his inheiritance after many battles. He asked for the hill country and headed out for more adventures even though he had earned the right to a little lakeside lot where he could "chill". He had a clear vision of what he could accomplish for God, and he did it will past retirement age.

I think I want to be a Caleb.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Ministry or Program?

There always seems to be some confusion between ministries and programs. This confusion sometimes causes trouble during discussions concerning ministry focus in a denomination or local church. In my way of thinking, ministry is the direct sharing of Christ with someone else. This can take many many different forms from serving kool-aid at VBS to crusade evangelism. Anytime we convey Christ in any way at any level to another we are engaged in ministry.

Programs are the organizations which systemitize ministry. For an example, teaching children the stories of the Bible is a ministry. Sunday School is a program. You may be called to teach children and Sunday School gives you the opportunity to utilize your calling. If Sunday School changes, it doesn't mess with your ministry; it changes the program through which you do ministry. Teaching children biblical principles is foundational to a local church. The programs used to teach them must be evaluated constantly. I feel that it is important to keep that perspective. We are called to ministries, not programs.

By the way, this post is not to prepare you for any major announcements of changes to programs at Lakeside/Highpointe. It's just what is on my mind today. As you know, I think of all kinds of wierd things.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

FLiC Update

The improvements to the FLiC are beginning to take shape. The new roof is installed. This means that the youth don't have to put out buckets when it rains anymore. The skylights have been removed so there can be complete control of the lighting environment. The new rock veneer is up on the front. The changes inside have been dramatic, but you haven't seen anything, yet! As the finishing touches begin, your eyes will boggle; Boggle, I say. I just want to take this opportunity to make sure that the youth of Lakeside/Highpointe know that this is being done because the church leadership loves you and believes in you. There are many projects that need to be done in the main building, but the FLiC projects were moved to the front of the line because our spiritual leaders recognize the incredibly important role you play in the Kingdom of God.

I know that just because we are located in a nice part of town, it doesn't mean that the young people here don't have real problems. I know that issues like eating disorders, same sex attraction, cutting, drugs, promiscuity and pornography are affecting not only other people's kids, they are affecting our church kids as well. The addition of the Loft and the repairs to the FLiC are just one way to give a tangible message of our love and committment to young people. The goal is that a friendly environment such as the Loft will encourage youth to seek loving counsel and support as they find life's answers in the unconditional love of Christ. But know this; we aren't building a safe hangout for our kids so they will not have to encounter "worldly" kids. We are building it so that young people who are in the midst of the struggle can find peace in the love of God.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Role Players

On the wall of my office I have a sign that reads: TEAM- Together Everyone Aggravates Me. This is my response to the motivational poster of a few years ago that said "together eveyone achieves more". My interpretation is funnier, but the original is more accurate in general. (Specifically, everyone does aggravate me, but I've dealt with that in previous posts.)

Last night the Lakers won the NBA championship. Kobe Bryant was the MVP but he didn't win the championship. The Lakers did. We saw last year that Kobe can take them a long way, but not all the way. This year, we saw that LeBron James can take Cleveland a long way, but not all the way. Even Michael Jordan's Bulls were bounced from the playoffs early until he had a supporting cast. Then for several years they were unstoppable. This year, many players who have much less talent than Kobe contributed in valuable ways at critical times to bring about the championship.

I have always been one of those less talented guys. I do a lot of things okay, but I am not the best at anything I do. I have always had respect for the role player; the guy who contributes to the best of his ability at critical times to help the organization. The stars need role players or the team will never reach the top.

Church is a lot like that. Everyone of us has a role to play. Just because we can't preach to thousands or sing and play an instrument, we still have a job to do and a role to fill. Everyone doing what they can do with the best of their ability will get much done. There are many more role players than superstars. But there are no true superstars without the role players.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Country Clubs

I would make a great country club member. When I was a boy the company my dad worked for furnished him a membership at Twin Hills country club. I got to hang around there quite a bit. As an adult, I have been invited to play golf at a couple of country clubs. I like it. I think I could fit in. I have a college degree and a good vocabulary. I can hold my own in conversations about a variety of topics. I know how to steer clear of controversial subjects and the proper time to use the various forks that are arranged around my chilled salad plate. I have a decent golf game and understand the etiquette and rules. I understand the workings of business and finance. While I don't enjoy politics, you won't lose me quickly in a political discussion. I can dress appropriately for any but the most formal of affairs. It would be very comfortable and enjoyable to drive into the country club parking lot knowing that the hired help's only goal was to see to my needs while I enjoy socializing with other people like me. The screening committee would make sure that no one unworthy of associating with us would ever receive membership. That's important for maintaining decorum and the good name of the club.

I don't have the money to join a country club, but I do go to church. If I give in the offering each week, don't I have a right to expect good service from the pastor and his staff? Shouldn't they be seeing to it that I have a good experience from the time I arrive until the time I leave? Shouldn't they be screening the riff raff so that I have no uncomfortable moments while I worship?

You who know me know I am being facetious. I believe the biggest challenge that we, the Church here in the U.S. have before us is how we transition from the country club mentality to one where we expect to rub shoulders with people whose political, sexual, and ethnic worldviews may differ radically from our own. How do we become a community of believers and stop being religious consumers? How do we get to being more concerned for the whole body of Christ and less concerned about our own individual opinion? The implications of this transition are mind boggling. Let me know what you think.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Friend of Sinners

A recurring charge against Jesus while he lived here on earth was that he was a friend of sinners. That he would eat with them and allow them to touch him offended and scandalized the good people who were just trying to preserve their church and its traditions. It offended them to the point that when they were given the choice to free Jesus or a notorious criminal they chose the criminal. He posed no threat to their way of doing things.
During the event of crucifixion, the people who were closest to Jesus were thieves. The only one who spoke up to affirm Jesus' divinity was a Roman centurian, whose ethnicity prohibited his participation in "church". None of the "good" people were with him. They either cheered his death or felt that Jesus had failed them.

Today, no one calls me a friend of sinners. I am convicted by that fact.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Grace Allotments part2

I try to be an observant driver. I try to look at situations unfolding around me and if I can, to help traffic flow. Occasionally I will spot a motorist who is in a jam by realizing too late that the need to turn, but he is in the wrong lane. If I see it in time, I'll try to stop and wave the person over and allow them to complete their manuver, compliments of me, the awesome grace dispensing driver. The way it is supposed to work in my world is that I hold up traffic, and wave at the distressed driver to do what he needs to do. The driver sees what this impossibly gracious person is doing and realizes that the only reason they are not put in the horrible position of going to the next intersection, or even worse, having to turn around, is because I am so awesome and I am letting them off the hook for their lack of attention to their driving responsibilities. This should result in a friendly wave and a mouthed, "THANK YOU!" The driver goes on, humming Kumbayah because of this small dose of unmerited favor from the friendly stranger in the green Tacoma.

What happens, in reality, is that I wave, the person makes their manuver, and then drives off as though my allowing him to move over is what I am expected to do. No wave, no expressed appreciation. Sometimes the light turns red while I am allowing him to do his thing, and I have to wait for a light that I wouldn't have had to wait on if I had just driven on and ignored his plight.

That's just the way grace is. As much as I would like for grace to be reciprocal it isn't. It is totally unfair. Someone who has done nothing to deserve it has something really nice happen to him. Someone like me. Someone who had someone give up everything and be tortured to death so I wouldn't have to suffer the penalty for all the wrong I have done. How many times do I drive away from grace without a "thank you wave"? How many times do I get mad because someone else receives grace and it looks like all the world to me that they are just getting off the hook? Grace is a scary concept to nice people like me. I would like to determine who gets grace and the appropriate grateful response. But I don't get that. That is God's area and we can all be grateful for that. He has plenty of grace for everybody and He loves to give it freely. Even to college students who may shout a curse at an old lady who commits the sin of inconvenience against him.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Grace Allotments

It is no secret to those who have ridden with me that my Christianity is put to the test most when I am driving. They say that confession is good for the soul but bad for the reputation. I remember with great embarrassment a time when I was in college at CSU (now known as UCO) and I was turning left onto Broadway. There were two lanes turning left and I was in the outside lane. The lady in the inside lane swung across to the outside (my) lane and I had to touch the brakes to avoid her. She gave no indication that she realized that she had inconvenienced me. I shouted at the top of my voice (which can be pretty loud) "You old lady! You ought to be shot!". I realized that my truck windows were down when I heard my voice echo off of the business in line with my invective. I was embarrassed and realized that I was not being a "good witness". I don't think I really thought that she should be shot. I just thought she should be aware that she inconvenienced me and that she should be sorry that she inconvenienced me. An apology or a "sorry wave" would have helped. I never got one from her. Since that day I make it a point to maintain my car's a/c so my windows are always up. It's been more than 30 years now since that episode, and I haven't heard my voice echo when cursing an old lady in all that time. It doesn't mean that I haven't been guilty of having a bad spirit while driving, though. I'll try to put some sort of positive light on this in tomorrow's post.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Discussion Killers

Many times I have been in discussions with people who have either disagreed with me or were pretty sure they had the "right" position and needed to set me straight. I try to enter these discussions with the idea that my opinion might be changed, even though I don't form opinions without some thought. As I look back, I remember some instances when I made a major shift in my stance, some where I modified my stance, some where the discussion solidified my stance, and many where I completely disregarded the discussion because I felt the other person had no standing to try to change my stance on an issue. Here are some helpful hints if you wish to change my mind:

1. Demonstrate to me that you are my friend before you set in on me. Let's have some fun times together, doing something comepletely unrelated to contreversy. Show me that we share some common ground on some important issues. Until I know you care about me, you will only irritate me when you take me to task.

2. When you begin, don't demonize my position. Give me some credit for having at least a minimum capacity for complex thought. When you tell me that no one can be your friend who feels differently on your issue, you have just lost me as your friend. I won't change my mind just to salvage our friendship.

3. When you say, "I know for a fact that this is right", we are no longer discussing. You are stating a position and daring me to call you a liar if I think differently. This leads to the inevitability of a break in relationship and bad feelings all around.

4. When you say, "I know you feel strongly about that, but I'm just asking you to think about this", both of us can continue a dialogue. No reasonable person will disregard a request to consider a different point of view. But make it clear that our relationship will go on even if I don't change.

My mind has been changed on some really fundamental issues in the past 10 years. I have also lost some close friends because they couldn't hang with me unless I agreed with them 100%.

Since sharing the gospel depends so much on sharing a differing belief to someone with whom we have a relationship, these guidelines should be helpful. It is more important to keep the discussion going than it is to shout down the differing viewpoint. Even when you know for a fact that you are right.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Am I a Liberal? (A purposefully provocative title)

The past 8 or 9 years I have spent in reading the Bible, contemplating on and studying theology and beliefs, and working through hard questions. As I prepare to teach the Essential Christianity class in the next session of Catalyst, I have come to realize something that seems quite strange. I have a deeper and stronger belief in God while at the same time feeling like I have fewer concise and absolute answers to spiritual questions. I'm sure that this will come out during the class. I'm hoping that as the instructor I can lead others to a deeper and stronger belief in God without appearing to be wishy washy. Because I'm not. But I have realized that no scriptures can be shouted at an unbeliever with positive results. Am I becoming the dreaded "social gospel liberal theologian"? I have found that the only thing I can really do for someone whose beliefs differ from mine is to lead them toward Christ. It is the Holy Spirit's job to lead them to a new conclusion.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Walk Fast Look Worried Carry a Sheet of Paper

Back in my days as a corporate employee, I followed a simple rule for survival: Walk fast, look worried, and carry a sheet of paper. You could be making a dash for the candy machine, but people would assume you were a man on a mission and wouldn't bother you. They would preface every conversation with, "I know you are really busy, but could you help me..." I loved the image of being someone not to be messed with. I did do my work, but people imagined that I went above and beyond the call of duty every waking hour.

Fast forward to my experience today in the line at the post office. You've been there. The guy in front of me was collecing rates for mailing imaginary boxes with multiple variables for weight, dimensions, content, etc. The post office employee placidly calculated each variable and never gave any indication that she was trying to hurry him along, or any indication that she was aware of the rapidly growing line waiting for service. Despite my constant weight shifting, head rubbing and occasional loud sighs, she answered questions for the guy until he finally asked his last one. He folded up his notes and left. She nodded for me to approach the counter with the same placid expression on her face. I stepped up to the counter prepared. I had two boxes to mail. Each were securely sealed with addresses marked clearly in their appropriate places. I knew the type of postage I desired and had my money in hand. We finished the transaction in a brief period of time. I said thanks and stepped away. She expressed no appreciation that I was an efficient post office customer. I suspect that if I hadn't been ready, she would have spent as much time as I needed to get my boxes mailed. Post offices frustrate me.

But as much as I am frustrated by the post office, I am envious of something. In my current life as a minister, I still try to operate in walk fast, look worried, and carry a sheet of paper mode. I want to execute my responsibilities without being messed with. I want people to think I am awesome; I just want them to do it quickly from a distance. I am a master of the 15 second meaningful connection. A handshake, maybe a hug, a little shallow conversation, then move on to the next one. Very efficient. Easy to look awesome. Big smile on the face, or a look of concern or empathy if that is what the connection calls for.

But it's not ministry. It's working the room. I need to get more like the post office lady. Gotta give each person the time they need to get where they need to be. That's gonna be hard for me.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Name Change Nostalgia

This is an open post for those who knew and loved Lakeside Assembly of God. It was originally written for someone close to me and then I thought it might help others:

I understand your nostalgia for Lakeside because we had something great here for many years. In many ways, the history of Lakeside has been a rudder steering us to the future, but at the same time in many ways it has been an anchor that has not allowed us to move forward. Some of my favorite memories will always be of Lakeside. Some of my worst memories are also from Lakeside. No one can take away from the great things that went on there. and we should not hide from the tough things that occurred. It is our shared history and it cannot be rewritten. It should not be edited. It should be remembered just as it occurred.

I realized some time ago that what is happening here is not a continuation of Lakeside's history. The church as it exists now is writing a new history. It has come through the fire and has emerged refined. Comparisons to old Lakeside are unfair. They are two different churches. So when the idea was presented to change the name, I embraced it. The wonderful people who are here now don't know much about the old Lakeside. Some who do remember the old Lakeside have had trouble embracing the newness.

In many ways this name change allows them to put a period on the Lakeside story and protect it. Then it is easier to participate in the building of a new church and be a part of writing a wonderful history for this generation to enjoy and remember fondly in the years to come.