So Much in So Little

Is anyone feeling a bit overwhelmed, or at least mildly concerned, by the volume of need all around us? If not, this blog is still for you because lack affects us all. Whether it’s rising fuel costs, or the Arab uprisings in the Middle East, we all experience the effects of lack. The need for resources and personal freedom is basic to our human condition, and it drives us all in different ways. We are so influenced by what we do have or don’t have that just the expectation or hope of something can change the course of human history (E.g. protestant reformation, American civil rights movement, fall of the iron curtain, ending apartheid in South Africa, major innovations, etc). Anyway, it’s not about how little there is in the face of massive need, but how much we really have in what ‘seems’ like not enough.

Consider how God continually addressed the issue of need or lack. To confront the world’s most powerful tyrant and deliver His people from slavery, God provided Moses with a stick. Of course, it was a juiced-up stick. To take down a nine foot giant (Goliath), who had intimidated an entire army for forty days, David needed only ‘one’ stone. Then we find Jesus using just five loaves and two fish to feed over five thousand people. He even describes a widow’s tiny contribution of two cents as being greater than all the big offerings. History is replete with examples of great need being met from small supply. There is so much hidden in so little, and a big part of our journey with God is releasing more from less.

A mistake we often make is to look for a supply that’s in proportion to the size of the problem. Yet we seldom find provision starting that big. If splitting an atom can generate enough power to fuel a city’s energy needs, can accessing something as small as one good decision or one new friend release huge resources? If one brief, humble prayer can remove a lifetime of sin from the human heart, can one person’s prayer change the course of human history? A big, fat yes! How? I am glad you asked.

One of the most transformational moments in Israel’s history was when Elijah called fire down from heaven on Mt Carmel (1 Kings 18). A demonic stronghold was broken over the nation and three and a half years of drought was about to end. As Elijah was praying on Mt Carmel, he told his servant to go and look towards the sea. Keep in mind, the servant went expecting to see the “the roar of a mighty rain.” That is what Elijah said was coming. The servant came back and told Elijah that there was nothing. Meaning, there was no “roar of a mighty rain.” Elijah sent him back seven times. On the seventh trip the servant came back and said, “I see a cloud the size of a man’s hand.” I personally believe the cloud was there before the servant’s seventh trip, but it took seven looks before he saw the mighty rain in that small cloud.

In the midst of any drought (major lack or loss), there is always a cloud the size of a man’s hand. No matter what our need, God has provided a supply in some of the smallest places, tightest spaces and even behind some unlikely faces. Remember when Saul (Paul) first came on the scene after his conversion? The early believers could only see a persecutor of Christians, and they refused to associate with him. But for Barnabas, dwelling in Saul (cloud the size of a man’s hand) was the rain of a mighty apostle. He treated Saul (Paul) according to the apostle within, thereby helping to release it.

Just ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see your “cloud the size of a man’s hand.” It may be something you have looked at for many years, or it may be something completely new. Either way, begin to treat it according to what He shows you and enjoy the rain!

All Things and All The Church

Paul commended the believers in Corinth in ways that he did for no others. He said that in everything they were enriched in Jesus, in all speech and knowledge. He even described them as “not lacking in any gift.” But immediately he communicates a grave concern: “Each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I am of Apollos,” and “I am of Cephas…”" He went on to say that when you identify yourself in this manner you are walking like mere men. Was there anything wrong with Paul, Cephas or Apollos? Of course not! But there was something seriously wrong with the camps created around them. He finishes this theme by stating: “For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas…. all things belong to you…” Jesus did not purchase camps for us to occupy, but a kingdom that occupies every camp.

The weakness of that Corinthian mindset is rife today. Meaning, when we live our lives from the parochialism of “I am of revival,” or “I am of discipleship,” or “I am of reformation” we walk well below the power of the “all things” that Jesus purchased at Calvary. When we embrace “I am of the Baptists” or “I am of the Charismatics” or “I am of the Catholics” the body of Christ becomes a fragmented identity afflicted with a ‘multiple personality disorder.’ Or at least that is how it looks to the world.

Because we tend to measure ourselves by ourselves we remain unaware of how fragmented and disempowered we really are. If just growing a local church (organization) was the endgame, then it wouldn’t matter because we can do that just fine; but the goal is “on earth as it is in heaven.”  We are called to disciple nations by loving our communities and cities into the kingdom. That is the benchmark of effectiveness for the body of Christ, and it’s how we value and engage the broader body of Christ that brings more of that to fruition.

When Jesus said that the world would know that we are His disciples because of our love for one another, I am pretty sure He meant more than just those within our organizational structures. When we can love the whole body the way that Jesus does, then just maybe we will begin to do more of what Jesus did. The irony of it all is that most growing local churches are the by-product of believers transferring from one local church to another. Meaning, transfer growth, which seems to get a lot of unfair criticism, is responsible for many successful pastors and their churches. To say that it is all from evangelism is just not true. Even in our parochialism God finds a way to mix us together. Well what would happen if we did this more by design? What if we made some space in our time and resources for our brothers and sisters across the road? Make no mistake about it, when believers in a city begin to live like ‘believers in a city’ and not just ‘believers in a building,’ a maturity, authority, creativity and power to win a city will be its reward.

Great Forgiveness, Greater Freedom!

I recently made an observation that would need a bit of research to confirm. It seems that Face Book and Twitter are ablaze with helpful advice to those navigating the injustices of life. How to succeed through suffering abounds! Equally conspicuous is a dearth of advice addressing the causes or perpetrators of injustice; especially in the leader/follower relationship. Don’t get me wrong, there are few things I appreciate more than ‘endurance producing a perfect work,’ or how God ‘”causes all things to work together for good.” In the words of Rabbi Jason, “The promotion is proportional to the depth of the pit.” I say a big ‘yes and amen’ to advancing through adversity. But God’s call for humility in leadership is not just aimed at good followers turning the proverbial cheek until their heads resemble a revolving door. He did not just give people the ability to forgive and follow; He also gave leaders the grace and responsibility to remove the reasons why they will need forgiveness. As a follower of imperfect leaders, I do embrace the long-suffering of Christ, but as an imperfect leader, I covet the humility, honesty and wisdom necessary to help followers not suffer-long because of me.

I am so grateful that Connie has forgiven me for my knuckle-head purchase, but we are more grateful that such foolishness will not re-occur. Losing her love was not the issue, but gaining her trust is.

When Jesus said to “take the log out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s,” he gave some wonderful advice for the leader/follower relationship. From where I come from ‘logs’ are bigger than ‘specks?’ This is not rocket science; it’s common sense! Our ability to help others with issues in their lives is predicated upon working on ourselves a whole lot more. The fact is, many leaders (me included) have damaged the eyes (metaphorically speaking) of others; simply because we went after their specs while neglecting our logs.

Whatever happened to solving problems by starting with me? Now that’s a novel idea!

As leaders, there is only one person on the planet we have been graced by God to change, ourselves. The degree to which we do that in Him, is the degree to which we can better assist others on their journey. I have been afforded forgiveness from family, friends and followers many times. It is one of the best reminders of God’s endless mercy. I have been humbled and blessed by it over and over again. But I rejoice in something even greater: freedom from the ‘dark matter’ in me that requires such forgiveness. The apostle John gave us two great reminders: 1) if we sin we have an advocate with the Father; and 2) but I am writing these things to you so that you do not sin. The former is good, but the latter is greater. Grace brings both forgiveness and freedom

If Paul (the mighty apostle), had to buffet himself to avoid being disqualified, what about me? I recently had a great leader tell me that he gets a Sozo session about every 18 months. In simple terms, a Sozo is some personal ministry for a needy soul. That’s a leader who understands the difference between ‘good’ and ‘not so good’ leadership. As good as we may be as leaders, just imagine how much better it could be if we took our 20% log focus and 80% speck focus and reversed it? I have chosen to lean into God about my issues a whole lot more, so that when I do lean towards others more of Him shows up. I cherish forgiveness, and I am sure I will need more before my clock runs out, but I covet the freedom that comes from a superior covenant, because it makes more room for Him with everyone, everywhere and all the time.

The journey continues!

The best way to leave one year and enter another is to remember a few things like: life is a journey, we are not alone and the win is always bigger.

We are often so end-goal focused that we can lose sight of the amazing places and faces along the way. Goals are great for getting direction, creating movement and tracking progress, but at the end of the day it’s the entire journey that provides all the gain. Can you imagine arriving on top of Mt Everest in a helicopter? That may seem like a great achievement, but without the expedition you have gained little more than a better view; something you could get in a jumbo jet. The real value of reaching the summit of Everest was the ground covered, the fears conquered, the lessons learned, the character forged, the relationships developed, the stories acquired and the testimony gained. On Facebook recently, Stephen Mansfield made the comment that “the new year has no magical power. The new year is the old year on a different calendar.” Although he was highlighting the value of internal change over the change of date, it also makes the case about not expecting one event (January 1) to be more that it is. Yes, New Years can give us a marker for launching into some new, noble ambition, but what really matters is all the spaces between this one and the next. In the quest for gaining a great marriage don’t forget to have one along the way. Enjoy the journey, because it is about everyone, everywhere and all the time.

How many of us have been slammed by feelings of being alone? Even within the best of relationships we will all experience this unpleasant emotion. In his book addressing the growing problem of loneliness, social neuroscientist John Cacioppo said that everyone, no matter how popular or extroverted, will experience feelings of loneliness. This is due, in part, to our need for social connection. Regardless of the reasons for feeling lonely, it is real and can have a paralyzing effect on anyone. Good news! Though the feeling is real, being alone is not. First, even if it were true that you were the only human survivor after some global holocaust, He is always with you. During those moments when it seems like He is all you have, He will certainly be more than you could ever need. I have learned this more times than I can count. Second, David wrote, “He makes a home for the lonely.” Not only does God abide with me everywhere and all the time, He also makes me a home. A home is a place of deep relationships, safety and provision. Make no mistake about it; there will always be others who you can count on. God never runs out of family for His son or daughter.

Finally, wins are always bigger. In Him we can never lose more than we gain. Every year is loaded with wins and losses. Sometimes the losses seem more, but a closer look usually reveals a win. Think about it for a minute! If “He causes all things to work together for good” (Romans), and we are gaining a “perfect work” from the testing of our faith (James), even the worst of failures and disappointments seed and fertilize our progress. Paul took it even further when he said that to die (to be with Christ) was his gain. This is not about dying or being failure focused, it’s about recognizing how the residuals of our fallen world always pale in comparison to the glory being revealed.

Enjoy the New Year of 2012, because no matter what, we win and Jesus gets the glory!

Christmas is for everyone, everyday!

When Christmas time shows up, our souls will quickly conjure up thoughts, images, feelings and behaviors afforded to us by culture and experience. For those like me, it’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” beautiful ornaments, family gatherings, lots of giving and too much food. Honestly, my happiest memories as a child were around Christmas time. The pressures of a severely dysfunctional life seemed to take a holiday during the Christmas holiday. Since becoming a Christian (33 years ago), Christmas has gone from being a cultural tradition to a personal revelation. Yes I know, December 25th may not be the real day of Jesus’ birth, and yes, there are extra-Christian elements found within this ‘festive season,’ but the central character, Jesus, is the real point, and His impact in all of life is what really matters. Christmas, for me, is not what is under a tree, on the dinner table or over the airwaves; rather, it’s the best reminder of Him with everyone, everywhere and all the time!

Does anyone notice how common life was prior to Gabriel dropping the ‘miracle bombs’ on Zacharias and Elizabeth/Mary and Joseph? The remarkable thing is that there was nothing seemingly remarkable about anyone. The only thing that was exceptional was God showing up among the unexceptional. Many of the usual variables that would be classified as ‘necessary for success’ were nowhere to be found. The landscape lacked wealth, fame, big personalities or crowds. If there was ever a time that stood out as ‘everyday life through everyday people’ it was this one. Yet the entire landscape of the story is blanketed by the presence of heavenly reality. From an old priest being made mute by an angel to a group of young shepherds having close encounters of the ‘glory kind,’ eternal powers were invading the temporal, material world. Christmas is a crash course in the ‘dismantling of dualism.’ It says that everyone everywhere is already special to God.

Read the Christmas story over and over again and notice how easily the Creator of the universe interacts with the apex of His creation, us! It’s stunning, staggering and more than encouraging. They were people that had problems like us, and the only visible requirement on their part was to say ‘yes’ to God! Wow, we can all do that. I may not have this skill or that training, or this amount of money or that kind of open door, but I have a ‘yes.’ The Christmas story is God’s best and our yes. It’s the clearest evidence that nothing, nowhere and no one is off limits for God. Merry Christmas!

Him everywhere and fear nowhere

If I was asked to identify the number one nemesis that hinders an ‘open heaven’ (the everyone, everywhere and all the time kingdom) through the lives of the redeemed, without a moment’s hesitation, I would say ‘fear.’ Yes I know, fear has many ‘partners in crime,’ like pride, deception, rejection, etc…, but fear is fundamental to them all. As someone who has faced this dark matter for his entire life, I know it’s power, but I also know its defeat:-) Here is a profound thought that highlights the solution: John Milton once said that he was not afraid of falsehood entering into the marketplace of ideas as long as truth could be presented, because truth would always prevail. This may not be a verse from the Bible, but its kingdom value found in the “all things”.

From within this great thought we find the secret to defeating fear. Just before we spotlight the ‘kryptonite’ to all fear, here are a few other valuable implications from Milton’s erudite statement. First, the fact that falsehood or darkness may be present is not the real reason for fear. Meaning, the real problem is not the ‘bad’ that’s present, but the ‘good’ that’s missing. For example, the bigger problem is never rampant ignorance as much as it is the lack of good education; or the real quandary is not unemployment, but rather the lack of access to capital and jobs. Human hunger only becomes a major problem when there is a scarcity of good nutrition.

Second, being afraid is not inevitable. There is a difference between feeling fear and being afraid. Jesus felt fear, but that fear never defined Him. A feeling does not define you, God does! Always remember, the fear that you feel is the enemy’s condition, not yours. It’s his world with God excluded, not your world where God’s included. So what strips fear of its paralyzing effect? What disarms its arsenal? Well for Milton, the reason for not being afraid was the presence of truth. Bingo! The power of truth over fear is as certain as the rising suns dominance over the dark of night.

On a more practical note: knowing the truth of how something works will usually reduce any fear when using it. It is unlikely that trained pilots have any fear when operating their airplanes. If I did not know how to fly a plane, but was forced to after the pilot dies, I would be terrified. Of course the ultimate truth is about Jesus entering into the market place of life. The remedy against all fear is Jesus everywhere! This is so much more than prayer meetings at the office, or bringing co-workers to a church service. It’s the awareness of His ‘there-ness.’ As we live Him everywhere, fear becomes little more than ‘junk mail meeting the delete button.’ Honestly, when I have been hit by fear that can take one’s breath away, the revelation of ‘Him with me’ works every time.

The break-out continues; glory everywhere!

Have you ever been accused of ‘acting too spiritual;’ or possibly chided another for ‘acting too spiritual?’ If the truth be told, we do not act spiritual any more than we can act ‘being alive.’ Being alive is not an act. We are either alive or dead. Now you can physically act in a manner that seems out of place or strange, like standing on your head in a crowded elevator, or washing your face in a bowl of soup, but no one would accuse you of being ‘too alive.’ Weird yes, ‘too alive’ no! Point being, we are spiritual by design, not by deed. This acting ‘too spiritual’ pejorative is more evidence of the virus of dualism infecting our minds with the notion of  a ‘separation’ between spirit and material.

The Greeks did not get everything wrong; we did gain some valuable understanding from Greek philosophers like Plato, Homer, Socrates and Aristotle. The rational order of the universe and the infinite qualities of Truth and Goodness were a few of their many contributions, but their treatment of the material world, as though it was lower in value or outright evil, was wrong! The fact that God could take on human form, Jesus, and still be undiminished in His character is a ‘slam dunk’ for the “everyone, everywhere and all-the time kingdom.” Meaning, there is no person you can engage, no place you can go, no experience you can have where God’s presence isn’t.

Without this revelation, our ability to trust God gets wired to an ‘on-off’ switch. It’s ‘on’ with people, places and events that appear more spiritual and its ‘off’ in what seems to be less spiritual. For example, when I am on a mission trip to Sierra Leone, I am trusting God  when I teach and pray, but when in the middle of strategic planning for improving education in disadvantaged communities, I feel left to my limited skills, resources and experiences. Not true!

Good News! David nailed it when he wrote the 139th psalm. He asked a rhetorical question: “Where can I go from Your Spirit; or where can I flee from Your presence…?” The answer was a simple, but profound, ‘nowhere!’ Wherever I am, He is, and whatever I do, He still is. When I go through the “valley of the shadow of death” (quite regularly might I add), I fear no evil. Why? Because “He is with me!”  There is glory in Him that is revealed and released everywhere. I may feel fear, but I am not afraid because He is with me. I may feel incompetent and incapable, but I am not, because He is with me. Since He created it all, He has it all for everyone, everywhere and all the time. Now that will uncap the wells!

Dualism exposed

Nancy Pearcy, in Total Truth, said that Christians need to move beyond criticizing culture to creating culture. Of course the culture she is referring to is not merely a local church or one specific organization, but a kingdom culture. A culture shaped by who Jesus is, who He loves and what He does. A kingdom culture is nothing less than an environment where God’s ‘will in heaven’ can trump any contrary will on earth. Among the contrary ‘wills’ on earth is the insidious notion of dualism. It is the relegation of faith to the private sphere, while leaving the public arena to the boasts of human rationalism. Ouch!

As someone who has started and led many local churches, I am well aware of how easy it is to fall prey to the deceptions of dualism. Honestly, the way we operate in our local churches can feed the beast. Meaning, we can have so much emphasis around specific locations, events and programs that we unwittingly de-emphasize the rest of our daily lives. If the truth be told, many of us have lived by a thriving faith on Sunday, while dialing down to a surviving faith on Monday. The Pauline model of church was vastly different, and might I add, so is Gods!

Large meeting venues, gatherings, and programs were a supplement to their daily lives, not a substitute for it. They shared Jesus everywhere, Jesus showed up in power where they lived, and then those same people lived that revelation and power everywhere. It became a lifestyle that leavened all areas of life. Now, even among those of us who shout “yes and amen” to the notion of Jesus everywhere, our experiences and preference can still land our ‘God awareness’ in the the proverbial “box.”

Remember the little girl who Jesus raised from the dead? Immediately after her resurrection Jesus told her parents to give her something to eat. Most of us ‘river people’ would have said that it’s time for a ‘fire tunnel’ or a ‘revival service.’ In other words, for Jesus, meeting practical needs is no less a part of His jurisdiction. Do not misunderstand this point! This is not about balancing a supernatural lifestyle with the social service side of Christianity; it’s about the supernatural nature of everything. Whether I am doing engineering or evangelism, art or intercession, He is with me in full force. Paul said something staggering. He said that since the beginning of creation Gods invisible attributes, divine nature and eternal power have been clearly seen and understood through the things that have been made. Well when I last looked, everything has been made. Meaning, He is revealed in everyone, everywhere and all the time!

Branded by the Holy Spirit

Have you ever felt branded with something by the Holy Spirit? You know it because it’s something that occupies your thoughts continually. In almost every conversation, event or experience it finds a way in. It’s like a spiritual tattoo; a word, phrase, or picture that you carry everywhere. Well the Holy Spirit has marked me with the phrase: ‘the everyone, everywhere and all the time kingdom.’ It summarizes the nature of my primary passion, which is to steward relationships on earth and with heaven in such a way that ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ becomes as ubiquitous as breathing.

Just as Mosaic is a metaphor for a convergence of diverse pieces making a bigger picture, so to, the ‘everyone, everywhere and all the time kingdom’ is about a convergence of diverse leaders, revelations and experiences that make up the bigger tapestry of the kingdom. His kingdom is about His presence materializing anywhere. It’s about every sphere of life being touched and transformed by the grace and goodness of God. In order to live His presence everywhere we must to shed the vestiges of dualism.

Put simply, dualism, a western-culture phenomena, makes a distinction between what is sacred (God’s turf), and what is secular (Man’s turf). Dualism is our propensity to separate our spiritual life from spheres of our natural life. It is one of the most egregious of errors. It is as foolish as expecting humans to survive without oxygen while underwater. The watery environment in no way changes the fundamental design of human life; which is about needing oxygen. In like fashion, God’s presence is fundamental to our design.

Although most Christians would agree that dualism is an erroneous position, we as leaders can foster dualism through what I call ‘hierarchies of preferences.’ It is where our preferences can literally frame the ‘how much of God.’ It’s where God is more into our sensational worship on Sunday than the science workshop on Monday; or the mission field more than the sports field. Simply put, it’s where certain places or activities make us more aware of God presence, while other places make us less aware. As wonderful as our God awareness is, thank God, our awareness is not the measure of where He is or what He does! The real measure is what Jesus did everywhere, with everyone and all the time!