Firing the 20 for the 80

I subscribe to Seth Godin's blog. I enjoy reading his leadership and organizational insights. They usually spur me on when I need a kick in the tail.

In the interview below, he speaks of a hotel owner who "fires" 20% of his customers so that he can focus on the other 80%. Having a clientele devoted to a particular vision allows the provider to focus on that vision. How do you get that clientele? Seth suggests firing those not on board. Risky? Controversial? Yes.

I know Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg UMC has said, "The biggest growth we ever had was from 100 to 60." Mike essentially "fired" attenders of his church and lead the church to devote their ministry to a core that ended up growing exponentially. To this day, he is unflexing in regard to the aims and direction of the church...food for thought. Lots of good stuff here, check out the video.

Exclusive interview with Seth Godin from GiANT Impact on Vimeo.

Best Thing I've Read from the Middle East Since the Bible!

Since the invasion of Iraq, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of attacks on Christians living in Middle East nations. From Iran to Iraq to Palestine to Egypt, the Christian minorities have been threatened, beaten, bombed, and killed. Churches have become hostage sites while worship services have been rocked by suicide bombers.

Arab Christians have begun fleeing their homes and staying away from worship gatherings, fearful for their lives.

The one thing that would easily solve this problem from exploding hadn't been happening, but now it has...Muslims are stepping up, speaking out, and standing beside their cousins in faith.

This news story articulates the recent turmoils in Egypt and how Muslim intellectuals and activists are calling for Muslims to support the Coptic Christians in Egypt. By going to church with them, Muslims are becoming "human shields."

How amazing. How Christ-like! And I say that with total admiration for my cousins in faith. God bless you! May our LORD, the God of Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac bless you and keep you. May the God of our Fathers and Mothers protect you and our Coptic brothers and sisters.

Insha'Allah, we can have peace. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

More Than We Can Handle

1 Corinthians 10:13 is often misquoted/misused...I've heard it (and probably said it this way myself) "God won't give you more than you can handle." And, while this is true in a sense, it is often pulled out of its context to mean something like "God will not allow stuff to happen in your life that you cannot effectively overcome." This is false.

John Ortberg pointed this out in It All Goes Back in the Box, as he correctly writes,

People twist that statement into saying that God will never give us
more than we can handle. Really? Look around the world:
holocaust, death, martyrdom, cancer, war. Whether it's a special
assignment or just living in a fallen world, people all the time are given
burdens they cannot handle...Paul's point is that we can never worm out of
responsibility for sin by saying it's God's fault.

I'm glad I ran across this. It challenged a reading that I had blindly accepted. I knew people had more than they could handle. I've read that verse and said to myself, "There are things, I'm not sure I could handle." To be honest, I felt a sense of pressure when reading this. Nothing can break me? Really? No...that's just religious platitude.

God gives us an out when it comes to temptation, but there are circumstances in life that will beat people down, sometimes even take their life...literally and/or figuratively.

That is why it is so important for the Church to be involved and missional in its endeavors to the community and world in which it exists. There are evils and oppressions out there that are taking people's lives slowly and painfully. And it's more than any of us could handle...alone.

This is why I believe in the Church: I have seen, felt, and participated in Her Salvific mission given by Christ to redeem the world. The message of God's love and mercy are so vital to give hope, and the active love of the body of Christ through mercy and caring ministries demonstrates what salvation is really all about: wholeness.

Speedlinking

Here are some great links to check out!!!

1. If you've ever put yourself out there, you'll know this already. But, it never hurts for all of us to be reminded: You will be misunderstood. It's OK...Keep at it!!!!
2. Interesting parable about ascetic theology from author Steve Taylor.
3. Cathy Escobar's great blog has a good post about single parents.
4. Andrew Conard lists some non-negotiables for church staffs. What do you think? What would you add? Subtract?
5. Is Yoga compatible with following Jesus? Interesting thoughts by my least favorite attention...lover, Mark Driscoll, but I found myself unable to disagree with what he was saying.
6. Apparently, the founder of the Tea Party movement isn't a fan of the United Methodist Church...and apparently, I'm not a big fan of him either after reading some of his other tirades!?!
7. If you haven't seen the new translation app called "Word Lens" you're missing out on Star Trek being made real today! It instantly translates any words/signs/etc. you point at...check it out!

I'm Hungry

I'm hungry. No, REALLY hungry. I've begun eating breakfast every morning, and now if I don't get it, which I didn't this morning, I'm starving.

Of course, when I read a blog post like this, it's all put into perspective.

I don't know hungry. I don't know thirsty. I don't know not having.

So when you hear me complaining, you can say, "Mark, you just don't know." (to which I'll probably reply, "You don't either, you jerk!", but that's a different Markan spiritual issue we'll deal with later).

God, may the only hunger and thirst your children ever have is for you.


PS - Thanks, Kara, for the blog post. I needed it today. You're the best!

The Church & U2: One

Sermon Snip-It:

The number one mission of the Church is to be the undoing of Babel, the curse that made one into many. The healing that flows from the Spirit of God through the Church brings the many to One.

Sermon Snip-It

From this Sunday there are some words I would like to share from my sermon...

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-11 (The Ascension of Christ)
Sermon: "Why Are You Standing Around?"

We aren't to be looking upward...We're to be looking forward. To be looking at the world around us, at the mission God has given us!

We have not been called to be followers of Jesus in order to stand around, sing songs, put on fancy clothes, or even to be nice. No, we have been bought with a price, redeemed, and called into the mission of God, bringing new life through Christ to all the world around us: Yes, in these walls, but also in our homes, at work, in our neighborhoods, at school, with our friends, with our family.

The Ascension reminds us that Jesus isn't here: BUT WE ARE!!! WE ARE!!!

Brothers and Sisters, we are called to be Jesus to a hurting a broken world. We are called to love with our words, our actions, and all that we have. The Body of Christ was not meant to stand around. It was meant to get busy.

Here we are. Here we remain. And, here, we are are called. Amen.

Confirmation

We just finished confirmation classes. There were three girls who survived the classes, and they did a great job. While it's about learning, it's also about relationship building...that they would feel included and accepted as practicing members of their church. I loved it because it's the only confirmation class I've led where students invited their friends to come. Fun!

So, on Sunday, the ladies reaffirmed their baptism, took their confirmation vows, and I awarded them some "presents" to remind them of who they are in Christ.

Princess Tiaras for the daughters of the King.

Scepters and Rings symbolizing that all authority has been given to Christ, and as his ambassadors and followers, we too have authority. But with great authority comes great responsibility. Everywhere...at church, home, school, work, etc.

Fruity candies to encourage them to bear much fruit.

Symphony Chocolate bars to remind them that last week we talked about God giving us a lifesong...but as members of THE Church, our life fits into something better than ourselves!

It was fun, and I hope it was a day that they won't forget for in ceremony is a truth: We all must accept Christ as Lord, renounce this world, and seek to live in love with God and neighbor. Today, publicly, they said this is what they wanted.

Ladies, may God grant you the courage, strength, and grace to live out those desires.

Haitian Disaster

The disaster in Haiti continues even though CNN coverage wanes...

Below are a few good links relating to the disaster that might be of interest:

• Why God? - A pastor's reflections on the Why's and So What's.
• UMCOR's Work in Haiti
• A Story of Song and Hope
• The Power of Compassion - A Girl's efforts to raise money for Haiti

New Year, New Plans...New Plans!?!

I like a plan. In fact, I don't do much without a plan or an idea of what I want to accomplish/do, how I would like things to go, and about how I'm going to do it.

One of the things that I like to plan are my sermons. I usually plan them at least 6 months out. I try to be flexible, so things change along the way...But, I really like to have a "Master Plan" to guide me. It keeps me on track, accountable, and I think it adds substance to the concept that we as a church are trying to align with the vision God has given our church. Shouldn't the sermon planning augment vision goals!?!

That being said and to quote Top Gun, "I'm on vapors!" I planned to the end of 2009 with an eye to use the lectionary in January 2010. However, I am going to a few days to sit down and plan out the year.

It's more than just a sermon schedule though...To do it right (in my mind at least), it has to take into account what other teams in the church have planned....UMW, Missions, Education, etc.

So, as I meet with people this January, it becomes important for all of us to be thinking ahead and asking God what He is calling us to this New Year of 2010!

The "New" Racism

Of course it's not new, but people are beginning to wake up to how poorly Hispanic ethnic groups are being treated in the USA. What troubles me the most is how often I hear "good Christians" using slurs or making statements like "they should go back to where they came from."

In my own perceptions, I have seen many, many more negative comments and actions against Hispanics than I have witnessed against Blacks. That's not a statistic as much as it is just a witness to the prevalence of racism against the Hispanic community.

In a special worship service led by a sister Hispanic church, I've watched white "Christians" folding their arms and saying, "This is ridiculous. Why are THEY leading worship here. They can't even speak our language!" Never mind that the mission money they sent went to help support this Hispanic church. Btw, the worship was awesome...and I have to admit that I told off the old lady who said the comment.

I've heard an unbelievable number of Hispanic "jokes." Seriously, why are these "acceptable" when our culture refuses the Black equivalent?

I hear all the time about the "Mexicans commiting crimes" near where I grew up. Right, and white people in Frankfort are model citizens.

Has the American people forgotten that we were all immigrants? Even the Native Americans are not native to this land. Since the continent split off millions of years ago, it has always been an open land, a free land, a place of new starts, and a hope for a new and better life. For ancient Europeans (it is thought they first discovered North America), for Native Americans, for European immigrants, and now for Hispanics, Indians, Africans, and everyone else. Apparently, we've learned little from our earlier fights...You know the ones where German-Americans were singled out for being Krauts. Or Irish immigrants fighting Italian immigrants. Or the established English looking down on everyone else.

Perhaps, we should look back into our history to find what makes us great...the infamous Melting Pot. Where we give and take culture. Where we borrow and share the best from each other. Where we learn to help out the foreigner in our land, because we too were a foreigner in a strange land.

Funny...I've heard that before: Exodus 22:21 says, "You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt." A little bit later it also says, (23:9) "You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it's like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt."

Why do we never learn. Perhaps it's time for Americans to embrace each other. If you want to stop Illegal Immigration, don't attack the people coming in...Go after the US and Mexican governments that encourage the illegal trade of human labor. Go after the corporations that are illegally and unethically using cheap/slave labor.

But for the love of your own soul, treat our Hispanic brothers and sisters well.

TOM'S shoes

I'd heard about this a while ago, but I haven't seen anything about it in a while...Here is one of the greatest things to happen in a while. Not because it's saving lives, but the amount of care and dignity being offered. My favorite part is the young man (Tom?), hugging the little girl in the middle of the video...It becomes obvious in this moment that this is big human stuff. This is where Church thought should be taking us.




On the other hand, here is a spoof having some fun with the idea...gone bad!

Why? What? How?

Why does a U2 concert feel more worshipful than a typical, mainline church service to a born and raised mainline, UMC pastor?

Moreover, what, if anything, can we do to help people connect in the life of faith and worship?

Most of all: What can we do in our local churches to bring a spirit of worship that helps people experience the tranforming grace of God?

2 Perspectives

#1 I love Radiohead.

#2 I am concerned about global humanitarian issues.

#3 I am an American, which means I am part of the biggest consuming culture in world history.

This video is startling...

Where Have We Gone Wrong?

I saw this on Steve Taylor's Blog, and it stirred all sorts of thoughts and feelings.

Seriously, why? For what purpose? If the music is indicative, the church is going to need to be moved again...and again...and again, until it is in a museum.