Eddie's Book (fb)

I didn't really know him but I knew who he was.  I was coming back from a business trip- flying Southwest from Dallas to OKC.  I introduced myself.  He was immersed in a book he said was by a guy named Willard.  Five years later I had the privilege of working with Eddie.  He was still carrying that book only now it was duck-taped on the spine, jacket-less, and stained on the outside.  The inside cover and every other chunk of white-space was blanketed with tiny writing- outlines, notes, thoughts.  Eddie figured the information in this book was life-changing and he used it with young men to change lives.  Eddie's book was The Divine Conspiracy and it is as good of an explanation of what Jesus called "the Kingdom" as anything I know of.  If a guy or gal really understood and applied the biblical principles that Willard unpacks he or she would have a pretty good handle on what life is really about.

I tend to conquer books like notches on a gun.  I take some sick pride in knocking em down.  I'm reminded of Eddie and the value of deciding that a book is worth really knowing and applying.  You will only have time and energy to do that with a few books in a lifetime.  What books have so impacted you that it would be worth going back this year and committing to really "live with it"- mark it up, memorize parts, draw diagrams, make notes?  What a treasure that would be for your kids someday.

My copy of Edmund Chan's Mentoring Paradigms: Lessons on Mentoring, Leadership, and Discipleship is starting to get pretty messy.

Coach Lisa (fb)- oops now it's (fc)

The "Mini Mia's," formerly known as the Red Diamands, formerly known as the Diamond Divas, formerly known as the Red Hots are currently in first place in the Edmond Soccer Club's rec girls U12 league.  To be fair, the league is not vast (there may be four or five teams), but that's part of the story.  In Edmond Oklahoma most girls either quit soccer or enter "competitive soccer" (aka expensive, life consuming soccer) by age eight or nine.  "Go out and have fun regardless of ability" soccer isn't really promoted or widely available after that age.

The Red Hots started playing together two years and four seasons ago.  In their first season they didn't score a single goal.  In season two they kept their "goal-less" streak alive until the end of the season.  In that game they played the Diamond Divas, a team whose only win that season came at the expense of the Red Hots.  On that fateful November night, in a game that was officially an unofficial "scrimmage," little Lindsay Lawler put one in the net and the Red Hot faithful wend wild (even though the Red Hots lost the game 2-1).

Attrition and the fact that misery loves company brought a merger the following season, thus, the Red Diamonds were born.  The Red Diamonds were winless last season but managed a few goals and definitely were the "funnest" and "cutest" team in the league.

Entering this season all of the girls were up for playing but the team was without a coach (this is rec soccer - no paid coaches here folks).  Literally in the eleventh hour someone volunteered to coach.  A new family had moved to town (Air Force) and was looking to place two of their five kids on a girls rec team.  Enter coach Lisa- the difference between first place and winless.

The girls practice the same number of hours, run many of the same drills, play the same positions, wear the same cleats- so what's different?  Leadership- faith, hope and love.

Faith
The official name of the team is still the Red Diamonds, but the first thing Lisa did was get the team together and let them give it a new "unofficial name"- the "mini Mias."  At the next practice she taught them the chant/rap that would become their pre-game ritual.  She made stretching an absolute blast and then empowered the girls to lead it themselves.  Her tone and presence said "we are a new team and we win soccer games."  And you could just feel faith rising in these girls- they were believers before their first game (which they won handily).

Hope
Real hope isn't some "I hope so," it's based on something real.  Lisa did it with discipline and authority.  She doesn't settle for mediocrity.  She got these girls to believe that they could perform the same skills with the same proficiency as anyone else in the league.  She expected them to make the pass, make the shot, stay in position, understand the nuances of the game, and  block the shot.  Last season Kendall was the goalie that always looked dejected as the 10th goal went rolling past her.  Today she plays like freakin Brianna Scurry- she's diving into legs and cleats and leaping to the top bar to knock balls away.  Do you know where Lisa gets the authority to call her girls to this level of discipline-based hope?... her character.

At a recent tournament Lisa coached with the opposing team's fans right behind her.  She had to listen to some moron-couple accuse her of "coaching her players to hit and elbow" and she had to hear said morons encourage their team to injure our players, singling out Lisa's own daughters.  Lisa took the high road and showed us and our daughters how to diffuse a bad situation with dignity.

Love
But Lisa's secret sauce is this- the Mini Mias feel loved by their coach.  She laughs with them, runs with them, chants with them, speaks destiny over them, has them into her home, into her life.  These girls would do anything for her.

Faith, hope, and love- that's how you get from last to first.  That's how you coach, how you lead.

Swing Thoughts (fb)

I play golf once or twice a year.  I play now only when it gives me the opportunity to spend time with people I really like.  I don't play now because it's expensive, takes tons of time, but mostly because you can't be good at golf unless you do it a lot!  I used to play a lot so it's like I know too much.  I know the mechanics of the grip and the stance and the backswing and the follow through and club selection and lie and... And I have all of that like a tornado in my head as I stand over every shot and nothing feels natural.

I was playing golf a while back with people I like.  Steve Cockram watched me hack up the course for a couple of holes and then, in a manner that, surprisingly, didn't piss me off (unsolicited advice on the golf course generally does) suggested that I clear all of that clutter and just have one "swing thought."  He told me to "throw my hands at the target" or something like that.  If it doesn't make sense to you I'm not sure it made sense to me...but it worked.  All of a sudden there was calm and I started to play a decent round of golf, generally striking the ball really well.

Golf isn't worth the two paragraphs I just spent on it but here is the point.  I need a swing thought for life or I'll let a tornado rampage through my mind full of fear, insecurity, to-do's, not-done's, shoulda-done's, wish I could-do's.  After 40 years I can tell you without hesitation what my swing thought is for life- and I don't think it's just for me- I think this one works for everyone.  It 's the one thing I know I want my kids to have settled before they leave our home.  It is simply this:

The Father Himself loves me

The Father Himself loves me.  Jesus came to earth to reveal it, his life demonstrated it, it fueled his obedience even to death, he said it explicitly in John 16 and it reveals the core of who I am and what I'm about.  I screw stuff up, I win some, I lose some, I hurt, I'm scared, I'm prone to try to find identity in harmful ways but, at the end of the day, my Father loves me.  And his love cannot be earned or increased, it does not exclude anyone for any reason, and the statute of limitations never runs out.  If  I can keep focused on that thought then I generally feel things like: FREEDOM, PEACE, JOY and I find it joyful to be the embodiment of that truth to the people in front of me.

The Father Himself love you

Five Core Skills of Leadership (fb)

More "pearls" from Edmund Chan.  When my dad said "this is the best book on leadership I've ever seen" I didn't buy it.  I'm starting to become a believer.  This little nugget is worth putting in Evernote or on a 3x5 to keep with you and review daily!

Five Core Skills of Leadership:

1.  Visioneering: the CONCERN of leadership is the FUTURE
2.  Conflict Resolution: the CAPACITY of leadership is the TEAM
3.  Problem Solving: The CONDUIT of leadership is CREATIVITY
4.  Change Management: The CHALLENGE of leadership is TRANSFORMATION
5.  Personal Leadership: The CAPITAL of leadership is TRUST

There- he said it (fb)

Much to my delight I found the following in the latest issue of Esquire (guilty pleasure since 1982, now enjoyed only on plane trips).  The absence of religion is attractive- to Esquire, to people who don't know the reality of Jesus and his kingdom, to me.

http://www.esquire.com/features/best-and-brightest-2009/shane-claiborne-1209

Well-resourced vision (fb)

Jeremie Kubicek sent me this link (click the "play" button in the middle of the page under "inspiring").  I found it inspiring and thought provoking.  I started asking questions and thinking things like...


What does this video remind me about how people of all ages "learn"?
This is as much about "her" as "him."  And it has become about "them."  There is always a team behind innovation.
Is it reproducible?  Which parts?  What would it cost?
What pieces can be unbundled to apply to education broadly?  Training in general?
Story and language create culture- the Ron Clark Academy has built a powerful culture- everything else flows from that.
I admire people who are wired up to be silly and can pull it off.
This is outrageously well-resourced vision.  Why are some great visions resourced and others aren't?  Was it the awards that Ron and Kim won?  Ron's charisma...tenacity?
The arts connect people, create culture, release creativity.  Every community with a mission needs song and dance and story and visual in the middle.
He reminds me of my man Kyle Stewart.
People who know they're loved are free.
This is innovation but not revolution.  A massive network of community-based homeschooling- that's revolution baby!

China- First Impressions (fb)

1.  Warm, bright, industrious, hospitable people.
2.  Rich culture - art, music, history...big part of the Isaiah 60 tapestry of displaying Kingdom glory
3.  People everywhere, all the time!
4.  Cities- huge cities- Dallas would be average.
5.  Honor culture.
6.  Great food!  Bold in the north- delicate in the south.  No protein goes to waste!
7.  Old meets new- radical dichotomy visible everywhere.
8.  Infrastructure is 50 years behind...it will take 10 years to catch up.
9.  Materialism is the coming epidemic.
10.  Vibrant church.

Next post...impressions about "church" in China

OKC history of racial segregation (fb)

Good article by Steve Lackmeyer on Roscoe Dunjee, Deep Deuce, and history of racial segregation in OKC.

Crazy Ways (fc)

A brief overview of some of God’s crazy ways

Problem:  You need a person to represent you to all of your people and to foreign rulers.  

Solution:  Have someone named Moses, who is terrified of public speaking, become the spokesperson for all of your people

Problem:  You need to destroy Jericho 

Answer:  Have your people walk around it a bunch of times and then blow a horn.

Problem:  You need someone who is trustworthy to protect the spies going to check out the land of Canaan.  

Answer:  Have a prostitute named Rahab be the contact person in Canaan

Problem:  Your people are terrified of a giant named Goliath.  

Solution:  Have a kid with a slingshot defeat the giant

Problem:  You need to feed 5000 people a meal  

Solution:  Use a kid’s sack lunch

Problem:  You need to choose a group of people to represent you and accomplish your plan to rescue the world forever. 

Solution:  Gather people who have rebelled against you and adopt them into your family and give them all of your power even though they will continue to reject you and rebel against you a lot of the time.  

I guess what I think God is saying today is that he has set his eyes on you and you and you and us and he’s not waiting for us to figure it out, work it out, make it happen… he’s asking us to stare at Jesus and his cross and let that turn us in to people of fearless trust- he wants this so that he can bring his Kingdom through us – but in a way that only he gets credit.

NYT Jobless Rate research (fb)

Check out this interactive graph on jobless rates through the recent recession.  As usual, the black community shoulders a disproportionate share of suffering.  Black women with no high school degree are hit especially hard.

War Dance (fb)

Watched War Dance last night.   Both horrifying and uplifting.  Tells the story of three children from a refugee camp in northern Uganda whose primary school has a chance to go to Kampala to compete in a national music contest.  It's the same area documented in Invisible Children.  For twenty years the LRA in northern Uganda, southern Sudan, and eastern Congo has used kidnapped children to wreak havoc on the region.  I can't begin to describe the heinousness of their common tactics.  The atrocities have gotten huge news coverage, Oprah coverage, multiple documentaries, etc...  You might assume that it is surely over.  The reality is that, despite multiple "cease fire" agreements and a huge December 2008 military offensive, the LRA is still in business and increasing its territory.  The LRA has no nuclear devises, doesn't launch terrorist attacks against the U.S. or our "interests" abroad, doesn't threaten oil resources, and doesn't threaten to "destabilize" the region.  Nevertheless, I'm genuinely horrified when I think about being a part of the generation that knew what was happening there and allowed it to continue for over twenty years, at least.

Becoming Nothing (fb)

Following Jesus is so WEIRD, so counterintuitive.  The way to go up is to go down; the way to get more is to get less; the way to be first is to be last.  Do I really believe it?

Found some simple truth from Edmund Chan this morning.  What is God doing with me, with you, right now?  This... becoming people who are becoming, deep inside of us, people with...

Nothing to prove:  a place of deep security in God
Nothing to lose:  a state of absolute surrender to God
Nothing to hide:  true integrity before God

Women in Prison (fb)

Editorial in today's Oklahoman a reminder that Oklahoma still puts more women in jail (per capita) than any other state.  Why is that?  What is the history?  What are the implications?  It's not OK.  Watch the news and start to notice the stories that highlight the condition of women and children in our state.  Prison rates, infant mortality, domestic violence, childhood obesity- we're not doing well.  The older testament prophets, again and again, reveal the heart of a God that considers the condition of the most vulnerable in society as an indication of the heart's of the people.   Change starts with awareness.

Magnificent (fb, maybe fc now- forgot to post)

Lifelong dream fulfilled Sunday night- a couple of them actually/maybe?

Dream 1:  See U2 live
Dream 2:  OU Stadium filled with a nameless faceless church celebrating Jesus and his kingdom

I haven't fully processed this stuff (imagine that), but my heart is excited by these thoughts:

The theme Sunday night was, "hey Church, be the church!"  It began with a call to worship- about five songs, with comments from the worship leader, all about the greatness of God.  It then entered into a time of acknowledging how hard this life is, how much we need grace, need each other, need to be encouraged.  It ended with a challenge to take love to one another and to the world (John 17).  Everything in a spirit of grace, humility, and courage.  And in a spirit of rock n' roll- which is *** awesome.

It was what celebration should be- almost a "once in a decade" type gathering of the church in a region- extravagant, over the top, loud, excellent, intentional, inclusive, and...beer.

Many times over the past nine years I've walked the campus praying for revival in our state, in Norman, and pictured as if it were happening NOW, this gathering- I just never had a clue as to how it could happen without some evangelical organization and its leaders hyping it, organizing it, telling everyone in advance what was "supposed" to happen, owning it, controlling it, screwing it up.  Something miraculous would have to happen to unify this diverse group- to make it a diverse group.

A miracle has occurred in our lifetime.  Bono and his little band have managed to avoid being identified with American Evangelicalism.  Because of that fact, this ordinary dude from Dublin has the authority to point Presidents, Premiers, Prime Ministers, and Kings toward the Kingdom- with fierce boldness.  He also has the mojo to gather people in stadiums- by the tens of thousands.

Where is the racial diversity?  I wonder if God is doing with Tyler Perry what he has done with Bono?  Who are the other unifiers?  How powerful are the arts for connecting with the heart and uniting?

OK- how do I know it was "the church" gathered.  I don't.  My bible tells me that's not my problem to solve- I'm not the "sorter" as much as my nature wants to be.  I don't know the story of the dude in front of me pounding brew two fists at a time- I know this.  When Bono led Amazing Grace he got it.  Did he walk with Jesus as a child and something was reawakened.  Is he a leader in his church and he never realized that church is a lifestyle that can be lived at U2 concerts?  Is he a broken man who didn't realize that there is hope and that hope has a name?

Still processing...

Where in the world is Sarah Palin? (fc)

In June 2008 Sarah Palin gave a speech at her home church.  The occasion was a graduation of ministry training school students.  I recall watching the video of the speech following her Vice Presidential nomination and thinking:

-       *she loves Jesus and has been discipled well in a great church

-       *her life is surrendered to God with the accompanying sense of “call” on her governorship

-       *she is a humble woman

-       *she has a strong sense about the significance of this moment in our country and of God’s plans for her and for Alaska in  impacting the nation- it’s very prophetic and revivalist in tone

I’m sure that her VP nomination was interpreted (rightly I think) as part of the fulfillment of the vision that God had put in her heart and confirmed through prophetic words.  She probably thought the moment of national revival was imminent and she would be in the middle of it.

Since that time Sarah Palin has endured betrayal, ridicule, loneliness, anger, exhaustion, family turmoil, etc…  Today she is mostly labeled the quitter-governor, bad-mom, foreign policy idiot, hayseed political quack that ultimately couldn’t handle it.

My sense is that God’s hand is on her life and that if she will surrender to the things God wants to do in her heart she won’t believe the things He will do with her life.  She is just getting started.  I don’t know if God wants to use her in politics or what.  My hope is that she won’t get sucked into the Christian speaker club but, rather, she goes for it. 

What is Sarah Palin up to right now?  Last Wednesday she gave a speech to a group of investors in Hong Kong.  The topic?  Foreign policy.  

Tulsa's Greenwood District (fb)

Good article today in the Journal Record.  You cannot understand Oklahoma without understanding this issue.  If we care about city transformation in OKC or Tulsa we have to understand that Oklahoma was the site of perhaps the most heinous act of racism in the history of our country.

Praying FOR city transformation means praying and working AGAINST some things.  To know what those things are requires that we become students of our cities/states/nations.  To be a student of Oklahoma is to see racism as THE primary obstacle to real transformation.

Change always begins with awareness- as we shed light on dark things we bring them into the arena where Kingdom comes.

Dignity in the workplace (fb)

Let's seriously rethink our paradigm about what is and is not "demeaning" work.

Option A:

Hours:  Work the hours you're required to work or the hours you are peer-pressured into working.
Dress:  Wear a goofy uniform (explicit or implied)
Co-workers:  Chosen for you

Work environment:


Option B:

Hours:  Work the hours that accommodate you and your family
Dress:  Comfy
Co-Workers:  You choose
Work Environment:

We're Blooming!

Hair (fb)

Chris Rock was on Oprah the other day talking about his new film.  "If you want to understand black women you have to understand their hair."  And I'm sitting in my bed raising my hand, "that's me, that's me!  I know- er- at least I know more than most white people!"  OK- now I'm gonna say some crazy stuff but hang with me.


There will be a massive move of God among black women all over the world in this generation- first among them- but it will spill over.  The spill over may just ignite the move of God we've prayed for in our generation.  The spill over will look like radical love and forgiveness extended where it isn't deserved- that's called "grace."  But to feel the significance you would first have to understand the offense.  Isn't it just like God to use art, film, comedy to begin to raise awareness of the most marginalized group of people on earth?  Everything a black woman sees and hears tells her she is less than- and her hair is a constant reminder that it takes everything to belong.   The enemy wants to keep a group of people that are characterized by warmth, creativity, and joy locked up in fear and shame.  The love of the Father frees us from our fear, from our shame.  I can't wait to see this film- I hope I laugh all the way through but will be fighting back tears the whole time.

Prezi (fb)

Finally found a non-linear presentation tool- I might be in love.  After using mind-maps for ten years (thank you Jay Lorenzen) it's nice to be able to present it in the way you conceived it.  You might like it too.

These two truths (fb)

Have taken me to the extreme ends of both "hope……….deferred" and "joy unspeakable and full of glory!"

Have cost me at least two careers

Have influenced every major decision that we’ve made for almost twenty years

Inform every aspect of how we invest our time and our money

Have been the foundation of our family life and the dreams we have for our children

Are the cause of much confusion to those who watch us from near and far

Have taken me to a refuge camp on the Iran/Iraq border, to Little Havana, an antebellum plantation, crack-houses, and food courts

Are the direct cause of the varied and genuinely bizarre relationships and relational networks that we both treasure and ponder

Are why he laughed at me on the sidewalk and she looked dumfounded in the atrium

Are why her face lit up and why they cry

Are always the answer to the question, “why?”

Are the things that we’ve staked our future on

Are everything- if they aren’t true we have nothing and are the greatest of fools

Are…
1.  Jesus loves me with “a reckless raging fury"
2.  He still speaks

Foo Fighters on ACL (fb)

I’m moved, “mildly fascinated,” “that was freakin’ awesome!,” wanting more after watching the Foo Fighters for the last hour.  Austin City Limits is “pretty much my favorite TV show ever.”  It’s as close to seeing a live show as you can get.  Everyone respects ACL- you don’t want to screw up or be an ass on it- you bring your best.  Lyle Lovett is always amazing, I thought Joss Stone was unreal- but what I just saw may be at the very top for me. 

Dave Grohl was the drummer for Nirvana from 1990 until 1994 when lead singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain died and so did Nirvana.  Grohl was the drummer for the hottest rock band in the world in 1994.  I’m sure he thought, “this is as good as it will ever get.”  He played guitar and wrote songs to pass the time while Nirvana toured.  He never showed anyone his songs because he was touring with genius songwriter Cobain. 

In 1995, when Nirvana was done, Grohl could have played drums for any band he wanted.  Instead he overcame insecurity and fear, found some faith, and emerged as a leader, lead singer, song writer- guitar player.  He started working on his songs and formed a band called the Foo Fighters.  Since then they have won six Grammy awards, including four “best rock album” awards. 

On ACL Grohl absolutely took control of his band and the audience and he led with passion, heart, humility.  He led like someone who isn’t afraid.  He made the audience a part of the show.  He played his guitar like a drummer who loves melody- percussive but with these beautiful melodies.   The arrangements were creative but not indulgent- just lots of “wow”- attention to detail, dynamics.   My guess is that these guys rehearse more and just worker harder than the other guys.  My guess is that Dave Grohl is actually just getting started and he believes his best work is always in the future.   That kind of thing inspires me.

Thirsty still (fc)

When God begins to put the fire of the Holy Spirit in your heart you begin to believe you’ll die if you don’t see everyone else catch on fire too!  The fire of God makes you thirsty, but as you drink more of him you become more thirsty still.  When I began to read that at times, throughout history, the Holy Spirit has come in power and caught whole nations on fire- something happened in me that I’m still not over.  I am living to see revival come.

Revival is a sovereign visitation of the Holy Spirit that refocuses the affections of the church on Jesus Christ and his kingdom.  It is always preceded by prayer, characterized by repentance, demonstrated in power, and results in a major advancement of the Kingdom.

A bizarre Saturday- first, second, and third stanzas (fb)

Four a.m. – protein, cream, pills, calories, nerves

I’m driving now and Phil Rice puts my focus on the right things- faith rises up

“Consuming fire burn, burn in me; jealous lover run, come running after me”

Stripped almost naked, it’s raining and cold and I wait.

Thrown into the water, chaos, bodies everywhere- my nose must be bleeding but I have to keep going; a shot to the forehead, press on, rhythm, peaceful

“Consuming fire burn, burn in me; jealous lover run, come running after me”

I’m on the machine now, cold, anxious, getting wetter, legs start to burn, is this some sick joke or are we all cranking to power some electrical outlet in the sky?  Over and over- “Consuming fire burn, burn in me; jealous lover run, come running after me”

Off the machine,  water everywhere, running now, trying to smile, trying to think of anything but the nausea- confirmed theory that you gain strength by encouraging others.  “You got this”  “You’re lookin’ good” Suddenly I’m stronger.

“Consuming fire burn, burn in me; jealous lover run, come running after me” 

I literally feel HIS presence and I am full of joy and my eyes fill with tears.  He’s walking, he’s hurting, Tex the rodeo man.  “Come on dude, we got this”  We’re together, one mile, another.   The sign on her butt says “Becky.”  She senses community and wants in on the banter.  Final encouragement from Tex, Becky’s gone- just me-

“Consuming fire burn, burn in me; jealous lover run, come running after me” 

Carpet, banners, people who love me, sunshine, people who love me, chocolate milk, people who love me.

Then I saw a new... (fb)

Then I saw a new Oklahoma City...

It's people were healthy- perfectly healthy, vibrant, playful
It was peaceful- there were no good neighborhoods, no bad ones
There was a tangible sense of joy in the neighborhoods, the market, the streets
The Myriad Gardens and Will Rogers park were green and the flowers were bright and fragrant- the trees like the cedars of Lebanon- a tall strong canopy
You could drink from the Oklahoma river and all of the waters were clear and beautiful and full of life- from the farm ponds to the lakes
The fields were abundant- the outdoor markets overflowed with the most gorgeous produce- I can't think of any other way to say it- beautiful abundance
The mayor and the city council and all of the leaders were humble and their actions were just...just
Flaming lips alley, every sidewalk cafe (yes- sidewalk cafe's- everywhere!), every building, every park, every bridge was a place of connection, a place of relationship
ABC and KRXO produced content with a level of beauty and creativity like nothing ever before seen or heard
Dance and drama and visual art were everywhere, continually celebrating both Creator and creation- even the Red Dog- full of light and life and families and a spirit of thanksgiving
And deals were done with a sense of justice and joy and collaboration- the Devon tower an amazing gathering place where right commerce was displayed in such a way that those who used to feel marginalized felt awe and ownership of the mechanism of provision and could marvel at the glory of work
The Health Science center and the Ralph Ellison Library and Quail Creek Elementary and Dove Acadamy and all of the institutions of learning held a continual sense of discovery in an environment of expectant cooperation
The east side was as wonderful as the north side was as wonderful as the south side was as wonderful as the west side
And everyone had a place to go home to, full of food and love and family
Every street had a warm, inviting glow and a sense of security- a sense of "I belong right here right now"
There were no places of worship, because the tangible sense of the presence of the Father and His Son and the Holy Spirit created a continual atmosphere of praise, thanksgiving, life- spontaneous drum circles at Mitch park and slam poetry of praise on the capital steps and indie-pop-metal-alternative-classical-latino throw down everybody just jump right in barn dance PRAISE right there- right there- yes there- everywhere!
And every child was happy...

And then I looked and I saw Portland, Atlanta, Pawley's Island, Yucaipa...

What did you see?

Tada (fb)

Tenacity (fb)

Six weeks ago I saw the strangest thing in my backyard.  A 13 year old kid was standing in his boxers covered in mud and water, hosing out an old tire that he had dug out and dragged up from the creek.  When I inquired about this bizarre behavior he told me, matter of factly, that he was making sandals.

Over the past 6 weeks that kid has spent hours in the barn.  He has officially used three hammers, a hacksaw, a drywall saw, a reciprocating saw, a jig saw, 2 chisels, a utility knife, and a couple of screwdrivers.  Do you have any idea how difficult it is to cut a pattern out of a 30 year-old steel belted radial?  He does, and from time to time over the past 6 weeks he’s had to just walk away in defeat.  But yesterday we had a breakthrough.  A combination of the right clamp in the right place with the right blade and the right saw and together, we saw a right and a left sole emerge.  He wanted to work all night last night but it was a “school night”- you know.  He’ll finish those sandals- no doubt about it.

I still don’t understand it.  Some of it is the way God made this kid.  But there is some vision that was planted in his mind six weeks ago that is so exciting and compelling that he has persevered where the 99% would quit.  Would you spend two hours sawing through steel with a drywall saw only to cut through one of four “bands?” 

The Lord showed me something last night about this kid, about myself, about people.  “Anything that is worthwhile is difficult.”  There are billions of great ideas and plans.  The difference between vision realized and hope deferred is usually one more pull of the saw blade that the next guy just was too tired to take.  There are always moments of hopelessness and moments of breakthrough; and, in the end, it never quite looks the way we thought it would.

So I get the joy of watching one more step in THE prayer being answered, “Lord, give this boy a heart like yours.”  Today it’s rubber and steel;  one day it will be loneliness, rejection, betrayal, and a cross, and then…everything comes alive! 

One woman = One business (fb)

Read the "One woman = One business" report from the ICRW- more fuel on the fire.  Here's the deal:

Empowering women may be THE key issue in the economic development of developing countries.

WHY?

Investment in the economic well being of women has a huge, exponential effect on the children, families, communities, and economic development of a nation.

SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

Women are the most marginalized and vulnerable group in developing countries, especially young women.  Black women in sub-saharan Africa are the most vulnerable.  Laws that prevent women's rights, crazy unhelpful social norms, lack of access to funding, unequal pay, disease, marriage at a young age, and lack of educational opportunity are just a few of the reasons.  (The spiritual realities behind all of this, coupled with what Jesus wants to do in our generation are - WOW- but that's for another time).

This report concludes that much is being done in the area of micro-finance to address the lack of access to funds for women entrepreneurs, BUT the greatest need is for "leadership training," "entrepreneurial skills training," and "peer networks."

What if a movement gave a "cookies on the bottom shelf" entrepreneurial opportunity to women all over the world?  What if that movement was built on leadership development, peer connection, and training? What if it offered substantial income opportunity?  Welcome to Bloom.

You Will Run (fc)

You are going to run, my boy.  You must find your faith, my dear boy.  You must recover the faith of a child.  You will run, boy!  Do you hear what I’m saying?  Like Elijah, down from the mountain.  You will run through the kingdom, if you yield. So you must!  He must be allowed to sweep you off your feet!  Do you understand?  This is beyond you.  You must enthrall your mind with God.

You have no idea of the breathtaking power that awaits you there.  You want to know how to rediscover the kind of belief you once had, as a child?  Enthrall you mind with a ravishing vision of God.  Find the pearl.. 

Waste your life for the treasure- this extravagant love for Christ.  Swim in His ocean and breath His water.  And then, my sweet child, you will run.  Run like the wind through His kingdom.  You, my dear boy, will be fortunate to survive the herd of horses that stampedes through your heart.

(Bill Bright- A Man Called Blessed)

'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28

New St. Anthony's billboard at 235 and 36th (fb)

What is God up to in OKC?

One house clean at a time (fc)

I’m a revivalist at heart and believe we’ll see revival when the most marginalized people on earth are overwhelmed with the glory of Jesus- manifest in freedom of worship and a radical forgiveness.  (I believe that group is black women but that is another conversation.  Racism IS the big dog daddy that this generation must war against, and it will cost us everything. )

I believe in the Church and I believe in the marketplace as the pioneering frontier of mission where the church can BE the church (it’s a lifestyle led by amateurs when it transforms- but you know that).

I believe that impacting the working class in America is a gateway to impacting the poor in the developing world.

We want to bring a practical mechanism of economic freedom and all that goes with it, built on the values of Jesus to the women of the developing world.

We’re doing that by starting a movement among working women in America.  

Our context is the house cleaning business.

Naming things (fb)

Reading Revelation and thinking about the power to name.

The power to name things is the power to control them.  Naming is about authority.  The first task given and the first picture of human beings "reigning" with God is when God gives Adam the power to name things in Genesis 2.  The right exercise of Kingdom authority in naming things is a beautiful thing but... it got messed up in Genesis 3 just like everything else!  What difference does it make?

In our prideful desire to control people and things we (I) love to name things.  We call them "labels" or "categories" but it's how we draw lines of acceptance and blessing.  We name things "liberal" or "conservative" or "rebel" or "shady" or "depressed" or "orthodox" or "evangelical."   What we can't name we can't control and what we can't control scares the hell out of us.

I want to use the Holy Spirit power of naming to bring blessing, connection, unity, and life; not division and fear and shame.

We have done it ourselves - (fb)

Go to the people:
live with them, learn from them
love them
start with what they know 
build with what they have.


But of the best leaders, 
when the job is done,
the task accomplished,
the people will say:
"We have done it ourselves."


Lao Tzu
(Quoted in The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogrataz)

Our strategy for Bloom- beautifully articulated.

City Transformation (fc)

Gatherings (fb)

I can only think of one place in the New Testament that describes, in any detail, what happens when the church gathers.  In that description (1 Cor 14) it is clear that everyone gets to play and that there is a tangible sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Most of the other descriptions refer to churches that meet in homes and/or “the” church of a particular city.  We never see anything that remotely resembles the typical gathering of American Christians.  The only thing I can find in the bible that resembles what we typically do is found in the Old Testament, happens very infrequently, and is characterized by repentance (loud weeping, falling on faces, etc..) followed by celebration (more along the lines of a World Cup final).

So why do we keep doing something that has no precedent in the bible and clearly is not working?  And why do so many say “amen” yet continue to prop up this dinosaur via dollars and attendance?  What if the church was a dynamic lifestyle, gathering in homes and the marketplace and parks and café’s- ooooooh and on rare occasions we could get humongous groups of Jesus’ followers together for repentance and celebration?  

Community and Accountability at work (fb)

The workplace gets most of our hours- in fact, gets most of our BEST hours- the ones where we are awake, alert, focused maybe.  The church spends most of its BEST time at work.  The workplace is a place of accountability but not always a place of great community.  Most local churches are places of community(?) but without accountability.  Community with no accountability is kinda fun but doesn’t produce anything. 

Question.  What if there were a multiplication of workplaces that added community to their existing accountability?  Seems like it would be much easier to bring community to the workplace than to bring a culture of accountability to the local American church.  So what could that look like?

Running (fb)

9:00 min mile I think about running
10:00 min mile I can talk to Jesus
11:00 min mile I can talk to Stacy

What's the best deal?  What's the most foolish option?

Second Coming (FC)

I had a fantasy yesterday- that we are the generation that sees the second coming of Christ.  And I was picturing Mother Theresa and Peter and my grandpa and anticipation was building because they were watching the church become the bride that Jesus said she would become- and they knew the time must be getting close- and suddenly word spreads that the Father has given the word- "go get my kids"- "invite your bride"- and the saints of old just start freaking out with joy that we get to experience the event.  

Worn out for the right reasons (FB)

What wears out modern church leaders:
1.  Fighting the "provider/ client" mentality
2.  Running the "business"

What wore Jesus out:
1.  Fighting demons
2.  Religious people

What gives leaders (including Jesus) energy:
1.  Making disciples
2.  Seeing disciples make disciples

Conclusion:  Give yourself to making disciples, expect resistence from demons and religious people (deal swiftly and authoritatively with both), don't spend two minutes catering to "provider/client" or running the "business."