He noticed me (fb)

"He noticed me."  That phrase has haunted me in the most wonderful way for weeks now.  It comes into my mind when I'm driving to work, at random times during the day and when I lie down at night.  The words were spoken by a teenage girl in a song that she wrote during an incredibly intense time in her life.  Intense, exciting, scary, uncertain, supernatural.  I wish I could tell you more about her I really do.  Was she outgoing or shy?  Popular or unknown?  Beautiful or challenged?  Easily embarrassed or life of the party?   The answers to those and a gagillion other questions we don't know, we aren't supposed to know.  I'll tell you what we do know. She was a teenager- with all the fear, insecurity, confusion, hope, and longings that teenage girls have.  She was from a smallish town that was kind of a "not such a big deal" place.  She had a fiance.'  She had never had sex- which I think is the thing we're most supposed to know.

Suddenly in the midst of a life probably not unlike the lives of her friends and their moms before them- another world breaks through with an excitement almost uncontainable.  It began with an angel, glowing from exposure to 180-proof glory- enough to make any teenage girl or warrior fall on their face- standing in her room talking to her.  The angel told her God knew her, wanted to bless her, that she would become pregnant, name the child Jesus, and watch as the child became King over a kingdom that would never end.  Overwhelming, outrageous, too much to process, happening so fast - what must she have thought?

She became pregnant and soon went to visit a relative, a woman named Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was older, a woman who loved God, who had recently had some supernatural events breakthrough into her world as well.  Did Mary go to see Elizabeth for perspective?  Wisdom?  Some time away to process?  The answers to those and a gagillion other questions we don't know, we aren't supposed to know.  I'll tell you what we do know.  Elizabeth practically fell at Mary's feet when Mary walked in the door, declaring her to be the most "blessed of all women."  Elizabeth reacted as human beings who have longed for God's presence for a lifetime respond when He enters their world.  What must Mary have felt?  Like teenage girls before and after she wrote a poem, a song, a journal entry- she had to get it down- what she was thinking and feeling.  And knowing now what we do know now- we can claim her song as our own.  An expression of a heart that has been made new by the life and death and life of Jesus.

She begins... "My heart praises God, He makes my soul happy because He noticed me"

May I tell me and may I remind you that what was true of her is true of us?  When the human heart experiences the reality that He noticed me the religion goes out the door and the relationship becomes consuming in a way that would turn anyone into a lovesick singer-songwriter.  "He noticed me...He knows my name...He's real and close not far away...He pursued me...He knows EVERYTHING and He still wants to be my friend...His mercy is compelling...the reality of God intervening in my life has changed its trajectory forever and I am finally discovering what life is and who I am - I'm starting to Live!"

For 2000 years the Church has called Mary's song the Magnificat - but you can call it He Noticed Me- may it haunt you in the most wonderful way.

Unity is and is not (fc)

As Jesus sent his disciples out to do his works he didn’t say, “now be nice to each other and you’ll see the sick healed and demons flee and hearts transformed.”  He said “Don’t go alone; be careful!  I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves, expect to be imprisoned, expect persecution, expect to stand before politicians and princes, expect to be rejected by brothers and fathers, expect strife, but stand firm to the end because my Father will give you everything you need- in fact- it makes Him happy to give you his entire Kingdom!”

Paul, Peter, James – all of them say expect it to be hard- you’ll be tempted to blame each other but remember, you’re fighting demons not each other (Eph 6).

If we want unity it won’t feel like unity most of the time-  it will feel like we’re barely hanging on to each other.  Real unity, REAL community comes at a great price- we surrender our rights for the sake of Christ and one another.  We together go on a journey of dying to ourselves and living to Christ and it’s hard.

If it’s going well it will drive you into 2 places: 

1.     To your knees in desperate prayer

2.     Into hard conversations 

Preparing our kids for life on Mars (fc)

About three years ago Stacy and I had a conversation on the beach at Isle of Palms, South Carolina.  We were talking about globalization and a changing world and skills that kids will need in the future.  I came home and started a list I never finished.  A list that really is unfinishable - but here's the start of an interesting conversation- feel free to add to it.

Skills my kids need in order to thrive in their generation that they won’t learn in school:

Fluency in at least one, preferably two languages other than English

How to lead a cross-disciplinary team confronted with a specific challenge or project.

How to quickly garner as much empathy as possible for a new person or people group.  In other words, how do you “walk in someone else’s moccasins” intentionally, as quickly as possible?

The ability to thrive in cross-cultural situations.

The ability to assimilate and synthesize large quantities of information quickly.  How to get to the most relevant facts.

Travel savvy- especially in navigating internationally and in mega-cities

Mega-city savvy- generally- especially transportation and communication

The appreciation of culinary diversity- an adventurous palate. 

An astonishing work ethic

The ability to speak the language of working people and of intellectual elites for the purpose of gaining respect at first impression.

A genuine excitement about learning and applying new technology

The ability to cultivate food- basic horticulture and animal husbandry

A working understanding of financial instruments and markets including barter and insurance.

An appreciation of the arts and their importance in culture and community building

"You're a prophet and a dreamer" (fb)

"You're a prophet and a dreamer" - translated, "There is a label that explains your behavior- that makes sense of why you'd want to leave our club- that frees us from examining the system we continue to prop up"


Here is an interview with someone who gets it and holds it with grace and humility.  The contrast is striking.



What's Next for Francis Chan? A Conversation with Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris from Ben Peays on Vimeo.

A little Thursday am Wimber (fb)

I was recently asked to list my "heroes, from the past or today, who you most admire and desire to emulate."  The late John Wimber made the short list.  I never met him but I love him - love how he loved the Church - how he made people feel empowered and encouraged- all the people.  I love how his humble and obedient heart freed others to take risks.  He was a rock n roller turned Jesus freak.  A revivalist who was the catalytic figure in worldwide revival in the late 80's and early 90's - most Americans have never heard of him, most Brits have and consider him a spiritual father of their movement.  He made life with Jesus simple, fun and full of power.


A few zingers from the intro of Everyone Gets to Play - the second compilation of John Wimber writings.  Just started this morning- the type of book best read devotionally - sipped not gulped- so I look forward to some pearls over the next few weeks.


"I can either get a tent and have a huge revival where I can do this by myself, or I can release it to the people, and equip them to play." - Wimber


"I had good teaching, but John Wimber and company had good fruit" - Bill Johnson


"John came with his ministry and left it with us" - David Pytches


"I realized that sometimes there is no way to explain obedience and sacrifice to God to those who do not see the Pearl." - Wimber

What really changes things? (fb)

Do things need to change?  What things?  …poverty?  Racism?  Systemic injustice?  Ugly buildings?  Vulnerable communities?  The availability of Orange Julius?

What really changes things?  Government?  Getting better at getting more people to come to more meetings?  Political leaders?  Grassroots movements?  Ideas?  Technology?  Love?

Just returned from a few days in NYC spending time with guys in business, church, and non-profit who dream of transformed cities- guys who think lots about what really changes things.  And it’s so fun to be with people like that – people who don’t just think about it but are doing things about it.  They are doing amazing things in their worlds. 

A couple of editorial thoughts upon reflection…

First, the structures that are in place are massively inadequate to sustain real change.  What do you mean?   Well…like….what we call “church” for the most part wouldn’t know what to do if tens of thousands suddenly said Yes.  But the same is true for all of our structures – banking, health care, education, government – most of our institutions are totally incompatible with the change we long for and we should keep working like dogs to change those things.

Second, the only thing that will change cities is…one man, one woman who has an encounter with God.  An encounter where the immense power of God and his outrageous compassion become real in a way that that man or woman feels as if they might be alive for the first time- becomes so real that they can’t help but gather a few other hungry hearts – hearts who are overjoyed at the simplicity of listening and responding to a voice that, once so far away, is suddenly so near.

My hand is to the plow of structure, my heart aches for more hungry hearts- for my own heart to be more and more desperate for more and more of God’s presence.  

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 4:29

If you want it here it is come and get it  - Paul McCartney

Fresh wind for our movement (fb)

I am proud to be a part of a world-wide movement that traces its roots back thousands of years.  I joined in high school, but had watched with curiosity and attraction for years.  Having no sense of the movement's history I couldn't have understood that I got connected at the beginning of a major downturn in our movement's popularity- at least in America.  The fact is that our movement has mostly fallen off of the radar of relevancy in our culture.

Prior to the 1940's the movement was primarily about professionals or the wealthy - but three things combined to create an explosion - making it accessible and desirable for millions of Americans.  First, a picture.  In 1953 Time magazine profiled John F. and Jackie Kennedy sailing small boats off sandy beaches off of Cape Cod.  The images told a story that included sailing in a life of romance, leadership, family, and citizenship.  The demand for sailing caused small communities of sailors to begin organizing.   These clubs were member owned and managed and existed to connect families with the opportunity to use free time sailing together.  The third factor was technological- in 1943 the Owens Corning company developed fiberglass, making boats both durable and affordable.  When Todd Little and I became 50-50 partners on a 16 foot Sidewinder racing sloop there were 10 million middle-class Americans that were part of this movement called "sailing."  In the last decade participation in sailing has declined by 40%.  Why?

First, the clubs built expensive water-front club houses during the boom years.  They began to hire staff, develop programs, include restaurants and bars, and generally forgot the core principle that they started with - "make it possible for people to sail."  The clubs that are currently thriving have no paid staff, still share resources, are intergenerational, and require that everyone give some of their free time for the sake of the club.  Todd and I got the guts to buy our boat because of a club at Lake Hefner that offered hourly rentals.

The "partners" tuning up Chastity in the driveway

Second, sailing became dominated by professionals and lost its connection to family life.  "The organic vitality of an activity can be measured by a ratio of amateurs to professionals active in it...when too many pros tax too few amateurs, some amateurs will start to wonder why they are in it."  In 2008, five percent of sailors were paid for it in some fashion.  Compare that with music, where one in 300 musicians are paid. The pro/amateur imbalance means that sailing has become a "crutch for some and a whim for others" rather than a lifestyle of the devoted.

Stacy and I bought "Dixie"- a 23' cruiser with a cabin- when our kids were four and six.  Sailing for us was about family and friends sharing experiences together.  It was a place of prayer, mentoring, laughter, and adventure.  It wasn't easy, but it was so worth it.

Third, sailing isn't simple - it is both art and science - quite complicated- the kind of thing that requires a lifetime commitment.  In the last 20 years our culture has abandoned "lifetime pursuits" in favor of paid entertainment in small time increments.  It is much easier to pay for a two hour movie than to head to a lake, rig a boat, read the wind, face a new challenge then take it all down and put it away.

Fourth, related to the former point, families aren't sailing together and the sailing industry promotes a generational disconnect.  "Find a culture where kids and adults are segregated and you'll find a culture on life support."  The decline of sailing in the last 20 years is directly correlated to the rise of kids "programs." We have taught a generation that sailing is primarily something to be done for kids, by kids, as kids in summer programs.  It is something to grow out of, not grow in to.

Finally, the focus on competition has brought division in sailing.  The professionals promoted sailing as a sport to compete in rather than a pastime to enjoy.  It is much easier to sell things to people who believe they need the latest and greatest, lightest and fastest.  The emphasis on racing created massive division among sailors competing to promote their race, their rules, their events, their class of boats as THE standard.  Each group has their own organizations, rules, publications, heroes and gurus.  For the average Joe that might be interested in sailing- this all seems like one big complicated mess.

What can we do about it?  What would it take for sailing to again become a lifestyle about shared adventure?

"Sailboats are flatly not family friendly in the popular sense.  On sailboats people argue, swear, and shout.  On sailboats, people fear, cry and celebrate.  On sailboats people fart, burp and vomit.  All out in the open.  But on sailboats, people, even children, learn to trust and understand each other, even when mistakes are made or common-sense lines are crossed...When sailing finally includes whole families and their networks, then sailing will gain in popularity again because it will matter again."

1.  Focus on mentoring

Jake about to take the helm as we motor out of Lake Hefner's East Bay

Real sailors are passionate about an idea: "that sailing is a better way to live than not sailing."  "...it is very difficult to spread one's passion into a pastime for the masses.  In fact, avidity usually develops one on one, or one to a few."  Mentors carry "authentic, contagious enthusiasm" for sailing- they are the key to its reemergence as a viable "Life Pastime" in the next generation.  "Mentoring en-masse is inevitably inauthentic.  And it fails when mentoring is confused with a place, a curriculum, philanthropy or a social program by well-meaning organizers."  Mentors are motivated by progress in their apprentices.  They don't waste time on just anyone- they look for apprentices willing to "commit, recommit, and recommit again even if it hurts."  "This can only happen in small groups of the same people over substantial time...everyone must participate."

2.  Raise the bar
"If sailors hope that sailing will survive and grow, they won't try to convince others that it is easy.  They will rightly call sailing what it is: difficult, time-consuming, evolving, sometimes risky and always worth it."

3.  Connect it to community, including women and girls

Em chillin' on Dixie

"Today, for every seven sailors on a boat, only one is a woman and almost none of these are active mothers."  Sailing has traditionally been the pastime of men and boys.  For sailing to begin growing again it must be about community, connecting families and generations to a shared lifestyle.  This requires a community commitment to create "overlapping free time" to spend together.

4.  Refocus sailing organizations around simple things-
"Define "family friendly" not as something sanitized or segregated, but as a thing purposely built for active family use."
Help mentors find apprentices and vice-versa
Focus everything around the idea of spreading a passion for sailing to as many as possible

Dad and Jake on Eufaula.  "I'll drive, you trim sails"

Finally- some things to avoid:
1.  "Don't focus on making entry easy; instead create open access and let the benefits pull those who choose to participate."
2.  "Don't encourage sailing, or for that matter any Life Pastime, to be a spectator sport.  It's bad for sailing and for spectators."
3.  "Never outsorce leadership.  Leaders are a product of time invested and shared experiences.  So invest time and share experiences among leaders and potential leaders."
4.  "Don't think that schools or programs or clubs and do what parents and/or mentor should do.
5.  "Never separate families and friends."
6.  "Never limit access to the water or deny someone time on a sailboat."

I recently finished reading Nicholas D. Hayes' Saving Sailing - all of the quotes and most of these ideas are direct lifts from that book.  If you, like me, are a student of leadership and community you should read this book.

I am a part of another movement that has declined with eery parallels to sailing in recent decades.  I love sailing, the other movement is my Eternal Past Time- why has it declined and what will it take to see it revived in America? - re-read the above with your Church glasses on - and be of good cheer - the breeze really is freshening from the east!