Reactivating Vision Power

What if Steve Jobs was right when he admitted a key thing about his vision for Apple Computers?  He admitted, "We started out to get a computer in the hands of everyday people, and we succeeded beyond our wildest dreams." Could one of America's great visionary corporate leaders have had a vision that didn't match with the outcome?

He said it happened.  I have been blessed to attend the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's Leadership Insititute on four occasions now.  And their visionary pastor, Rev. Adam Hamilton said he, "never imagined he'd be the pastor of a congregation of thousands of members."  And yet, there he is in Kansas City, Kansas with one of the most vibrant churches in the post modern age.

Nehemiah is always cited as a biblical example of an extraordinary, visionary leader.  And, as a pastor, I have felt the pressure to produce just like Nehemiah did.  But a great truth was revealed to me recently by  Michael Fletcher, author of Overcoming Barriers to Church Growth.  He noted, "Visioning may be the hardest but most important job of the senior pastor-finding God's vision for the local church he (she) leads."  And if we start visioning, somehow, with a particular hope, dream or end in mind its probably because that would represent good planning, right?

I remember hearing about the comedian, Dave Chappele.  Success hit for the brother!  He went from stand up in clubs, on the road, to a hilarious Comedy Central Show where he was the principal star, writer and producer.  It seemed he had everything he wanted.  The cash was flowing and he was firmly planted in one place where his televsion project was doing well.  And one day he flipped out.  He just left.  He moved to Africa (or so the rumor said) and took a break from his responsibilities on Comedy Central.

Was his vision power somehow too puny to see the success that he experienced?

How do we activate or reactivate the power of BIG visioning that turns impossible situations into miracles from on high?  I know it can't happen without prayer.  Strong leaders must emerge in churches who can stomach the threat of failure remembering Tavis Smiley's encouragement to "fail-up."  There are other hints, other clues and other answers to this question that I really would like your feedback on.  Would you help in this process?  I'd love to hear your suggestions.        



Can We "Virtualize" Community?

There is a whimsical joy I get from just trying to imagine what these three penguins were grooving to at the time somebody snapped this picture.  These three are enjoying some community time...time together, face to face.

The church is at its best when we are in community.  I was reminded of that as I spoke to a member of my congregation.  He's twenty-three years younger than me and is very close to being a "digital native."  The kinds of electronic devices he grew up with were much different than the ones I grew up using.  When soul singer Celo Green croons the line, "She's an X-box, but I'm more Atari," I realize just how old I'm getting.  I was actually living before the Atari video game was available.

I called this younger member on the phone.  Most of the time, though, we keep up with each other on Face Book.  I told this younger member I want to reach out to him and start trying to build community with he and his peers.  I let him know that I would leave the church grounds to make a meeting time happen.

I am interested in knowing more about what the term "community" even means to another generation of adults.  I saw a definition by Dr. Ruth Tucker that interested me even though she's at least twenty years older than I am now.  She wrote that when she thinks of "community"......

It relates to my childhood memories and to my adult life, especially in relation to the church and workplace.  Whatever the word means, I know I have rarely experienced it in adult life with the exception of my marriage to John, which is a wonderful combination of community and intimacy.

I still remember discovering the world of blogging and bloggers and the virtual community we all share.  I dropped out of this community for awhile but now I want to get back in.  I have begun to study answers about how to write and maintain a great blog but I find myself coming back to this writing task with more questions than answers. (I understand that blogs that give 'tips' are especially popular)  I'm trying to find that elusive balance between the virtual world and the kind of "community" I can share with other people face to face.  Seeing the joy of those penguins was just the start of coming back to blogging for me.  I'm hoping that we'll share our tips, our reflections, our hopes and dreams as we reach out to each other in this awesome task known as blogging.  In the meantime, I'd love to know whether you feel anywhere near as satisfied in the virtual world of Face Book, Twitter, etc versus places like the church, or in a relationship where your community requires you to show up and spend some "face time" with other folks.



 

Living With a "Bucket List" Mindset

     

"You only live once, so why not go out in style?"

I have lived with that line in the trailer of one of my favorite movies for a long while.  And after a visit with two of my favorite cousins, who have made it a point to travel the world shamelessly, I was reminded again that life is short.  We've got to live it to the fullest while we have the chance.  Living with a "Bucket List" Mindset means doing five important things while you can.

See these 5 important tips below!

1. 
   
   Travel the world and never look back!  International travel is hard to beat in terms of what it teaches us.  The beauty of a place like Rio in Brazil or the sugar cane fields of Barbados can only be fully experienced up close.  Don't wait, travel the world!
2. 
   
   Find a friend who you can speak truth to and who can speak truth back to you!  The world is filled with hucksters, liars and fools!  Avoid them and find a friend who can be counted on to "zing" you every now and then!
3. 
   
   Laugh.....even when you feel like crying.  Oh, don't skip the crying part but a great sense of humor is a great helper in times like these!  Laughter AND crying is good for the soul.
4. 
   
   Connect with your spiritual self and don't ignore it!  In the movie, Morgan Freeman is heard even quoting his pastor at one point, IMAGINE THAT?
5. 
   
   Reconcile those old hurts!  Jack Nicholson's character must gather himself to reunite with a daughter whom he'd been previously estranged from. 

Maybe the movie was emotional for me because I visit hospital rooms regularly as a church pastor.  I see families at their best and at their worst.  Maybe the movie was emotional for me because I recently found out that a good friend who was about six years younger than me died suddenly....or at least suddenly from the perspective of a person who only saw her occasionally after college.  I've lost so many family members to the scourge of cancer also.

Maybe the movie was emotional for me because I could buy the DVD itself for a rock bottom price as my favorite Albertson's Grocery store in my neighborhood was moving out because of the recession. 

Find out what chords are touched in you when you watch the movie, The Bucket List.  But, take the five tips to heart and you will find gifts of God in unexpected places, people and things! 

A Thought to Sustain Your Spirit in Tough Times

Sometimes the achievement is to make it through to the blessing on the other side of your challenge!  Listen to the wisdom of George Washington Carver, the great inventor and innovator who took the peanut and made it shine.  He wrote:

In these strenuous times, we are likely to become morbid and look constantly upon the
dark side of life, and spend entirely too much time considering and brooding over what
we can't do, rather than what we can do, and instead of growing morose and
despondent over opportunities that are shut from us, let us rejoice at the many
unexplored fields in which there is unlimited fame and fortune to the successful explorer.

        

         Explore the "can-do" things in your life and move, thrive and live abundantly!  

                 

 

          

             

Get a Life....a Prayer Life!

I've got one more post about this Tiger Woods fiasco.  I promise that after this I'm going to take my own advice and 'leave Tiger Woods alone!'   He just opened a door so widely in one of his public statements that I cannot let it go.

Tiger said, "Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions."  I like this statement very much.  Yet, at the same time I'm reminded of that powerful scene from the movie, The Godfather Part III where Michael Corleone confesses his many sins before the preist after almost going into a diabetic coma.  It was as though his confessions helped him deal with his many sins so that his inner turmoil would not eat him alive.

Press releases and public confessions aren't really necessary, it's true Mr. Woods.  But here is one of the chief reasons why an active prayer life between us and God is necessary, helpful and something to treasure.

God forgives. I also hope that forgiveness flows through families. I hope that ongoing grudges and claims made by one family member to another that they will 'never forgive' in this situation or that situation will not be the chief end of any issue.

One of the great truths of folks of faith and good will is that we all know that one day we all will stand in need of forgiveness for something. An active prayer life is an outstanding place to converse with God about our personal sins, our shortcomings and the times we miss the mark.

On the internet there is a place where you can get some answers to questions you might have about prayer.  Its:  www.allaboutprayer.org   Visit the site for answers to questions you might have about daily personal prayer, family prayer and gaining greater intimacy with God.  I'd love to know if you've started or re-started your prayer life recently.  Leave me a comment and may your active prayer life bless you!

Want Spiritual Uplift? Try This!

So there I was sitting in front of the television one evening recently surfing through the channels trying to find something to watch. I stumbled onto CNN and a special show on their effort to name their 2009 Hero or maybe "She-ro" of the year. A racially and culturally diverse set of ten finalists each has a story that is sure to inspire you!

From wheelchairs provided to kids in Iraq to homeless veterans being helped in Florida I was inspired. There was the story of wine sold in America so that water can be provided to folks in developing countries and a door to door appeal to encourage women to take care of their breast health.

In Zimbabwe there is a program to aid sexual abuse survivors and hot food, coffee and goodwill provided to homeless folks in Queens, New York. There is a Filipino teen who is getting other Filipino teens to consider alternatives to gang life and an orphanage in the home of a couple in Indonesia.

There is a drummer in New Orleans who is helping kids after school choose music rather than trouble and help for amputees all over the United States from a young amputee who lives in a city I used to live in, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Please learn the names of the ten people responsible for these inspiring acts of courage and, if you can, vote for just one. You will surely be uplifted for your effort! Just click on this link and learn more: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/

Moving in Mellow Thanks for Mighty Mothers

Once a year has never been enough to show our appreciation to the mighty, loving and committed mothers that move us to action in our lives. As I thought about that first miracle repored by St. John in the 2nd chapter of John, verses 1-5 (NRSV Bible), I couldn't help but think about the ways my own mother and so many other mothers have moved us to action going all the way back to Jesus' mother Mary. Hard times were due to define the marvelous wedding feast in a little village called, Cana, in Galilee. But Mary, mother of Jesus, would not have it! She stood her ground and did three things that marvelous, mighty mothers have continued doing well over the ages. The first thing she did was she anointed and appointed her son Jesus to get started with His earthly mission. Yes, Jesus was sent to do God's work here on earth but I'm sure Jesus would have preferred to get started AFTER he gathered his whole 12 disciples. Mary saw the wine was running out at the wedding and knew what her son Jesus could do. Mary blessed Jesus to get to work. Have you ever felt the gentle nudge of your mother pushing you to get to work? I have. The second thing mother Mary did was she let Jesus know that sometimes miracle making is not just about supernatural things, only. Sometimes letting the supernatural things serve practical purposes is really what matters most. Didn't your Mama ever insist that you think practically? Mine did. Thirdly and finally, mother Mary did something that Mamas over the ages have been known for! She made sure it was her child, her adult child here with Jesus, was going to come, reach out and help. Mother Mary knew that we can't have a faith or a gift that we don't use. You don't have to be the greatest theologian on earth to recognize that there is wisdom in using ALL THE GIFTS GOD GAVE YOU! And that earthly axiom is true about using your faith and your gifts. If you don't use them, you'll lose them. I hope everyone who reads this blog found a special mother or two to celebrate for Mother's Day, 2009. But more importantly I hope we will take all the good feelings we feel for mothers into the rest of our moments, days, weeks and years ahead. Keep moving in your mellow thanks for mighty mothers TODAY!

Living the "Abundant Life! RIGHT NOW!"

If you've heard the biblical injunction that Jesus came so that we can have life and have it, "more abundantly" then you know this abundant life isn't about material things, only. It's also about the people we hang out with and the choices we make. Some clues to living the abundant life were in the words of an anonymous poet who penned the piece, "Choose to......" And when I saw it I knew I had to share it. May it nourish your spirit. Here it is:

Choose to love RATHER THAN to hate
Choose to laugh RATHER THAN to cry
Choose to create RATHER THAN to destroy
Choose to persevere RATHER THAN to quit
Choose to build up RATHER THAN to tear down
Choose to prasie RATHER THAN to gossip
Choose to heal RATHER THAN to wound
Choose to give RATHER THAN to take
Choose to act RATHER THAN to procrastinate
Choose to grow RATHER THAN to rot
Choose to pray RATHER THAN to curse
Choose to light a lamp RATHER THAN to snuff one out
Choose to LIVE RATHER THAN TO DIE!!!!!

Surely, these times we're living in are tough! And disappointment may feel like its close at hand. But be encouraged today......as you choose well! Choose to live life abundantly!

Real Moments for Lovers and Cupid's Spell

Real Moments for Lovers is one of the great books by Dr. Barbara DeAngelis. She suggests in that book that, "your relationship should be a place you often retreat to, not a place to run from." This is something I try to get across to the couples all the time. In the kind of tough economic times we find ourselves living through 'retreats' and time away is surely getting lost behind job stress. If we are working we find ourselves routinely trying to handle the jobs of two, three or more people. If we are not working we are struggling to make ends meet and with the feeling that we have little to bring to our relationship. I want to encourage you to think about that special person in your life this coming weekend. Give in to "cupid's spell." Let the love bug bite. Spend some intimacy time with that special person in your life and try to stop retreating to the 'man cave,' guys. And ladies stop retreating to your quiet pursuits away from your mate, like reading, meditating or whatever takes you away from the one you love. Valentine's day is what you make it. Make it a great one this year!

We're Built to Persevere!

The great heavy weight fighter Muhammad Ali once said, "I hated every minute of training, but I said, don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." Life can deal us some knock out blows. Goodness knows life will stretch us at times and we've got to look around for mentors, support and positive affirmations. In spite of hard times I believe our Creator has built us to persevere. I have seen the courage to persevere in hospital rooms, in assisted living homes and in places where I least expected it. Every time you're tempted to give up, give in or give out try to remind yourself again that we're built to persevere. God has built us and made us stronger so we not only will face battles but win them too. I remember training for my high school swim team, track team and baseball team. Training always took place behind the scenes where people couldn't hear me straining and stressing to stretch and work out. But I wouldn't have won one race, or achieved anything significant in my life without deciding to go on and do the hard part even when folks couldn't see me doing it. Remember that you too are built to persevere!