Shut up and listen

I had lunch with one of our Group Life leaders yesterday.  I love the opportunity to set down, especially over coffee or lunch, and just chat.  Sometimes it's about family matters, sometimes leadership principles, and sometimes important things like UT football.  I think this leader and I covered just about all of the above.  It was the second such meeting that I've had this week, and I have several more scheduled for next week.

One of the things that we talked about was how important it is to listen to people.  Listen to what they say, and, as importantly, to what they don't say.  This leader is far wiser than I, but it was a great reminder of this simple skill.

Whether you are a leader in your family, in your church, small group, or business, maybe the best thing you could do for your organization, is just shut up and listen.  In the crazy culture that we live in, it will be a breath of fresh air to the person across from you... 

shhhhhhh... just listen

On Faithfulness

You may be having a bad day.  Or, maybe worse, your perspective is beginning to sink, with confidence waning.  It could be job related, with the uncertainty of the economy.  Or maybe, a family member continues to make poor choices, causing you to question so much about your ability to lead at home.  Maybe, after a series of  setbacks, your faith foundation is beginning to show signs of cracking and stress; fractures forming in the bedrock of spiritual confidence.  Anybody out there relate?

Now before you find the closest blunt, rusty object to impale yourself with (attempt at humor) hang with me.  We all have seasons of questioning, and this writer is no exception.  Thrust into parenthood this past year has certainly caused we to wonder about my own sanity, although the highs of the journey far outnumber the lows.  Other obstacles of the past few years have presented their own challenges from time to time.  But this is what I'm learning:  it is in these challenges that God's faithfulness is strongest and most evident.

Before I go down the path of a "Guidepost" article (some of you know what I'm talking about), I'm not downplaying the tough times.  I have a friend in ministry who is at his wits end.  I have another friend, single parent, who is feeling enormous financial pressure, especially this week.  I just know that no matter the depth of despair and even grief, God hears our cry, He feels our fear, and He loves us.  He longs to comfort us.  And He is faithful to provide our rescue... even if it doesn't look like we think it should. 

How do you need to see God's faithfulness today?

Plans on purpose

I love it when a plan comes together.  Our worship arts crew has been working their tales off for weeks to make this movie, "Here He Comes," come together.  Filming here in the office has been crazy.  Have you seen "The Office?"  If you like that style of production, you'll love the film.  

The important thing to understand is it's not about the movie.  We are working hard to find creative ways to engage the community and culture that we find ourselves living in.   If a staff working together and making fools of themselves so that the Christmas message can be delivered, then, so be it!

There will be tons of advertising in the community beginning the week of Thanksgiving, but we need to start talking about it now.  Seize the opportunity.  And here's a pre-Thanksgiving Merry Christmas.

60 Minute Lunch Break cont...

Yesterday, I posted some global stats that really got me focused on the needs of our world.  Today, I'll continue in that same vain, with a little twist....

During that same happy 60-minute meal, here's what took place in the United States:

78 people died from heart disease

64 people died from cancer

50 people died from tobacco use

42 people died from poor diet or physical inactivity

10 people died from alcohol use

2 people died from illicit sexual behavior

2 people died from illicit drug use

Again, the needs are great.  The church must mobilize to meet needs and share Jesus along the way.

60 Minute Lunch Break

Here are some staggering stats that I ran across today.  While enjoying that tasty fast-food meal during your 60-minute lunch break, here's what took place around God's globe:

2,738 people died from starvation

342 people died from malaria

76 mothers died from childbirth issues

9,582 babies died from induced abortion

8,898 infants and children were abandoned

4,650 rural poor people migrated to cities

2,088,751,996 personal income was earned by church members

2,737,851 was given to global foreign missions (about .01 % of church member's income

2,966,005 was embezzled by trusted church leaders (nearly 250 thousand more than was given to global foreign missions)

20 Christians were martyred

Kinda puts the rest of my life in perspective.  We have a great task, and a greater God.

From Mission Maker magazine 2009

The world keeps spinning

Craziest thing.... the sun came up this morning.  Regardless of how  you voted (and I hope you voted), this year's political season has been one that will be written about for years to come.  There was lots of speculation about what "might" happen if this candidate won, or if there would be voting "irregularities" that we saw a couple of elections back.  Here's the thing that I know, and that I've communicated to several people.  God's still on the throne and I still have a purpose.  The church is still the vehicle for communicating the Good News and there is still an audience that needs to hear it.

So, everybody calm down, take your signs out of your yard and bumper stickers off your SUV.  Stop forwarding crazy emails, and let's get busy being salt and light.

The creative juices continue to flow around here as we start Day 3 of filming this year's Christmas movie.  Our Creative Arts team is doing an amazing job, and Jameson continues to knock it out of the park with his filming and direction.  So far, Scott's head has not spun off of his shoulders, but the day is just beginning so stay tuned.

I love being a part of a church team that thinks outside of the box.  Why churches are not the most creative organizations on the planet is a mystery to me.  Too often, we just keep doing the same things over and over, and yet expecting different results.  Not around here.  Ridgeview, from day one, has been determined to try (and fail) new things to reach people who are far from God.  Our pastor continues to deliver "conversational" messages that provoke thought, challenge the mind, and encourage conversation.  He makes me proud to be his friend and co-servant.

Here's your challenge... go be creative for the kingdom this week.  Get outside of your comfort zone and do something unexpected.... just like Jesus.