#525 - MY SECRET WEAPON AND ITS BENEFITS

Over the last 7 years or so, I have committed myself to engaging in an extended of time of fasting and prayer at the beginning of the year. Whenever people hear that this is a part of my rhythms and routines as a believer they are taken aback and, often times, see it as extreme. 

In an effort to remind myself of why I engage in this "extreme" spiritual discipline and to also possibly encourage others to do the same, here are 10 reasons why I fast and pray:

1. Jesus prophesied that believers would fast. 

Jesus replied, "Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. Matthew 9:15

2. Jesus assumed that believers would fast. 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

3. Fasting re-orders my affections.

Abstaining from food for an extended period of time for spiritual purposes gives me the opportunity to place God as my supreme joy and fulfillment rather than God's gifts.

4. Fasting re-directs my hunger. 

Instead of looking for satiation and fulfillment in food, television, social media, or other worldly pleasures, fasting forces me to hunger for and be fulfilled by the only One who can truly satisfy - Jesus Christ. 

5. Fasting increases my sensitivity to the voice of God.

Food and other worldly enjoyments many times numb me to the voice of God and make me less sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. But when I fast, I find myself listening intently to the Bread of Life and Living Water because without Him filling me, I am unfulfilled. 

6. Fasting displays my desperation. 

Because I can't avoid sin. Because I can't lead effectively. Because I can't save a soul. Because I can't meet every need. Because I can't be the husband I'm supposed to be. Because I can't keep things together. Because I can't foresee the difficulty ahead. Because I am weak. Because I am fearful. Because I am ill-prepared. Because I can't do anything of eternal value apart from the power and presence of God, fasting is my way of communicating to God, "This Lord, is how much I need your power, wisdom, guidance, protection, and anointing in my life!"   

7. Fasting initiates self-control. 

On most days throughout the year and in most instances, I eat what I want, I go where I want, I watch what I want, I buy what I want, and I do what I want. This, by and large, is the "American Way." Fasting forces me to practice the type of self-control that is required of the way of Christ! Fasting exercises my "self-control muscle" so that when needed, long after the fast is over, it can be relied upon and activated. 

8. Fasting deepens my appreciation for God's gifts. 

Upon my fast's end, I am always more thankful for the gifts of food and other delights that God has made available for His creation to enjoy. I see God's gifts less as blessings that I am entitled to, and instead I see them more as joys that point to the greatness and glory of God. 

9. Fasting reveals my weaknesses.

Nothing reveals my character flaws like taking away my food! When I do not have the option of numbing my anger, fear, insecurity, restlessness, anxiety, or selfishness with food, when I fast, these things are immediately exposed. My true self comes to the surface. Though this is painful to see, I am thankful for this gift that fasting gives.  

10. Fasting sets an example. 

Lastly, as a pastor of a local church, fasting sets an example for the people I am privileged to lead. It is very unlikely that if I didn't fast, that others would. It is very unlikely that if I didn't see fasting as a powerful means of connecting with God, that others would. It is very unlikely that if I didn't experience the profound joys and delights from abstaining from certain types of food over an extended period of time, that others would. In this sense, I fast not only for my spiritual vitality, but also for the spiritual vitality for those in my sphere of influence.  

Prayerfully, after reading a list like this you would be able to see that fasting, for me, isn't "extreme," it's NECESSARY! As much as I dread the idea of committing myself to one each year, I can't see how I could neglect to do one after clearly seeing what's at stake each time I do!

If you are interested in committing to a fast, leave a comment below and I'll send some resources your way!

#524 - SAY IT

You've gotta' say it. You've gotta' be the one to verbalize it to the person or persons whom you feel a conviction to say it to. You are the one from which the words need to come. 

The encouraging word. The corrective word. The faith-filled word. The disciplining word. The challenging word. The paradigm-shifting word. The supportive word. The oppositional word. 

If you don't, no one else will. 

Say it.

No one else has the insight you have. No one else has the relationship with the person that you do. No one else has the influence on this group of people like you have. 

Say it. 

You abdicate your responsibility as a leader if you don't. You shouldn't be a leader if you can't. You will not be a leader if you won't. 

#523 - WRECKED BY THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF GOD

I get emotional nearly every time I think of the concept. I come to tears nearly every time lyrics to a song communicate the truth. I have both tremendous joy and deep grief every time it takes place. This characteristic of God wrecks me.

God gives and takes away.

God gives life, and He takes life away. God gives friends, and He takes friends away. God gives opportunities, and He takes opportunities away. God gives wealth, and He takes wealth away. God gives influence, and He takes influence away. God gives significance, and He takes significance away. God gives heroes, and He takes heroes away. God gives parents, and He takes parents away. God gives children, and He takes children away. God gives work, and He takes work away. God gives talents, and He takes talents away. God gives blessings, and He takes blessings away.

And though having things given to me and taken away from me both can be very emotional, it isn't the giving and taking away that makes me cry. What makes me cry is that I must bring myself to believe that...

God is worthy of my praise anyways.

What God gives doesn't make Him more worthy. What God takes away doesn't make Him less worthy. Who God IS makes Him completely worthy of all my praise, adoration, and affection!

In health and in sickness, bless God's holy name. In wealth and in poverty, bless God's holy name. In laughter and in mourning, bless God's holy name. In success and in failure, bless God's holy name. 

The "good" that God allow to come into my life shows me that God is good. The "bad" that God allows to come into my life shows me that God must have something better! Praise God's holy name!

May our lives never be most consumed by what God is choosing to give or take away from our hands, but instead may we be most comforted in the fact that it is God's hands that is doing the giving and taking away. 

Whether you find yourself on a "hill" or a "valley" in this first week of 2018, I encourage you to give the song below a listen and worship your way through!

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” - Job

"You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your name." - Matt Redman

"Father you give and take away, every joy and every pain, through it all you will remain over it all." - Tauren Wells

#522 - THE GREAT DANGER OF CHURCH

Having grown up going to church, volunteering in a church, working for a church, and now having started a church and pastored a church for over 4 years, I have come to discover a great danger. 

Most people go to church, initially, because they are looking for something for themselves: peace, comfort, guidance, forgiveness of sins, community, friendship, belonging, blessing, opportunity to serve, deeper relationship with and connection to God, teaching from the Bible, a place where their kids can learn about God, etc. 

And don't get me wrong, I hope the church that I pastor is a church where people can find and enjoy all of these things and more! I hope that people can discover that a life lived in relationship with God is better than a life lived outside of a relationship with God. 

The great danger of church is that it can so easily become more about you than it is about God.

God and all the religious activities you consume and participate in just become a means to your ends. Instead of God becoming the climax of your religious experience, His blessings are your greatest joy. 

The problem with this is that the purpose of church isn't ultimately for you to be fulfilled, the purpose of church is for God to be praised!

At some point in every person's church attendance and church involvement, a transition must take place. 

God must cease to become a means to our ends and we must begin to see ourselves as a means to His ends - His name being glorified, His name being praised, His name being high and lifted up, His name and His reputation meaning more to us than our name and our reputation.  

Can't you see? If this transition doesn't take place we could spend our entire lives serving God but worshipping ourselves! Attending church for the ultimate purpose of attending to ourselves. 

We exist for God. He does not exist for us.

Before we were, He was.
After we are, He still will be. 

But as insignificant as that may make you feel, what I have come to discover about dying to myself, worshipping God alone, and making myself a means to God's ends is this: it is in living in this way that I am most thoroughly and completely fulfilled. 

Maybe what John Piper has been saying for all these years is true after all,

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

#521 - THE GREAT TRAGEDY OF MAN

“I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10

Adam and Eve sin. They do the one thing that they were commanded not to do - eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And then, they realize their nakedness and they hide. 

God then confronts Adam with a simple question, "Where are you?"

It is at this point, where Adam blows it. It is at this point where Adam responds in the most tragic of ways, and man has been responding to sin against God this tragically ever since. 

Instead of Adam saying that he hid because of God's power. Instead of saying that he hid because of God's wrath. Instead of saying that he hid because of God's disappointment...

Adam says that he hid because of his nakedness. 

He hid because of his consequences. He hid because of his shame. He hid because of his embarrassment. 

Maybe an illustration will help to explain how tragic this is.

A father tells his son he can have anything to eat in the kitchen except cookies. The son eats the cookies. He gets sick from eating the cookies. So he hides under his bed. When his father comes looking for him and asks, "Where are you?," the son replies, "I was afraid, because I was sick, so I hid myself."

How ridiculous would that be? How ridiculous would that sound?

Shouldn't the son be afraid primarily because he disobeyed his father? Shouldn't the son be afraid because he letdown his father? Shouldn't the son be afraid because of his father's authority to discipline him?

The great tragedy of man is that we don't truly fear God. 

And because we don't truly fear God, we don't humbly repent. And because we don't humbly repent, we don't freely receive grace. And that...is a tragedy.

#520 - ROUTINE. ROUTINE. ROUTINE.

It's gonna' be a great year. 2017 was great, but 2018 is gonna' be even greater. I believe this to be true because I have a one-word theme to guide me. Though I've heard of people using a one-word theme to inspire them during a particular year, I've never tried it myself. But as I sat down to set my goals this year, I knew needed something different. I needed focus. I needed a theme. With that said...  

MY THEME IS ROUTINE.

2018 is going to be the year of developing healthy routines in each of the major areas of my life. Don't get me wrong, I had routines in 2017, but many of them were unhealthy. 

• Checking social media first thing in the morning.

• Checking social media right before I go to bed.

• Finishing my sermons early Sunday morning. 

• Throwing my clothes on the floor at the end of the day.

• Checking shoe websites, daily, looking for deals on Jordans. 

Though there was nothing inherently evil about any of these routines, the fact of the matter is, these routines were counterproductive to me becoming the type of man I am capable of becoming.

These unhealthy routines prevented me from being disciplined in my study of God's Word, self-controlled in my spending habits, excellent on my job, and organized at home. These routines were destructive.  

But today, that all changes. Instead of my routines being developed by default, in 2018 they will develop by design. 

• Reading the Bible and journaling.

• Reading a book and writing.

• Stretching, push-ups, and sit-ups

• Flossing my teeth and fixing my bed.

• Praying with my wife.

• Filling in my productivity planner.

What I love about these routines is that regardless of the political climate, economy, social ills, and craziness that is happening all around me, these are the things I can control. These are the habits I can develop. These are the disciplines that, compounded over time, will result in a great life!

No money is needed. No training is needed. No help is needed. All I need is focus and determination, and on this first day of the year, I have a whole lot of both!

Here's to a great 2018. The year of ROUTINE. 

2018 - THE YEAR OF ROUTINE

SPIRITUAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of reading the Bible and journaling daily from 7a-8a.

PHYSICAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of stretching/push-ups/sit-ups daily from 8a-8:30a.

EDUCATIONAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of reading/writing daily from 8:30a-9a.

PERSONAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of fixing my bed and flossing my teeth before leaving the house. 

MARITAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of praying together with Rebekah nightly at 10p.

VOCATIONAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of filling out my productivity planner nightly at 10:30p.

RELATIONAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of texting my family on Sunday nights at 8p.

FINANCIAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of pulling out cash on paydays and managing money using envelope system. 

SOCIAL

In 2018, I develop the routine of doing something fun with friends at least once a month.

ADDITIONAL GOALS

• Run The Town's Half-Marathon in Oakland in under a 9:00/mile pace.

• Read the Bible in its entirety.  

• Attend Weekend to Remember with Rebekah June 1-3.

• Reduce our debt by $24,000. 

REFLECTIONS ON 2017

"Take time to gather up the past so that you will be able to draw from your experience and invest them in the future." - Jim Rohn

5 MEMORABLE PERSONAL MOMENTS

1. Running the California International Marathon with Spencer in less than 5 hours.

2. Having one of my pictures from @airjcollector on Instagram featured on @complex.

3. Disciplining myself to take silence and solitude retreats in March and August.

4. Completing a 40-day fast.

5. Obtaining Air Jordan IV x Kaws collab.

5 MEMORABLE MARRIAGE MOMENTS

1. Deciding to go on a spontaneous date at Staples Arena for Warriors/Clippers Game.

2. Enjoying a Valentine's Day double date at Oracle Arena for Warriors/Kings (Included a shout out on the jumbotron and a post-game on-court experience!)

3. Experiencing a staycation in SF with a date night on Alcatraz. 

4. Riding horses on the beaches of Cabo.

5. Going to my first college football game at my wife's old college - University of Texas at Austin. (Included a post-game on-field experience!)

5 MEMORABLE MINISTRY MOMENTS

1. Last service at Lisser - 10 testimonies.

2. Easter - B-Doe's Rap. 

3. 4-Year Anniversary - Killian's testimony. The unveiling of eightX!

4. Invite Sunday - Highest non-holiday attendance (190 adults/kids). Angela and Angelica's Salvations! The miracle of Sarai.

5. Almost $30,000 raised through Be Generous!

5 MEMORABLE MANAGEMENT MOMENTS

1. Having tough conversation with staff about boundaries and expectations. 

2. Team-building at off-site at Jenness Park.

3. Entrusting AJ with day-to-day management of staff.

4. Celebrating year by eating at Espetus and watching Coco together.

5. Blessing unpaid staff with generous Christmas bonus.

5 MISERABLE MISTAKES MADE

1. Failing to plan something for my wife's 35th birthday.

2. Taking meetings in the middle of my summer vacation.

3. Neglecting to set monthly personal goals. 

4. Quitting Bible reading plan mid-year.

5. Buying Jordan's from a seller on Facebook without authenticating them first. (They were fakes!)

5 LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNED

1. Relational expectations are just as important as job expectations.

2. What is not a priority personally will very rarely be a priority organizationally. 

3. Leadership in the church is more spiritual than it is tactical.

4. Authenticity is a form of leadership "currency" that cannot be counterfeited. 

5. The one-on-one, face-to-face conversation where you do more listening than you do talking is still one of the most effective ways to communicate to those that you lead that you care. 

#519 - THE POWER OF GOD

The date was August 16, 2013. The location was the Starbucks in Hayward, California off of Industrial Parkway.

theMOVEMENT Church was a month away from starting weekly Sunday services, but we had already held two "Preview Services" - one in June and one in July.

One of our first-time guests at our July service was a non-Christian, young professional who requested to meet with me.

Our conversation that day covered topics like football (He is a HUGE Seattle Seahawks fan), dinosaurs (He wanted to know the real deal behind them), Adam and Eve (Are they how this whole thing really got started?), and various other questions around Jesus and faith.

After sharing the gospel (the good news that Jesus saves sinners) with him, I asked him, "Do you believe this?" To which he responded:

“Can I text you, later, when I make a decision on what I believe?”

— Unbeliever

At this point in the conversation, I had a critical decision to make. Would I "twist his arm" by asking him, "What if you get hit by a car, when you leave here tonight, and die? Do you know where you would spend eternity?"

Or, would I trust in the Holy Spirit of God to reveal Himself to this young man when the time was right. 

By God's grace, I chose the latter. 

Though he was not ready to put his faith in Christ, we continued our conversation at the Starbucks. I continued to answer his questions (the best I could) and explain the benefits of Christ's life, death, and resurrection on our behalf. 

Then, less than an hour after letting me know that he wanted to text me his decision, he looked at me, with tears in his eyes, and emphatically said:

“I want to place my faith in Jesus Christ.”

— Believer

I was stunned, but it wasn't because he wanted to become a Christian. It was because though I had let go of trying to convince him to become a Christian, he was still desiring to place his faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins!

We ended that night with much more conversation, a delicious burrito dinner, and the beginning of a friendship that lasts till this day. But, it is the lesson that God taught me that evening that I am most thankful for:

God saves. Well articulated sermons don't save. Engaging Sunday services don't save. Altar calls don't save. Manipulation and coercion doesn't save. Strong friendship doesn't save. God alone, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is the only One who can cause a hard heart to be softened towards Him. Our job is to BELIEVE He is powerful enough to do it!

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

"Every element of our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God." Oswald Chambers

#518 - THE HEIGHT OF JOY

When I set out to plant a church, I had no idea that this level of joy even existed.

I expected to experience the joys of attendance growing, giving increasing, community forming, and, most importantly, Jesus saving, but I never saw this coming.   

It was almost as if I had assumed that I knew what every joy in pastoral ministry could and would feel like. Except, I didn’t.

The day I ordained another pastor into ministry, I was gifted a sense of happiness and fulfillment that no other moment in ministry had given me up until that point. 

Maybe it was because I had been through so much with this young man already:

Leading him to Christ. Baptizing him. Introducing him to how to preach. Officiating his wedding. Counseling him through many of his major life decisions. To ordain him into pastoral ministry was a “culmination” of many hours of discipleship and investment into his life. 

Or maybe it was because the moment he finished preaching his first sermon, immediately following his ordination, I was convinced that my primary ministry wouldn’t be the messages that I would preach, but the messages I would empower others to preach.

Or maybe it was because I do not have any children of my own, ordaining this young man into pastoral ministry made me feel more like a father than anything else ever had.

Though I may never fully understand why I was filled with so much joy and satisfaction on that particular day, the lesson behind the experience is one that I hope to be sure to hold onto for many years to come.

There are great joys that God has in store for those who are faithful to His purposes that go far beyond anything you can currently anticipate or comprehend. 

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

"Joy is the serious business of heaven." C.S. Lewis

#517 - THE DEPTH OF PAIN

I lived in a suberb. I grew up going to church. I attended a private elementary/middle school. 

This upbringing sheltered me from a lot. 

Violence was foreign, abuse was unheard of, and pain was an emotion I had never really experienced. 

Though I would attend a public high school, go on to attend UC Berkeley, start businesses, and work different jobs that would expose me to many walks of life, at age 27, when I was offered my first job as a pastor to high school students and young adults, my worldview was still small and my understanding of people and pain was still very shallow.     

But one conversation changed everything. One conversation shifted the way I viewed my role as a pastor forever. One conversation opened my eyes to what I had been naive to for so long.

She was only 20. Yet, she had already experienced more hurt, pain, and suffering than anyone else I knew.

Rape. 
Verbal and emotional abuse. 
Sexual promiscuity. 
Multiple abortions. 
Self-harm. 
Attempted suicide.  

I was stunned. Saddened. Speechless.

Not only was this really her life story, but she had chosen to trust me with it.

I can hardly remember the counsel I gave in return, but I can remember the lesson that God impressed upon me that day as I walked out of the Starbucks where we had met. Unfortunately, in hearing many stories similar to hers since, it is a lesson that I am reminded of all too often:

Pastoral ministry is an invitation to join someone in their pain (no matter how deep it is) and journey with them as God redeems their pain (no matter how long it takes).

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

"Behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain." Bob Dylan

#516 - THE LEADERSHIP TOOL YOU CANNOT LEAD WITHOUT

So much has been said about it, but its power cannot be underestimated. So much has been written about it, but its impact cannot be under appreciated.  Though it has often been criticized, its utility cannot be undervalued. 

For a leader to be effective, a compelling vision is a must.

But how do you know if you have one? How do you determine if its valid? How do you decide whether or not its worth giving your life to?

As I find myself in a season of being absolutely infused with fresh vision for my life and my ministry, here are a few ways I know a compelling vision has been given to me.

THE IMPACT A COMPELLING VISION HAS ON YOU

1. You get excited considering it.

2. You get energized believing it.

3. You get motivated casting it.

4. You feel morally responsible to do it.

5. You feel spiritually accountable to pursue it.  

6. You feel physically unable to ignore it.

7. You're willing to risk your reputation for it.

8. You're willing to sacrifice your comfort for it.

9. You're willing to surrender your ego for it.

10. You can see the fruit it will bear.

11. You can feel the impact it will have.

12. You can taste the joy it will bring.

13. You have the vision and then the vision has you.

THE IMPACT A COMPELLING VISION HAS ON OTHERS

1. People are inspired by it.

2. People are invigorated by it.

3. People are enamored by it.

4. People give money to it.

5. People sacrifice time for it.

6. People contribute talents to it.

7. People come together for it.

8. People set aside differences for it.

9. People collectively cooperate for it.

10. People awaken to their purpose by pursuing it.

11. People rediscover their joy by participating in it.

12. People find their fulfillment by connecting themselves to it.

13. The vision is cast to them and then they cast the vision to others.

A compelling vision is powerful. 

The question that remains for you is simply this:

Are you being driven by one?

#515 - THE ANTIDOTE FOR ENVY

In this age of being able to see, through television and social media, the luxuries and lives that people enjoy everyday, it is very easy to begin to not appreciate and even despise the life that you are privileged to live.

It's so easy to desire the circumstances of another. It's such a temptation to long for the success of a peer. It's seems inevitable that, in light of what everyone else has, envy must be our reality. 

But as I found myself recently thinking of all that I "lacked," the following thought crossed my mind...

When you think about how many people, around the world, who would kill to be you, it should kill your desire to be anyone else. 

The antidote for envy is PERSPECTIVE.

Do you know how many people would give everything to...

Have the bed that you have? Have the home that you have? Have the family that you have? Have the influence that you have? Have the clothing that you have? Have the education that you have? Have the occupation that you have? Have the opportunities that you have? Have the Wi-Fi connection that you have? Have the freedom of religion that you have? Have the access to food and water that you have?

YOU. ARE. BLESSED.

Don't allow yourself to be frustrated by the life you wish you could live, but instead, be fascinated by the life you are living. 

When what you want becomes the thief of what you already have, you are left with neither.

#514 - WHAT HOSTING MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF TAUGHT ME ABOUT GOD

This past Sunday, our church had the privilege of welcoming the Mayor of Oakland - Libby Schaaf, into our Sunday service. Above and beyond her just joining us for service, we also had the opportunity to hear about some of her goals for the city and how we can pray for her as she endeavors to do the same thing that we as a church are endeavoring to do: overwhelm Oakland with love.

But as great of an opportunity as hosting the mayor was, I think even greater were the lessons that hosting the mayor taught me about God:

1. GOD CAN BLESS IN AN INSTANT.

We got the call on a Monday. She was sitting in our service the following Sunday! The crazy thing is, this was not an opportunity our church was pursuing! This was not an opportunity I had been seeking. This was not a goal our staff had set out to accomplish. But, God can bless in an instant.

Regardless of whether or not a blessing is in your plans, when a blessing is in His plans, it can happen instantaneously! 

God can create more momentum, favor, and blessing in a moment, than we can create in a lifetime. The question this forces me to ask myself is this: Do I live my life with an eager expectation of the next instantaneous blessing of God?

2. GOD'S WAYS SUPERSEDE OUR WISDOM.

From the moment we arrived in Oakland, having a positive impact on the city was our desire. Having favor among the civic leaders was our hope. Being known as a church who was in the city, for the city was our aim. But, our knowledge on how to make that happen was limited. Our connections were few. Our influence was small. On our best day, we could have never positioned ourselves to have the mayor of Oakland be interested in our church! But, God's ways supersede our wisdom.

God can have a "way" about causing His plans to come to fruition, that far exceed any idea or plan that we can even conceive!

Not only was the visit of the mayor an instantaneous blessing, but after getting off of a phone call with her office this morning, I am seeing how it was also a connection that will lead us to more opportunities to serve the city than we could have ever created for ourselves. The question this forces me to ask myself is this: Am I limiting how God will accomplish His purposes through me to my wisdom or am I humbly seeking His ways?

3. GOD IS HONORED BY HONOR.

Regardless of the mayor's political positions. Regardless of the mayor's religious beliefs. Regardless of the mayor's policies. (Most of which I am not very well acquainted.) We thanked her. We applauded her. We listened to her. We prayed for her. Why? Because, God is honored by honor.  

Honor is not something that people in positions of leadership have to earn. Honor is something that followers of Christ are privileged to give. And God is pleased when we do.

And as we were honoring the mayor, I felt the pleasure of God on our church. I knew we were doing the right thing. I was convinced that extending honor is honorable to God. The question this forces me to ask myself is this: Who am I dishonoring?      

God can bless in an instant.
God's ways supersede our wisdom.
God is honored by honor.

Is the way we are currently living our lives reflecting our belief in these three truths about the nature of God?

#513 - LOVE AND LEAD WITH THIS IN MIND

Over the last several weeks, I have been convinced of a sobering reality that, if I allow it to have the impact on me that it should, I am confident will improve my ability to love and lead more effectively.

The sobering reality is this:

Most people have a smile on their face that is not an accurate reflection of the heaviness of their heart.  

The pressure at work is heavier.
The challenge of parenting is harder.
The difficulty in marriage is higher.

Love and lead with this in mind. 

The pain from the past is deeper. 
The confusion about the present is stronger.
The fear about the future is greater.

Love and lead with this in mind. 

The lies of self-doubt are louder.
The voice of God is quieter.
The ability to see truth is cloudier. 

Love and lead with this in mind.  

The journey through life that most people are traveling has way more struggles and difficulties than they ever imagined having to face. 

They are more tired. They are more weary. They are more discouraged. They are more frustrated. They are more hopeless. They are more confused. They are more "over it." - than they have led you to believe. 

Don't allow the facade to fool you. The level of brokenness that exists in the people that we interact with day in and day out is much more real than we think.    

Love and lead with this in mind. 

It may make all the difference in regards to whether or not your love and leadership in their life can make a difference.  

#512 - WISDOM FROM GREG POPOVICH

Though I am a very faithful and committed Warriors fan and fully expect the Warriors to beat the San Antonio Spurs tonight to lock in a third NBA Finals appearance in the last 3 years, today, I read an article about the culture of the San Antonio Spurs in which Popovich shared what I believe to be some very wise thoughts. Popovich stated that the primary question in player evaluation for the San Antonio Spurs was...

“Has this person gotten over himself?”

— Greg Popovich

He would go onto say... 

"He should take pride in the work, but shouldn't be prideful. I have a problem with proud."

Whether you are a leader of a team or a member of a team, I think these are wise thoughts to consider. Here are several questions you can ask yourself to see if you have "gotten over yourself."

1. Have you placed the mission of the team ahead of the furthering of your career?

2. Do you desire for the team to win more than you desire to personally succeed?

3. Can you be genuinely happy for a teammate's success even if it overshadows your contribution?

4. If the team is advancing, but you aren't receiving the amount of recognition or notoriety that you would like, can you still enjoy being on the team?

5. Is your primary concern your prominence or the team's effectiveness?

6. What would you rather be remembered as, a great player or a great teammate?

I think that these are very important questions that we should all be willing to ask ourselves. There are too many examples of "players" who never reached their potential because of an unwillingness to "get over themselves." 

Let's not let that be our story. 

#511 - 3 THOUGHTS THAT MAKE PATIENCE POSSIBLE

I know. You're ready. You were ready 6 months ago. For the business to take off. For the idea to gain traction. For the opportunity to arrive. For the significant other to notice you. For "your time" to come.

I know how you feel.

It always seems like everyone else's time has come. It always seems like everyone but you is operating in the fullness of their gifts and abilities. It always seems like people who haven't worked as hard as you are getting the breaks you know you deserve.   

But here you are, still waiting. I wish I could tell you why you find yourself still waiting but, I can't.

What I can do is share with you three thoughts that encourage me when it seems like God is trying to lodge the lesson of patience deep within my being. 

1. GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT.

Whenever God has poured out another measure of blessing, opportunity, or favor in my life, it has always been at the perfect time. It comes right when I need it. It comes right when others can benefit from it. It comes right when God can be most glorified by it. 

If I do not currently have the opportunity, influence, or impact I desire, it is because, right now, it is not in the best interests of myself, those around me, or the Kingdom of God for me to have what I want.

2. MY HEART NEEDS PURIFYING.

Why am I so anxious anyways? Am I not grateful for the opportunities I already have been given? (Ingratitude) Do I think I am more capable than I actually am? (Pride) Do I think time is running out? (Worry) Am I assuming that I know something that God doesn't? (Arrogance)

Nothing more clearly reveals the condition of your heart towards others and towards God than how you respond when you don't get what you think you deserve.

3. IS GOD NOT ENOUGH?

Is His love for me unable to fulfill? Is His grace for me insufficient to satisfy? Is His presence in my life incapable to comfort? Is my view of God's goodness only tied to God's gifts?

If so, this is a problem. If so, I have made an idol of the wrong things. If so, I've got it all backwards. 

The truth is, if Christ alone is not enough for me, nothing ever will be. 

What if God is withholding what He is withholding from you because He wants to strengthen your trust in His sovereignty, purify your heart, and become enough for you? Wouldn't those be great reasons? Shouldn't those be reasons you appreciate? Couldn't those be reasons that give you the willingness to joyfully persevere in patiently and humbly following Him?

#510 - INEFFECTIVE REPENTANCE

You want your repentance to work, right? You want your repentance to be effective in making you right before a Holy God, correct? If so, there is something very important that you need to understand: 

Regret is not repentance.

Regret is primarily sorrow for the pain you've brought upon yourself. Regret is disappointment for how your actions have negatively impacted you. Regret is wishing you would have done something different so you could have experienced a different result. Regret is all about you.

Repentance is something totally different. 

Repentance is sorrow for the pain you've brought upon God. Repentance is disappointment for your sins against God. Repentance is wishing you would have done something different so that God would have been pleased rather than grieved. Repentance is all about God.  

Regret is about your ego. Repentance is about God's glory.
Regret is about your image. Repentance is about God's majesty.
Regret is about your circumstances. Repentance is about God's kingdom.

Regret is all about you. Repentance is all about God.

“Godly sorrow produces repentance and reformation, and will end in salvation; but worldly sorrow worketh death.”

— Matthew Henry

Regret makes you mad. Repentance makes you humble.
Regret draws you inward. Repentance points you upward.
Regret causes frustration. Repentance births faithfulness.

Regret is an expression of the self while repentance is a work of the Spirit. 

Are you regretful or are you repentant?

Leaning into the former will only bring you grief while committing yourself to the latter will surely bring you grace.  

Choose repentance.

Choose being broken over breaking the heart of God.
Choose experiencing sorrow for bringing God sorrow.
Choose feeling pained by the pain you've made God feel. 

Choose repentance.  

GRACE AWAITS.

#509 - THE TIGHTROPE I DESPISE

Humble confidence. It's not an oxymoron, but it might as well be. It's such a difficult tension to manage and, most times, I end up neglecting one at the expense of the other. Or, I end up emphasizing one at the expense of the other.

In its' most simple terms, the challenge is:  

How does one confidently and expectantly walk in all that God has for them without developing an attitude of arrogance and presumption?

And for church leaders, the stakes are high. Whether a leader can get this right can be the difference between someone being attracted to the gospel or disgusted by it. Whether a leader can get this right can be the difference between high-capacity leaders being drawn to the church or repelled by it. Whether a leader can get this right can be the difference between the reputation of Christians being improved or diminished.

Cockiness or false humility. How can you avoid the danger of falling prey to either of the extremes?

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is currently providing a tremendous amount of insight in regards to how this can be done.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

"Much fruit" (productivity, results, blessing) is a result of living a life connected to Christ. This is where our confidence should find its source. Fruit is a promise. But, apart from Christ we can do nothing. This is where our humility should find its source. Fruit is something only Christ can produce. 

In short, humble confidence can be achieved by being absolutely convinced of both what is promised and who makes it possible...at the very same time.   

Christ promises fruit - walk confidently in this promise! Fruit apart from Christ is impossible - walk humbly in this reality!

#508 - MY WORST NIGHTMARE

Sin has consequences. Some of the consequences are anticipated and expected, others are unanticipated and unexpected. The problem is, certain sins, when committed, have irreversible consequences that can change the course of a person's life forever. 

Though this is true for anyone, regardless of their occupation, this is particularly true for a person in vocational ministry. The number of men and women who I know personally and whom I have seen from afar lose their families, ministries, and influence, within the Kingdom of God, because of a single bad decision is disheartening.

It's not that God doesn't extend grace. It's not that God doesn't forgive. It's not even that people don't forgive. It's just that certain sins committed by men and women in leadership positions in vocational ministry can cause a person to lose their ministerial privileges forever. The consequences of sin, especially for a ministry leader, are nothing to take lightly.  

Being that I NEVER want to experience or endure such consequences, here is a list of all of the things that I can expect to experience if I allow certain sins to get the best of me. (Note: I do not write this list so that I will live in an unhealthy fear, but I do this so that the reality of the consequences of my sin can clearly be before me.)

1. I will grieve my Heavenly Father who sent His Son to pay for the price for my freedom from the very sin I committed.   

2. I will break my wife's heart, cause her to question God's faithfulness, and lose her trust in me and my marriage to her.  

3. I will bring upon my parents a huge amount of unnecessary pain, sorrow, and heartache.  

4. I will letdown my younger siblings who look up to me and expect me to be an example of godliness and faithfulness.  

5. I will sadden my extended family members who have believed in me and God's calling on my life. 

6. I will disappoint the staff I lead and put their jobs and financial well-being at risk. 

7. I will inconvenience the pastoral team and place them in the extremely difficult position of having to lead the church in the aftermath of my sin. 

8. I will confuse, anger, and discourage many of the people in my congregation and cause a number of them to have a crisis of faith which cause many to give up on Christ and the local church.  

9. I will fail the church partners, denominations, and networks that invested in my success. 

10. I will give an excuse to the skeptics and unbelievers who stay away from the church, because of scandal within the church, to continue to keep themselves at an arm's distance. 

11. I will tarnish the reputation of the local church in the city of Oakland. 

12. I will invalidate the ministry of theMOVEMENT.  

13. I will disqualify myself from pastoring the church I've invested the last four years of my life loving and leading.  

This is heavy. This is real. This is my worst nightmare. And...this is possible. 

If the "right" sin is committed, the above consequences could, one day, become my reality. 

But, the exercise of writing out a list like this provides me with a deep motivation to be vigilant about uprooting the current sin in my life and guarding myself against the sin that is "crouching at my door."

Writing out a list like this puts me on notice. Writing out a list like this keeps me "woke." Writing out a list like this causes me to take very seriously the consequences of indulging in the desires of my flesh.

My list is written. I am "scared straight." 

Would writing a list like this be beneficial to you? What do you stand to lose if you do not get serious about uprooting the sin in your life?