Airplanes. Two. Oak to Hou. Hou to Can.
Beautiful all-inclusive resort.
First meal. Dinner at Fusion. (Nikkei cuisine, Japanese-style cooking influenced by Peruvian ingredients, served a la carte with Hibachi tables and a Formal dress code.)
IT WAS DELICIOUS.
Miso soup had carne asada in it!
Watched Dubs win. Klay is incredible.
About to soak in jacuzzi tub.
BLESSED.
Tomorrow, I will have the opportunity to experience a much-anticipated and needed change of pace and rhythm to my schedule that will take me to Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and then Nevada over the next 20 days.
But before I could experience the beauty of tomorrow, I had to embrace the responsibilities of today!
And I'm so glad I did.
I preached, and I gave it everything I had. I led a meeting encouraging our church community to engage in one-on-one discipleship relationships. After that meeting, I even met briefly with a church planter planning to plant a church in Oakland to encourage him in God's call on his life.
I also accomplished nearly all of the tasks that I set out to do at the beginning of the week in order to finish well. And after a pretty intense several days I can say with deep conviction,
I FINISHED WELL.
And in light of doing so, I am convinced...
It's worth it to finish well. It's responsible to finish well. It's God-honoring to finish well. It's satisfying to finish well. It's relieving to finish well.
I am so thankful the 6th day is through! The 7th day is tomorrow, and I am unashamedly going to follow God's lead and do exactly what He did after 6 days of work...
REST.
Today, the 2018 NBA Playoffs began. Though the Golden State Warriorsare the defending champions, unfortunately, in the month leading up to the playoffs, they have been playing "uninspired" to say the least. So much so that many people, me included, have been concerned with whether or not they have what it takes to repeat as champs.
But how I feel about their chances of winning the championship drastically changed after watching them beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 today.
They played hard. They played inspired. They played together. They played enthusiastically. They played intensely. They played aggressively. And they won...convincingly.
And I couldn't help but think as I watched them play,
Because the Warriors are now playing playoff games. Because if they lose this series their season will be over. Because a chance to win 3 championships in 4 years doesn't come around often. Because they know that making it to the playoffs the next year is never guaranteed. Because they realize that every team and every player's "window" to be great is very small, It is changing everything about their approach to the game. For the first time in a long time, it looks like they are actually trying to play to their potential.
And this got me thinking about what I think is a very important leadership lesson:
The more clear a leader can be on what is "at stake" in their leadership, the more likely they are to lead with passion and commitment. The more clear a leader is on what can be "lost" if they don't perform well, the more likely they will perform well. The more clear a leader can be on what they can possibly "win" if they lead with everything they have, the more likely they will lead accordingly.
The Scriptures teach us that, "For the joy set before Him, Christ endured the cross."
Christ was "playing" for our salvation. Christ was "playing" for obedience to His Father. Christ was "playing" for completing the very last detail what He was sent here to do. And that type of crystal clear clarity led Him to commit the most selfless act in the history of mankind.
Motivations matter.
The other day, I wrote about what pastor's do. Today, because I have a pastoral team meeting with the group of pastors I am privileged to serve with at theMOVEMENT, I want to share a little bit of insight in regards to what pastor's talk about.
The following is the agenda for tonight's bi-monthly pastoral team meeting. All leadership team meetings at theMOVEMENT (including pastoral team meetings) are outlined using the five values of the church as a guide.
RESOLUTE GRATITUDE (Thanksgiving > Entitlement)
How do you see God moving powerfully in your life?
Where do you see God moving in a personal weakness or struggle?
How do you see God moving in specific people in the church who you are pastoring?
What else do we see God doing at theMOVEMENT that we are grateful for?
Financial Update.
SELFLESS TRANSPARENCY (Truth-Telling > Image-Protecting)
My emotional and spiritual health
My marriage
Sexology Series Debrief
LIFELONG LEARNING (Growth > Complacency)
Baptism & Membership Discussion
EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP (Development > Excellence)
Pastoral Candidate Process Conversation
Current/Future Pastoral Candidates
Summer Pastoral Team Retreat
Music Ministry Leadership Team Update
Vote on New Member Candidates
AUDACIOUS FAITH (Courage > Comfort)
Where the teaching is headed
Creating a Culture of Invitation Evaluation
Our next Thematic Goal
Enlarge Territory Corporate Prayer
I wish it dawned on me earlier. I wish I would've had the humility to take this seriously sooner. Unfortunately, I didn't. It was not a priority of mine to get better in this area of my life.
And I think it wasn't a priority because it was and is an area that I believe I do well in. It is an area of my life that I take a lot of pride in. Actually, it is probably the thing that others would say I'm best at. And therein lies the problem.
I need to become a better preacher of God's Word. I need to become much better. More skilled. More proficient. More effective.
I need to interpret the text more deeply. I need to speak to the implications of the text more thoroughly. I need to apply the text more broadly. I need to do a better job of speaking both to the head, the heart, and the hands.
I need to read more books about preaching. I need to watch and listen to effective preachers preach. I need to solicit more constructive feedback for my preaching. I need to, once again, make effective preaching a study.
Plainly stated: I need to become a better preacher.
I need to do this because I am convinced (and so was Marcus Buckingham!):
Or stated another way,
Sure, there are certain weaknesses that deserve our attention. Yes, there are certain weaknesses in which we have to grow.
But, I think we are missing out on experiencing our full potential in our areas of gifting if we "coast." The embarrassing truth is, that because I have been gifted to preach and communicate, it is also the area that I have placed the least amount of energy and effort into developing. That's poor stewardship. That's not stewardship.
The parable of the talents was all about stewarding what you have been given. It wasn't about maximizing what you haven't been given. The person who had one talent wasn't responsible for multiplying five talents. He was responsible for multiplying one.
With that in mind, there are gifts that you and I have been given to steward. The question that we have to answer is, how are we maximizing and multiplying our gifts for the glory of God?
Grow your giftedness.
Strengthen your strengths.
Don't you want to see how much you can develop what God has divinely placed in your hands?
I know I do!
For the first time in my life, I have done something for 100 days in a row! (Other than eating and going to the restroom!)
Unfortunately, I have not read my Bible for 100 days in a row, I have not brushed my teeth for 100 days in a row, I have not told my wife I love her for 100 days in a row, I have not exercised for 100 days in a row, and I have not done many other things which I probably should have done, by this point in my life, for 100 days in a row. But, I have done this:
Being that my "word of the year" is routine, this is a very big deal. But, instead of just celebrating the accomplishment, I want to reflect upon it as well. Here are 10 things I've learned as I have published a blog post to this website, everyday, for the last 100 days.
Doing something for 100 days straight is possible.
Writing everyday is a possibility when learning everyday is a priority.
Writing to be responsible is a stronger motivation than writing to be read.
Quality comes from quantity.
To become prolific I must abandon perfection.
Having written is 100x more fulfilling than thinking about writing.
Everyday, either my resolve muscle or my neglect muscle is being exercised. There are no neutral days.
My pacesetter (Seth Godin) set the bar for my potential.
Thinking critically precedes writing clearly.
Milestones motivate.
I hope you have been served well over these last 100 days!
On to the next 100!
This past week one of the kids in our church asked me what my job was! Haha! Though he's only 8 years old, he does know that I preach on Sundays, but he didn't think that was enough to be my actual job.
But, I don't think this 8 year-old kid is alone in his thinking! Many people don't understand what a pastor does on a weekly basis.
So in an effort to paint a picture of what a week in the life of a pastor looks like (and to list all the things that I actually have to do this week!) here is a list of many of the things that I will do between now and Sunday afternoon.
Design/Send Out MovementWeekly (Email Newsletter)
Send out Pastoral Team Meeting Reminder Email
Prepare agenda for Friday's Pastoral Team Meeting
Lead Friday's Pastoral Team Meeting
Re-Design 1-1 Discipleship Relationship "Cheat Sheet"
Prepare agenda for Sunday's Discipleship Meeting
Lead Sunday's Discipleship Meeting
Record Discipleship Meeting Video Invite
Prepare Keynote Slides for Sunday's Message
Preach Sunday's Message
Book reservations at Reno restaurant for Acts 29 Bay Area gathering
Send Email to Acts 29 Bay Area Pastors with info for Reno
Facilitate group on Thursday
Send out MovementMusic Leadership Team Email
1-1 meeting with a staff member
1-1 meeting with Principal of Elmhurst
Dinner meeting with 2 families who are new to the church
1-1 meeting with a ministry leader
1-1 meeting with a Bay Area Church Planter
1-1 meeting with a former church member
Phone call with a church member
1 Pre-Marital Counseling Session
Hopefully this list can help you see that pastoring is so much more than preaching a message on Sunday mornings!
Keep your pastor in your prayers! His list is, very likely, similar to mine! And, if you're reading this, and I'm your pastor, please keep me in your prayers! I would surely appreciate them!
6 more days of focus.
6 more days of responsibility.
6 more days of effort.
6 more days.
6 more days till I can take a breather.
6 more days till I can take my mind off it all.
6 more days till I can disconnect.
6 more days.
In 6 more days, a well-deserved change of pace and change of environment, for the next 20 days, awaits.
Serve Faithfully.
Love well.
Finish Strong.
I will be held accountable.
There are going to be some Sundays as a pastor where you're not going to be feeling it. Though you know God loves you. Though you know you should love others. Though you know you are called. Though you know your task is to serve. Though you know you are to work unto the Lord and not for man...
And no matter how much you pray. No matter how much you attempt to get yourself out of the funk. No matter how much you claim and proclaim every Scripture you know over your life and your ministry. No matter how much you cry out to God to change your heart...you still will not feel any better.
So what do you do then?
Serve anyway. Love anyway. Preach anyway. Do your best and give your best anyway.
The sad but true reality is this,
Now I'm not saying you should make a habit of this. I'm not saying this is healthy if this is a regular occurrence. But I do know this...
Today, this was me.
After nearly 14 years of marriage and after counseling a countless number of marriages throughout my years as a pastor, I have discovered a very simple "fix" for re-igniting relational, emotional, and sexual intimacy between you and your spouse...
Unfortunately, I have discovered that many married couples no longer kiss for extended periods of time. They may kiss each other on the cheek or lips before going to work and when seeing each other when they arrive home, but they don't make out anymore.
Somewhere along the way, they just stopped. They don't know when. They don't know why. But, kissing ceased.
This doesn't work all the time. I don't want to over-simplify. Sometimes, the problems go a lot deeper, and cannot be fixed in this way.
But, other times, kissing can actually be the remedy for a marriage that has lost its "sizzle."
The magic in your marriage may just be one make-out session away!
Fridays are supposed to be my day of rest. The one day during the week that for a 24-hour period of time I do not do anything work related.
The problem is, this rest day will not happen on its own. Though I know it should happen. Though I know it needs to happen. Though my staff knows that this is when my day of rest is, unless I fight for my rest, rest will not take place. In other words,
Work to protect it. Work to take it. Work to ignore everything else. Work to be ok with disappointing people. Work to allow emails to go unreturned. Work to sleep and not feel guilty. I must work for my rest. Because the unfortunate reality is this:
And neither will you.
Why do I care so much about the inner-life of a leader? Why do I care about their emotional health? Why do I care about the health of their walk with Jesus? Why do I care about their rhythms of rest? Why do I care about a leader's insecurities? Why do I care about their motivations?
Why don't I just let these things slide and concentrate on the work that needs to get done?
Today, I read this quote from Pete Scazzero that puts into words why, many times, I put an inordinate amount of attention on what's going on in a leader's heart, rather than what's going on with a leader's hands.
“Minimally transformed leaders result in minimally transformed teams doing minimally transforming ministry. ”
In other words...
With this in mind, we must no longer ignore the "seen" and the "un-seen" character deficiencies in our lives.
We can't ignore the pervasive anger.
We can't ignore the constant envy.
We can't ignore the irrational jealousy.
We can't ignore the petty attitude.
We can't ignore the insensitive apathy.
We can't ignore the negative demeanor.
We can't ignore the adolescent insecurity.
We can't ignore the divisive spirit.
We can't ignore the deficient love.
If we think we can do effective ministry while ignoring these things, we are kidding ourselves.
We cannot lead beyond our own spiritual growth and development. We cannot help others address the darkness within themselves if we can't address the darkness within us. We cannot effectively extend grace to others in the areas where we have yet to receive it for ourselves.
Sometimes, baby steps aren't acceptable. Sometimes, a little bit of progress isn't enough. Sometimes, "I'm trying" doesn't matter. Sometimes, being on the right trajectory won't cut it.
When the idolatry is overt. When the sin is egregious. When the relationship is abusive. When the addiction is deadly. When the pride is undeniable. When the stubbornness is insidious. When the ministry is suffering. Drastic discipleship is necessary.
Drastic discipleship demands that the disciple take a significant step of obedience, immediately.
Quit the job.
Pay the debt.
Delete the app.
Confess the sin.
Admit the wrong.
End the relationship.
Check into the program.
Change the living situation.
Step down from the ministry.
If progress is being slowed down. If growth is being stunted. If movement is lacking. If potential is being forfeited. If other people are suffering as a result of one's disobedience. Do we really have the luxury of not discipling in this way?
It's not about being harsh. It's not about being impatient. It's not about being insensitive.
The question is, "Do we love the people who we disciple enough to demand urgent obedience?"
If we are truly convinced that there is great joy in living a life totally surrendered to Christ, why would we not move people towards the type of obedience that would require complete surrender?
This isn't the type of discipleship approach that needs to be implemented at all times, but there are definitely sometimes when this is exactly the type of approach that is required.
After all, didn't Jesus model this type of discipleship for us?
“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.
MATTHEW 10:21-22
One final thought, after strongly encouraging that the step of obedience be taken, it's up to the Holy Spirit to lead. It's up to the Holy Spirit to convict. It's up to the Holy Spirit to transform. It's up to the Holy Spirit to do the supernatural. But...
As obsessed as pastors (including myself) can be about numbers (attendance, salvations, baptisms, giving, etc.), it's never the numbers that bring me the most joy. It's never the numbers that motivate me to persevere another day. It's never the numbers that reveal the transforming power of God. It's never the numbers that bring me to tears.
It's the story of the un-churched single woman who, for the first time, finds herself interested in a community of faith. It's the story of the de-churched young man who, for the first time in a long time, is giving church another chance. It's the story of the over-churched couple who is looking for a church where their faith can be revived, and they feel like they've found it in your church!
It's the story of the marriage that is restored. It's the story of the sin that is overcome. It's the story of the step of faith that is taken.
It's the story of faith in the midst of struggle. It's the story of hope in the midst of tragedy. It's the story of joy in the midst of sadness.
It's the story of someone who was baptized in your church baptizing someone else! It's the story of someone who was saved in your church serving in your church! It's the story of someone you discipled, discipling someone who is discipling someone else!
Stories matter. Stories inspire. Stories display the transforming power of God.
So, if you ever, like me, find yourself discouraged about the numbers, find a story. Find a story of life-change within your community of faith. Find a story of growth. Find a story of development.
Find the story. Celebrate the story. Praise God for the story.
And slowly but surely watch your obsession over the numbers take up less and less room in your soul.
Yesterday, theMOVEMENT Church in Oakland celebrated it's fifth Easter since starting in the fall of 2013. It was an absolutely incredible Easter Service that you had to be at to fully appreciate all that God is doing within our church.
Though many things took place in yesterday's service that cannot be quantified by a number, here are a few of the numbers that tell the story of God's grace and faithfulness towards our community of faith.
Over 250 in Attendance - I am not entitled to anybody attending any service.
Dozens of 1st-Time Guests - It is a privilege to host guests on any Sunday, but to be trusted with a guest's Easter Sunday is a special honor.
9 Baptisms - Our highest number in a single service ever. 6 were students. (We've never baptized anyone in our student ministry before.) 3 were men. (I love seeing grown men go public with their faith in Christ. One was from Ghana!)
6 "Baptizers" - Every person was baptized by the person discipling them! (Also, I didn't baptize a single person!)
35 Kids - The growth in our kids ministry has been so encouraging. The amount of kids attending, over the last several months, has gone up, but more importantly, the number of volunteers joyfully engaged with the kids ministry is also super exciting!
Dozens of Volunteers - Set-up. Tear down. Guest Services. Kids Ministry. Student Ministry. Music Ministry. The awesome day that our church and our guests were able to experience is owed in large part to the sacrificial service of our volunteers.
3 Staff Members - Not including me, our church has 3 full-time staff members, and I can't thank them enough for everything they do to serve the church. Because of their leadership, even though there are a lot of moving parts on an Easter Sunday, I was able to focus my attention solely on preaching and connecting with our guests. I praise God that they free me up to do what only I can do!
1 "Old Friend" - I was so encouraged to see a former member of our church, Colton, join us for yesterday's service. Several years ago, it was an Easter Service at theMOVEMENT that re-ignited his love for Jesus. He got baptized at theMOVEMENT shortly thereafter. He has since moved to Arizona, but I praise God for being able to re-connect with him yesterday!
1 Gospel Proclaimed - The only news that has the power to save!
1 Christ Risen - The only Person through which salvation can come!
I am grateful. That God would use a wretched, rebellious, sinner like me to lead a Church is something I will never completely understand, but I will always be grateful for. If this were a movie, I have one of the best seats in the house, and I don't want to miss a thing!
For far too long, I have appreciated and praised God for Christ's death on the cross, but I have not been in awe of and worshipped Him for His resurrection from the grave.
I have lived short-sighted. I have lived more for the temporary than for the eternal. I have not been utilizing the single, greatest resource for hope ever given to mankind by God.
But, as I prepared and preached my Easter message, I found myself with a new found appreciation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This appreciation comes not only for how the resurrection of Christ will impact my eternity, but for also how it will impact my life now! I hope you will join me in praising God for his resurrection power!
Because Christ rose again, I will rise again. And because I will rise again...
The best part will be the end.
Everyday, I get closer to the best part.
"Happily every after" does not only happen in fairytales.
Every difficulty is temporary. No hardship is final.
Even if sickness or tragedy were to take my life, it will usher me in to my very best days.
No relational, financial, emotional, mental, educational, physical, or spiritual challenge I face can threaten me ultimately being resurrected with Christ.
No earthly success or failure will define me.
Every earthly success will be outdone in the end.
Every earthly failure will be undone in the end.
There's more to life than enjoying the "middle chapters."
There's deep motivation to spread the gospel so that more people will have hope during their "middle chapters" and experience the "ending" that I am anxiously awaiting.
There's urgency because the end is drawing near.
I have it. Always.
I can give it. Anytime.
I can access it by simply beholding my resurrected Christ!
"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:21-23
Heavenly Father...
As I endeavor to preach, tomorrow, about the implications and impact of your past resurrection on our present and future lives, I desperately need your help. I am so convinced that regardless of how accurately, enthusiastically, or compellingly I preach the text, without the power of your Holy Spirit, my words are impotent to change a heart of stone. Lord, grace my words and grace our service with a pouring out of your Holy Spirit that will soften the hearts, open the eyes, unlock the ears, and renew the minds of everyone in attendance.
But I also ask that your Holy Spirit would fall on me even now as I make my final preparations for tomorrow's message. Though I am desperate for your Holy Spirit to work powerfully tomorrow to do supernatural things with my natural words, I also need the Holy Spirit now to guide me as I prepare my natural words. Help me to say only that which will lead towards your will being accomplished in the lives of those who hear the message. Help me to decipher what should be said to our congregation on this Easter Sunday for your glory.
I need you Lord.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
His blood for our sin.
His death for our life.
His sorrow for our joy.
His tears for our triumph.
His defeat for our victory.
His passion for our peace.
His suffering for our salvation.
His ridicule for our righteousness.
His abondonment for our adoption.
His everything for our eternity!
In May of 2017, I wrote about 3 compelling reasons why pastors need a hobby. In that post, I referenced one of my hobbies - collecting Air Jordan sneakers. So why am I a 35-year old man who collects Air Jordan's? I'm so glad you asked...
It all started when I was in the 4th grade when my mom bought me my very first pair of Air Jordan's. They were the Air Jordan VI's in the Black/Infrared colorway. (I'm still trying to track down a deadstock (never been worn) pair at a decent price, to add to my collection.) I remember that, because they were a kid-sized shoe, they didn't have the air bubble that the adult sizes had. If my memory serves me correctly she bought them at JC Penny.
The first pair of Jordan's I owned also has significance because it was the same model shoe that Michael Jordan wore when he won his very first NBA Championship in 1991, against the Los Angeles Lakers. I was 9 years old. I don't have a memory of watching Michael Jordan play basketball prior to watching his Bulls beat the Lakers 4 games to 1 in that NBA Finals.
Air Jordan VI - Black/Infrared
Though I liked my Air Jordan VI's, my parents didn't have enough money to buy me Jordan's throughout middle school (especially when I started wearing adult sizes), so I didn't purchase my first pair of Air Jordan sneakers until my sophomore year of high school. The year was 1998. I was 16 years old, and I was playing on the Junior Varsity High School basketball team. Because I wasn't very good, one sure way of getting respect on the court (and in life!) was by having the latest pair of Air Jordan's.
With that primary motivation in mind, I bought, with my own money, the Air Jordan XIII's Black/Varsity Red at the Niketown in San Francisco which had just opened a year earlier. I was ecstatic. The feeling of playing in a new pair of Air Jordan's can hardly be described. When I put them on my feet, I instantly felt like I could play like Mike! They gave me a level of confidence like no other shoe ever did. And they gave me this feeling not only when I was on the court, but when I was off the court too! Even though the word "swag" didn't exist in '98, I sure had it walking around in my fresh Air Jordan XIII's! (This pair was recently re-released and I hope to add it to my collection again soon!)
Air Jordan XIII - Black/Varsity Red
After experiencing the feeling that the Black/Varsity Red Air Jordan XIII's gave me, I have been addicted ever since! I wore them throughout high school, I wore them throughout college, and for all of my adult life, there has never been a time when I haven't owned multiple pairs of Air Jordan's. It's crazy to think that for 20 years, I have been buying, wearing, selling, trading, giving away, and collecting Air Jordan Sneakers.
There's just something about 'em. Wearing the shoes that Mike played in. Wearing the shoes that he won championships in, hit historic shots in, broke records in, won dunk contests in, and played in All-Star games in. Wearing Air Jordan's is like wearing history. History that I experienced. History that I watched unfold before me while sitting down on my living room floor watching TV.
But, it's not just about wearing history. As materialistic or shallow as it may seem, and maybe others wouldn't want to admit this, it's also about making a fashion statement. But since there are many "fashion statements" one could make by wearing Air Jordan's, here are the specific statements I intend to make (in the order of their importance to me):
I am a huge fan of the greatest basketball player of all time.
I may be getting older, but when it comes to fashion, I'm not old-fashioned!
I appreciate nice and somewhat-expensive things.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, I just feel really good about myself when I have a pair on! Not that I need them to feel good about myself, but there is no doubt that when I play basketball in them, when I preach in them, when I wear them with a nice outfit, or if I just have a pair on while running errands...I feel good. And shouldn't that be reason enough?!?
To see my current Air Jordan Collection, click here or follow me on Instagram at @AirJCollector!
The Productivity Planner I use to write my lists.
Today, after having a very productive day, I was reminded of the one of the most helpful pieces of advice for personal and professional productivity.
Last night, before going to bed, I wrote a list of the 7 most important things I had to get done today. I actually did all 7. That doesn't happen all the time, but it happened today, and I know those 7 things would not have gotten done if I had not written a list.
Now it's your turn.
Write a list of the most important things you need to get done today. Work on the first item on the list until it is finished. And then work on the next item. And then the next.
Don't let the simplicity of this post cause you to miss the point.
Then get to work.