Don’t Rush Critical Decisions

27 Jan

Twenty-six years ago today, a debate raged late into the evening as NASA engineers, scientists, technicians and administrators tried to decide whether or not to launch the shuttle Challenger the next day. Unusually cold temperatures had made a safe launch a questionable venture at best. No launch had ever been attempted in such cold weather, and NASA officials simply didn’t know what to expect.

Wisdom said to hold the launch until the temps came up, but pragmatism called for a launch as soon as possible. Delays meant bad PR and the potential loss of millions of dollars a day. The pressure was on to get the astronauts into space.

The Shuttle Challenger at liftoff, January 28, 1986

The decision was made to launch, and on January 28, 1986, the Shuttle Challenger and her precious cargo of 7 American astronauts exploded from the launch pad, and 90 seconds later exploded back to earth. A critical O-ring on the shuttle’s rocket boosters had failed as a direct result of the cold weather.

Don’t rush critical decisions. The most pragmatic way, the easiest way and the most popular way may not always be the best way. Have the courage to make the right decision, not the easiest one, even in the face of withering criticism. There is too much at stake not to.

Leave a Comment | Filed Under: Random

Three Simple Ways to Learn the Bible

26 Jan

Since the Bible is meant to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths, and since we’re not supposed to live by bread alone, but rather on the Word of God, then it seems beneficial for us to know it. But for many of us the Bible is an intimidating book and trying to learn it’s teachings can be an overwhelming prospect.

It doesn’t have to be. You too can learn the Word of God and know how to apply it to your life. It’s not hard and you don’t have to go to seminary or Bible college to do it. But before I offer some suggestions, you need to make two decisions:’

1. That you are going to get to know the Bible. You’re not the exception. You need God’s Word in you and you can learn it. Decide today that you’re going to.

2. Pray every day about learning God’s Word. Ask God to help you better understand his teachings. Ask him to help you think biblically. That’s a pinpoint prayer he loves to answer.

So, here are three simple ways to increase your understanding of God’s Word.

1. Read it. That may seem obvious, but I’m still shocked at the number of people I meet (Christians and spiritual seekers alike) who never read the Bible. It’s hard to know what it says if you don’t read it. Find a good Bible reading plan (I will post my own next week) and a translation you understand and then just read the book! You’ll be amazed at what you will learn just by reading 20 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week. And if you keep that pattern up over the years, you’ll gain a healthy respect for and understanding of God’s Word.

2. Listen to it. This is how most people learned God’s Word before printing presses–they listened to it. This is why Paul told Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of scripture–because we learn it by hearing it. This is why my friends in Nicaragua, many of whom are illiterate, know the Bible so well. They’ve grown up hearing it taught and read. Build into your life a steady diet of listening to the reading and teaching of God’s Word. I listen to it in my car everyday. We’ve got no excuse on this one. Resources for hearing God’s Word are everywhere, including this blog.

3. Speak it. Along with reading it and hearing it, speaking God’s Word out loud is another easy way to learn it. Try this. Here’s a simple verse from the Bible that teaches a profound truth: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9. I want you to say it out loud about 100 times today. As you do, emphasize different words or phrases each time. By the time you’re done, you’ll not only know the verse, but its powerful truths will forever be etched into your soul. You’ll never forget it.

Friends, learning the Bible is that easy. All it takes is a little effort. Ready to learn–Read it! Listen to it! Speak it!

 

18 Comments | Filed Under: Random

I Need Your Success Stories!!!!

25 Jan

My friend Tonya Parrott and I are working on the Bible study and small group questions for Enough: Find More by Living with Less. We want to feature dozens and dozens of real examples from people who have learned to spend less, give more, downsize, reduce overhead and live more simply, and also the joy and peace that such living has brought them.

Many of you contributed to the book Enough, and you’ll get your free copy when it comes out in a few months. But if you have learned new ways to move toward enough, or if you haven’t yet shared your success stories, would you do so now? We’d love to learn from your moving toward enough experience.

Please send me your success stories Send Email or just post them in the comments here. Thanks so much.

Let’s help people find ENOUGH!

 

3 Comments | Filed Under: Enough

The Leader’s Most Important Discipline

24 Jan

The meeting was way overdue. The leader had been avoiding it, if not dreading it. It had been days, maybe weeks since he’d checked in with his mentor. He’d just been busy. The problem was, his leadership was starting to reflect it. He was snippy, impatient, and he was really starting to make some boneheaded decisions.

Like I said, the meeting was way overdue.

As the meeting ended, the leader promised to be more diligent about keeping his appointments with his mentor. Even after this brief session, he could once again see their value.

Then the leader breathed an Amen, got up off his knees and returned to his desk. He had been praying.

In the highly sophisticated world of leadership, including Christian leadership, prayer has become almost obsolete. Think about it: When was the last time you read a chapter on prayer in a book on leadership, Christian or otherwise? When did you last hear a great talk at a leadership conference about the importance of prayer in the leader’s life? And even more importantly, when were you last at a critical juncture in a meeting, where the stakes were high, money or strategy or employees’ livelihoods on the line, and one of the team members stopped the meeting so the entire group could pray and seek God’s wisdom for the decision.

It may be that in Christian leadership circles the practice of prayer is assumed, but such an assumption is no longer valid. Assumed disciplines quickly become former disciplines. And any leader worth his or her salt knows that there can’t be anything former about prayer–not if the leader intends to lead well.

The Book of Proverbs still teaches that true knowledge begins with a healthy respect for God and that wisdom is still available to those who are humble enough to seek it from him. And what better way is there to download God’s wisdom than through prayer?

So here’s a call to prayer; or maybe, a call back to prayer. My guess is you didn’t get to be a leader by not praying. But you and I both know that the crush of leadership can make a discipline like prayer–the fruit of which isn’t always immediately visible–seem optional. Those we report to and those we lead expect results, and prayer doesn’t always look results-oriented. But I’m asking you to give prayer another shot. Work it into everything you do. I know that in some cases your environment may limit how public you can be in your praying. Fine. But no law, ban, rule, handbook or politically correct culture ever kept serious leaders from praying. Don’t let it stop you either.

Here are three immediate benefits you can expect from working prayer into your leadership routine:

  1. Perspective. Prayer helps you see things from the 50,000 foot and 50,000 year view. Problems and issues can take on a whole new and much less weighty or threatening perspective after just a few minutes in prayer.
  2. Wisdom. You’ll be a better leader, period. Time before God in prayer will give you wisdom, creativity, insight, discernment and strategies that you wouldn’t have had otherwise. Praying leaders know that they get God’s best, and don’t settle for their own, when they pray.
  3. Humility. Leadership can go to your head. Making decisions that effect hundreds of employees, thousands of customers and millions of dollars can really start to mess with your mind. You can very quickly begin thinking that you’re something big, somebody important, or even God’s gift to your respective field, company, city, family, department, etc. You’re not. A few minutes in worship and confession before the holy Creator of the universe is a really great cure for the common ego. Try it.

So tell me, are you convinced? Are you ready to embrace the discipline that has served leaders well for thousands of years? You’re not the exception; you need to pray.

Why don’t you start right now . . . .

6 Comments | Filed Under: Pray Big, Random

God is Smiling

24 Jan

Ever wondered what over 100 pastors worshiping together sounds like?

Leave a Comment | Filed Under: Random

God Helps Those Who CAN’T Help Themselves

23 Jan

Despite conventional thinking, the concept that God helps those who help themselves isn’t a biblical one. In fact, it’s really the opposite of what the Bible teaches. Rather, the Bible teaches that God commands us to do the impossible, to become what we can’t, and then equips us by his grace and power to do and become what he expects.

The Bible’s line is that God helps those who can’t help themselves–that God helps those who seek his help. No matter how hard we try, there are just some things we can’t do without God. But as we lean onto the work of God’s Spirit, not on our best efforts, God works in and through us.

This is no small difference in thinking, and one we need to adjust our minds to it. As disciples of Jesus, we are dependent, not independent.

This was the subject of my weekend message at ACF and part of the Things Jesus Never Said series. Click here to watch or listen to the full message.

Leave a Comment | Filed Under: 10 Things Jesus Never Said

Well Hello There–The Northern Lights Face

21 Jan

Taken by Photographer Jonathan Tucker.

1 Comment | Filed Under: No Words Required

Imagine with me, that wonderful day.

20 Jan

Imagine with me, that wonderful day.

We find ourselves home in heaven. We are more alive than we have ever been here. Our eternal purpose and destiny of intimacy with God is finally fulfilled. We are home.

Our pain is gone.

Our tears wiped away.

We cannot die.

We don’t hunger or tire.

We can’t sin.

All evil is vanquished.

All we know is perfect love and fellowship with each other.

And, stationed beautifully at the center of our attention is the holy and exalted Lord Jesus. We are drawn into his light and our hearts are filled with and thrilled by His presence.

And then, only then, are our pilgrim hearts settled.

1 Comment | Filed Under: Random

And 32 Years Later, the Fire Still Burns

19 Jan

I wrote this several years ago on the anniversary of my call to ministry. I republish it every January 19, if for no other reason than to refresh my sense of calling and passion. I hope it refreshes yours.

On this date in 1980 I committed my life to working professionally for the church. In my background we called it many things–surrendering to ministry, being called, entering full-time Christian service–and all were true of me. But the decision I made had nothing to do with a career choice. My choice affected my career, but it wasn’t a job that I was pursuing. I had been gripped by a message. That message can be stated in one word: JESUS.

I remember looking, like most adolescents, for a cause. I would stay up late at night and wonder if my life would count for anything, and if so, for what. Then, when I began to really listen to what Christ was saying, I found my issue. Rather, it found me. The issue: JESUS.

Jesus was a man who made the boldest, most audacious claims of any religious leader in history. Furthermore, he is the only religious leader who actually backed up his claims. He said that all life, physical and spiritual, begins with him. He said that he could read the intentions and thoughts of a man’s heart. He said that he was able to foresee the downfall of Satan and that he himself would set Satan’s captives free. He said that he would die for us and then rise from the dead; he did. And, he said that if we wanted to change the world, if we wanted to see the hearts of men and women transformed, if we wanted to have eternal impact, then we should do one thing: tell people about him—JESUS.

Jesus had what John R.W. Stott called a very “self-centered” ministry. By that he meant that Jesus talked most about himself. Rightfully so, since he claimed to be God. His self-focused ministry is seen in his instructions to his followers, “Tell people about me.” That message, that unidirectional Gospel, is what gripped my heart—JESUS.

Jesus did not tell us to attack people’s lack of morality; he never said that we should oppose people because of their political views; he wasn’t concerned that we win them to a certain theological perspective; he never instructed us to isolate ourselves from people who did not know him; and, he never, never said that people held captive by darkness were the enemy. They are, in fact, they reason that he died and the reason that he calls us to do the same. He said that we need only to lead them to one solution—JESUS.

Jesus told us that there was only one message that we could preach that would give hope to a dying world and at the same time have the power to make that hope reality. He said that there was only one person in all of history that would make the difference between people knowing God or being lost eternally without him. He said that there was only person qualified to hang between heaven and earth as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He said that there was only one name that could be proclaimed that would literally have the drawing power to span the ages. He said that the Hope, the Message, the Power, the Sacrifice and the Name were all one and the same. They are his–JESUS.

Christ-followers, we only have one purpose for our lives this side of heaven—JESUS. We have only answer to the questions of a dying society—JESUS. We only have one issue to put between us and a sin-filled world—JESUS.  We have only one Name to lift up before men—JESUS. Finally, I have only one purpose and we have only one ultimate reason to live—JESUS.

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. John 12:32

2 Comments | Filed Under: Random

Traveling Light: On the Road and in Life

18 Jan

Greetings fellow travelers. As I write this I’m sitting in a pub in the Toronto airport waiting to catch a flight to Winnipeg. I have a backpack and a very small carry-on suitcase with me. Just enough to get me through the last couple of days. I’ve learned through many travels and even better, through backpacking, how to travel light–very light. When you’re hiking up a mountain or visiting two cites in 48 hours, you just don’t need a bunch of stuff.

It’s amazing how minimalist you can become you you’re forced to carry on your back or pay $25 for whatever you want to bring along. And given that I’m cheap and old, carrying extra baggage has no appeal to me.

Oh that we could have such a mindset toward life. We are travelers here. This world is not our home. The time we spend here compared to eternity isn’t even a blip on the radar. And yet, we accumulate stuff like our lives depend on it. We act as it stuff defines us, increases our value, loves us and give us life. We insure our stuff, rent storage facilities for our stuff, and even work to get more of it.

So much for traveling light. We’re more like the kings of old who couldn’t go anywhere without an entourage of slaves and mules just to carry all their stuff.

Question: is all this really necessary? Is all this helpful? I just talked to a friend who recently moved onto a dream house with his wife, and yet his marriage is dying. They’ve got the right house on the right street in the right part of town, and they still can’t get along. So tell me again why we’re carrying all this junk around with us?

So here’s a challenge, and I’m very serious about this–limit your life to 100 items. From your bed to your car to your purse, you get to have only 100 things. That’s it! Work on that list, figure out your 100 things, and you’ll be well on your way to realizing just how much you don’t need in your life.

When I backpack, I’ve got 80 cubic centimeters to work with, and that’s a big pack. Anything else is just too much. Apply that to your life. If it can’t fit in a pack, you don’t really need it.

Don’t be consumed by the monster of more. It’s not worth it.

For more info about the 100 item rule, click here.

 

2 Comments | Filed Under: Enough
« Older Posts