Ed Bahler’s Blog…To Enhance Ministry

10% of you commenting isn’t enough on this one! Maybe it’s because I originally asked for feedback from 20-35 year olds only. But, after reading the comments below it’s clear to me everyone’s perspective could be valuable. So, those of you who didn’t share your thoughts….please come back. They would be very helpful in our efforts to help church leaders engage people in this digital age.

OK…back to my original post:

I spoke earlier this week at a church business administrator’s conference in Nashville.These men just didn’t seem to believe me. They had that serious “prove it to me” look.

Business administrators ensure the church runs well, the staff is happy, and all the behind the scenes activities are clicking for those uplifting week-end experiences. They are hands-on, no nonsense types. I was talking to them about the impact of the digital age on you young professionals and your responses to it.

I shared that we now watch 485,000 Youtube videos an hour and are overwhelmed and unable to sort truth from fiction. Add to that, you young people read 2300 web pages, 1300 Facebook pages, and multiple thousands of text messages a year. It’s just too much to sort.

As a result, research now shows we are all searching for “Navigators” to help. Those people that help us make sense of a world that’s become to big to sort ourselves. Or, maybe it’s the need to connect. I suggested that may be why many of you young people read this blog often. It was one of my comments that provoked that questioning look on their face! No, I don’t think they were buying it!

That’s why I need your help!

So yes, please step up. Typically 10% of blog readers leave a comment (we had 5/45 the first day-that’s our 10%- but it’s not enough)! This is important. We need 100% on this one.

Could you please share why you come here? What you’re getting?

Don’t worry about elegance. Don’t worry about your name either. Just your feedback is invaluable to help educate church leaders nationwide how to better connect with young people (well all people). This matters, it really does. It would be helpful to know your age.

Thanks for your help!

You could cut the tension with a knife. Back in the early 90’s we’d grown our company beyond our management ability. It had become complicated, unworkable, and painful. You know what I mean. The “I don’t want to work anymore” kind of painful.

When things aren’t working well people start blaming others. We were all venting our anger at each other. Those were sad days…especially when our anger was aimed at our brothers. It was then that my older brother quietly said, “If we don’t love people, we can’t be leaders.” And of course without our leadership there was no way out of our pain.

As I think back, the concepts we have been discussing now would have been so helpful. Since July 2nd we’ve pondered these Simple Church concepts of

• clarity
• momentum
• alignment
• and focus

Last week I introduced this pyramid about “Building Relationships For Effective Action”. Effective action in the language of the book, Simple Church, is the “momentum” and “alignment” from the above list.

To build relationships, we need to start at the bottom of the pyramid with “Feel Appreciation”. One of the most wonderful examples of making others feel appreciation may have been demonstrated in this simple exchange between an uncle and his nephew:

” If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

That statement may have cost the uncle millions. The nephew chose the better ground and left the poor, dry land for his uncle…a critical distinction when your survival depends on large grazing herds. But it didn’t matter.

This wise uncle, Abraham, understood building relationships. He “appreciated” others (in this case his nephew Lot) even if they didn’t deserve it. In Luke we read:

“He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful in much.”

So was it just random chance that God prospered Abraham’s offspring as the sand of the sea?

My older brother Barry was so right. If we can’t make others “feel appreciation”-or in other words, if we can’t love-we will never build relationships. And without relationships we can’t lead…or get our life and our church simple again.

I wonder where Joseph learned to ensure that others felt appreciated? (He blew it at first with his brothers of course.) Was it in that pit, as a slave to Potiphar, or sitting in jail…?

Corinthians 13-Love doesn’t seek it’s own

“Here comes the dreamer!” That’s what Joseph’s brothers said as he wandered by. And that is what they’ll say as you wander by if you don’t know how to act on your “Compelling Call”. If you only get “clarity” and fail to build “momentum” and gain “alignment” then you’re toast…just a dreamer. Vision without discipline is a daydream they say.

Being thrown in a pit and sold by brothers must have matured Joseph a bit. As a slave boy in Egypt he quickly rose up as head of Potiphar’s house. Even when unfairly thrown in jail, Joseph kept his head. He found favor with the jail keeper, was put in charge, and built a reputation interpreting dreams instead of telling them. Interesting lesson here. This guy was a learner.

Of course, the big break came when Pharaoh had a nightmare. Joseph’s reputation got this slave boy a bath, clean cloths, and an audience with him. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream and no one can interpret it. But I have heard you can.” Joseph replied, “I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer.” Quite a shift from the cocky younger brother of earlier years.

Joseph’s dream interpretation wasn’t the significant issue though. After he shared with Pharaoh that there would be seven good and seven bad years, he shared a plan to deal with it. The big deal was the plan. He encouraged the king to appoint commissioners to take a fifth of the harvest through the good years and store it.

Great leaders assemble great talent around them. Pharaoh could see Joseph’s administrative and management skill shining through his far-sighted recommendation. It seemed Joseph knew how to build “momentum” and gain “alignment”. Pharaoh saw it and made Joseph number two in the kingdom.

So what allowed Joseph to grow as a person — from alienating his own brothers to leading Egypt through crisis and ultimately preserving Christs’ lineage? Here are five key insights to “Building Relationships For Effective Action” that Joseph must have demonstrated:

These principles work whether we’re leading a country, business, church, or teenagers. We may not be called to preserve Christs’ lineage, but as parents we are called to nurture our own. As we explore all five principles next week, my hope is that we can together discover some fresh insights from each other that enhance our impact at home…then as far as we are able.

PS: I’m sorry I’m failing to respond to all the recent comments. I’ll try to catch up. Thanks for jumping in. Less than 10% of blog readers share comments….you’re fantastic!!

When I think of great men, names like Abraham, David, John the Baptist, and Paul come to mind. I doubt this guy named Jethro makes anyone’s list. But he should. Without Jethro, we may have lost the Jews and with them, Jesus! And, if he was alive today he may have written the book “Simple Church” (the one we’ve been pondering the last week) long before Thom Rainer ever thought to.

This obscure fella, Moses’ father-in-law, was…yep, the first “leadership coach”. He understood “keeping it simple”. Unfortunately, Moses didn’t. He is so admired for his deep faith, humble spirit, and tenacity in keeping a million people together as they wandered aimlessly. But he had a temper. Remember he violently killed that Egyptian, threw those tablets down, and impatiently struck that rock. You know, the one that prevented him from enjoying the milk and honey.

Don’t we all get provoked when things get too overwhelming to think clearly? Exodus 18 provides us the first Biblical lesson on keeping it simple with Moses the student, and Jethro the coach. Moses was rapidly burning out from full time conflict resolution. Jethro asks why he allows this distractions to get in the way of his “compelling call”. Moses answers, “People come to seek God’s will.” Here’s a big blind spot for us all, Moses seemed to believe he was the only one capable of discerning and dispensing it. Wait a minute, what happened to “why me Lord” and “send someone else”. How does this self-importance infiltrate our heart so effortlessly?

Of course Jethro went on to coach Moses to appoint trustworthy men and train them to discern and dispense God’s will to groups of 1000’s,100’s, 50’s, and 10’s. Men passionate to lead, allowing Moses time for his compelling call; staying connected to God and casting His vision. Just like the book “Simple Church” encourages, Moses needed to:

• get clarity
• build momentum
• gain alignment
• keep focused.

Thanks to Jethro, Moses did get clarity on his call. He then built momentum with trustworthy men, trained them to lead and align the masses behind the vision, and kept the group focused on God’s vision.

After Jethro, Moses continued to struggle. Remember, he broke the tablets and struck the rock long after this lesson. So often we buy that lie — only we can do it. We are pulled, or allow the church to be, into roles and commitments outside our calling and then stagger under the complexity. It’s a big deal, no Jethro, no Jesus, no milk and honey.

Considering how hard it is, help us out with how you keep focused.

I once read, “Happy is the man who discovers his passions (the deeper burning yes) and talents before it’s too late.” Paul shared with the Corinthians how God created us with a unique set of talents. Have we found ours?

Yes, we each have deep passions (that deeper burning yes) and a unique set of talents. And, Jesus shared that parable relating how we will be held accountable to multiply them. I often think of how that one fella carefully hid his one talent, failed to use it, and was treated sooo harshly!

Strengths Finders 2.0, a best selling resource, is a wonderful tool to discern what God wired each of us to uniquely do. You can use the password in the back of the book to go online and discern what passions God may have placed in your soul. It just may be the most freeing thing you do this month! For kicks, my top 5 passions are:

1. Achiever - I’m driven to accomplish.
2. Futuristic - I naturally envision what the coming months or years could, should, or will be like.
3. Strategic - I venture beyond the commonplace, the familiar, or the obvious for ideas and solutions.
4. Activator - I challenge others to take action.
5. Learner - I’m driven to understand the “whys” and “hows” of any situation, problem, or opportunity.

Any surprise I enjoy blogging, engaging others in dialogs, and consulting with organizations to discover solutions for the future?

Last week I mentioned how author Jim Collins suggested we look for the overlap of three key attributes. Author Thom Rainer (”Simple Church” and “Breakout Churches”) puts it into a Christian context and suggests we look for the overlap to discover and pursue God’s “Compelling Call” for our life or our ministry:

So why this focus on “passions” and “giftedness”?. Research shows excellent churches have pastors who stuck with it 20 years or more. Great accomplishments take years. And at the core of that effort must be a brokenness, consistent prayer, and a freeing of the spirit to work. Yet, if we are not working from our deep heart passions and giftedness we’ll struggle to sustain the effort. Great accomplishment is never easy. But when you align with your passions and gifts…..the challenge is simpler.

Are you clear about your God inspired passions and calling? If so, I’d love to hear about them.

It’s interesting how a line from a book can stick with you. Not only stick with you but impact your life, and the life of your kids. Author Steven Covey left me one of those lines from his late 90’s best seller, Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People. It’s quite simple really…but impactful:

“It’s easy to say no when there’s a deeper burning yes within you.”

A few years later, author Jim Collins picked up on this “focus” idea in his best selling business book, Good To Great. Jim challenged us to “focus” on what we can do best, say no to everything else, and stick with it. To discern what you can do best look for the overlap of:

• What you are passionate about
• What you are naturally good, or gifted at
• Roles that provide reasonable compensation

I had the privilege to meet with Jim Collins and asked how we should coach our children regarding career choice. Is it wise to encourage them to focus on careers that “pay reasonably well” or careers they are “passionate about”? Jim shared how research clearly shows people who focus on careers they are passionate about are not only happier, but have higher incomes as well. Even if they choose a low paying field of work, they will most likely become a top performer. A top performer in a lower paying field will always earn more than an uninterested performer in a high paying field. But most importantly, people working from their “passion” will more likely multiply their talents for the Kingdom. Something the Bible instructs us to do.

Author Thom Rainer builds on these “deeper burning yes” & “focus” themes with Simple Church, the book I mentioned Wednesday. In it he shares four steps to a simple church (but they seem to apply to our personal life too). They are:

1. Clarity
2. Momentum
3. Alignment
4. Focus

First, get clarity on the “deeper burning yes” inside you, your child, or your church leader. Then build momentum around it with them or those at church. Third, help your child get everything and everyone in their life or at church aligned around it. Then focus all your energy toward it and say “no” to the rabbit trails in life.

I don’t recall what provoked us, but we began helping our kids discover their deeper burning yes in junior high. It freed them to focus their energy all through high school and college. By God’s grace the effort seemed to make life simple enough to build their hope and courage.

The Bible teaches, “Whatever we set our heart to do, do it with all our might.” Does it make sense to you that getting our “deeper burning yes” clear could help us do whatever we do with all our might?

“I never dreamed leading a church would be this hard, “ lamented my pastor friend over lunch yesterday. Even though his church had grown from 1300 to 2500 the past four years he was struggling, frustrated, and a bit scared. “I don’t know what to do,” was another painful response as he pondered if he should build again, go multi site, or…or what?

Interesting thoughts for a successful pastor who started the church 30 years ago in his apartment. As we talked he slowly became more transparent. With a sense of sadness and yet deep resolve he shared, “If I can’t passionately and confidently preach the Holy Spirit (signs and wonders) I don’t have the heart to do this anymore. But people just aren’t willing to buy into it like they used to.”

It is a different day, a much more complex culture to speak into and build an organization in. I wouldn’t have written about this conversation, but it was the fifth one this past week alone with large church pastors struggling to get their arms around this emerging and far more complex environment. And it’s remarkably similar to the frustrations we heard last year when we pulled together a “pastors round table” of six mega church pastors. One thing they were clear about was this need for “Simplicity and Sustainability”. Not only for them but for their congregation’s personal lives as well. The margin space is gone! But why…and how do we get it back?

Thom Rainer, CEO of Lifeway publishers, recently published the book “Simple Church” which has become a best seller. No real surprise. In it Thom shares four key steps to simplifying and empowering a church, or our personal lives.

There are answers and Thom provides some valuable insight here. All five pastors were eager to explore these “Simple Church” concepts and other vital insights. We’re working together to develop a path to “Simplicity and Sustainability” for each. It is possible…and inspiring when that path becomes clear. “Let’s get moving, I’m encouraged, this was a valuable two hours,” were my friends closing comments.

We’ll drill down on this “Simple Church” opportunity later this week.

Phil 4:6 Don’t be anxious about anything

It’s about “Becoming Like Jesus” and “Reaching Beyond The Church”.

We started this three part series looking for lessons from the Chinese Church which has grown from 3 million to an estimated 130 million. Polling from a 2001 IRIS study estimates there are 159 million Christians in the US. It’s hard to imagine in a few years there may be more Christians in China.

The paradox is fascinating. They have wanted to be like us, to experience real spiritual, personal, and economic freedom which they perceived could only be built on a Christian foundation. And now, we are going to China, to learn from them how to reignite our Christian impulse here! How did that happen…what can we learn? Here’s a few key attributes to ponder:

• Jesus is Lord - The failure of the Communist ideology left a painful vacuum of purpose. The search to fill that void resulted in the discovery of the redemptive power and purpose through Christ. The initial persecution of the early church refined and focused the conviction. There were no doubts or hesitations, Jesus was Lord and they worshiped Him as such. All religions are not equal in their eyes. No religious babel like we are experiencing in our current presidential campaigning.
• Disciple Making - The irreplaceable and lifelong task of becoming like Christ. It was structured into everything they did. It wasn’t simply about a commitment or attending church.
• Missional/Incarnational Ministry - It wasn’t about the group or the Sunday service. It wasn’t about coming to church and consuming church programs. It was about going to them, reaching others, and sharing the love of God wherever they were and in whatever context needed to be understood. They were missionaries in their own land ensuring the love of Christ incarnate in the day-to-day culture.
• Community - Yes. they had a deep sense of community. It wasn’t built around a passive cafe at church. It was much more than a Starbucks…”let’s hang out” type community. Deep trust and commitment are built through the shared struggle of a mission beyond the group. For the early Chinese it was about a very risky journey together. This Christian community was one of the most rigorous, formed through imprisonment, shared pain, and sacrifice.

Are the recent books “Simple Church” or “The Shaping Of Things To Come” a response to such a simple and remarkable movement?

It’s been a thought provoking discussion regarding the post, “Does Jesus make us rich and throw in heaven to boot?

Comments from Don Pelon and Tyrone B are quite diverse. We need your help to make some sense of it:

Tyrone B - June 26

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For with the measure you deal out, it will be measured back to you.

There are example after example showing that God does not have a problem with people being rich. It’s a heart issue.

Don Pelon - June 26

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith ….”

When John the Baptist teaches that, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”, do you think we get a sense of the church’s calling?

Tyrone B - June 27

I agree…That is why it’s a heart issue. Money just magnifies what’s already in the heart.

You need to have more than enough to give some away and bless someone. We as Christians need to go after and believe God for an abundance, so we can give in abundance. And not be afraid of the critics.

Don Pelon - June 28

I wonder, though, if Christians who “go after” God for abundance shouldn’t be looking for the infinitely deeper abundance of spiritual and count the riches of this world as dung. Clearly - from the Gospels, to Timothy, to James, riches were viewed as a hindrance at a minimum.

Recently the Market Based Management Institute (MBMI) reported American’s gave a record $306 Billion in 2007. MBMI suggests charity is likely driven by supply, or abundance as Tyrone commented. If we don’t have two coats, we can’t give one. Don argues greater wealth brings diminished desire for truth and riches are viewed as a hindrance, at a minimum, throughout the Gospels.

As a youth I was challenged to:

• Make all I can (Proverbs- See a man diligent in his work, he’ll stand before kings-so do we work for ten coats?)
• Save all I can (be a wise steward…its not about us)
• Give all I can (James 4-To know to do good and not do it is sin-does this mean we give nine coats away if we have ten?)

I also was challenged with this philosophy, “With frugality, few will be poor and few will become very rich.”

So where is truth? Can we be rich and deeply spiritual too? And what is rich? Is it two coats, three, or ten? And, if we have ten are we to give nine, five or three? And what does all this mean for us Americans who, by the world’s standards, are quite rich?

So how do you sort through an issue that seems to be at the core of our theology, our national politics, as well as global politics and conflicts?

That was a sincere question a friend emailed me after reading my post yesterday? I posted about the Chinese perception that “Only Christians have a continuous creative spirit”. There’s a growing belief in China that a Christian foundation is vital to creativity, innovation, and in turn economic growth.

So does God make us rich…and throw in heaven to boot? The Old Testament story of Job is interesting. Job was faithful through his trial of losing everything so God blessed him with twice as much. Twice as much? He was quite wealthy to begin with. Is that the reward of faithfulness? Why not a deep sense of Godliness with contentment (which is great gain)…eliminating any need for new or additional riches?

Yet at the same time Proverbs warns about striving for riches. The New Testament warns of the dangers of riches and how hard it will be for a rich man to enter heaven.

Those are all valuable insights of course, but not the intended point of my post. It’s about the impact of a Christian foundation on a culture’s ability to “multiply their talents” and care for themselves. Recently I was in India where I observed field after field of people cutting wheat by hand. Yes, shocking wheat just as they did in the Bible times. India is a 4000 year old culture with 1.2 billion people and immense talent. For example, they built the Taj Mahal way back in the 1600’s. It’s one of the seven wonders of the world and stands without a crack today…amazing! Yet, 400 years later they still have 10 year old kids as well as 80 year old women shocking wheat by hand. Mile after mile of it. Yet, we developed machines to harvest our wheat 60 years ago.

India had the intellect and talent to build the Taj Mahal long before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock! Yet somehow, in these last 400 years we were able to settle the country and develop technology way beyond anything the 4000 year old Indian culture could dream of.

As a result, India does not enjoy the fruit of our technology. It’s evident everywhere. They are not able to take care of their poor and disadvantaged. There health care is poor. There are beggars everywhere. The mentally and physically handicapped are simply on the streets. It’s shocking to experience.

So this Christian foundation does matter to the rich, middle class, and the poor. A powerful message that seems to have been lost in our dialogs and debates here in the states. All religions are not equal. It does matter.

No, you’re not confused. This topic initially was a two part post. But, there’s just too much to ponder with this Chinese Christian experience.

Only Christians Have A Continuous Creative Spirit

Yes, here in the states we want to be “like Mike”. In China, they want to be like us. Yes like us, even with all of our problems.

Hsu, a former television journalist is a telling example of how a member of China’s educated elite emulated the US and moved to Christianity. It began with a search for freedom. “Westerners are not more interested in freedom than anyone else.” he says. Yet the US has achieved and sustained a greater degree of freedom than any other culture. Hsu wondered what the West had that China didn’t. “Before freedom comes you have to have a foundation. In the West that foundation is Christianity.”

Hsu reasons, Europe developed legal studies, hospitals, and universities, all which grew out of the church. These developments resulted in breakthroughs in human liberty, as seen in the Reformation, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment. Today he says the church is an incubator for similar development in China.

Hsu’s quest led him to the Bible. There he learned that “Faith in God as the Lord is the beginning of freedom.” He shares, “The more I knew about the growth of freedom in the West, the more I was captivated by the role of faith in God as Lord. You need a standard of absolute truth. Another Chinese ministry leader adds, “Only Jesus can make a harmonious culture.” For Hsu and those like him the hope of the Chinese church is not simply political change. “The essence of the problem is human salvation, not politics”.

Yet a highly influential economist and an adviser to China’s Central Committee shares, “Christian faith provides the power for economic growth. Everybody wants to make more money, from the ancient times until now. And from history we see that only Christians have a continuous creative spirit and the spirit for innovation.”

Is this hitting you as it did me? I’ve just never quite grasped the depth and impact. Yes, Christianity is about freeing the captives, becoming a servant to all, and securing a hope of eternal life. And yes, it’s from that foundation that we build healthy marriages, homes, and communities. But the power for economic growth…a foundation for creativity and innovation…interesting?

• Is this Christian foundation and resulting creativity a part of what Jesus meant when he said, “I come that you have life and have it more abundantly” ?

• It seems we have failed to adequately communicate the full impact of this Christian foundation to our communities? If we had, would Hollywood and others be so reckless with the Christian issue?

My 27 year old son didn’t hesitate when asked recently who his childhood hero was. It was Michael Jordan! Everybody wanted to be like Mike…and still seem to!

A recent Forbes magazine article shows Michael Jordan earning $45 million from endorsements last year. What? He hasn’t played in how many years? It was dwarfed, however, by Tiger Woods’ $90 million. Both stories hold a powerful message. It seems we want to be like these guys. Neither had to legislate or coerce people to emulate them. People purchase freely to identify with these heros and companies spend millions tying their brands to them. Interesting?

It makes me wonder how well-meaning Christians believed legislating our values (Moral Majority, Religious Right, etc) on our communities the past 20 years could ever work. Unfortunately, the reaction has been crippling. Recent Barna research illustrates the younger generations now deeply mistrust us. They see us as judgmental, controlling, mean spirited, hypocritical, and shallow. Recent moral failures among Christian leaders didn’t help. And to think Paul taught that our fruit should be love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and the like.

In light of these disappointing developments, the Chinese Christians I posted about last week may have something to teach us. At the latest Chinese National Party Congress, held every five years, the highest Communist Party officials gathered to chart China’s future. In a lengthy two and a half hour address, President Hu Jintao delivered this line:

“We will fully implement the Party’s basic principles for it’s work related to religious affairs and bring into play the positive role of religious parsonages and believers in promoting economic and social development.”

Shocking isn’t it! And to think Christians in China have earned such legitimacy and trust from a government that two decades ago killed hundreds of unarmed students in Tiananmen Square and persecuted thousands of Christians nationwide. What is there to learn here?

Do you think a similar turn-around is possible in rebuilding trust with our young people here? And if so, what must the church do to rebuild it? In part #2 we’ll explore the attributes of the Chinese Church, and the evolving attitude of the Communist Party, that led to such a turn around and together ponder applications here.

It’s unsettling for us Americans to acknowledge the center of Christianity is moving west. Yes, even west of our Pacific coast. Since the late 70’s China has exploded from approximately 3 million Catholics and Protestants to estimates as high as 130 million.

The end of the Chinese “Cultural Revolution” left a void and a search for purpose which birthed the underground Chinese church. For the first twenty-five years this anonymous group of house churches exploded into a Christian presence almost the size of the Christian community in the states. All without formal leadership or dedicated church facilities.

It’s remarkable in light of the fact we have increased our annual investment in church facilities from $3.5 billion in 1991 to over $8 billion today with a corresponding drop, yes drop in the % of Americans attending church. As a result, innovative church planting initiatives are exploding here with house churches growing from 1% of church attenders to roughly 10%. Some are calling for a new church movement without buildings or formal leadership at all.

However, a recent article in Christianity Today reveals a maturing Chinese church. The emerging Chinese church has built a fragile trust with the Chinese government by expressing God’s love for their neighbors. “Government acceptance of us depends on our community contribution”, says one pastor. The church recently invited Franklin Graham, Billy’s son, to speak to a congregation of 12,000 in China. Yes, now mega churches even in China!

The success of these new urban churches, which have never been underground, is having a rippling effect on traditional house churches. It’s all provoking the house churches, tired of hiding and ready to rise up and be seen, to strike out to become visible salt and light. As a result, church buildings are rising up like bamboo shoots in many urban areas at the same time church facilities, of any kind, are now strongly ridiculed by some here in the states.

So what can we learn from God’s work in China? One thing is clear, to be trusted we must get beyond our church walls and share God’s love and resources with the local community. Yet, regarding this facility question I’m feeling like Pilate when he asked, “What is truth.” Even in China, once the church began to selflessly share God’s love and build trust they felt it wise to build buildings. While here in the states we find a growing attitude that church facilities are unnecessary and even poor stewardship.

Do you think investing in church facilities is wise stewardship?

Something special happened last night. We’re (11 adults and 4 grand kids) on vacation here in Hilton Head Island, SC. For devotions we were asked to share a significant dream.

The verse we worked from was Phil 3:13 & 14: “But one thing I do: Forgetting those things that are behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.”

My first thought was….yawn. But, with each vulnerable expression the Spirit seemed to softly settle in like a gentle fog moving in among us. There was that kind of “hush” among the group, everyone became tightly connected to each thought. It was one of those moments you can’t plan, something significant was happening.

With each expression, the spirit’s work in each heart became evident. Expressions to:

• Becoming connected to an orphanage.
• Becoming an excellent Urology Resident that reflects well on Christ.
• Become involved in international medical missions.
• Adopt two foreign children.
• Lead a business.
• Earn a Masters in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) to write for Christian causes.
• Earn a Law degree.
• Earn a Communications Degree from Purdue U.
• Build a fresh affection and romance with my wife in this “empty nester” phase of life.
• Learn to accept when God dashes a dream and trust he has knew ones to follow.

We then prayed for the person on our left seeking God’s blessing on their dream. It was so affirming as everyone soaked it all in. There was a renewed “Grace and Hope” through it all and a special unity and confidence among us.

It seems we invite the supernatural in when we help “Carry each others burdens” for we know “in this we fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). Last night was a needed reminder for me. My prayer is that your time off this summer brings you closer to “His Spirit, His Hope, and your dreams” .

Blessings,

Well dad, you were 31 when I was born. I was your fourth son and your 6th of 8 kids. It was a different day then it seems. There were no cell phones, jet airliners, air bags, GPS, microwave ovens, interstate highways, internets, text messages, blogs, multi-site churches, small groups, Starbucks, TV preachers, and the list goes on.

And those costs, they have changed from 1957:

• Gas $.24
• Milk $1
• New Auto $2100
• Home $20,000
• Bread $.19
• Ave Income $4494

But what works in life and gives us eternal hope hasn’t changed. Thanks for teaching me these unchanging truths that continue to guide my life:

• Love-God with all my heart
• Love-Others as well.
• Humility-Don’t knowingly provoke others to covet
• Kindness-Be kind, everyone’s fighting a hard battle.
• Friendly-Lift people up along the way.
• Character-A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches
• Frugality-If we live by Godly principles we’ll never be poor, and we’ll never be overly rich.
• Purpose-Commit your life to ideals bigger than you.
• Diligence-Success requires much, much practice and focus.
• Priorities-Always do the hard stuff first.
• Discipline-Get to bed and get up early.
• Follow through- Always, always, always finish the job.
• Conflict-Settle quickly, while you’re in the way.
• Innovation-There’s a better way to do it, find it.

Thanks dad…Happy Father’s Day.