January 12, 2012

Tortorella/Laviolette: Lessons in Great Coaching

Because I am in the process of moving, I have been in a motel this past week. Last night while channel surfing I came across the HBO special “Rangers and Flyers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic,” a documentary which follows the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Fylers on their journey to the 2011 NHL Winter Classic at the National Bank Stadium.

While the entire documentary was incredible, especially the many shots of the coaches and players behind the scenes – in the locker room, on the team plane, at a New Year’s Eve Party, in a hotel strategy meeting – the most fascinating aspect of the documentary was comparing/contrasting the leadership styles of coaches John Tortorella and Peter Laviolette. Both coaches, both ranked top in the NHL, have incredible leadership styles. After watching the episode three times (it took me three times to get over my disinterest in the game of hockey and really pull some valuable lessons), here are 8 observations I can make: Continue reading →

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November 8, 2011

The Dash

Tonight I listened to Pastor Ben Harris, the Men’s Pastor at Shadow Mountain Community Church give a message on God’s grace in our lives and how we must respond to it. While there were many gold nuggets of information in his message, the thing that stuck out most to me – and will stay with me – was his example of “the dash.”

“What is the dash?” you may be asking.

The dash Pastor Ben was referring to is the tiny dash we see on every tombstone on display in any local graveyard. The dash between your birth date and expiration date. For example, if I were to die today, my tombstone would read like this: 1979 – 2011 (1979 “dash” 2011).

A great way to describe this dash is through this pithy little saying by Eric J. Aronson:

“On your tombstone there will be two dates, the date you were born and the date you died. That little, insignificant line between those two dates – that dash-is your life!”

That little, insignificant line is all that you and I will be remembered by at our respective funerals. No statues. No parades. No large crowds. Just a dash.

This can be the most depressing thing we’ve heard all day or the most inspiring. I choose to be inspired.

For me, this dash means two things: (1) I have only today to live for and therefore must give everything I have to make making the most of every day. (2) As a Christian, I must use the “dash” of my life for a cause much greater than selfish ambition or personal gain. As a Christ-follower, I must choose to daily give myself up for others.

Why?! Continue reading →

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October 30, 2011

Sandi Patty: “Do Everything You Can Do Right Where You Are”

This Fall season I have had the privilege of taking the Hispanic Choir from Shadow Mountain through Ephesians 4:1-16 where the Apostle Paul writes to the early church about the subject of “Unity.” As our choir is growing and we are praying for greater growth, we want to do our part to really grasp this concept of “Unity of the Spirit.” It has been a growing time for me personally and, I believe, a growing time for our Choir.

The first lesson we were able to pull from this incredible chapter had to do with Paul’s circumstances. When Paul was writing the book of Ephesians, he had just been arrested in Jerusalem for inciting a riot, traveled to Rome for trial (during which he encountered a shipwreck off the coast of Malta where he remained with the “natives” for three months) and after arriving in Rome, was placed in prison.

Our two primary lessons from all of this? (1) God has a purpose and a place for your life. (2) Right where God has placed you is right where God can best use you. The responsibility we have is to accept His place and His purpose for our lives.

Paul understood this. He did not complain. He did not pout. He did not argue with God. He wrote. As a matter of fact Paul wrote Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians during his imprisonment in Rome. He understood God’s place for him in this season of his life was prison and God’s purpose for him while in prison was to write. And Christians for almost 2000 years have been greatly impacted, if not changed, by his writings.

Now on to Sandi Patty.

This morning I was perusing the ABC News website and came across an interview with Christian singer Sandi Patty. In this interview, she was talking about a new book that she had just released. At the end of the interview, the interviewer asked Sandi a question many famous singers get asked all of time, “What advice do you have for anyone who wants to make it in the music business?” Continue reading →

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October 28, 2011

People Are Just That… People.

I am home sick today and thought I would take some time to reflect on the past couple of weeks and months. While 2011 has been a great year in some aspects, there have also been some great learning lessons this year. And as we all know, “learning lessons” is simply code for “hard times!” In my life nothing great has been learned without a having to cross a mountain or two in the process.

Well, the last few weeks have brought about great lessons in the area of “people.” Yes, I said that right… people. Because I am passionate about two things – teaching and leadership – I spend a great deal of time reading, observing and interacting with people. This does not come always come easy for me. While I am an extrovert by nature, I love my alone times away from the business of the world and all of the… people. Yet, in order to teach and lead one must grow to understand people. And so I am constantly, slowly and, at times, painfully learning.

My greatest lesson of the past few weeks? It is a secret, but I will share it with you: People will fail you.

That’s right! You heard me correctly and you heard it here first! People will let you down, people will fail you and people will disappoint you. This is our secret and I hope you will not share it with anyone!

But in the interest of full disclosure, here is the flip side to this secret… That is what people are supposed to do! Continue reading →

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October 5, 2011

Truth or Power Play?

Social theorist and historian Michael Foucalt once stated: “Truth is a thing of this world: it is produced only by virtue of multiple forms of constraint.” In other words, Foucalt was saying, a claim to absolute truth is simply a power play.

Pastor Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York, recently preached a sermon on “Abolsutism,” using the above quote. Later, he used the example of Friedrich Nietzsche who balked at any form of truth claim, challenging his opponent with his motives for a truth claim.

For instance, if a person believed strongly in social justice and made a truth claim that everyone should be involved in social justice, Nietzsche would question their motives. He would ask, “Should everyone be involved in social justice for the purpose of helping the poor and speaking for those without a voice or do you simply want to cause a social revolution where you would then be on top?”

In other words, what is our motivation? Continue reading →

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August 13, 2011

Gloria Steinem: “Follow Your Fears.”

Tonight, I watched Charlie Rose interview journalist, feminist, writer and activist Gloria Steinem. Because I do not follow feminist authors (not because of any bias, but rather because the subject of feminism does not interest me), I had never heard of Gloria or her writings before tonight. While the interview was engaging, it was not anything about her life’s journey, philosophy or message that engaged me personally. What caught my attention came in the last minute of her interview.

When the interview was nearing the end, always the prodding interviewer, Charlie asked Gloria if she had any regrets in this life. This was a very important question for Gloria because she is now in her 77th year of living. At this stage of life, I imagine most people began to think about regrets and possible “do-overs.” Gloria’s answer floored me.

Stating that she had indeed lived a good life, Gloria stated three regrets in her life: (1) that she would have written more; (2) that she would have “followed her fears” and (3) that she would have spent less time doing the same, easy thing and more time trying something else.

Her point on the second and third was this: So many people stick to what is safe and comfortable instead of branching out into a new passion for fear of failure. Continue reading →

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July 28, 2011

Seth Godin, Purple Cows and the Evangelical Church

Today, I watched a brief video from the TED Talks featuring Seth Godin giving a talk on the importance of “standing out.” He spoke of marketing and the importance of being “remarkable” in a world where consumers have too many choices and too little time. The typical consumer cares nothing for anything or anyone; their care is simply to fulfill their needs quickly and with as little cost as possible.

This selfish, consumer-driven world is the world we live in; this fact must be foremost on the mind of anyone who desires to market their product. The product must stand out. It must be remarkable.

He used the example of a purple cow.

No one is impressed with cows. When driving through the Midwest or through the dairy lands of California, no one stops to admire the plain black and white cow. They are invisible to us. But what if, on a farm somewhere in the Midwest, some farmer invented a new kind of cow, a purple cow? That cow would become the talk of the town, the state and maybe even the nation… for a time. But eventually, the purple cow would be old news as every farmer tried to emulate the purple cow.

In the American, consumer driven  society, it is the new and improved that impresses. The best-selling movies are not the great classics, like Citizen Kane, The Godfather or Gone With the Wind. No, the top-selling movies are the new and technologically improved movies; many times with actors that are less-than-remarkable, outside of the fact that they are pleasing to the eyes.

It is the new and “remarkable” products that grab the attention of consumers.

Seth Godin states the following: “The things that are going to decide what gets talked about, what gets done, what gets changed, what gets purchased and what gets built is ‘is it remarkable?’” Seth Godin absolutely know this culture and how to speak directly to it.

Yet, after watching this speech, I began to wonder just how many evangelical pastors have watched this. Continue reading →

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July 27, 2011

The Secrets of Jesus

Today, I read a chapter from Max Lucado’s book Cast of Characters entitled “The Sparkle From Eternity.” This writing by Max Lucado spoke to me. I came away with a sense of wonder in the very idea that Jesus was God incarnate (I will write on that later). In addition, I was amazed at the secrets that Jesus kept, or rather, tried to keep.

The humility of Jesus is something that is rarely questioned, but when it comes alive in the reading of Scripture it can  really surprise you.

Max Lucado beautifully tells the story of Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead, as told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. He tells the story from the perspective of Jairus, a leader from one of the local synagogues, as he ponders how to get Jesus, the miracle worker, into the presence of his daughter so that he just may heal her. Through the writings of Lucado, we experience the questions Jairus may have experienced (“Do I dare risk my reputation and standing in the synagogue seeking healing from this man called Jesus?” and “If this really is the Son of God, who am I to ask him for such a request?”). Yet, Jairus boldy asks Jesus to heal his daughter and his daughter is miraculously healed.

But here what floored me tonight in re-reading this powerful story was the very last thing Jesus did before leaving the room. After he healed this young girl and the family was overcome in amazement – just imagine the elation, relief, gratefulness and thankfulness in that room – Jesus does two things. First, he ” strictly charged” the family not to tell of the miracle he had just performed; he wanted this miracle to be left in secret. Second, he told the family to feed the young lady. Continue reading →

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July 25, 2011

Lessons from Chef Gordon Ramsay

After watching a marathon of “Kitchen Nightmares” with some great friends tonight, I want to state that in my personal opinion, Gordon Ramsay is a leadership rock star. While I do not personally condone his approaches to everything (as if he cares), I believe he is one of the great leaders of our time. I’ll explain why in a moment.

For those who are not acquainted with the wonder of Gordon Ramsay, he is a self-made British chef, restaurateur and television celebrity who is the star of Hell’s Kitchen, Master Chef and the aforementioned Kitchen Nightmares. In addition to all of this, Chef Ramsey owns, or has owned, restaurants in London, Glasgow, Dubai, Tokyo, New York City and Los Angeles. Not a bad a resume for a man from a blue-collar family with a father who was an alcoholic.

But what has made Chef Ramsey an international celebrity is his abrasive and brash personality which is instantly recognized on every one of his television shows. Chef Ramsay will tell a person exactly what he thinks about their performance without regard to their personal feelings or comfort. He simply tells it like it is, many times leaving his subjects reduced to shreds of tears, anger and insecurity.

So, as a person who believes in and advocates for Christ-honoring, servant-leadership, why would I think so highly of Gordon Ramsay? Continue reading →

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June 23, 2011

Solitude

Sometimes life simply tells us something. Other times it shouts that “something” to us through obvious measures. This week, life has been shouting to me one simple word: solitude.

Yes, solitude.

I am taking a class entitled Leadership in Public Interest and our first reading was entitled “Solitude and Leadership,” a speech given by Yale professor William Deresiewicz to a class of plebes at West Point Military Academy. Today, in my personal reading of “Courage To Teach” by Parker J. Palmer, I read Palmer’s view on how a teacher-to-be can work to find the important “voice within:” solitude and silence.

Both very separate readings from two very different authors had one single thread running through them: integrity and identity. By this, I mean both authors asserted that the very first step in a leader leading (or a teacher teaching) is to discover exactly who they are. Once that is accomplished, the real work can begin.

Yet, before this can happen, solitude must first take place. Continue reading →

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June 17, 2011

A Call to Christians: Lay Down Your Arms and… Adopt?

I first must say that I am biased on this subject. As a man who was given a second chance at life because my own father adopted me 32 years ago, I know the power of adoption. Second, any chance I can get to help my fellow Christians think liberally on a subject, I want to do that. (And by “liberal thinking,” I mean to see an issue from all sides.)

Last night, I read an incredible article written by Jason Locy encouraging Christian men and women to adopt. More specifically, the article was a challenge to Christians everywhere who stand against gay and lesbian couples adopting: IF WE ARE GOING TO CALL FOR CERTAIN LAW-ABIDING INDIVIDUALS TO RELINQUISH THEIR RIGHT TO ADOPT, WE MUST BE WILLING TO STAND IN THE GAP.

Wow.

I felt like somebody had punched me in the gut. Not simply because of the tenants of this article but because of the greater implication of this article: As Christians, when we find a potential problem, before standing and denouncing the problem and those who we believe have caused the problem, we must first look to find a reasonable solution. After finding that solution, we must then be willing to stand in the gap. Continue reading →

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May 3, 2011

Bonhoeffer and the Role of the Church IN the State

In March 1933, the citizens of Germany had no idea the ideological storm brewing in the country and the eventual disastrous results that would come from it. Just two months earlier, Hitler had been elected Chancellor of Germany and already the stages were being set for the ethnic cleansing campaign which would soon begin. By April 7, 1933 the Aryan Paragraph would take effect tightening restrictions on non-Aryan races (primarily the German Jews). Government employees were required to be “Aryan,” not of Jewish descent, and any pastors with Jewish blood would be banned from ministry. This placed the German church in a state of inner confusion.

A group of leaders and members from the German church, referred to as the Deutsche Christen (German Christians), wanted the church to rally behind the Nazi regime in an attempt to bring solidarity to the German church. After all, Hitler had spoken of “restoring moral order to the nation” (Metaxas 151). While most the church leaders did not agree with Hitler on everything, they did not want to oppose the Nazi regime which would inevitably cause the loss of prestige and influence. (In other words, many of the church leaders would rather sell-out the Gospel than to cause controversy… I am reminded of the words of a modern-day pastor, Steve Lawson: “Preaching the Bible in its entirety will always cause controversy.”)

It was in this context, and in response to many mainstream Protestant churches who were considering adopting the Aryan Paragraph, that Bonhoeffer wrote his essay, “The Church and the Jewish Question.” In this essay Bonhoeffer clearly lays out the purpose of the church and its role in the matter of state affairs. Continue reading →

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April 15, 2011

Frustrations of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Great Divide Between Intellect, Social Justice and the Gospel Message

In continuing with the Frustrations of Dietrich Bonhoeffer taken from my reading of Eric Mataxas’ “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy,” today I read of Bonhoeffer’s frustration with the liberal theology of places like Union Theological Seminary and Riverside Church, both in New York City. Even today, both places stand as respected liberal theological centers of training and worship.

Bonhoeffer’s main point of contention with these places was the lack of seriousness and the lack of the preaching of the Gospel message: the message of Christ death and resurrection and the impact these events have on the lives of the believer. While Bonhoeffer did not completely object to the social message brought forth by the church – the totality of his life and his later work to free Germany of Adolf Hilter show this to be true – he believed there was more to church than liberal theology mixed with social club activities (teas, concerts, plays, charity events, sports, games, dances, etc.)

For a German-trained theologian like Bonhoeffer who desired to see “Christ In Action” (my favorite coined term), this became very troubling; that is, until he found Abyssinian Baptist Church, an African-American church placed squarely in the economically depressed Harlem. In 1930, Abyssinian Baptist Church was already a 100 year-old church which was founded when a group of African Americans left the First Baptist Church of New York City over the segregated seating policy.

When Bonhoeffer came to the church, a dynamic preacher named Dr. Adam Clayton Powell Sr., a son of slaves, was pastoring Abyssinian. It was here “Bonhoeffer would finally hear the gospel preached and see its power manifested” (Metaxas 108). Mataxas continues: “Powell combined the fire of a revivalist preacher with great intellect and social vision. He was active in combating racism and minced no words about the saving power of Jesus Christ. He didn’t fall for Hobson’s choice of one or the other; he believed that without both, one had neither, but with both, one had everything and more. When the two were combined, and only then, God came into the equation” (Metaxas 108).

This got me thinking about the great divide in American churches which is really drawn along three fronts: Intellectual, Social Justice and the Gospel Message. What is more important? Continue reading →

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April 13, 2011

Frustrations of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Lack of Seriousness in Our Faith, Churches and Religion

In continuing my reading of the book entitled “Bonheoffer” by Eric Mataxas, the portion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s journey I am reading about today is his quest through Union Theological Seminary in New York City and his frustration with the lack of seriousness of the students and abundance of liberal theology without the Gospel message in the local churches of New York City.

In this post, I want to address his Bonhoeffer’s belief in the lack of the seriousness of the seminaries and churches. On this, Bonheoffer states:

“The lack of seriousness with which the students here speak of God, and the world is, to say the least, extremely surprising. Over here one can hardly imagine the innocence with which people on the brink of their ministry…ask questions in the seminar for practical theology – for example, whether one should preach of Christ… Things are not much different in the church. The sermon has been reduced to parenthetical church remarks about newspaper events… In New York they preach about virtually everything” (pp. 105, 106).

Now remember, this was 1930.

In all fairness to the church-at-large, Bonhoeffer was in of the most liberal and accepting areas of the country. As with most churches with liberal theology, they tend to be placed in great cultural cities of the country, not in the deep South or Midwest where integration and toleration for liberal thinking is less of the norm.

Yet, these same words of Bonhoeffer could be said of many of our churches today: The lack of seriousness is, to say the least, extremely surprising.

Why is the emphasis in our churches moving towards “being cool” and “hip?” Why do magazines exist where the majority of the articles compare the most “successful” churches and then offer tips on how to “grow your church?” Why are we attracted to pastors who wear skinny jeans, flip-flops, tight T-shirts, cool glasses and don metrosexual haircuts? Why do we tolerate so much music that is a blatant spin-off to secular music with lyrics that are so Me-centric?

Here’s the answer: We do not take our faith or our church seriously. Continue reading →

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April 6, 2011

Saved! Now What??

Have you ever met a person who claims to follow Christ yet does literally nothing but take up space in the church pew every weekend?

You know the person I am talking about… The one claims salvation through faith alone, snatches up the Golden Ticket to Heaven and then sits in the pew gaining weight until his or her appointed hour? (This person might be the person more concerned about getting to the sanctuary early to bet a prime “notice me” seat than they are about literally following Christ.)

Yet, after a three-hour journey through the Epistle to the Romans authored by the Apostle Paul in preparation for class later today, I have come to a different opinion on our salvation. Continue reading →

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April 5, 2011

Do the Fundamentals of Christianity Matter?

I am currently reading an incredible book on the life and history of German Lutheran theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The book, authored by Eric Metaxas, is entitled BONHOEFFER: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy. It chronicles Bonhoeffer’s childhood, years of study and ministry, his work in helping to found the Confessing Church, his resistance to the Nazi regime and finally his involvement in a broader plot to assassinate German Chancellor Adolf Hitler which ultimately led to Bonhoeffer’s hanging in 1945.

While there are many subjects from this book I hope to write concerning the life and ministry Bonhoeffer, tonight the questions of basic Christian fundamentals and church doctrine are on my mind.

Author Erick Metaxas, in telling a portion of the story of Bonhoeffer’s time in New York City doing post-graduate work at Union Theological Seminary (1930-31), generally recounts the war taking shape between “Christian fundamentalism” and “theological liberalism.” While in New York City, Bonhoeffer had a front-row seat to this theological battle, observing the two camps and their respective leaders, Dr. Walter Duncan Buchanan of the Broadway Presbyterian Church leading the fundamentalist charge and Harry Emerson Fosdick of Riverside Church leading the liberal front.

In 1922, eight years before Bonhoeffer arrived in New York City, Reverend Harry Emerson Fosdick preached a now-infamous message entitled, “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” About this message Metaxas writes, “In it he laid out a kind of Apostate’s Creed in which he expressed his serious doubts about most of the historic assertions of the Christian faith, including the virgin birth, the resurrection, the divinity of Christ, the atonement, miracles and Bible as the Word of God” (102). Basically, Fosdick, while taking up the banner of liberalism, denies the very fundamentals of the Christian faith that most conservative fundamentalists stake their entire lives upon; Christian fundamentals such as the Virgin Birth, the Divinity of Christ and the Resurrection.

But this got me to thinking today. The two questions that kept ticking through my head were these: “How important are these Christian fundamentals and do they really matter?” Continue reading →

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February 26, 2011

Parker J. Palmer: 4 Great Questions for Teachers/Leaders

Because of my ADD tendencies, I read about 3 to 4 books at the same time. Right now, one of the books I am reading is Courage To Teach by Parker J. Palmer, noted author, activist and an educator for more than three decades. It is an incredible book that will most likely supply me with more than one blog post.

This book centers on the self of the teacher; the integrity of the teacher in mastering the knowledge of who he or she is which enables the teacher to teach effectively from the standpoint of a person who has a healthy view of self and their subject matter. Because I believe leadership and teaching go hand-in-hand – a great teacher is a great leader and vice versa – these same lessons can be applied to people from all professions.

From the beginning of the book, Palmer stresses the importance of four questions - What, How, Why and Who. These are progressive questions and the reason Palmer points to these questions is this: most people never ask all all four. Many ask the first or second question without going deeper. But it is only when one can dive deeper into this progression of questions that one truly learn to teach – or lead – from the heart: The questions, according to Palmer, as the following: Continue reading →

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February 25, 2011

I’ve “Sheen” Enough: Are Modern Hollywood Stars Really Role Models?

With the revelation from CBS that they have temporarily cancelled the hit show “Two and a Half Men” because of the controversial off-screen actions of it’s primary star Charlie Sheen, we are faced with the age-old question: Are television and movie stars considered to be role models for the rest of America?

Growing up in an ultra-conservative Christian home, I remember hearing this debate played out almost weekly. I can remember it as if it were just yesterday; Mom or Dad clucking their tongues while changing the channel from some “worldly” television show while griping under their breath about how the world is “going down the tubes” and how they sure don’t make movie stars “like they used to.” Of course, the movie stars my parents were referring to were the stars of Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Father Dowling Mysteries, Shirley Temple and, of course, the VonTrapp family from the Sound of Music. And true to form, my parents were right; they don’t make ‘em like they used to…

But these are different times.

Movie stars in the decades between the 20′s and the mid 80′s were held to a different standard – a standard based on “misconceptions.” We wanted our stars to have it all together. We wanted them to always look like perfection wrapped up in a box of consummate excellence. We mandated them to live a life completely opposite of ours; a life where everything became possible. While this may have been somewhat of an American lie – after all, divorce, drugs and affairs were just as commonplace in those ties – at least the movie stars looked good doing it.

However, these days a star shines brighter the darker he or she becomes. The celebrity with the most time in rehab or the most famous mug shot is the most revered and has the greater chance for a “comeback.” The breakout star with the most “attitude” is modeled after, even envied.

Is this how it is supposed to be? Continue reading →

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February 22, 2011

A Question Posed: Must The U.S. Intervene In Matters of Faith? The tragic stories of Scott and Jean Adams and Said Musa

I am sure I will take a couple of hits for this, but the question in the headline of this blog is heavy on my mind today. Does the United States have a mandate to intervene in every global situation dealing with its own citizens or every person who turns to the Christian faith? This is an obvious response to the two recent situations involving the death of 4 Americans at the hands of Somali pirates and the lesser known situation where a 45 year old Afghani Red Cross worker and father of 4 converted from Islam to Christianity.

Let’s divide these situations and briefly look at each individually.

The first tragic situation involves the lives of 4 United States citizens, Scott and Jeans Adam, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle. Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, who met right here in San Diego through a single sailing club were known by friends to be adventurers, always up for a risk. After selling most of their possessions to fund their trip, in 2002 they took off for an around-the-world trip; a trip which ended tragically this week after all four were shot and killed by Somali pirates. During this trip Scott and Jean Adams used their travels to deliver Catholic and Protestant Bible to many of their destinations along the way. Several news articles found on the web state the couples knew the risk they were facing when entering these waters.

The second situation came to the attention of America when Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Professor Denny Burk posted a blog informing the Christian community about a one-legged Red Cross worker named Said Musa who was imprisoned in Afghanistan after video footage of aid workers baptizing Christian converts was released. While Musa was not in the video, authorities learned he, in fact, was a convert. Under Sharia law, an apostate can be imprisoned and executed. While Musa has yet to be officially charged with a crime, this situation has attracted the attention of some evangelical heavy hitters.

In addition to Professor Denny Burke, mega-pastors John Piper and Rick Warren have taken to Twitter to rally Christians behind the cause as well as twitter-bomb President Barack Obama’s Twitter account pleading for U.S. involvement.

While both situations are tragic, both bring questions to my mind. Continue reading →

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February 22, 2011

Rick Warren, Dr. Oz and the Daniel Plan

The blogs are lighting up all across America with Pastor Rick Warren’s idea to partner with Dr. Mehmet Oz  - from the Dr. Oz Show – in a 52 week plan to lose 90 pounds using the Daniel Plan. In addition, Rick will be partnering with Mark Hyman (metabolism expert) and Dr. Daniel Amen (UC Irvine Professor). This activity falls in line with Saddleback Community Church’s  - the church Rick Warren founded and leads – Decade of Destiny. Pastor Rick has stated that he cannot call for his congregation to get fit and healthy without working to do so himself.

Sounds like a great plan, right? Yes, it does.

However, many Christians who choose to look past the incredible accomplishments of Rick Warren and his church – the PEACE Plan, Saddleback’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Purpose Driven ministry and his website for pastors entitled Pastors.com – are once shooting at the man at the top of the totem pole.

Why? Because the man he is partnering with does not share his same religious beliefs.

Where in the world do we get off? Where in the world do we get to judge the heart of another man without knowing him personally?

Rick is using the expertise of Dr. Oz for the following reasons: Continue reading →

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January 29, 2011

Evaluating a Week of Great Lessons In Ministry

What. A. Week.

Have you ever had a week where you barely reach Saturday alive? Possibly, you barely reach Friday alive! A week where you feel like a battered car that reaches the gas station just as it getting ready to run out of gas? That is the week I’ve had.

But instead of looking at the negative of this week, I am spending a portion of this morning looking at the great lessons I learned this week; lessons I believe I will carry with me throughout the rest of my time on ministry. I hope some of these help you as well.

  1. People who gossip and cause divisions in the church must be handled firmly (yet with grace). Nothing will tear apart or church – or any organization – more than one person spreading poison through the ranks. In addition, I am learning the importance of following one’s instincts when it comes to those who cause problems. If you get the sense someone is causing divisions, investigate. If your sense is correct, act swiftly.
  2. Let others do the talking. When dealing with an individual who is being disciplined or removed from a ministry position, let them do most of the talking. It is easy for leaders to get into a room with someone and just begin talking at people instead of listening. A person may simply talk themselves out of their position without you having to say a word. One rarely learns while their mouth is moving. I am consistently learning to listen.
  3. Maintaining appropriate boundaries always pays off. Continue reading →

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January 14, 2011

Michael Guglielmucci: Fake Healer?

Tonight as I sat down to plan the worship set for tomorrow’s SMCC Men’s Ministry breakfast, I came across a song called “Healer” written by Michael Guglielmucci, an Australia-based worship leader. This beautiful song of declaration became a huge hit across the world and was even covered by worship leader/recording artist Kari Jobe. But what made the song even more special – and impactful – was the story behind the song.

At one point, Michael Guglielmucci, the author, sang this song with oxygen tubes in his nose explaining that he was dying of an incurable form of cancer and only had a short time left to live. You can imagine the impact this image would make –  a young man in his twenties with incurable cancer declaring to God “I believe you’re my Healer…I believe you’re more than enough for me…Jesus you’re all I need.” How powerful is that? The song was an instant hit and a new Christian star was born.

That is, until the world found out the story was false. Continue reading →

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January 11, 2011

Bill Gaither: A Lesson In Achieving Greatness Through Investing In Others

It has only been in recent years that my love for a greater variety of music has come through. For most of my growing up years I listened to the sounds of Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patty, Steve Green, Russ Taff, Carman, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant and Michael English. These were the crème de la crème Christian artists of the 1980′s and early 1990′s. Take a guess at what all of these singers have in common… I’m sure from the title of this post you guessed it: Bill Gaither.

For those who may not know, Bill Gaither is a living legend in the Gospel music world. Bill was born in the 1930′s, formed his first musical group – The Bill Gaither Trio –  in the 1950′s and achieved his first success with his song “He Touched Me,” a song recorded by Elvis Presley in 1972. Bill, along with his wife Gloria, have written over 600 songs, received multiple Grammy and Dove Awards, founded the most successful quartet in gospel music history (the Gaither Vocal Band) and both were named Christian “Songwriters of the Century” by the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP). Needless to say, Bill and Gloria Gaither have had an incredible career.

But for all this success, this is not what will be remembered most about the Gaithers nor is it the true reason they achieved such great heights of success in the Christian music world. Anyone who knows Bill or has heard him sing or play the piano know that he is not great at either. Outside of his and Gloria’s ability to really connect with an audience, there is nothing extremely dynamic about his talent. I imagine Bill would even admit this. However, what helped to make Bill Gaither a massive success was his willingness and ability to raise up a team around him who was even more talented than he was. Continue reading →

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January 2, 2011

Wynton Marsalis: Superstar, Teamplayer

I just watched an incredible 60 Minutes segment on the music of jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. While his talent speaks for itself – winner of 9 Grammy Awards (being the only artist ever to win five years consecutively AND the only artist to win the jazz and classical categories in 1983 and 1984), producer of 70 records which have sold over 7 million copies, recipient of more than 25 honorary degrees from institutions including Princeton, Yale, Columbia and Brown and being named one of TIME Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People in 1996 – what speaks more to me his knack for being a team player.

While Wyton is clearly the star of the show wherever he travels, during many of shows you will find him sitting among the rest of the band looking like a “regular” member of the band. This is most impressive because it is HIS name that is on the marquee! The crowds have paid money to see him – and see him they do – but Wynton places the music above his own fame. He understands this concept: When you surround yourself with talent that is equal and greater than you are, you look and become better. Continue reading →

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January 1, 2011

“California Chivalry” = Oxymoron

I remember waiting tables at a Chili’s restaurant in Indiana the summer before I came to California. On one of my last evenings serving guests I had a table to the rudest customers I think I have ever had. I was a great server so I threw everything I had at them – smiles, quick service, fast refills, hot plates – but nothing seemed to work on this rowdy crew. Moreover, this crew did not seem to be local; they lacked what I call “Hoosier Decency.” During the final minutes of their stay I came to found that they were from California – Riverside to be exact. Because I was getting ready to head to Riverside within a few days this became a common point among us (and probably ensured a better-than-poor tip.)

In our conversation about California, the people and places, I’ll never forget one of the guests admonishing me with these words: “Don’t ever change.” She must have seem something decent in my affect and wanted to encourage me to keep whatever it was she saw. While at the time I was cluelessly flattered at her comment, I understood her meaning very quickly after taking up residence in California.

I came to find that in California, unlike the Midwest where I had been raised and shaped, manners are an after-thought.

The words “please,” “thank you” and “excuse me” are hardly ever mentioned. I almost go into cardiac arrest if I am out and about and someone I’ve never met even smiles at me! This just does not happen in California. Continue reading →

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