Do You Really Trust Me? (Empowerment)

Yesterday I encouraged you to read through Luke 10:1-23.  It may be a familiar story, or perhaps not.  Jesus empowered His followers by sending them into the villages ahead of where He was going, giving them the task to go and bring God's peace to the people they would encounter.  Yes, I know the word "empowerment" is not used by Luke, nor is it found anywhere in the Bible.  Yet, the idea of empowerment is a thread that runs throughout.  God routinely empowers people of His with His work, and that is a good and gracious thing.

Rather than make this a post only about empowerment, though, I want to focus a little bit on what all Jesus does here early on in this Bible reading.  I think it's very noteworthy with where He begins.  In the second verse, He tells them that there is an abundant harvest, but the workers are few.  Then we get to the meat of where He would have His followers begin.  "Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

When you think of it, the first thing Jesus does is have His followers approach God in prayer.  Yes, I'm sure you've probably heard something like this before.  Before you begin, take it to God in prayer.  That's the beginning point, and while we could spend time talking about what would constitute a good prayer or prayer life, let's just say that we shouldn't take this one for granted.  God wants to give to us, and He wants us to ask.  Maybe we should take that starting point quite a bit more seriously.

Then, Jesus sends the followers out.  Now, as you read through what He tells them in the sentences following His call to prayer, He gives them some fairly explicit instructions in how they are to conduct themselves.  While He gives them instructions, He also is trusting them to go and do the things He is sending them to do.  That sounds small, but in reality, this is a really huge matter.  Jesus trusts them to do what He is sending them to do.

You've likely had the experience at some point of being given a task by someone.  They said that they wanted you to do it, but the whole time, you found them looking over your shoulder.  Or, when you finished it, it wasn't exactly the way that they wanted it to be, and their reaction nullified the trust that had been shown in permitting you to take on the task.  In cases like these, you may have been empowered, but that empowerment was quickly cut off by the reaction of the person who empowered you.  In the first case, their actions demonstrate that they don't really trust you.  In the second, they let you do the task, but then declared that your effort was inadequate to their expectations.  Talk about killing any sense of empowerment.  In both of these situations, you are much less likely to think that you are being empowered or trusted the next time you are given a task.

That's the question we need to ask, either as the person empowering others, or as the one who is being empowered.  Is trust present?  If you look critically at the situation and discover that trust isn't present, then you need to address the situation.  Yes, that can be very challenging to do when you are not the one in authority.  In fact, I would dare say that most people find it easier to leave for another position rather than remain in an untrusting environment.  Trust is crucial to empowerment, and the lack of it will quickly kill the hopes of those being empowered.  That only adds to the burden of the leader, if he/she is not trusting those whom they should be empowering.  On the part of the leader, it does assume a risk.  The person may let you down, or may do it in a manner differently than what you were expecting.  If they let you down, you now have a teachable moment.  If they do it differently than what you were expecting, now you have learned something.

An environment of trust is vital to a good workplace.  Without it, the leader will always find himself doing more, which is unnecessary if he isn't doing the work of preparing them properly.  

Leadership, Empowerment, and Authority

After this the Lord appointed seventy two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. Luke 10:1

First, my apologies on the lack of posting recently.  I have noticed that being in a position which requires travel means that some of the regular things I'd like to do (like blogging) sometimes just doesn't happen as regularly as I would like.  Thanks for bearing with me!

Over the next few days, I intend to do a series of posts on the connection between the three main words in the title.  Leadership. Empowerment.  Authority. Over the years, and through lots of reading, study, and research, I have come to see how these are important attributes for any leader, but especially for those who lead in God's Church.  Good, effective leadership can be a great assistance to the Gospel message.  No, leadership in and of itself is not the Gospel, but it serves as part of God's creation to better facilitate how God's people work together as His Spirit sends them to one another and the world with that ongoing message of redemption in Jesus.

As you read the verse above, one thing we see there is that Jesus empowered others and gave them authority in His name.  I would suggest reading the whole selection, Luke 10:1-23, to get a better grasp of what all Jesus does here.  Jesus demonstrates leadership in a couple of ways here.  First, He empowers His followers with the work that He has designed for them.  As you read on following verse 1, He is actually pretty explicit about what He is empowering them to do.  This is worth noticing.  Jesus gives empowers them for His work, but He also gives them a good amount of detail of what they are to be doing.  He leaves how they do it to them, but He is very clear with what He wants them to be doing.

Empowerment involves giving someone a task to do.  You give them the expectation of what they are to be doing.  Then, you set the parameters of what that will look like.  To use a brief example, if I want my kids to build a fort, I might give them the instructions to "build a fort." I might even give them the specific materials to use (use blocks, don't use couch cushions, etc.). Then, they are left to do the task that I have given them.  They have a clear directive, as well as clear boundaries, and as long as they work within those boundaries, they are free to build and create to their hearts content.

I would suggest that many people who lead may think that they are empowering others, but they actually serve to sever their empowerment in several ways.  They may not be clear on the expectation.  They may give a clear expectation, but then meddle in the details to the point that they discourage those they are attempting to empower.  They may not give clear enough expectations or parameters, and then be surprised when things either don't go as they intended, or they get frustrated that those they are empowering aren't doing what is expected.

I'll touch on these a bit more over the next few days.  But for now, read through this account in Luke 10.  See how Jesus is clear with His expectation, as well as with His parameters. Note also He gives them freedom to do what they were sent to do.  I suggest that you even write down the various things that you note as you read, as well as any thoughts or insights you have. Feel free to comment with anything that you think calls for further discussion. 

Leadership and Humility

When you think about the two words I chose for the title of this entry, you could potentially have the thought that they are contradictory.  Leadership tends to call for someone to assert themselves, to set the direction.  It calls for having an idea of where you and those following are going, and you have the ability to convey that sense to others and encourage them to come along with you.  Leadership often means standing strong in the face of adversity, withstanding doubts, and other related factors such as this.

If this is the case, how can humility play a role in leadership then?  We tend to think of humility as someone who doesn't insist on their way being the right way.  Humility seems almost the opposite of being assertive.  Humility looks to others and sees the value in them and places a high priority on valuing them.  So it seems that leadership and humility simply are two diametrically opposite ideals.

I would suggest, though, that leadership is at its best when proper humility is observed in the one who dares to lead.  Yes, the leader does assert himself/herself in the direction of where things are going, and the leader does have to stand strong in the face of adversity, facing doubts, answering questions.  However, a truly effective leader will do these things while also listening to the ones who voice their questions, or who present the adversity.  They don't see individuals who have questions or who present obstacles as voices to be silenced, but rather, as someone who is sharpening their conviction and thinking.  They are willing to see the wisdom that others may present to them.  They look to make sure that the direction they are going is both led by God and His Spirit, and at the same time, serving the needs of those they are called to serve.  (As a side note, this also means that the leader isn't overly enamored with his/her own idea of what is right, and strives to get their way no matter the cost.)

In other words, the truly effective leader will work diligently to ensure that the direction they set is one that is truly serving others, as they have been called to lead and serve. Yes, it will require conviction.  After all, if God has truly set that direction, the leader has to be sure of it.  You can always figure out a leader who doesn't truly have conviction in the direction they are leading.  However, the leader hones that conviction by spending time individually with people, seeking to discover if the direction is one that truly serves.

In the end, I believe you cannot be an effective leader without also having an abundance of humility.  

The Loneliness of Conviction

One of the sides of leadership that I have never been able to prepare for, and really have always inadequately dealt with, is the loneliness that comes from conviction.  What do I mean by that, you ask?  Great question.

The Loneliness of Conviction comes when you know that there is something that needs to be done, or an issue that needs to be addressed, and you realize that you are the one who is being called upon to lead the charge.  Others may think or feel the same way that you do, but they have not been given the opportunity or strength to speak up or stand up.  Yet others may see your conviction as unnecessary, needlessly causing conflict and stirring up the pot from their normal, known, often comfortable ways.  Some may even stand actively against you, whether they (or you) are right or wrong, but simply find comfort in where they stand.

I will admit that this particular matter, the loneliness of conviction, has led to more sleepless nights than I would ever have hoped for.  I will also admit that even typing these words causes me to question myself.  The vulnerability that I admit to having in being lonely and in, at times, wanting not to be the one who has such conviction, is truly gut-wrenching.  However, I also have come to believe very firmly in what Paul wrote when he wrote that, in weakness, the power of Christ is revealed.  Vulnerability truly does have a way of opening up doors for the Spirit that power, pride, and confidence don't.

The loneliness of conviction is not something you typically learn when dealing with leadership.  We often want to think that we will be able to win the argument, to persuade others to our side.  We want to think that our influence will change their minds and their actions.  And, truthfully, sometimes our conviction is simply the conviction of a better way to do something, but the "old" way is known, comfortable, and may even be showing signs of life, however faint.  The conviction to move out into the unknown is not something given to everyone.  Why do you think the people grumbled against Moses when they were out in the wilderness?  Moses had the conviction that this was from God, and yet, even as badly as the people had it, it was easier to grumble against it.  And even Moses struggled with the loneliness of conviction.

The loneliness of conviction is real.  Perhaps it is something that you have never thought of before, and if you are reading this, I hope you don't go away disheartened.  Yes, the loneliness of conviction is hard, but often, it means that God has prepared you for this moment (think Esther, as her cousin Mordecai would tell her that God may even have put her in the position she was in for just a time as this). God has also redeemed this, as Jesus Himself knows the loneliness of conviction, eventually being completely abandoned by all as He bore the weight of the sin of the world and the wrath of God, only to overcome it with His resurrection.  It is His strength that flows.  Will we fail?  Yes.  Will we doubt?  Yes.  Will we be lonely?  Yes.  Will we feel guilty if we fail to act or stand on our convictions?  Yes.  And yet, there will be a Savior there who has scars of His own and who can tell you that He can and has redeemed even this moment.

Customer Service and Christian Love

As many of you may know, I do a lot of leadership reading, as well as reading to improve myself.  All of this in addition to the regular educational reading I do.  (Yes, I am admittedly a nerd, and not afraid to be one.)  One thing that I see a lot in leadership reading is the thought of customer service.  I'm sure you have heard the phrase, or one similar to it.  "The customer comes first" or "The customer is always right."  Reading through sales research, it's often highlighted that the best salespeople don't sell you the product they want to sell, but the one you want to buy.  Yes, I know that seems like a fine distinction, but it's also a very important one in the area of sales.

That got me thinking about how this could possibly relate to our life in Christ.  A good salesman looks to see what is of interest to the customer.  The good salesman looks beyond his/her own ego to see things from the customer's eyes, and then attempts to see what he/she can provide that satisfies what the customer is looking for.  To put it succinctly, the best sales people try to discover what the customer is looking for, and then works to find something that fits best with the customer's need or desire.

This echoes Christian love to some small extent.  (Yes, I know a few of you may take exception to me comparing Christian love with sales, but please bear with me on this.) As Christians, we look to put aside our own wants and needs to serve others.  Just read Philippians 2 if you want to see an awesome example of this.  We look not to our own interests (in sales terms, not to sell what we want to sell), but to the interests of others (again, in sales terms, to see what truly matters to the customer, seeing things through their eyes).  We do what is right for the other, not what we wanted to do for ourselves.

Now, every example is going to always fall short, and this one is no exception.  We don't "sell" Christian love to another with the ulterior motive that we want then to become Christian.  Of course, our hope and prayer is that they will see our caring action toward them and then question why we would put their needs over our own, or they will wonder why we were so interested in them and in their life, why we wanted to make sure that they received what they needed.  Yes, we hope that we will have the opportunity to share our hope in Christ Jesus with them and see them come to believe in what He has done for them.  But, and here's the kicker, we aren't caring toward them in order to do that.  We care for them because God created us to care for one another.  If we are kind and caring toward them with the hope of their conversion, we are basically utilizing another (poor, I might add) sales tactic, called bait and switch.

In conclusion, Christian love seeks to find what is of meaning and need with the person with whom we are relating, and then doing it.  We do it without any expectation in return.  Their response is in their hands, and is guided by God and His Spirit.  That is ultimately what grace is.  Giving with no expectation in return, and then pleasantly thankful when there is some response, such as an opportunity to share Christ's forgiveness and hope, or even to say that we did it because God first cared for us in such a way. 

Asking the Questions

I recently read a very interesting book, entitled "Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling", by Edgar H. Schein.  No, this isn't a theology book.  If we classified it, it might be more of a business management style book at heart.  However, the author does indeed raise some very intriguing points that I believe we are wise to think about as Christians.

Basically, Dr. Schein writes about how we live in a "tell" society.  Think about your conversations.  Don't we spend more time telling others what we think, what we have seen, what our thoughts are, and the like, rather than asking what others think, or how others percieve things?  Truth be told, I have even seen this in myself, where I am part of a conversation, and as someone else is talking, I'm already thinking about the next thing I want to say rather than listening to what they are saying.  I really do believe this is one of the signs of being raised in a "tell" culture.

Instead, what Dr. Schein proposes is to be more inquiring when it comes to conversations in any and all situations.  Instead of a "tell" culture, he calls for developing an "ask" culture.  Okay, so what does that look like.  Imagine having a conversation where the other person genuinely is interested in what you are saying, is asking questions that show that they are truly paying attention, and aren't interested in telling you what they think or what their experiences are.  That would be something like what Dr. Schein would propose.

Sounds good, right?  Who doesn't want others to have a genuine interest in what they say or think?  And here is where I think this connects with our Christian faith.  Instead of "telling" others what we have that they are missing, or "telling" them where they are straying from God's will and design, what if we asked questions with a genuine interest in discovering what led them to the place in life that they happen to be in?  We might discover a lot of connection points with our God and our Christian faith.  We might discover that they aren't as far "out there" as we might think.  We may even discover that, since we have shown a genuine interest in them, they may also return the favor and show interest in us.  What possibilities might that hold for us to speak of our Savior, our God, and our faith?

As I read through the Gospels, I find Jesus asking a lot of questions and listening intently to the people He conversed with.  In this instance, I would suggest that scientific study and research has done nothing more than uncovered what God has shown us all along.  Listening and building the relationship will go much further than pretty much any form of us "telling" them what they are missing.  And who knows?  That just might create a new relationship between that person and their Savior, Jesus, as we open our ears and show genuine interest in others more.

Generational Ministry and Intergenerational Ministries

In preparation for a number of different ministry ideas that I have been pursuing for a while, I have had cause to give a lot of thought to how many churches conduct the ministry that God gives them to do.  Traditionally in our day, age, and country, there has been a tendency for several decades now to seek to minister to age and stage groups.  Not a bad emphasis at all.  After all, the needs of the more senior adults in God's church have different ministry needs than do young families, children, or youth.  Each one of these ages and stages have different challenges they face, and the effort is there to have some form of ministry for them according to their need.

Again, this is a good thing.  However, many have started to realize that this also creates certain "problems" within God's people.  In one book I was reading, the author shared how, upon a visit to a congregation, a young lady in her early 20s was interviewed.  She had shown up once to a funeral.  Upon being asked, the young lady acknowledged that she didn't know the person who had died, an elderly member of the congregation.  When asked why she would come to the funeral of a person she didn't know, the young lady remarked that she had never been to a funeral.  She wanted to know what one was like.  Upon further questioning, she also shared that she had never held a baby, or even really worked with children, other than those who were her age when she herself was a child. 

This points to one of the problems that can arise when age and stage groups are created.  They rarely interact with one another.  (Oh, and if you think that this isn't an issue in your congregation, go ask the young people how often the older people interact with them, and vice versa.  You may be shocked at just how isolated each age and stage can get.)  We would like to think that the ages come together and interact more than they do, but the reality is that we humans tend to be found with those like us, in mindset, in age, and in stage of life.  It takes intentional effort to cross those generational boundaries.

Again, I want to re-iterate that there is a place for age and stage ministry.  However, if that comes exclusively at the expense of the ages and stages interacting, then something has gone wrong.  God's people of all ages and stages are supposed to be living life together.  The family doesn't each get sent to their age/stage room, but are supposed to gather around the dinner table all together (think the Sacrament of the Altar here).  They are supposed to have family time together (think of the fellowship of the saints here).  They are supposed to pray together, play together, and know each other.  Even if they separate to be challenged and to grow according to their age and stage, it should never be at the expense of the whole body.

Yes, this presents a rather significant challenge.  How do you bring the ages and stages together, and at the same time, let them have their needed time on their own?  I won't say that this has any particular answer, but I do know that it is something that we will be working toward in the congregation I am part of.  Sure, we will have our ups and downs, and I will pray for patience and understanding as we try and learn from failures and successes.  And I will ask you to please remember, while it may be easy to point out what is wrong with what we do, if you don't have a suggestion for improving it, then please keep it as constructive and positive as you can.

Thinking Between Generations

There's a saying that I have heard in recent years.  "If you can't figure out some kind of technology, just ask a teenager to show you."  The reality truly does seem to be that the younger generation is more up to date on technological advances.  After all, that is the world that they are growing up in.  For kids, even as young as elementary school, computers, tablets, and the like are already in use when it comes to the education task, so it makes sense that they would know more about such things than those of us who don't have that extensive of a background in them.

Yet, one thing we also recognize is that, with age often comes wisdom.  Those who have been there, done that, actually do have some wisdom and knowledge that they can pass down to the younger generations.  Even as they may struggle to relate to those younger than them, the effect that they can have when they take a younger person or two under their wing can truly be a remarkable thing.

However, when you look at a typical Christian church in our day and age, you are more likely to find that the ages and stages get somewhat segregated from each other.  There is Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Single Adult Ministry, Family Ministry, Senior Ministry, and perhaps many other flavors.  While the intent behind these is actually a good thing, the one side effect that they can have is to isolate one generation from another, and in doing that, actually increase the distance between people of faith.

Think of how these often come to light.  One generation finds their worship life enhanced by traditional music and liturgy, while another generation finds their worship life ehanced by more contemporary expressions.  Instead of working together to see how they can praise God with a new song, these often end up sitting in opposite corners, each saying that the other just simply doesn't get it. 

What if these generations were to come together in a study of God's Word, actually listen to each other, and calmly discuss what they hear the other saying, and expressing what their thoughts are?  Wouldn't that seem more conducive to building up the body of Christ, rather than having them cast their flaming arrows at each other from opposite corners?  It's a worthwhile thing to consider.

As a pastoral leader of a congregation, this is the shape of some future ministry directions that we will be going.  It will not be easy as we engage on this journey, but one thing I have noticed is that the most worthwhile things in life are not the easiest to do. 

When Not To Tell The Truth

In the Gospels, Jesus says that He is the way, the truth, and the life.  We have a commandment from God that tells us that we are not to bear false witness (i.e. lie) about our neighbor.  God delights in truth in the inward parts, and even calls us to be such an honorable people that our word is good, so that our yes actually means yes, and our no actually means no.

So we are to tell the truth.  But I put a question before you.  Is it always appropriate to share the whole truth?  For most of us, the quick answer is to say, of course.  We should always share the truth, and not tell lies.  And I agree with that.  However, I want to have us think about this a little deeper.

Let's say that you are over at some friends' house.  In the midst of your time there, the husband and wife have a sharp disagreement, which leaves one stalking out of the room in anger.  With the uncomfortable situation, you decide that it's best if you give them some space to work things out.  As you leave, you call another friend, whom you had been planning to chat with a bit later.  This person is surprised that you are calling early.  After all, weren't you at so and so's house? 

How much of what you witnessed do you share?  Sure, you could tell the whole truth, that they got into a fight and one of them left angrily, but does that do any good for anyone?  Do you want to introduce that into their reputation, as though they are angry people at each other in the eyes of others?  Or, do you say something like, my time got done there early, so I wanted to see if you were available? 

I believe that this is where Martin Luther's explanation to the eighth commandment (You shall not bear false testimony) comes in helpful.  He says that are not to betray our neighbor (as in, spill the beans on everything we know of them), slander them (as in, tell outright lies about them), or hurt their reputation.  Instead, we are to speak well of them and explain everything in the kindest way.

Sometimes that charge is more difficult to do than at other times.  Sometimes, we have to make major decisions without being able to tell others the full extent of what we know.  That can be difficult, and yet, as we seek to build up each others' reputation, can we do less in the eyes of God?

The Three "C"s

Building off of yesterday's post, I started thinking about how those things I wrote yesterday apply to leadership, especially in a setting of God's people.  In case you missed yesterday's, here is the link to it.  http://pastorscott25.blogspot.com/2015/05/enduring-fire.html

When you look for people to lead God's people, you want to have people who have been through the fire, and who have shown themselves able to endure, and to lead others through the fire.  When you think about it, that makes sense.  You'd rather have someone who can lead the way through in a position of leadership, rather than someone who cannot endure through the fire.  We can only lead as far as we are able to go, after all. 

That leads to a phrase I heard a few years back about those who would lead in positions within the body of God's people.  The man who shared it said he would look for three things, each of which begin with C.  Character, chemistry, and competence.  Just a few words on each as to how they apply, especially in leadership of God's people.

I'll start with character, which I would suggest is the highest priority.  Especially in a situation where leaders of God's people are called to be standards to which others can look and imitate, character is of utmost importance.  Character calls for doing the right thing, even when it's not the popular thing to do.  Character calls for a life of integrity, where you are not one person in one situation, and then someone else in a different situation.  Character calls for humilty, in looking for the good of God's people, even if it calls for demands and sacrifices on your part.  Character means that you will abide within what God says, so much as you are able, regardless of the outcome.

You also need some level of competence.  If you are untrained, say, at working with children, you might not be the best one to work with the nursery class.  While formal training in the areas is nice, really, it amounts to you having experience in what you seek to do.  Yes, there is a time and place to learn if you have never been in that situation before, but at that point, you should not be expected to be a leader, then.  You're a student, learning the ropes, and not a leader, calling for others to follow you, if you have never been there before.

Chemistry is also vitally important.  You could have a great level of competence, but if your character has not permitted you to work well with others, you could end up doing more damage than good.  Character and chemistry have some level of interaction here.  However, you could be the most upstanding person, but yet have difficulty working with superiors or those who would report to you.  After all, the hand simply cannot say "I don't need you" to the rest of the body and still remain part of the body.

Character, competence, and chemistry.  Three necessary ingredients, especially as it applies to those who would be leaders in God's church.

Enduring the Fire

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit  who has been given to us."  Romans 5:3-5

As a young college student, I briefly worked at a grocery store.  I started out as the kid who would bag up your groceries and carry them out, but just a couple of weeks into the job, the manager had me trained to run the register.  I had two brief sessions of observing another clerk, and then, the next day, he told me it was time for me to undergo the trial by fire.  I was put in the register by myself to learn how it worked.  A frightening thought at first, but one that I learned to pick up quickly.

Thrown into the fire.  Sink or swim.  We have a lot of different phrases to describe this kind of thing.  Basically, we are tested to see if we will succeed, or if we will fail.  And that is the same kind of thing that Paul is describing in the verses above.  When you get tested, are you going to see good fruit borne from it, or not?

When it comes to our lives as Christians, we also find this same work going on.  The Spirit resides within us, to give us God's strength.  Yet, His presence doesn't mean that we will all come through with flying colors.  Because of our sinful human nature, we will have times where we look to blame others for our lack of success.  We will have times where we excuse our behavior because we want to think that someone else engaged in worse behavior.  And as we do that, instead of having character produced, which leads to hope, we instead sow discord, and feed the selfish ego.

God has us endure the fire to test us, to see how our character is being shaped by God's Spirit into the likeness of Jesus.  We could think of it along these lines.  As we are shaped by God's Spirit, we don't look to what is best for ourselves, but best for our neighbor.  We may look for justice, but not at the expense of compassion.  We look at our actions to see if they build up, or if they destroy.  We examine the words we use to see if they serve God and His people, or if they serve us.

Sadly, there are many who find themselves in the flames (or in the water, if you like the sink and swim one better), and who simply do not stand up to the test.  Those are the ones who need our care and compassion, even as we work with them to teach them how to endure, so that, next time they face the fire or the lake, they are better able to stand with the Spirit and endure.

Good News Communication

Just a little bit of thinking out loud on a Tuesday morning today.

I've been giving some thought to the different kinds of communication that we rely upon in our world these days.  As I've thought about this, I've created a kind of "chart" of different kinds that are commonly used within churches.  I'll put it together here for you, and then share a few thoughts on it underneath.

                           Infrequent                                                      Frequent
                    Newsletter

Impersonal
                                                 Bulletin                                          Facebook/Social Media
                                                                                                                      Blog
                                                                                                                Mass Email
Personal
                                           Announcements                                          Text Messaging
                                                                                                              Phone Calls
                                                                                                             Word of Mouth
                                                                                                              Personal Visits

Okay, so brief explanation. Upper right hand corner has the types of communication that are infrequent and impersonal.  As you move downward, the communication gets more personal.  As you move from left to right, the frequency of communication increases.  The items listed are supposed to demonstrate some level of that (Yes, chartmaking is not a strength of mine!).

A couple of observations: The ways we tend to rely upon to convey information are more effective as they get more frequent and more personal.  You shouldn't be surprised to see that the most effective types of communication are those that are frequent and personal.  That is the best way to communicate and connect with others.

In general, churches tend to have some level of reliance on more impersonal types of communication.  These are also the least effective.  The more personal and frequent you can communicate your information, the better.  (Think of the implications of that when you think about matters such as evangelism and the like.)  If you want to have something communicated, the most effective way is also the least "efficient" way (yes, let's face it, it is more efficient to run off a bunch of papers and hand them out, but they are also among the least effective.), that of personal connections.

As you think about life where you attend to hear God's Word, how personal or frequent is the communication?  What is communicated impersonally and what is communicated personally?  With what frequency do you communicate?  These will all have an impact on how much God's message gets conveyed, as well as the information you wish to share with others. 
 

Compassion: The Wound that Never Heals

"But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water."  John 19:34

"And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.'"  Mark 10:21

"And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain..."  Revelation 5:6

I cannot tell you the exact time it happened, but I know it happened quite a while ago.  In ministering in the name of Jesus, a pastor has many, many opportunties where his heart gets opened up to someone in need of compassion.  He sees a person or family hurting, and his heart goes out to them.  He feels the heartache that they feel.  It becomes his own as he walks through the situation with them, or as he watches them go through it.

I myself have had this happen any number of times over the 13 years that I have been a pastor.  And I remember one of the early temptations that I had.  I don't remember the specific situation, but I had undoubtedly gone through a tough time with someone.  I had seen the hurt in their life, and I had felt it myself.  (Perhaps this points to one of my strengths and weaknesses, I get too attached, too close, and take their pain upon myself.)

After watching their struggle, I remember this part fairly clearly.  I realized that I could protect myself.  I could limit my exposure to their pain, and perhaps keep myself from hurting so badly through their struggle.  It would seem to save a great deal of heartache on my part.  It would mean that I could walk through the situation with them, but I would have to remain somewhat detached and apart from them.

I realized that doing this could save me a lot of heartache and pain.  And I distinctly remember choosing that, in the future, I wouldn't do that.  I would not choose to limit my pain in the interactions I would have with God's people as they struggled.  I would feel their heartache and pain.  Like Jesus, in the second verse above that I listed out, I would love them, even if it meant hurt and pain for me.

Compassion is a wound that never heals.  Now, I don't have the same vision as that which John had, either of Jesus on the cross or in the Revelation of Jesus.  But John sees Jesus as the lamb who was slain.  We're not told specifically, but you would imagine that the spear thrust into the side of Jesus went up into His heart.  In the vision that John saw, it would seem that the wound was not healed, but remained.  Jesus even presented it to His disciples following His resurrection.

While this may be somewhat of an metaphorical reach, I would go so far as to suggest that Jesus' heart remaining open like that is a sign that God's compassion never stops.  The wound of compassion never heals.  God does not separate from us in our pain.  He feels it most keenly and deeply.  And His servants often find that the sharing of the message of Good News happens when they feel the same pain as God's people.

Over the years, I have shared in the pain of many of God's people.  Like I said, I chose not to keep myself detached from it, but to walk through it.  And yes, sometimes I even do that without their knowing it.  It hurts, but in the end, I would rather be able to relate to their pain, and to be able to show that I am walking through it with them, rather than be detached, and have my words and actions ring more hollow than true. 

Compassion is a wound that never heals.  We never will arrive at a place where compassion is unnecessary in this world.  We may shut our heart off from feeling compassion, but in my mind, that cuts us off from truly relating to others.  Even if it means heartache, I pray that my heart will always be open to showing compassion.

Just what the Dr. Ordered

Over the past several years, I have been astounded at how God works.  Now, to be sure, I've always been astounded at what God has done for us, and how He continues to show His hand in this world, but there are those times when it becomes so obvious that even a blind guy like myself cannot help but notice.  Maybe it's just that He recognizes that I need the brick to the side of the head to get my attention every once in a while.

Let me start off by saying this.  I am an information junkie.  I am an information hoarder.  I love learning, and I love learning new things.  I love reading the things that are current, whether they are ministry, business, or leadership oriented.  I love reading them, learning new things, and then looking for ways to try them out.  I see my whole life as one long learning experience.

Over the past several years, it has just seemed way too obvious on the part of God that He would put exactly the information piece in front of me that I needed at that particular time, to fit a particular situation, problem, or challenge that lay ahead of me.  This week, already, I have had two occasions where there was some minor challenge or situation that needed addressing, and wouldn't you know it, I'd open up my email, or check out my facebook page, and there would be a link to the exact thing that I was thinking about and needing some guidance on.  I'm not one who believes in coincedence, but sees the guiding hand of God working unseen, behind the scenes.

Sometimes God shows His nature through His hiddeness, and sometimes He reveals exactly what is needed at exactly the right time.  And somehow, that just seems fitting for an information junkie like me.

The Desperate Prayer, All Alone

"And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'"  Matthew 26:39

First, a little context.  The above verse comes from the time when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Thursday evening, He had celebrated the Passover with His disciples, revealing that one of them would betray Him.  He instituted the holy Supper of His body and blood, which we Christians continue to observe and receive still today.  Then, He went over to this garden with His disciples.

Matthew tells us that Jesus then took Peter, James, and John with Him a little farther on into the garden.  This wasn't unusual, as Jesus often took these three, seemingly as the "closest" of the disciples.  But then, Jesus even leaves them and goes on farther by Himself.  Jesus goes a little farther by Himself, and then He falls down and prays what is likely the most fervent prayer prayed in the history of this world.

I've read in any number of leadership books that it's lonely at the top.  If you are the one with whom the buck ultimately stops, it can be very lonely.  You don't have anyone you can point fingers at if things go wrong.  You bear the responsibility.  While you may have the authority, that responsibility is the other side of the coin.  You, and you alone bear the burden.

Jesus knows this.  Jesus knows this far better than any of us.  This very morning, I went into our sanctuary, our holy place before God, because there are times when the weight of being "the one" bears down.  Sometimes that weight is staggering.  Sometimes that weight is put upon us by our own doing, and sometimes it's there because of others.  Regardless, that weight falls on the shoulders, and calls for a response.

Jesus gave me a good reminder as I knelt there before Him.  My weight, as significant as it is for me, is microscopic compared to that weight that He bore.  And I was reminded of something else.  It isn't that Jesus takes away the weight from my shoulders.  He does provide the means by which to share that burden.  That's something I often need to be reminded of.  It's something I need to take up, and for which I am very thankful when He provides those who share the burden.

Jesus prayed the desperate prayer all alone.  In all that He did, endured, and overcame, He now gives us the way by which to share the burden.  And I say share the burden.  God does not often remove the burden, but He does provide those with whom we can share the burden.  Thanks be to God for that, in Christ our Lord. 

What's Your Biggest Secret?

Several years back, I was participating in a leadership set of courses.  The leader for one of these courses had a great deal of wisdom to impart to all of us who were attending.  Among the many things he said, though, one thing has stuck in my mind over the years, a very important principle which I strive to remember and work with in my life and ministry.

His saying was something along these lines.  What's your biggest secret?  You need to discover what it is and figure out a way to deal with it, because Satan is simply waiting to use it to destroy your ministry and to bring shame to the name of Jesus.  The big thing that this presenter was going for was transparency, especially upon the part of the minister and ministry leader.

Now, admittedly, that can be a challenging thing to do.  We all have things about ourselves that we hope and pray to God that no one else in the world unearths.  And truly, it's going to prove impossible to deal with every sinful thought and expression that we have in life.  However, generally speaking, transparency with our sin, and openness with the things we struggle with, far often proves to be of greater value than hiding them away.

I think this can be especially challenging for one in a position of some authority in ministry.  How open is too open, and how open is not open enough?  Admittedly, that is a tough balance to discover.  The minister who is to open about his sinful tendencies can lead people to question his ability to lead and minister.  The minister who is too closed off about his sinful tendencies can seem to convey the sense that he has no struggles, or appears to be too squeaky clean, and therefore unapproachable by someone who truly does struggle.

I would suggest, however, that there is a great position to be open about one's sinful struggles, and to ask for forgiveness for them, especially before they put you into a position where it can damage ministry.  That's the wisdom that I believe the instructor was passing on to us as pastoral leaders, and I think it's a great bit of wisdom that also happens to be competely biblical and applicable.  May God guide all of us to that openness, to admitting our sinful struggles, and being willing to asking for forgiveness and seeing it granted for the sake of Jesus.

Bringing Meaning to Work

How meaningful is your work?  For many of us, we find a great deal of meaning in our work.  We have a tendency to wander into those fields that we enjoy, or that we have some degree of aptitude in.  We enjoy putting our time and effort into our work, and find joy and fulfillment in it.  In some ways, we don't mind when it's hard work because it's meaningful.

But what happens when your work isn't meaningful?  For many of us, we also find ourselves in careers or jobs or occupations that we didn't necessarily anticipate.  Or, we find ourselves in those kind of jobs that we think of as menial.  We fail to see how meaningful those positions are, and so we find ourselves merely being a warm body doing what is necessary to get a paycheck.

In my perusal of the Bible, I have noticed that our God is one who seems to believe in meaningful work.  After all, everything that there is that needs to be done is there because of His creation.  God gives meaning to work because He created us to be active in working as we care for this world and creation.  Now, because of the presence of sin in the world, our work is often challenging, difficult, and can seem dreary rather than joyful.  But God's intent from the beginning was for work to be meaningful.

I bring this up because we also often find much work to be done in our life together as Christians in the context of our congregations.  Yet, so often, that work doesn't seem to be all that meaningful.  We get chosen for a board, or a position, and seem to discover that we're a warm body filling a spot that some document calls for to exist.  We don't see the meaning of the position, and so we don't find ourselves doing the work of the position.

I have come to believe that meaning, however, isn't something that we draw out of work or positions which call for work, but is rather something that we bring as we work.  Meaning, in and of itself, does not exist in relation to our work.  The work is merely necessary.  The meaning comes when we look at what we are chosen to do, when we apply ourselves and make things happen, and as we start to touch the lives of others with the work we do. 

In other words, we so often bring meaning to our work, rather than getting meaning from our work.  And here's another thing.  That meaning tends to come when we find out how our work impacts others.  In other words, meaning comes when we apply ourselves to our work, and when we see that the work touches other people in their lives.  Meaning comes when community touches our work, and when our work touches community.  And as we discover that meaning, we then are so often led to invest ourselves even more in what we are doing, because we see the importance it has for us, as well as others. 

Transition Times

In my life, I have seen quite a few transition times.  Some of them have involved moving from one place to another, an event that I've done enough that I'd rather not have to do it too many more times in the future.  Some have involved significant life events, such as marriage, or the birth of a child.  And some have been much less significant, such as the time I decided to change my exercise routine from basketball (due to several sprained ankles and the doctor's advice) to running, and chose a half marathon as my first event.  All have impact, though some have greater impact that others.

Congregations also go through transitions.  Sometimes they involve major things, like the changing of pastors, or locations.  Sometimes they involve such things as refining the scope of the ministry of the congregation, seeking to be led by God's Spirit in ministry.  Sometimes they involve changeovers of significant people, such as when a long-time president or elder or teacher steps aside, or new people begin to make their way into leadership roles.

There are also transitions that come as congregations reach certain numbers of worship attendance.  Once a congregation reaches a certain number of people who call that place their worship home, things inevitably have to change.  One of these transitions arises as a congregation passes about the 50 worshiping community mark.  Up until that point, the pastor is pretty able to be a very hands-on shepherd for all of God's people.  In a congregation of that size, one or two influential members can be very important to the life of the congregation, and their support and work together is vital when congregations seek to minister.  Some would call this the family member size congregation.

After that 50 worshiping community number arrives, a transition takes place.  Now the pastor simply cannot be as hands-on with each person there as he and they might hope.  It becomes simply a logistical matter.  Also, as that worshiping community increases on to 100 and beyond, each individual voice becomes a bit less influential.  God's people begin to look to the pastor, rather than significant influential people for leadership and guidance.  Some would call this the pastor led congregation.

However, another transition takes place when the worshiping community begins to rise between 150-200 (several different authors place the transition at different places, but typically, they arrive between these two numbers in the worshiping community).  No longer can the pastor continue to effectively be the most influential servant among God's people.  He has to now rely upon other trusted leaders, since he simply cannot be everywhere, and attend to all the things that need attention and oversight.  The transition becomes more about the staff that work in close coordination with the pastor.  If that staff (which includes both paid and volunteer positions) are not on the same page and going in the same direction, many difficulties will occur.

This transition places a great deal of importance upon the individuals who walk alongside the pastor in guiding the congregation.  This isn't to say that they all have to agree with everything that the pastor leads (as though that were possible in the first place), but they all have to be able to work together, and then, when decisions are made, be able to support the decision, even if it isn't one they personally were hoping for (and, by the way, that also goes for the pastor, who cannot assert his authority unless it is something mandated by the Bible as right or wrong.  He also has to be able to go where the Spirit may lead through God's people, rather than in his own personal preference). 

Transitions are very important times for congregations.  They have to be handled with wisdom, with sensitivity, and with a great deal of care.  When they are handled well, the congregation remains equipped to share the Gospel message in their community.  When handled poorly, they often set back the congregation and cause an internal examination, rather than a striving to reach out to the community.  As congregations arrive at these transition places, the hope and prayer is always for a smooth, Spirit-led transition.

Taking Time To Learn

I remember the situation.  A young man had gone through a number of sessions with me.  He had been so excited as he learned about the Christian faith.  He wanted to be involved in the life of God's people.  Word had gotten around that he wanted to be involved, and the church, always in need of people to fill the different roles, asked him if he would take on one of those roles.  He enthusiastically said yes.  He was elected, installed, and hit the ground with his feet spinning like crazy.

However, that burning fire quickly started to get doused.  It became apparent rather quickly that there were just some situations that he was unprepared for in his role.  On top of that, while he knew a few people, he hadn't been part of the group long enough to work his way into their trust circle.  His enthusiasm began to wan.  He started to complain about the lack of encouragement he was receiving.  He felt overwhelmed.

It finally got to the point that the end of his term came up, and he happily relinquished his role.  He became yet another in the countless throng who were part of God's people, but weren't really interested in the different roles which the organization needs filled.  And that was one of my first lessons in "Taking Time To Learn."

One thing I often stress to people who are new to the Christian faith or to a particular congregation is to take a period of at least 6 months to get adjusted and acquainted with God's people, with the way that we do things, and to spend that time really connecting with people.  I have seen it happen far too frequently where someone came in, was very enthusiastic, and either didn't know the needs of God's people at that time, or simply were frustrated when others didn't share their same enthusiasm.  The problem is, the congregation is often far to willing to play along with it.  "We need someone, and they were so excited to do it" is often the rallying cry.  So the congregation plays along in the very thing that ends up hurting.

That's why I often encourage people to take the 6 months or more prior to getting involved.  It allows them to connect with God's people.  They start to learn which things are important, and why they are important.  When they indicate a willingness to participate, it allows for some training, when necessary, and also allows them to be included, to learn the purpose behind the various things that they may be involved in, as well as learning the expectations that come along with those.  And in the end, those are always good things to learn.

I realize that there are those who don't agree with such an approach.  But I would dare argue that, for every person whose fire of enthusiasm burned out by waiting, there were many more who benefited even more from learning God's people, what was happening, and how to be part of what was going on, and they became more deeply involved.  They understood what they were getting into.  As Jesus instructs us, they learned to count the cost of what they were becoming part of, and were able to have a clearer picture of what that cost was.  And in the end, it benefited them, the congregation, but most importantly, God's enduring kingdom in great ways.

Changing Culture and Society, Post 7

Working with young people has been one of the biggest joys of my life.  I have had the privilege and opportunity to be a part of many special moments in the lives of quite a few young people over the years, and many of those will be some of my best memories as I grow older.

One of the challenges of working with young people is how rapidly their thoughts and moods change.  One moment you might have a happy, energetic youth, and then you suddenly have a moody, sullen young person who makes you want to pull your hair out.  There has been more than one moment where I've looked at the young person that I have been interacting with thinking, "Who exactly are you at this particular moment?"

But one of the great joys of working with young people is seeing them grow, becoming more mature, and taking more ownership of their lives.  And that's where I want to go with today's post.  Just like change does not often happen easily or quickly, working to enact change by raising up young people in the way that they should go is also going to be a longer process than what we might wish or hope for.  And yet, in the end, it's very likely that we will find very few other pursuits in life more rewarding.

Perhaps the best starting point is with those who have the God-given joy, privilege, and responsibility to bear the title "Parent."  I know dealing with your kids is a challenge.  In my life, I'm just entering into that challenge with my 9 month old.  Many of you have much more experience and history than I do.  And yet, there is a reason that God created the man and woman to come together in the union of marriage, and from that foundation to create the foundation of society, that of the family.

As parents, you have the greatest impact on any change that you may want to see in culture and society.  If you don't like the fairly rampant promiscuity that you see, you can work to change things by interacting with your children.  How you approach the topics and changes that you would like to see is also important, but perhaps the most important thing is simply to be there with your children, and to keep the lines of communication open with them.  Also, don't let them be the ones to initiate the conversations, either.  There are some things that they will be more comfortable bringing to you, and others that they will want to avoid as much as possible.  Even if the conversation is awkward, it's better to have an awkward conversation than to let them learn about certain things from their friends, or TV, or the internet.

Change always begins in the home.  A Christian man of about 500 years ago realized this, and developed an instrument to assist parents in teaching their children about the Christian faith.  His name was Martin Luther, and the instrument he developed is called the Small Catechism.  I honestly believe that many parents could help shape the future culture by reading that small instruction book together, and then talking about the topics that they read.

Young people have their finger on the pulse of the culture.  You can expect clashes as they struggle with the development of their identities and the content of their faith.  But more on that tomorrow!