Faith Venture

Go and Make Disciples

June 10, 2013

Partly because I’m thinking about how to re-invigorate the missions ministry at my church and partly because I’m thinking about starting a new business and helping some existing businesses, I’ve been meditating on what we call The Great Commission. This was Jesus’ last instruction to his followers, “Go into all the world and make disciples….”

He used action verbs–go and make. The assumption was that he was talking to people who were themselves disciples. Jesus left no easy way out. He didn’t talk about “believing in my heart” and then doing nothing to change the world. He said to go and to make.

I have been thinking about a few characteristics that are applicable to our life as followers of Jesus and to our life in the marketplace, as well.

Intentional–we are not to leave this to fate or chance. We choose people and/or ask God to bring them into our life. We also don’t sit around waiting. We take the initiative.
Teaching–when we bring people into our life and organization, we teach them. The first characteristic of disciples is that they have a desire to learn more about the teaching and vision of the leader.
Provide Experiences with Feedback–when we have taught them the basics, we put them into situations where they can practice (Jesus was all about action verbs, remember). Then, we can guide their growth by providing feedback about practical ways to grow and do better.
Provide a Growth Path–teach the practices that will help them grow as mature disciples who can then go and make other disciples.
Turn them loose to start the process all over again–Let them go. Jack Welch, when he was CEO of GE, was asked about the management development program that actually did this practice so well that the company had an abundance of good leaders. Aren’t you afraid of losing some to other organizations? No, we keep the ones best for us and let the others go lead in other places. There comes a time when the mother bird kicks the baby out of the nest and they must fly. So, with our disciples.

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Handling Anger Issues

June 7, 2013

There have been periods in my life where I had what is called a short temper. It wouldn’t take much to set me off. Part of that time I would get into physical fights with other boys. At that time I was probably about 12 or so.

I understand a little of the older son in Jesus’ parable of the man with two sons. Yesterday I talked about the younger son and his father and whether the father condoned the son. Today, I thought I’d look at the older son. The one, like my friend, who became angry out of some sense of justice gone awry.

We meet many people who call themselves Christians, yet they are judgmental, angry, almost bitter people. They seemingly love telling other people their faults and relish the thought that other people are going to “roast in Hell.”

The father’s response to the older son was, in effect, calm down and look with perspective. Your brother was wrong. But that is in the past. He has come back to the family, and for that we rejoice.

Often, anger issues are personal issues. I see so much anger buried in Facebook posts that I sometimes stop and grieve for the people. Sometimes, we all need to stop and get a new perspective.

Once, when I was perhaps around 12, I was fighting another kid. Who knows why anymore. In my era, that’s what boys did. But I had one of those “out of body” experiences that the psychologist Roberto Assagioli taught that we should cultivate, where I was outside my physical body looking at the situation, and I thought, “Why am I doing this? This is stupid.” And I never did that again.

A life of meditation has calmed my emotions. In the past 20 years, there have only been two people who had the ability to get through that and touch that anger nerve. The last time was about five years ago, and I remember it vividly. That event serves as a reminder that I haven’t arrived at perfection, yet.

If you find yourself getting worked up about other people (whether it is a real person or a type of people), remember what Jesus had the father (representing God) in the story counsel. Take a deep breath, step back mentally, gain perspective, then love the other. Not condone, but love.

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Celebrating Is Not Condoning

June 6, 2013

I have a friend who worries–a lot. She worries about being holy and how other people are not. Actually, she thinks she is holy and most other people are not.

She asks me, “If you are helping people who have made bad decisions in their lives and are now suffering with the consequences, aren’t you condoning their lifestyle?”

Let me tell you a story. Seems that a young man, probably early 20s, felt like a prisoner working in the family business. He sat calculating and dreaming. One day he approached his father, the owner, and told him that he had calculated already how much his share of the inheritance would be.

“Why don’t you just give me my inheritance now,” he asked, “and then I’ll be out of your hair. And I can go live a life of freedom.”

So his dad shuffled some investments and gave him the money.

They young man left his small midwestern town and headed for the big city. He spent his entire fortune on women, gambling, expensive hotels and buying drinks for his new-found friends.

When the money was gone, he found himself scrounging for food with the street people. All the old friends were gone since he had no money.

Coming to his senses (some of us take a long time to mature), he decided to go home and get a job in his dad’s business.

When he returned home, his dad greeted him with great joy and threw a huge party for the whole town to attend.

The dad’s other son asked, “Aren’t you condoning his actions?”

“No,” dad replied. “He has done what he has done, and all his money is gone. But he is my son, and he has returned home. Let us celebrate that.”

No, Jesus said. We are not condoning his (my) actions. We are celebrating every time someone who was lost is now found.

Don’t be afraid to help others. Don’t worry about what people think. Jesus celebrates every time you help someone who was lost so that they will be found.

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A Story of Courage and Determination

June 5, 2013

I bring to you today a story of courage and determination. It also shows how many people still need to be reached with the story of a new way to live taught to us by Jesus. This is a video of a TED Talk. I get a new one of these downloaded to iTunes every day. Most are either inspirational or educational–usually both.

This is the story of a girl who demanded school. Kakenya Ntaiya made a deal with her father: She would undergo the traditional Maasai rite of passage of female circumcision if he would let her go to high school. Ntaiya tells the fearless story of continuing on to college, and of working with her village elders to build a school for girls in her community. It’s the educational journey of one that altered the destiny of 125 young women.

It sort of makes me wonder what I’ve been doing with my life.

[Note: you’ll have to follow the link to the talk. I forgot to put on my to-do list to allow embedding video on this site. But it’s worth the watch. Enjoy.]

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All Dressed Up, Not Going Anywhere

June 4, 2013

Ever see a neighborhood boy endlessly shooting baskets, yet he never plays on a basketball team? I saw a girl dressed up as a cheerleader with no one to cheer for. We read the manual, teach the manual, but we never drive the car.

Sometimes I feel like life in a church–or actually just about any other organization–can be like that. We spend time teaching or reading or thinking, but we never actually do anything.

If you are in a market place organization, you have customers (I hope) to serve. It’s really all about designing and building a product that others (customers) will find useful and will buy and use.

If you are in a church, our “customers” are people who are not in a church. Their lives (the life of each individual person) would be better if they were taught how to live a life of freedom in the Spirit. But we spend all our time studying every little nuance in the manual (The Bible) and never really ever go out and meet one of our customers.

Yes, we all need to continue to grow–study, pray, think, ask, celebrate. But that’s not the point. It’s not all about us.

When Jesus taught, mostly it was about how you can live in the Kingdom of Heaven now and how his followers should show other people how to also this “Good News.” He taught, and he trained. Then he sent them out to actually work.

His last words on earth were for his followers to “go” and “make disciples”, not to “study” and “argue.”

I’m trying to bring this teaching into my own life. Both in church and in the marketplace. I encourage you to “go” and “do” today.

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What Should a Leader Do

June 2, 2013

During my reading recently the phrase, “What should a leader do?”, sparked my imagination. What a great question. Especially for someone like me who is starting a couple of new initiatives in my life.

I thought that I would begin by looking at Jesus. He started a mission that toppled the Roman Empire–something that no one at his time would have ever contemplated.

Here are some characteristics. He definitely had a deep background in studying the Scriptures and other writing. He also thought deeply and originally about what he read. He spent time in prayer and meditation to get God’s leadership both for his study and his activities.

He definitely engaged in people development. He gathered many people, then chose his future leaders. He provided teaching about what is important. Then, he provided training so that they know how to act in a variety of situations. He provided opportunities to do the work. Then he provided feedback (assessment, mentoring) for improvement.

He spent time in personal development by reading/studying, listening, and prayer.

What should we do as leaders (of whatever we lead–especially ourselves)?

Learn
Seek guidance
Think
Develop qualities in others
Provide others (and ourselves) opportunities to develop skills
Assess performance and provide feedback designed to help growth and development

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Determine What You Value Then Avoid Distraction

May 31, 2013

I think about focus often. That’s right–I focus on focus.

Especially in this era of constant distraction. Where a few social scientists try to prove that multi-tasking is a good way of life.

I don’t remember how I ran across this book I’m now reading–“Distraction” by Damon Young. At only 11 pages into it, I can’t recommend it, yet. But he makes an interesting point in the first few pages. Value. What is it that you value? Distraction is that which draws your attention away from the things you value toward things of lesser value.

You only have so many hours in a day. And only so many hours in a life. What is it you value that you want to do? Determine that first.

When I’m working, there is a task that I’ve determined that must be completed. Either it earns some income, pushes me toward a goal, or aligns with an overall goal (promoting the soccer program in Ohio or getting the missions ministry in our church supercharged, for example).

I choose one of those and focus for a period of time. Perhaps I work on an essay. Then I take a short break and then focus on a document I’ve contracted to write. Most of us work in 90 minute bursts followed by 10 minutes or so of a break–maybe to fix a cup of tea and take a short walk to clear the mind.

We choose that which we value. Make sure what you choose is your highest value.

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Clear Your Mind For Better Meditation

May 30, 2013

Ancient traditions have taught the value of emptying your mind. Before you can sit down to meditate, pray or study, your mind must be clear and receptive to new thoughts. It must be clear for you to focus.

Jesus seemed always to have a clear mind and ultimate focus. Peter, on the other hand, did not seem to reach that level of maturity until later in life. He seemed always to be in a jumble of thoughts and questions.

So, how do you clear your mind so that you can turn your attention to the task at hand? Here are some thoughts.

Write. Yes, always have paper or note cards and a pen. If “mom” is on your mind, there must be a reason. Write down the action you must take (buy present, call her, send a note, etc.). There. It’s out of your mind. When your mind is full of “stuff” that you must do, write them down, then make a to-do list. It’s out of your mind, and you can concentrate on what matters at the moment.
Breathe. OK, we breathe naturally all the time (or you wouldn’t be reading this!). How are you breathing? Short, shallow breaths? Focus on your breath (in ancient Greek, same word as spirit, the ancients knew this). Take slow, deep breaths.
Word. Sometimes repeating a word helps focus. It can be just a sound, such as , “ahhh” or “ohhh.” I used to repeat the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me). Then I just shortened it to “God.” I like one syllable. Some people like spirit or Jesus. Some of you may have heard of the Sanskrit word from the Hindu tradition, “Om” (pronounced sort of “ahoooommmm” with the m sound more like a vibration). The idea is not magic. It’s to focus the mind and clear out all the rambling thoughts.
Relax. You can meditate lying on your back, sitting in a chair or on the floor or walking. But the three practices above should help you relax so that you’re receptive to murmurings of the Spirit.

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Live With Intention

May 29, 2013

“Mommy, I didn’t intend to do that.”

“Ref, I didn’t intend to wipe out the other player, I was just going for the ball.”

We learn about intention at an early age. But we seem to use it more for an excuse rather than a way of life.

My reading last week must have emphasized intention a half-dozen times. Live with intention, they all said.

When you get up, begin the day be praying with intention. I meant to pray. I meant to pray for God to bring people into my life. I prayed with intention for the Holy Spirit to enter someone’s life. My life.

I look at my calendar and to-do lists early in the morning so that I can fix in my mind what I need to do. Then I decide if I intend to do all of them.

I choose books and magazines to read intentionally.

Some days we just seem to go through the motions with no intent. That’s when it’s time to focus on what sort of person we are becoming. Then, upon finding our focus, we can begin to live with intention again.

Right now? I intend to go out to the park and run for a while. Then I’ll participate in a conference call/press conference with the president of Honeywell Process Solutions. Then, I’ll think and write some more.

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Go And Make Disciples

May 28, 2013

Repent!

What picture does that word bring to your mind?

I think visually. When I hear that word, especially with the exclamation point punctuation denoting shouting, I have a definite picture in my mind.

In the Lerner and Loewe musical “Paint Your Wagon” a guy discovers gold near a creek during the “Gold Rush” and eventually a city grows up there. In the space of only a few years, gambling houses, bars and prostitutes fill the city.

Then the preacher comes. He’s dressed all in black. Black hat. Black beard. Scowl on his face. He shouts at the people, “Repent!”

That guy comes to mind when I hear the word.

Too many Americans, and I’d bet in many other cultures, conjure a similar image. It has become a standard image of the sour person who loves pointing out the failures of others picture of a Christian.

That’s too bad. Repent simply means changing the direction of life. We were once going one way. Hurting others. Hurting ourselves. Then, we changed life direction. We got in tune with God. We started to live differently. We help others. We are focused on living with God rather than against Him.

Our Commission

I’m thinking a lot about a couple of passages.

After Jesus was resurrected, he visited the remaining eleven apostles (leading disciples) and gave them an instruction about what to do now: “Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Later, when Peter began to preach during the Pentecost coming of the Holy Spirit, he began with, “Repent.”

The reason I’m contemplating these passages (and further through Acts 2) is that I’ve recently taken on a leadership role for missions. To me, that is the crucial role in a church. As one of my mentors says, “Jesus started a mission; the church came later.”

Why do we do missions? Because Jesus told us to go to all nations (that would be all peoples, all cultures, all geographies) and make disciples (not scream at, but help them change directions and begin to follow him).

We help them change (repent); help them become disciples (follow and emulate the Teacher); teach them. Three action verbs. My study and meditation are merely to prepare me to do those things.