For those who watch 30 Rock, you’ll know what I mean when I say, “It’s Leap Day. Real life is for March.” For those who don’t watch it… well, I guess you’ll just never know…
Archive for February, 2012
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Back during Advent, I started a Tuesday evening prayer service, and have kept it up ever since. It’s been a good service. It gives some time in the middle of the week to have some quiet and hear from God. If nothing else, it has been a great time for me, not just the people who attended. Let me give you an idea of what happens during a typical service.
A large part of the service is the atmosphere. The lights are turned down low, and there are several candles set up all over the sanctuary. The idea is to have a peaceful, quiet place.
The service itself is simple. There’s a key verse each week, and the first part of the service involves a lectio divina exercise. There are four readings of the key verse. In the first reading, the idea is to just listen and create a quiet space. For the second reading, the participants are listening for a particular word, phrase or theme that jumps out at them. In the third reading, the question that they are supposed to meditate on is: what is going on in my life that points to a need to hear this from the Lord? Finally, on the fourth reading, the quiet time is dedicated to considering application. Between each reading, there is a few minutes of quiet to reflect and meditate. This week, the key verse was Psalm 51:1-12, David’s confession of his adulterous relationship.
The second part of the service is some kind of guided prayer exercise, and that’s where I want to spend some time. Prior to the start of the service, I handed out two index cards (colored and white) and a pencil to each person. During the second exercise, I gave them some time to write out who they were before they knew Christ on the colored index card. Then we used the white index cards to write out some of the sins with which we are currently struggling.
Each service closes with communion, but this week, I took a TV tray, and placed a cooking pot on it. Before they received communion, they folded up their index cards and tossed them in the pot. Symbolically, they were letting go of their past and current struggles, and then taking part in the grace of God. After everybody returned to their seats, I took the pot, placed it in the center of aisle and said, “Who you were is not who you are. Who you are is not who you have to be. Just as silver is refined in fire, we are refined by the fire of the Holy Spirit.” Then, I pulled out a lighter and set the index cards on fire, turning them to ashes.
It was a different approach to Ash Wednesday… you know, apart from the fact that it took place on a Tuesday night instead. But I felt like it was a great service, and I know the Spirit was working in some great ways in the lives of others.
Hopefully, for my friends who are in ministry, you can use this idea and tailor it to your context. And, if you are in the area, feel free to join us some Tuesday evening.
Click on the link below to be redirected to the audio from this week’s message.
“If you can keep your head while others are losing theirs and blaming it on you… yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, and – which is more – you’ll be a man, my son.” – Rudyard Kipling
As we follow the post-exodus Israelites, we come to their first major obstacle. After Pharaoh finally relented and allowed Moses to take the people out of Egypt, we find that he has a change of heart… again. Only this time, he has to go after the Israelites because they were actually able to leave before he changed his mind.
The Egyptians get in their chariots, call up the army and head after the Israelites. It’s not long before the Israelites look back and see that the Egyptians are bearing down on them, and they start to panic. Here is how the story goes…
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?
12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” 13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” (Exodus 14:10-14).
You would think that after 400 years in slavery, these people would be a little more grateful for their freedom. You would think that after seeing what happened in Egypt, the plagues and miracles, that they would be able to trust in the Lord at this point. You would think that after being led by the Lord as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night, the Israelites would realize that everything was going to be all right. You would think… but they freak out.
They start crying out to the Lord. They start complaining to Moses. ”Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?” Don’t you love that? ”Why did you make us leave Egypt?” Yeah, because Moses was the one that wanted to take you away from your cushy jobs as brick makers. You wanted nothing to do with freedom or release from captivity. I know it sounds like I’m ranting a little bit here, so let’s get to the real question at hand: what does this have to do with leadership?
Moses’ response is fantastic. People all around him are freaking out, losing their cool and going out of their minds. He says, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today…. Just stay calm.” Wow. As a leader, you have to be able to keep a calm head, even in the most difficult of situations.
Moses had no idea what was going to happen. All he knew was that the Lord had brought them this far, and He wasn’t just going to let them die in the wilderness like this. (Of course, later on… well… that’s a different story for a different day.) As a leader whose identity is found in Christ, you are called to keep your head, even while those around you are losing theirs.
I’m not saying that leaders are supposed to always know what to do, either. Read the story again, Moses did not know what was going to happen. He just trusted in the Lord, and the impossible happened. Even when things look bleak, even when it seems like everything and everyone is stacked against you, as a leader who is called by God, you must keep a cool head, and listen for the Lord’s direction in the midst of the madness.
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For the month of February, my wife and I decided to do a Fast Food Free February. Any place where we have to go to the counter to order receive our food is off limits. Below is my imaginary journal for the month.
Day 1: Well, I didn’t get the chance to run out and grab some fast food last night. Tuesdays are always busy, but I had two meetings right before prayer service, so this week was extra busy. I considered a brief run to Crawfordsville before heading home, but I was just too tired.
Day 2: Another busy 24 hours. It helps keep my mind off the fast food. Doctor appointment, a rescheduled counseling session, bell choir. Breakfast with local pastors and Movie Night tonight mean a couple of sit down meals, but not fast food.
Day 3: First real challenge today. We didn’t really have anything on our schedule, so we had no real reason to be out, but we did end up going to get some groceries just before lunch time. Crisis averted, though, we still had an Applebee’s gift card from Christmas. The one in Crawfordsville redeemed itself today.
Day 4: Birthday party in Indy tonight. Leaving early to go to the Apple store. Have to get a sandwich before we left, or else I won’t make it to dinner.
Day 5: Super Bowl party cancelled due to illness tonight. There’s a lot of pizza that should last us most of the week. This Fast Food Free February is going to be a breeze.
Day 6: Feeling sick today. Didn’t want to eat much of anything. I think I finally had a bowl of leftover pasta for dinner. Don’t even want to think about food.
Day 7: Feeling better, but still not terribly hungry today. Another busy one. No time to even think about fast food.
Day 8: Seminar in Terre Haue today. DS paying for lunch at local cafeteria. Not fast food. Sweet!
Day 9: Home alone for most of the day today. Feeling the need for some warm fries & a cheeseburger. Just need to get to work & forget about it.
Day 10: Nothing planned today. Good. You’d think after 10 days, the desire would be gone, but it’s not. I could definitely go for some Chick-Fil-A today. Good thing the closest one is over an hour away.
Day 11: Brother-in-law’s birthday. Nacho night with the in-laws. As long as we leave after lunch, I think I’ll be all right.
Day 12: Today was another busy day. Board meeting, and fundraiser lunch. Too tired to even want to go out to grab a quick bite.
Day 13: What is up with this month?!? I have another meeting tonight. Keeping busy keeps me away from the fast food cravings, but now I’m starting to wear down a little.
Day 14: It’s Valentine’s Day. Nothing says I love you like a Big Mac…
Day 15: I dreamt about waffle fries last night. It was like the scene with the Sirens in The Odyssey. They were calling my name, but I forced my crew to stop up their ears and keep rowing while I was tied to the mast. I woke up in cold sweats.
Day 16: Today is going to be a challenge. Going to Indy for Our Life Together. Already have plans for lunch, so that shouldn’t be too bad, but also planning on going to the Pacers game. The hot dogs will be calling my name from the concession stands. Can’t do it. Must remain strong.
Day 17: Day 2 of Our Life Together. Ends at lunch time. Just need to go straight home. Must resist…
Day 18: Another dream last night. I was on a boat again (what’s up with these boat dreams?). Only this time, there was just two music notes, alternating back and forth. Richard Dreyfuss was there, hanging out the back of the boat when, suddenly, he was gone. I giant Whopper came out of the sea, taking Richard Dreyfuss and half the aft with him. More cold sweats.
Day 19: Lost some hair this morning. Not sure what is going on. It just started coming out while I was in the shower. Patches of baldness all over the place. Had to shave my whole head.
Day 20: Tried to do some work today. As I was typing on the computer, my fingers turned into fries. They smelled so good. I had to take a bite. Left pinky finger is swollen and bruised now.
Day 21: Buster went to Wendy’s today. That little jerk of a cat just took my keeeyss and drov to the pig-tailed temptresses’ lair, bought a single and ate it right in front of me. musterd & pikles too, just the way I like it.
Day 22: Not sure what happened yesterday. Seems like the whole day was just blacked out.
Day 23: Today’s my birthday! I have another day-long seminar in Terre Haute, then Katie and I are going to eat at Chief’s in Greencastle for dinner. Hello, Bubbaz Blackened Voodoo Strip Steak!
Day 24: Yesterday waz my birtday. I shul hav what I want for my birtday. Need cheezeburger…. CHEEZEBURGER!!!!
Day 25: Got some coupons in the mail today. Arby’s. STAY AWAY FROM THEM, PORK CHOP!!! THESE R MINE!!! MINE! MINE MINEEEE!!!!! Yesss…. MY PRECIOUS…..
Day 26: Family came over for birthday lunch today after church. None of them would slip out and get me some Long John Silvers. My family hates me.
Day 27: Ministry Team meeting tongith. I think we should do a street bazaar and give everybody cheezeburgerss. FREE CHEZZBURGERZ FOR EVERYSBODYS!!!!!
Day 28: JALOAN KJHAOKLAN ALKJION KAN AFNA;JK 90UBVA
Day 29: WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE ARE 29 DAYS IN FEBURAYR THIS YEAR!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AHAHHHHHHHHHHH…..
March 1st, 12:02 a.m.: ”Yes, I’d like a Big Mac, 20 piece Chicken McNuggets with Sweet & Sour Sauce, a two cheeseburger meal, an extra order of large fries, and four large Cokes. No, I don’t need a drink carrier. Thank you.”
Click on the link below to be redirected to the audio from this week’s message.
In this Learning from Exodus post, we look at a negative aspect of leadership. During the plagues in Egypt, the Pharaoh continually decides that he will let the people of Israel go… until the plague is no longer a problem.
“32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go” (Exodus 8:32).
Throughout this whole process, the Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, suffers the plagues to the point that he doesn’t want anything more to do with the Israelites and so he tells Moses that he will let the people go if the plague would just come to an end. However, when the plague is over, he refuses to keep his word.
Keeping your word is a dying art in today’s society. Sometimes, there are genuine reasons why things seem to conspire against us, and we have to back out, but more often than not, people over-promise and under-deliver, and that’s where we find the real problem.
Being true to what you say is critical as a leader. If you waffle back and forth, if you fail to make a decision and stick with it, then you are going to have some problems. When you do that over and over again, you teach people that what you say isn’t really your final decision and they should have no reason to listen to you in the first place.
However, when we do what we say we are going to do, people come to know us as trustworthy. People see that we mean what we say and say what we mean. Again, this doesn’t mean that every once in a blue moon something won’t come up that causes you to make a change, but do this sparingly.
Leaders, keep your word. Don’t waffle, and people will come to know you as a person of your word.
Well, it’s Super Bowl week. Normally, I don’t pay too much attention to the comings and goings of the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Of course, normally, the Super Bowl isn’t taking place in my hometown, and an hour away from where I live.
The city of Indianapolis is pulling all the red carpet in a major way this week. I’ve heard a lot of people complain about it being in Indy, and I’m glad to see that the planning has gone so well. Quite frankly, I hope they eat their words. I’ve been hearing nothing but positive remarks about the city so far. Who knows? Maybe Indy will host again in the future.
On Monday night, Katie and I went to see her brother play. He joined a band named Stereo Deluxe a few months back. The band has been around for years, but he just stepped in a few months ago for somebody who felt like it was time to move on. It was a great show. They had some minor technical difficulties during their set, but we’re able to play through them. They’ve got a great sound and are a lot of fun in concert. If you get the chance, check them out. Their music is on iTunes.
All in all, this week is really showcasing Hoosier Hospitality at its finest. There’s local flavor and a national spotlight. I’m proud to call myself a Hoosier.
