Early Polling

I voted today, Tuesday, November 4th. I hope you did too. More than voting today I hope you will be voting tomorrow. Each one of us has been entrusted with incredible opportunity, wealth (in comparison with the global community), influence, and power. We have to use those things we've been given to bring about hope, peace, and possibility for all people. No human canidate will be the "last hope" for this world, nor will any nation (even ours). Instead the hope of the world is the Body of Christ as it moves in tandum with the Spirit to bring about lasting peace and harmony for all. So tomorrow, and each day after, may you use all that you've been given to pursue life in all things, for all people, and all of creation for the sake of God's Kingdom come.

Star Wars Monopoly

So far I have starports on Tatoine and Yavin Four. Luke has starports on the Dagobah system. And while Caleb owns some quality realestate (Cloud City and the Death Star), he has yet to colonize. Lilly plays on "Daddy's team" and instead of the "shoe" we get to be Princess Lea.

Tonight marks night 4 of me playing Star Wars Monopoly with my kids. They like rolling the dice, moving their pewter figurines around the board, and collecting rent from people that happen to land on their corner of the galaxy. I like it because it's easy. Really, playing monoply with kids 8 and under is like....what's the expression... "taking candy from a baby".

Okay, so it is a little mean spirited, but they are having fun. Plus in makes me feal like I've got sweet Jedi mind tricks as I wave my hand and make just about any deal go through (deals that would make Jabba the Hut look generous).

Agenda

I just re-printed out the agenda for a meeting I have tonight. It is a full agenda with several key elements we are working through. When I originally printed out the agenda I noticed that while it had every key area of our "important meeting" covered it was missing one crucial thing.

On every publication we do (whether it's a mailer or an agenda for a meeting) I print the words: "Love God; Love People". The first printing of this agenda was missing these key words.

For us the call to Love God and Love People is the filter by which all we do is funneled through. Loving God and loving others is essential for how we operate.

Some may say it's a waste to re-print the agenda (don't worry, I recycled it). However, it would be a far greater waste if we had a full meeting, talked about a lot of great "church stuff", and planned out "intentional ministry", yet forgot why we are doing all of this in the first place.

Keeping the call to Love God and Love People close to our hearts helps keep us in check as to why we do what we do. We always need to be communicating, re-communicating, and over-communicating this unique call whether it's through our Sunday gatherings, care for the poor, or the decisions we make in a meeting.

Spontaneous Play

My kids went outside today and said that they were bored because there was "nothing to do". As I looked around at the beautiful blue sky I saw trees to climb, bikes to ride, and balls to kick.

My kids are so used to having things structured for them outside that they've lost the art of spontaneous play. Decades ago you could see kids playing pick up basketball, pick up baseball, pick up soccer, etc. When suburban life kicked in, there came rec leagues and organization. Now when you ask a kid if they play soccer they'll refer to whether or not they "signed up this year", not whether or not they kicked a ball with their buddy. This has stunted their ability to go outside and play "pick-up games".

The church early on was a movement of people that lived out "spontaneous play"; they moved where the Spirit moved, didn't wait for a board or a committee to approve a master plan of assimilation...they simply loved people in tangible and practical ways.

I hope that the church can once again capture the art of spontaneous play. I hope that people won't rely on the church's "rec league" programs for their spiritual formation. Instead of people asking if there is a small group that meets their needs, they would listen to their own longings as well as the longings of others and see how they might be able to best serve others.

I want to see a church that isn't looking to sign up for rec-league sports, but is instead creating pick-games wherever they find themselves.

Formation, Growth, and So On

As healthy organisms grow and take shape how do the structures around them best serve the growth that is taking place? I am always looking for ways in which we can help people deepen their relationship with God in such a way that they live a life that is re-oriented to the Kingdom of God. How does that work? In the past the church legislated one's spiritual formation via programs: Sunday School, Confirmation, Small Groups, etc. While these elements are not bad I'm striving for ways to help people develop a heart of God without throwing more programs at them.

The difficult thing is that the church institution cannot be the sole forming component in one's spiritual life. In other words...we can have all of the best programs and have people insert themselves into those program and still not become the "product" that we think those programs should churn out.

Instead of "churning out" product-disciples we need to create spaces in which people can connect to God in a way that is spiritually forming.

Good-Bye Rufus

Comedian George Carlin died last week. I remember him for his role as "Rufus", the time traveling guide in the late 80's flick: "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" however George Carlin contributed so much more.

Carlin is best known for his irreverent, satirical, observational humor. He pushed buttons and exposed hypocrisies. In his humor Carlin raised questions, challenged authorities, and polarized audiences. Like him or not, Carlin helped make comedy what it is today; without him there would be no Prior, Murphy, Seinfeld, or Rock. Carlin was a pioneer.

I recently read a quote from Carlin that struck me. He said, "I sort of gave up on this whole human adventure a long time ago. I think the human race has squandered its gift and this country has squandered its promise. I think people in America sold out very cheaply, for sneakers and cheeseburgers. And I don't think it's fixable."

Hmmm. I too think many have squandered there gift. Yet I belive too much in humanity to give up. More than it being fixable, I believe it is redeemable.

Serving the Scale

I've been thinking a lot about what success looks like. Success depends on what it is that you are trying to accomplish. A professional athlete measures success by the games they win, Fortune 500 companies measure success by their bottom line, and those trying to get into shape measure success by how many pounds they loose.

It is easy to get focused on the "scale"; trying to be successful. What happens when we've worked out and eaten properly yet the scale tells us that we've actually gained weight? Does that mean we are in worse shape? Of course not; most of us know that muscle weighs more than fat, so "the scale" is not always an indicator of fitness or success.

I want to build muscle, things that will endure, things that will last. I realize then, that means that I cannot live to serve the scale. There will be seasons in this forming church plant that the "numbers" are thin, but that is not always an indicator that muscle is not being formed.

This week I got word of some people within the Renovate community who organized the delivery of meals to a couple who just had twins. What is so great about this is that I did not organize it or implement it...in fact I was the last to find out. This was truly a work of the people.

These are the types of things that will go to build a church community that will endure. And these are the types of stories that the scale can't always measure.

Lilly's Hair

My four-and-a-half-year-old daughter has beautiful blond hair. It is full, wavy, and shines in the sunlight. I love my little girl and her braids, pigtails, and any other hair creation her mommy comes up with. Little Lilly's hair is an expression of her: bouncy, free, and soft.

Lilly had a hair cut this week. She has had them before...no big deal. This time however it was a big deal (at least to her daddy). 10 inches of golden locks were cut off. Lilly didn't seem to mind, in fact she was quite excited. She looks as beautiful as ever and now, even more grown up. That's where the story seemed to stop for me, however Lilly told me more.

Lilly said, "I gave my hair to Wigs for Kids Daddy!"

I found out that my daughter was able to give her hair to an organization that makes custom wigs for children who have endured hair loss. These wigs help bring confidence and strength back to kids who've had to endure ridicule and embarrassment. My Lilly's gift is able to bring hope and joy.

I deeply believe that is our call as human beings on this earth. To bring strength, confidence, and hope to others, especially the ridiculed, the tired, and the down trodden. This is not what it means to be Christian, but rather what it means to be fully human. That we would have capacity beyond ourselves to bring refreshment to those around us.

Nature has it that Lilly's hair will continue to grow; just as beautiful as the hair given. And as it does, I pray, her heart for others grows along with it.

Hello Deli

I just sent Rupert an email. Yeah, you know Rupert. Rupert Jee. He's the owner of "Hello Deli" on 53rd street in Manhattan. He may look familiar to you because he's a "regular" on the Late Show with David Letterman. Rupert is on from time to time doing silly skits, most of which make people ticked off...all the same, those skits are super funny.

On Monday Misty, "little brother" Dave Nagel, and I were in New York City (a story I'll have to tell you about some time). And stopped by the Hello Deli to say, well, "Hello". As we approached the green awning of the famous sub shop Misty spotted Rupert taking a break outside and ran up to him yelling, "Rupert, Rupert, can I get a picture?". Before Rupert could reply (or hide), Misty had her arm around him with a big-ole-smile as little brother Nagel took the picture. And me?...yeah, I was capturing it all on video. We were a bit of a spectacle as these out-of-towners got a chance to get up close to a real "celebrity". After we clicked all of the snap shots this paparazzi team felt necessary, we gave Rupert a "thank you" and went on about our way.

I wonder if Rupert ever gets tired of crazy people from Michigan bothering him. If so, he didn't let on to it...he was extremely gracious and kind (so I emailed him to say "thank you"). I think there is a lesson we can take from Rupert: "Be nice to people when they greet you...even if they don't buy anything from your deli".

James Taylor is good....

I just got home from work; my wife is in bed cause she has to work early tomorrow morning at 5am; and since I don't have to go in until 1pm, I'm up watching this PBS special on James Taylor.

There's probaby other things I could be doing before I go to bed (I am a big to-do list kind of guy), but I just can't stop watching. In fact, the only reason why you're reading this right now is because they've taken a break to ask for my money.
So why am I so drawn to this artist? Why does his music connect with my emotions? Asking this though means that I need to find out why I like white chocolate so much, and catchup only, and earth-tone clothes, and my car.
I suppose you could say it's because of the influence of peer-pressure or pop-culture. But there could probably be good arguments made against that simply based on my odd selections.

Then I think about my daughter. She's half way through her second year on this planet, and already she has strong opinions: no Jay-Z but Usher is good; no lion king but little mermaid makes her smile; sleep is almost always a "no"; elmo is almost always a "yes". Did I somehow teach her these things? Am I somehow to blame for modeling these distinct preferences?

The answer has to be no, but then, that means that we all must have this awesome extra ingredient. It's this piece of us that is inherently us; beyond our shape or form, smile or nationality. It's the reason why people like me get mezmorized by a PBS special, and also the same reason why James Taylor just flipped off the crowd after his 3rd encore.

So here's to getting beyond surface stuff with people, and getting to know what flavor razzle's they like best...................and listening to more James Taylor (minus his middle finger of course).