better together

The Wonder Bread of Life

The Wonder Bread of Life

I love the truth that is imbedded in this comment made by Jesus…”I am the bread of life… if you come to me you will not be hungry.” John 6:35

It’s a promise made by Jesus as he spoke to a few of his followers years ago. Is it truth in your life? Is He satisfying your deep desires and hungers? His promise is that I’d not be hungry or thirsty, ever again. That’s a big promise.

I am captivated by Jesus’ promise and description of himself in the “I am statements”. This one in John 6 is worth the time to reflect on and engage with. It seems so easy to say…yeah, give me this bread. But it seems so confusing that at times I look to others “breads” rather than him to satisfy my hunger. Very confusing.

The bread that comes into my home generally lasts a week, gets hard and moldy. Jesus says the bread that comes down from heaven is the living bread, bread that sustains for a lifetime, for eternity. Lasting bread. As a follower of Jesus for the last thirty plus years, I have sampled this bread, tasted this bread and have a firsthand experience with its’ ability to nourish me in ways that “Wonder” bread will never be able to do. So I keep coming back for more of His bread.

One thing I have found is that His bread … is fresh everyday. His nourishment is sustainable. As the bread of life, he only asks me to do one very simple thing… come daily and feed on his richness. Have you fed today?

How about this angle on the bread of life – isn’t it interesting how the truth that Jesus declares always has a way of moving past me to others? No doubt about it – he wants me to feed on the bread of life, but consider this exhortation he makes to the men who first heard these words in John 6. At the end of his time and ministry he turns to Peter and asks him a question. John 21:15-17 Jesus actually asks Peter the same question three times, “do you love me”? Three times Peter answers the same way – “yes Lord.”

Then check this out… Jesus tells Peter to “Feed my sheep”. The “Bread of Life” asks me to feed on him and he expects his followers to then feed others. I think this is what we call “coming full circle”.

It’s interesting that Jesus shows up…declares Himself to be the bread of life. As such, he expects us to come to him to find our deep longings satisfied. Interesting again that Jesus looks to his followers to now feed others. Let that sink in!

The wonder bread of life says “feed on me”, now he says “feed others”. Seem to be a very consistent practice of Jesus life. The good that you find in me, pass on to others. This seems to be the central core value of Jesus, I came for you and I expect you to go and do likewise. Nourish others.

Do you regularly feed on his richness? Is He the “Wonder Bread” of your life? If so, it seems he is asking you to introduce others to the bread that will nourish for a life time. Feed others.

Feed my sheep…that’s something to think about. That’s the heart of a Jesus servant.

Power Of Serving… life transformation

The Power of Serving … life change

I read a blog post the other day by Tim Stevens, author of Simple Strategic Volunteers. He stated that the main reason for working with volunteers is LIFE TRANSFORMATION.

Tim asked the question, “Would you work with volunteers if you did not have to?”

I was thinking about this question and asked myself, “would I serve if I did not have to?”

Don’t have to… just assume for a minute that your church has every possible serving role filled and you have people waiting in line for an opportunity to join one of your teams. Assume that every and all volunteer options in your community are filled…no need for you to serve on the PTA. Just assume for a minute…

My question – would you serve if you did not have to or would you work with volunteers if you did not have to? What I discovered is that the answer to both questions is the same…YES.

The reason is – we have no greater way to see and experience LIFE TRANSFORMATION without the practice of serving. If you want to grow, if you want others to grow, then we must build into your lives and our ministry serving opportunities that are not “have tos’”. But we must build and move serving front and center as the main/essential and or primary means for building healthy Christlike disciples. It is an essential means for my spiritual transformation.

Tim Steven’s stated, “I believe there is no greater opportunity to see life change happen in someone’s life than when they get involved in serving alongside others…” read the whole quote ( link )

We also know from a survey done by REVEAL survey of over 600 churches, serving is the most catalytic experience the church offers for growth.

The power of serving is clearly about life change and spiritual transformation and far less about getting people to volunteer so as to run this organization called the local church.

Do you “have to” serve? YES, That is if you want to grow.

Pick me!Pick me!

Pick me! Pick me!

I finished reading “Poke the Box” Seth Godin’s latest book and wanted to capture a few thoughts about the book and its’ content. A bunch of ideas in this book got me thinking. One idea was in a paragraph titled “Pick me! Pick me!”

Get a free pdf workbook version of Poke The Box

One of the central ideas of the book “Poke the Box” is about taking initiative. Taking responsibility to change things, do things, doing amazing work that’s yet to be done. Godin says in one section that we have been put to sleep by the industrial economy that has brainwashed us all into to thinking nothing can happen until we get picked to do it. Until someone with power says it’s your turn.

For example: creative people who believe they have something to say and offer have been told to wait until your work is chosen. An author waits to be chosen by an agent or a publisher. Entrepreneurs ( just watch the Shark Tank, ABC TV ) often find themselves waiting to be chosen by a venture capitalist. Employees wait to be chosen for a project and a promotion. We learn very early – the way to get in the game is to be picked. We have been operating this way for a long time. Godin thinks its’ time to stop.

I saw a great example of this the other day when my two and a half year old grandson noticed a game of dodge ball in the street. The kids were all 10 years old and above. No one asked him to join the game. No one ever would think to invite a 2 ½ year old to join this game. But it never crossed his mind he could not play. Once he had approval from his pop pop ( me) , he was in. I know you’re thinking, what responsible adult would allow a 2 ½ year old to play in the street with a bunch of older kids? What if he gets knocked down….

Nickolas had no concept of getting hurt and neither did I. He just ran into the game and started playing. He never felt like he had to be asked or picked. He was unaware of the culturally understood rules of life and playground games – that you have to be picked to play in the game. Godin feels like it is time to just start playing and stop waiting to get picked.

The internet allows us all to publish… no agent needed. No one has to pick you. I publish my thoughts and ideas in a blog, without an agent. I am also a published photographer, go figure. My Photos I did not have to wait to get my work approved by someone who would evaluate it and decide if it’s worthy of being selected. You – the reader – decide.

Whoever said you have to be picked in order to play? We have been living by this system, but the day is over. The reality today that Godin is trying to get us all to see and experience is that you no longer need to be picked. You just start. You just do great work. You build and ship. Your take initiative and do something. The times – they have changed.

If we play by the rules – that you have to wait until you get picked as Godin says, you can then blame someone else for not getting to do your best work.

So …pick yourself. And know that God already picked you! You are his workmanship created in Christ to do good work. Ephesians 2:10

Now get started doing what He wants you to do…do good work.

A Mother Who Leads…Mary

Continuing with my reflection on the wedding in John 2. (See my last blog post…Jesus says no to serving ) As you recall, at the wedding Mary asks Jesus to take care of the need for wine. She seems to have a high level of confidence both in Jesus willingness and in his ability.

Did she know how Jesus would meet the need? She may have. What we do know is that she is confident that Jesus would take care of the situation. “Do whatever he tells you to do” she says to the wine steward.

By miracle or by a more natural means, Jesus is asked, Jesus serves the need of the family and the guests in response to his mother’s request. A wonderful match of talent and task. Dont forget that this whole story does not seem to get rolling until Mary notices a need and asks the one person who she thinks could best be utilized to meet the need.

Over the years I have read and studied much on leadership – been learning about leadership for a number of years. In this passage and in the life of Mary, I have seen some wonderful leadership lessons.

Try these:

Leaders see needs. Mary saw the need when it seems the others may have missed it being preoccupied with festivities.

Leaders feel the impact of unmet needs. Mary knew if the need was not met, a large group of people would be impacted in a negative way.

Leaders match talent and task. Mary understood who was best suited to meet the need and asked that person to step forward and serve.

Leaders know the skills and talents of all their people and know how to match and deploy people for kingdom work. Mary knew that from the men gathered with her that day, the best match for the task was her son.

Leaders do not coerce people, they invite people. They don’t beg and or fight with them. Mary does not even ask her son to serve, she points out the need.

Leaders understand that motivation comes from within. Mary points out the need, in a way she asks Jesus to serve, walks away and somehow knows that her son – who is connected to the Heavenly Father – will be moved to get involved.

Leaders assume the best of their people. Mary somehow knew that Jesus would respond as he did. She walks to the wine steward and says… “Do whatever he says to do” – confident about the outcome when her son was involved.

Leaders initiate and deploy – then get out of the way. Mary knew she was not the person for the task; someone other than herself was more suited and skilled to meet the need. She got out of the way.

Leaders are often turned down. Never a sign of poor leadership. Mary’s request was initially turned down by Jesus. She seemed to be ok with that.

I came accorss this quotation and it speaks to leaders and recruiters of talent. Seems to apply to Mary. Erwin McManus pastor, innovator, activist, says this about leadership: “I think the role of leaders at this time in history is to be curators of human talent. They need to learn how to cultivate, how to identify, how to nuture, how to develop and unleash the God-given potential in every person”

It seems to me that Mary (along with Joseph) contributed something to the cultivation of Jesus’s talent, identification of it, nurtured it, developed it and unleashed it. If this is an example of leadership in today’s world, sure seems that the same was ture on this day at a wedding.

A few lessons on leading for us to think about.

So how will you identify, nurture, develop, and unleash the talent around you?

Jesus says NO to serving

Jesus says NO to serving! Whoa!! What did I just say? The story of a wedding in the Gospel (John chapter 2) is one of my favorite passages on serving. It’s also one of my favorite leadership passages. (see my next blog post for leadership lessons of Mary)

The story takes place at a wedding. Jesus, along with his mom and a few friends, attend a wedding. Take a moment – forget about everything you have ever seen in this passage and look again. Notice the path we see Jesus and Mary on as he arrives at the first of his miracles.

While the wedding is going on, Mary, Jesus’ mom, taps him on the shoulder and says – “Look over there Jesus, the wine has run out, the family is going to be embarrassed because of this. I know you can do something about it, Please give them a hand, and you can make this situation better.”

What I have missed for years is something I only recently discovered. In this story, Mary notices a need and an opportunity to serve. She approaches her son and points out the need. Mary invites Jesus to get involved in this situation. Maybe it’s because she knows he is the person best suited to meet the need.

I love the image of Mary coming up behind Jesus, tapping him on the shoulder and saying… son – “they have no more wine”. It feels like Mary saw this as a great opportunity for her son to get involved – and he says no thanks. Mary actually never asks Jesus to do something, she just points out the need or the opportunity for him to get involved or serve.

The dialogue is short and intriguing. Jesus turns to his mom after she points out the situation and says ….why do you involve me? ….my hour has not come.

My translation
….ask someone else.
…this is really not a good time for me.

Mary walks over to the wine stewards and says… “Do what ever he tells you to do.”

The honest and authentic dialogue is wonderful. Jesus says no to a serving opportunity. Why? He had a good reason, right? “It’s not my time”! Jesus had a clear picture of when and how he was going to start his public ministry. That’s what we understand his comment to be. The situation his mom just pointed out was not part of his plan.

I have been perplexed by this fact. Because, if the timing was really not good as I am convinced he thought and believed, then why did he do what he did? What changed? What motivated him to do what he did? Serve the family by changing the water in wine.

I never really took anything way from this passage. Never really saw any application to my life. Not until I put myself in both Mary’s and Jesus’ shoes.

I have been asked to serve and I have asked others to serve. I have seen opportunities to get involved. I have walked away for some. Others have asked or pointed out ways that I could help and I know I have said it or thought it…not a good time for me.

Jesus said it as clearly as he could have; it was not the right time for him to serve! If we are all honest we have thought this and or felt this on more than one occasion. Maybe it went something like this…

…got a lot going on right now.
…love to serve but it just does not fit with my schedule.
…I don’t have time to jump in and do what you are asking.
…get back to me next time when it is more convenient.

So what’s my take away as a fellow servant from this story?

How about this…there is never NOT a good time to serve as long as the opportunity matches the talent.

As I dove into this story, I saw way more than a miracle of water being turned to wine.

I relate to every aspect of this story as a leader and as a servant.
As a servant, I see Jesus as reluctant to serve. Even if it for only a very short period of time. That’s been me.

Why did Jesus say when asked… “Why involve me”?
Why did he say…? “It’s not my time to serve”?

It’s possible that Jesus may not have seen the need. The fact is – Mary saw the need and she moved forward with solutions for help.
.
Did Jesus have a good reason to NOT get involved? I have always thought so, I still do. But we know that after he says what he says, he adjusts his own view of “timing’ to suit the opportunity and the request to serve.

I’d like to ask him someday, why did he say what he said then do what he did.

Try a few of these possible scenarios.
Maybe Jesus served…

out of respect for his mother, this may have been a far bigger value than his own sense of timing.

because his very nature and heart beat was that of a servant, timing as he understood it was secondary to this.

maybe he puts 2 and 2 together and he comes out with the same conclusion that Mary did … it’s an opportunity uniquely designed for me.

maybe He figured there is never a bad time to serve, when gifts and talents get matched with the right task, well, you just serve.

maybe he saw a bigger kingdom value system at play right after he responded and his own idea of timing and involvement was altered on the spot.

I don’t know.

What I do know is this…there is never a bad time to serve.

Do you know a “Mary” who can point you in the right direction of opportunities that match your talent?

If you lead why not take some time to more fully understand the talent and abilities of the people around you, then bring them together matching the best talent for the task.

Your role may be to serve, your role may be to bring together talent and task inviting others to serve.

Either way, step back and watch what happens.

My next blog post will be the rich leadership lessons that Mary displays in this story.

helping others find the way, truth and life…

helping other find the way, truth and life…
I am the way, the truth and the life…Jesus said this 2,000 years go, it was true then and is today.

Do we believe these words and do they have application for me as it did for his followers way back when?

My benefit from these truths are similar to the men and women who were his followers that night when he spoke these word. My depth of understanding of this truth has little to do with the modern church, or teaching. It has everything to do with the words printed on a timless document called the bible. Do you have one? do you read it?

That night
They had troubled hearts … me too.
They were confused about the future… me too.
They did not know him as well as He thought or desired them to… me too.
They were unclear even confused about his words and teaching… me too.
They had need to trust Him… me too.
They had a limited understanding of his nature and the tight connected to God the father… me to They must have been confused about direction is life “I am the way” … me too.
They must have been confused about what was true and false “I am the truth”… me too.
They had some confusion about the nature of life, ” I am the life” …me too.
They were unsatisfied with what they had and wanted more ” show us the father we will be satisfied”… me too.
They were around Jesus for a long time and they still did not have it figured out… me too.
Jesus seemed to be exasperated with the disciples about the limited connecting of the spiritual dots about himself, his father and life…me too.

Then get this:
He made some unbelievable promises to them…
…He prepared a place for them
…He would return for them
…As followers they would do what He does and more
…What ever they asked He would do
…A counselor would come to them
…He would never leave them as orphans
…He would come and live with them
…He and the Father would make a home with them
…He would show himself to them

This seems like a great definition of serving: help others find the way…help others know and discover the truth…and help others find, discover and enjoy the life.

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light the way…be the light

Been thinking about this “I Am” passages…I am the light of the world! The full passage reads “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8:12

What a promise. True for you?

I asked myself, what did Jesus expect his followers to take away based on his declaration of this truth? How does this reality impact me today?

As I reflected on this verse, I noticed this promise is only in relationship to following. No following – no light. For me to experience his promise of light, it seems to imply that first, one must be in a position of following.

If I follow him, illumination is the promise. If I chose not to follow him, I remain in the dark. His unique ability to give light demands that we first start following.

The declaration… I AM Light THE LIGHT
The promise… for anyone.
The condition… follow
The promise, you will never walk in darkness.

Like you, I have found that following Jesus is not very metaphorical at all. And that clarity of life, direction and guidance are promised and real for followers. Seems that my darkness is experienced in times when I don’t follow Him. A simple encouragement for us all…Follow him, He will light your way.

Now check this out, a bit of a twist…

Jesus says “You are the light of the world“… Jesus just said he was THE LIGHT now he says the same of you. WOW! Matthew 5:14

As I refelcted on this I began to see that one aspect of my role and call as a follower is being light. To cast light on the people and world that needs it. One way I serve Him is by being light. An interesting aspect of our call to be servants is to be “light”. Jesus calls us to shed light in such a way that others will “see good works” and then bring praise to God.

I hope this grabs you and shakes you that way it does me. Jesus is The Light and he expects you to be light. He expects us to live and act in such a way that our good works illuminate others and bring praise to Him.

Now that’s the high calling of a servant.. be the light!

no sitting on your hands…

I was reading a passage this morning about the value of ‘same’ and ‘different’. The Church is called to value unity – but never uniformity. This was a reminder to me about the high value we should always place on the discovery of and the utilization of the our many gifts and talents.

The MESSAGE ( paraphrase version of the bible) seems to capture angles of this truth in ways that are fresh and real. I read this passage and saw a few insights about unity and uniformity. From Ephesians 4: 1-7. Check it out.

From the passge below notice what Paul asks the Ephesians to Do. Also notice the ways we are called to be the same and then notice the ways we are called to be different.

Eph. 4:1-7
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel.

I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands.

I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.
You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

But ( note this contrast) that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his (her) own gift…
…He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other…

Things To Do …
…get out there
…run the road God called you to travel
…no sitting around on your hands
…put yourself out for each other
…acts of love
…notice differences, mend fences

Ways we are the Same and Different
…same road
…same direction
…stay together
…one Master
…one faith
…one baptism
…one God
…works through all
…is present in all
…everything you are, think and do is permeated with Oneness
…not all need to look the same
…not all need to speak the same
…not all need to act the same
…each is given (his/her) own gift
…He handed out gifts…

Bottom line…we work towards unity – but avoid uniformity.

We understand we are on the same road, same direction, same faith and the same God. We also understand that our approach, gifts, skills and talent are all different. The way we contribute to and help accomplish the purpose the body is called to is different.

A very simple and oh so clear exhortation … unity but never uniformity
And by the way…. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands.

So, are you making YOUR contribution?
Do you know what He is equipped YOU to do?
Do you know YOUR gifts and are you using them to serve his purpose in the Body?

A few suggestions for your reading and exploration:

Only You Can Be You, by Erick Rees
Living Your Strengths, by Winseman, Clifton and Liesveld
Its Your Call, by Gary Barkalow

Walking In Circles

Dr. Jan Souman of the Max Plank Institute for Biological Cybernetics, studied what happens to us when we have no map, no compass, no way to determine landmarks. He researched what happens to people lost in the woods or stumbling around the Sahara, with no north star, no setting sun to guide them.

It turns out we walk in circles. Try as we might to walk in a straight line, to get out of the forest or desert, we end up back where we started. Our instincts aren’t enough. In the words of Dr. Souman “Don’t trust your senses even though you might think you are walking in a straight line”.

Walking in circles?

When I heard about this experiment, I reflected on the times I have walked in a circle. The times when I do the same thing over and over, bump up against the same issues, return to the same patterns of behavior. I understand that walking in circles is a great metaphor for not relying on the best map for my life. It’s about me not taking advantage of the best directional help I can get.

I have been studying a few of Jesus’ most profound statements that say something about direction. One time he said, “I am the way.” He was talking with his friends about his departure. He was talking to his followers about the fact they would be joining him. One of his friends said, “Lord we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way”? Jesus said, “I am the way”…. John 14:6

At another time he said, “I am the light of the world.” To follow him we would never again walking in darkness. A promise to always have the ‘light of life’ on my path. John 8:12

Two truths about direction, guidance and walking in circles.

I found that the best maps in navigating my life are His words, His truth, my bible. I find it keeps me from walking in circles. If you feel like you are walking in circles today. What map are you reading? Are you using His GPS?

Read about the Walking In Circles research

from brokenness to service

“Jesus did not intimidate people with his righteousness”…Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz author

As I read and mediate on the life of Jesus, I am always struck by the fact that he saw value in broken people. People who are broken are priceless creation to Jesus. Jesus never devalued a broken man or woman. Evidence of sin and the brokenness associated with it, was not a deal breaker for grace, value, fullness of life or Kingdom contribution.

Right-ness with Jesus unleashes the fullness of our potential. As Donald miller says, “Jesus did not intimated people with his righteousness”. Donald Millers blog …He just makes us right with God.

His righteousness seemed to attract people, build them and launch people on a life of mission and purpose as never before.

Jesus understood what being trapped by a cultures expectation and image was all about. He interacted with people all thoughout his life and ministry who were broken. An adulterous woman was sent on her way with a new understanding of grace and a new life of meaning and purpose. (John8:11) Or an outcast woman with way more sexual dysfunction than I can understand would be a person valued by him to make well over 2000 year of impact on this world. Her life reached her neighbors the afternoon she met Jesus and it continues to reach neighbors today. (John 4)

Jesus made people feel good about themselves. He helps us turn the focus form what others think about our lives to what God, His father thinks about our lives. He is still doing this today. Miller says “count the characters in scripture that rejected Jesus because they wanted to go on sinning? Now count the characters that rejected Him because of their religious hangups and self-righteousness. I’d say the latter outnumbers the former ten to one, at least.

It seems his right-ness with the Father was attractive and comforting and not at all offensive or intimidating. His right-ness drew people to himself.

Any different today than when Jesus stopped to get a drink by a well. I love the woman at the wells testimony, “ come see a man who told me everything I ever did” . (John 4:29) In her voice I hear comfort not condemnation. I hear jubilation not judgment. I sense value rather than worthlessness. Form brokenness to service, as only Jesus can do. She became the missionary for her whole community.

He changes everything doesn’t He. He did for me. I can only hope and pray that my right-ness with Him might be a little bit attractive to the broken people in my world who so desperately seek value, purpose and contribution in a way that only He can provide.

Brokenness to service, only by his grace