This is not to say that churches ought not to be missional, but Tony's story gives me hope that if a billion dollar company can do this (and partner with another), then maybe churches can to. Wouldn't that be a picture of the Gospel worth joining?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Happiness and Profitability
An interesting article in Inc magazine by Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos.com, a shoe/clothing online retailer - Why I Sold Zappos. I appreciated this article because it reflects the tale of a man who navigated a complicated situation and still held onto his convictions. Tony believed that his business should be run a certain way - by creating a culture of community and partnership even before profitability. I wonder if this is what churches need - leaders and cultural architects whose foremost priority is to create a Gospel-shaped, grace-driven culture of community even before the 'profitability' of souls saved and projects accomplished?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Viloma
Just read a powerful blog entry about the incredible pain and grief experienced when a parent loses a child. The point is made that such grief is "against a natural order". It reminds of Plantinga's essay on how sin reminds us that things aren't the way they're supposed to be. As I read about this - I was moved thinking about how painful it would be to lose either of my sons. It then hit me that God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all.
The truth of the matter is that death itself is against a natural order, and that the death of the Son of God was one of the most unexpected events of human history (second only to his resurrection!) This post reminds me to hold onto the hope that the "natural order" will be restored one day (and is being so now). So hold on until then..."though weeping may remain for the night, his joy comes with the morning."
The truth of the matter is that death itself is against a natural order, and that the death of the Son of God was one of the most unexpected events of human history (second only to his resurrection!) This post reminds me to hold onto the hope that the "natural order" will be restored one day (and is being so now). So hold on until then..."though weeping may remain for the night, his joy comes with the morning."
The Precious
Last night after a time of prayer with some college students, one of the students remarked to me that she sensed God's Spirit over me - that God was wanting to do something very powerful through me this summer. She was awestruck as she spoke these words to me, and it was a much needed word of encouragement.
As I think about those words, my thoughts lead me to a crisis of belief. With all of the sin that I have been battling as of late (and feeling like I've been losing), I struggled to believe her at that moment. Is God really delighted in me? Is he really please to use me? Is my constant failure getting in the way?
Earlier in the day, I was rehashing with a friend some past incidents that happened in which some hurtful rumors were spread about me back home in MD. I remember first hearing about these rumors a month ago, and I remember feeling several things. I was hurt, but not in the way that you (or I) would have thought. I was hurt that a place so dear to me would turn on me in that way, but I was not hurt because of the damage such a rumor would do to my name. Instead, I found myself quietly agreeing that even if such a thing weren't true, it could very well be possible. I found myself looking into the deep-seated pride and arrogance that had settled in my heart...and I came to the cross. I preached to myself the Gospel that says my identity and reputation are in Christ and Him alone, not the quality of my work, fruit of my ministry, or otherwise. Thus, as I believed that, I didn't need to defend myself, justify myself, or otherwise. I just needed to thank my Savior that He defines me, not my reputation (good or bad).
This relates to my experience with this college student because I can I was fighting to believe the words that she had spoken to me. God is delighted in me (because of Christ). He really is pleased to use me (because of Christ's work). My constant failure is not getting in the way (because Christ was punished for my failure once and for all). It's funny that as much preaching of the Gospel as I get to do, I must fight to believe it just as much as the people who I get to call to faith.
Thank you, Lord, for the truly glorious Gospel!
As I think about those words, my thoughts lead me to a crisis of belief. With all of the sin that I have been battling as of late (and feeling like I've been losing), I struggled to believe her at that moment. Is God really delighted in me? Is he really please to use me? Is my constant failure getting in the way?
Earlier in the day, I was rehashing with a friend some past incidents that happened in which some hurtful rumors were spread about me back home in MD. I remember first hearing about these rumors a month ago, and I remember feeling several things. I was hurt, but not in the way that you (or I) would have thought. I was hurt that a place so dear to me would turn on me in that way, but I was not hurt because of the damage such a rumor would do to my name. Instead, I found myself quietly agreeing that even if such a thing weren't true, it could very well be possible. I found myself looking into the deep-seated pride and arrogance that had settled in my heart...and I came to the cross. I preached to myself the Gospel that says my identity and reputation are in Christ and Him alone, not the quality of my work, fruit of my ministry, or otherwise. Thus, as I believed that, I didn't need to defend myself, justify myself, or otherwise. I just needed to thank my Savior that He defines me, not my reputation (good or bad).
This relates to my experience with this college student because I can I was fighting to believe the words that she had spoken to me. God is delighted in me (because of Christ). He really is pleased to use me (because of Christ's work). My constant failure is not getting in the way (because Christ was punished for my failure once and for all). It's funny that as much preaching of the Gospel as I get to do, I must fight to believe it just as much as the people who I get to call to faith.
Thank you, Lord, for the truly glorious Gospel!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Forgiveness as a Supernatural Event
Donald Miller has an excellent post about the recent perfect game pitched by Armondo Galarraga. I thought it was worth re-posting because it perfectly captures my thoughts on this event. I especially agree with the idea that forgiveness is other-worldly and counter-cultural, but I would take it one step further. Most people can forgive those who wrong them and are sorry. It takes a supernatural act of infused grace to forgive someone even when they are unwilling to own up to it. This recent episode is just a foretaste of how powerfully forgiveness can affect us.
Lord of the Ring?
Well, we arrived safely home from a speaking trip last week in CO. It was a wonderfully refreshing time being in the mountains, seeing Sarah and Calvin ride a horse, and getting some fly-fishing in. My speaking went better than I had hoped in the sense that I was really struggling with presenting the story of the disciples in the Gospel of Mark without compromising the fact that Jesus is the main character! The premise of my talks was that the Gospel of Mark demonstrates the journey of the disciples as they struggled and fought to believe who Jesus is. Their development through the gospel follows the pattern of most mythological heroes. I narrowed it down to four parts: Call, Trials/Mentor, Failure, Return. It was a personally enriching exercise for me exegetically, and I can only pray that it bears fruit.
On another note, the most significant moment was on the way home. I lost my wedding ring!!! I don't know if I left it in my cabin or on the lake, but all I know is that it's gone. The funny thing was that I wasn't as upset as I expected I would be after losing an expensive ring. Actually, the entire episode made me really reflect on what it means to be married to Sarah. Although I've said it in many a wedding ceremony that I've officiated, I really had the opportunity to think about what the ring means and more importantly, what the marriage means. I am covenanted to my wife with or without a ring, but the ring shows the world WHOSE I am.
This thought made me examine myself - to look at the ways in which I am committed to Sarah and ways in which I am not. The ring means nothing if I don't give myself to her 100%. I repented as I thought about the ways in which I took for granted that the ring would keep my marriage strong and vibrant. Losing it exposed the ways in which I had grown lazy about my relationship with her. In many ways, I could apply this same lesson to my walk with Christ. It is way to easy to use a symbol like my vocation, my baptism, my pedigree, education, family, etc. as an anchor for discipleship. No, Jesus wants all of ME, not just my tokens and symbols. There's so many extrapolating questions from this, but the fact remains simple - just as my relationship with my wife is a covenant of loving her as Christ loved the church, so my relationship with Christ is a covenant of loving him as his bride in waiting. Funny how one forgetful moment can lead to such introspective repentance!
On another note, the most significant moment was on the way home. I lost my wedding ring!!! I don't know if I left it in my cabin or on the lake, but all I know is that it's gone. The funny thing was that I wasn't as upset as I expected I would be after losing an expensive ring. Actually, the entire episode made me really reflect on what it means to be married to Sarah. Although I've said it in many a wedding ceremony that I've officiated, I really had the opportunity to think about what the ring means and more importantly, what the marriage means. I am covenanted to my wife with or without a ring, but the ring shows the world WHOSE I am.
This thought made me examine myself - to look at the ways in which I am committed to Sarah and ways in which I am not. The ring means nothing if I don't give myself to her 100%. I repented as I thought about the ways in which I took for granted that the ring would keep my marriage strong and vibrant. Losing it exposed the ways in which I had grown lazy about my relationship with her. In many ways, I could apply this same lesson to my walk with Christ. It is way to easy to use a symbol like my vocation, my baptism, my pedigree, education, family, etc. as an anchor for discipleship. No, Jesus wants all of ME, not just my tokens and symbols. There's so many extrapolating questions from this, but the fact remains simple - just as my relationship with my wife is a covenant of loving her as Christ loved the church, so my relationship with Christ is a covenant of loving him as his bride in waiting. Funny how one forgetful moment can lead to such introspective repentance!
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