The Time I Looked Down the Barrel of a Gun

For whatever reason, I find myself in the most precarious situations.  Once, I walked up on a bulldozer trucking along barreling over trees, headed straight for a church parking when I was on staff at North Cleveland COG.  I quickly learned how to drive a bulldozer…lucky I didn’t get run over in the process.  People heard the noise and walked out to see me sitting a top a big yellow machine.  My first thought when I saw them was, “I bet they think I’m crazy and that I did all this carnage.”

Three times in my life, I’ve looked down the barrel of a gun: once in Homestead, once in Florida City, and once on a lonely dirt road in southeast Tennessee when I was in college.  The time in Tennessee is such a sensational story that no one would believe me if someone else hadn’t been there to witness it.

In Florida City, I was doing a ministry project on a Saturday with my friend, Mike Hall.  We had just spent the morning talking to kids.  We were on our way home.  I was driving my car with the windows down. Someone approached the car pulling a pistol from his waistband. What was going on didn’t even register with my brain until about 30 seconds later after I had casually pulled away from the corner and was on my way.

Mike and I just looked at each other and basically said, “Did that just happen?” It was a big non-event that should have caused me to change my pants.  Ironically, Mike is now the Drug Task Force Director and busts those kinds of guys routinely.

That moment didn’t really have any shaping effect on my life. It turned out to be just another historical artifact on the timeline of my life…just another story to tell.  Come to think about it, neither did the bulldozer, the Tennessee hillbilly with a gun, or the other quasi-sensational events in my life.  Crises points do impact us on some level.  But, it seems like after the initial euphoric let-down, we resume our regular lives.  Perhaps, you can look at 9-11 or Hurricane Andrew as some similar point where you experienced some kind of spiritual yearning only to fall back into previous levels of spiritual apathy.

WHAT HAS IMPACTED AND CHANGED MY LIFE?

A thousand inconsequential actions peppered across the course of my life.  I think if we’re looking for silver bullet kinds of moments to propel us forward or to destroy us, I think we’ll be disappointed.  Of course, that isn’t a rule.  I easily could have had bad outcomes in the three experiences I’ve had with gun violence.  But, we are much more likely to die of apathy than we are to die at the hands of a violent person.

Likewise, we are more likely to be greatly impacted by the seemingly inconsequential, mundane actions of a good person consistently pouring into our lives. This conclusion has helped me to press through the pain of feelings of insignificance, feelings and questions about whether or not I’m making a difference.  I’ve concluded that changing culture, changing lives, and obtaining success in sharing Jesus isn’t going to be won or lost in some grand event or great crash.  Rather, it will be won or lost in the seemingly inconsequential decisions of our routine and daily decisions.

So, cheers to the mundane, the boring, the repetitive, the disciplines. I’m looking for victory…and I think it will be found in the most inconspicuous of places: the shadows, the grocery story, the swimming pool, the office, predictability, commitment, and the routines of life.

A Reflection on Being a Dad

It’s a day after Father’s Day. I’m somewhat reflective thinking back on my childhood…and thinking about my relationship with my children.  I’d like to share some things from the perspective of a son and a father…with some words to fathers.

I don’t have a story of a father who wasn’t there or a father who was abusive.  I have a story of a good father that was engaged in my life and who modeled godly masculinity.  That upbringing has shaped me and marked me to attempt to do the same for my children.  Consider some marks of godly masculinity I can still see through my rear view mirror…marks I’m working at living out:

• Love your children and pay attention to them.  You are making investments in them when they’re young and when they actually want to be around you.  One day, they’ll be independent like they should be and won’t need you.  Then, those investments will pay off and they’ll choose to enjoy more than just a vertical relationship with you…but, also a friendship between mutually respected peers.
• Never discipline out of anger. Always let your correction be measured, calm, and with an aim to correct…not punish.  God, in His good mercy is not punitive to His children.  He’s corrective.  Because He loves us, He wants us to grow.  His correction reflects that.
• Make memories.  I can think of a lot of things my dad “said” to me.  Most of those things…the really great life lessons hang on pegs…and the pegs are memories of something we were doing.  One of my earliest memories with my dad is riding in an old flat bed truck through a sandy orange grove.  I can see the dirt road going by through the rusted out floor board of the old truck.  I remember falling asleep with my head on my dad’s lap while he drove us home from that adventure.  These memories are imprinted in my mind and heart and laid the foundation for a high trust relationship with my dad.
• Be predictable. Don’t be predictable in the sense of losing spontaneity.  But, stick to your code so that your children know how to function.  If the code is always changing, you kids will be confused.
• Don’t undercut mom. If mom says something to the kids, back her up.  Teach your son how to respect women.  Teach your daughters how they should expect to be treated.  If you treat your wife like a dirt bag, your son will do the same.  And, your daughters will accept the same from other domineering idiot.
• Speak the words of Jesus in your home. Let Jesus be at the center of your life…not only when you want something, when you’re in a jam, when you hit your thumb with a hammer, or when you’re at church.  Be the priest in your home and season your stories and discussions with the Good News of Jesus.
• Never let your kids say, “can’t.” Can’t isn’t in the Johnson vocabulary.  Winners never quit and quitters never win.  Things don’t come in “can’ts,” they come in ‘cans.’”  If can’t is an easy escape, your kids will never do the great things.  The great things are never easy.  If the great things were easy, everyone would be great.  But, they aren’t.  A lot of people teach their kids in word and by example to take the path of least resistance.  Resistance and challenge are necessary to build muscle.
• Be daring.  Don’t obsess over safety.  Don’t get me wrong.  Be safe.  But, your kid isn’t going to die if you don’t sterilize his pacifier.  And, your kid won’t be traumatized if he falls down on his butt trying to learn how to walk.  You can’t chase your kid around for his whole life trying to catch him before he falls.  Let her be daring.  It’s a proud moment when your 4 year old goes off the high dive right after a grown adult nearly wets their pants trying to do the same thing.  Daring is good for a kids sense of adventure.  And, when they conquer their fears, they realize their capable of more than they previously thought.

More Than a Consumer – a Disciple, a Called Minister

From Chris Day on his blog talking about his experience at Life Pointe Church when he realized God had a calling on his life…pertinent as we talk about the 5 fold ministry in Ephesians 4:7-16:

Very early on during the first year of my fantastic journey one of the new Pastors within my church family called me out during one of his first Sunday morning teachings. The man stood up there on the stage right in the middle of his message that morning, and he boldly exclaimed these 7 words in front of everyone, “Chris Day – YOU’RE a Disciple of Christ !” A series of chills – sent from up above – totally consumed my body. That was instantly one of the most groundbreaking moments of my fantastic journey. That’s when it all really made sense to me as a born again Christian. From that point forward I realized that I had a real role – an urgent purpose – a definite mission on this journey.

Sometimes, I want to bash my head over how badly WE and ME miss it.  It’s simple.  We’re called by God, qualified, and empowered to do the work that Jesus did and walk out the walk that Jesus walked.

Best of the Best: Internet Candy

Here is some internet candy I’ve enjoyed recently:

• Kayaking in the Keys on Flickr.  Beautiful Pictures from my favorite way to explore the Keys.
• Harvard Business Review: “The Kindle isn’t Dead Yet (and other Reflections on the iPad)”
• Art of Manliness (one of the best blogs on the internet): “Weasels Ripped My Flesh”
• My friend, Chris Day turned 43 (and I didn’t tell him Happy Birthday because I’m a slacker!)
• Seth Godin: You Can See the Determination in His Eyes
• Mark Driscoll’s latest blog series called: 11 Leadership LEssons from the 12 Disciples.   My favorite entries in the series are:  Hurt before Fruit, Under Authority before in Authority, and Pray Humbly Then Proceed Boldly.
• Nelson Searcy: Who’s Answering Your Phone
• RunKeeper.  Track your walking, running, cycling, or mountain biking via GPS.
• Livestrong.  Over the past couple months, it’s become my #1 stop on the web. Want to get in shape? Burn more calories than you consume.  If you’d gotten too comfortable on the couch and are looking for a tool to kick your hinder parts into shape, this is a good place to start.

Sunday Wrap-up

Wow! I haven’t done this in a long time!  Here goes:

• Today, I shared about Spiritual Growth/Holiness out of Ephesians 3:14-21.  I love this series.  I love the Book of Ephesians…powerful stuff.
• Paul wrote to an imperfect Church then that they would #1 know Christ and #2 grow in Christ.
• Nothing has changed.  And, the prayer is still the same.
• And, the good news is that He offers us the privilege of godly relationship with one another and the chance to extend hope in Christ to the world!
• That’s a beautiful picture, my friend!…well worth the good, challenging journey.
• Did you know that for some amazing team members, Sundays at Life Pointe are a 13+ hour journey. To the people who graciously walk out what you talk out: You guys are killer!  Really, it’s an honor to serve along side you.
• The Homestead campus has one more Sunday of 9 & 10:30 am services.  Beginning Father’s Day, we’re kickin’ it at 10 & 11:30 AM!!!

• WHY? Because, the new schedule should give us two front door service as opposed to one. If you’re a 1st time guest at Life Pointe, there’s a 95% chance, you attended the 10:30.
• Also, we have a lot of families with small children. 9 AM is tough to get to.  10 AM is more than do-able.  So, is 11:30!
• This should go a long way to helping with the bottleneck in our 10:30 by giving people better options.  And, it will help us reach more people…and, that’s what it’s about!
• PLANTATION KEY?!  Who through the Molotov Cocktail on that place?!  It’s on fire…incredible.

• We’re really hoping to be able to make it to the Fall before launching a second service.  We’ll see.
• The kids venues were slammin’.
• The parking was neatly packed.
• And, the auditorium is on the verge of being too full.  That’s a great problema!
• Speaking of growth, have I told you recently about our partners in crime, Baypointe Church in Panama City Beach?  Check them out.  They had a preview service today…couldn’t be more excited Ben and his crew who are bringing the GOOD News of Jesus to PCB!
• You gave a little bit towards sharing the Gospel in that community through Ben Liles and Baypointe.  Now is the time to crank up the prayers.  They’re about to have a heck of an adventure!…honored to be connected to them in a small, small way.
• So, how did the day end? How else? Wings at Dillons.  That place is noisy, which makes it easier to eat with my kids and friends without feeling like I’ve disrupted a whole joint!
• Next week is going to be a really good Sunday as we dive into Ephesians 4 and worship Christ together.  Let’s get it on!
• But, first…let’s do another thing we were made to do, live out the Christwalk in plain view of the world.  Expect God to change lives.  Love recklessly.  There is no other path worth taking!!!

Conflict

Somehow, the church creates a notion that conflict is somehow unhealthy.  Perhaps, it comes out of a misinterpretation of Scripture (turning the other cheek).  Or, more likely, it simply comes because the personality types of those leading in churches tend to be accommodating people-pleasers.  Whatever the cause, I can tell you that creating an environment where conflict is avoided is a recipe for disaster.

What happens when avoid conflict?

• We suppress godly emotions, legitimate perspectives, and Gospel vision.
• We cede vision to the critics.
• We empower bullies.  Bullies smell weakness and they prey on the weak.  When no one stands up to them, they create a toxic environment.
• We fail to embrace diversity by having healthy disagreement over non-essentials while choosing to walk forward in relationship.
• We fail to articulate the most important things.  When we say “no” to something or someone, we are actually saying, “yes” to a greater value.  Conversely, when we say “yes” to lesser values by being silent or by avoiding conflict, we are saying, “no” to our greater values.

Conflict is necessary for leaders to have.  It isn’t always easy.  It isn’t always pleasant.  Then, again, not everyone is qualified to lead.  If you aren’t willing to tell people you love and people you are leading that they are wrong, then you cannot be a leader.  Likewise, if you are unwilling to listen to input from others because of the emotional weight of conflict, you are not qualified to lead.

So, how do you have conflict?

• Speak to the actions of people, not to their character.  Dysfunctional conflict personalizes disagreement.  I won’t have meaningful dialog with someone who calls names or belittles my person.
• Be quick to listen.
• Run to problems.  Get to conflict quick so it doesn’t have time to grow unnecessarily.  Stonewalling always makes things worse.
• Know that people can’t read your mind.  So, find the gift of “unknowing.”  When you are speaking to someone about something that they’ve done that hurts you, assume that they are oblivious to it.  Give them the benefit of the doubt and start there.
• Be pleasant.  Just because someone has done something you don’t like doesn’t mean that are a bad human.  It just means they did something you didn’t like.  Begin with that understanding and you will see resolution sooner than if you begin from the perspective that a person is bad or faulty.
• Engage in the Matthew 18:15-17 path for conflict resolution.  Approach the person privately first.  If you do that, you are more likely to preserve the relationship.  If you attack someone in front of other people, expect that they will be defensive.  That’s only natural.  Ultimately, the goal is to preserve a relationship as well as clarify an issue.

The benefits of creating a culture that runs toward conflict:

• If you run to conflict, people will know that’s how you function.  As a result, a lot of the nonsense that happens when gossipers, bullies, and troublemakers feel they have free reign will disappear.
• Good, drama-free people will feel safe that someone is there to go to bat for them.
• A culture of honesty and forthrightness will be created.  And, you’ll be benefitted by increased insight and a liberating environment.
• People will not equate disagreement with disunity.  If everyone had to have the same opinions all the time, we’d have a boring and lonely existence.
• People wouldn’t carry around unspoken offenses.  The truth is a lot of people are too easily offended.  But, when something is on your heart and you have a culture that values kind, direct, and one-on-one conflict resolution, the angst associated with sharing it will largely go away and a good freedom emerges.
• Lastly, if you value diverging opinions, you will be enriched by a diversity of insights.  Cultuvate a multitude of solutions by encouraging divergent insights.

Shofar Shogood: Or, Why We Can Worship on Any Day in Any Place

From time to time, a well meaning person wanting to reconnect with the Jewish roots of Christianity will press for answers on why we don’t have church on the Sabbath.  Or, a shofar and a prayer shawl will show up in the back of the church and a horn will blow unexpectedly.  That always freaks people out, by the way.

There are also a host of Jewish feasts that we could observe if we wanted to (Tabernacle, Atonement, Trumpets, etc…).  It wouldn’t be wrong for us to do that.  But, observing other cultures special days and cultural distinctions don’t save us.  I certainly affirm people’s right to observe those things.  But, they certainly do not save us or prove that we are more spiritual than someone else.  The bottom line is that Americans or Gentiles don’t have to become Jewish to follow the Jewish revolutionary, hammer-swinging redneck Jesus.  We simply must follow Him.

With that said, I want to share some Scriptures on the question about why we don’t observe the Sabbath as THE day to worship corporately.

SABBATH vs. THE LORD’S DAY

The Early Church in the Book of Acts would gather together on the Sabbath in the Synagogue to worship.  But, Scripture shows that the early church also worshipped on “The Lord’s Day,” which was the first day of the week and commemorated the day Jesus rose from the dead.  Even, John the Revelator in Revelation 1:10 said, He was in the Spirit on “the Lord’s Day.”

Scripture doesn’t emphatically state that we began observing “The Lord’s Day” as the official day for worship. But, history shows that largely the Church has done so beginning in the 1st century until now.  There are basically three views on the day we worship corporately:

1. 7th Day Adventists observe Saturday Sabbath as THE day to worship.
2. Some Christians, believe Sunday is the new sabbath.
3. Still others see no compulsion in the New Testament to observe any particular day as the day to worship together and to bring the offerings together. I believe that according to Scripture, there is no compulsion for a specific day to be observed…only that we not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as some have done (Hebrews 10:25).

Anyway, here are some pertinent passages that can speak for themselves and explain a bit about why we can worship on any day, as well as, offering a glimpse into why we don’t have to convert to Jewishness to follow Jesus.

Sunday worship observed by the New Testament Church:

Quote:

Acts 20:7 7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.

Offerings brought on the first day of the week:

Quote:

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 1 Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

Worshipped daily in the Temple and at home where they celebrated the Lord’s Supper:

Quote:

Acts 2:46-47 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

No day is more holy than any other and which ever day you worship corporately on is acceptable:

Quote:

Romans 14:5-6 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

Don’t let anyone condemn you for not observing the Sabbath because Jesus is the Sabbath:

Quote:

Colossians 2:16-17 16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

And, while Paul was writing specifically about pagan observances, he continues a theme which inspires freedom from these observances letting us know again, it isn’t about the day or the place, it’s about the man Christ Jesus!

Quote:

Galatians 4:8-10 8 Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. 9 So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? 10 You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.

With all that was addressed in these passages and in the Jerusalem Council (acts 15) and even in Paul’s ensuing backtracking on the very few guidelines laid down by the Jerusalem Council, I can’t imagine how in the world, we would continuously allow someone try to saddle us with requirements which undercut the fact that our salvation is in Christ.

Also, the next time someone shows up at Life Pointe and bounces around in the back row with what appears to be a unicorn horn (Shofar) and a blue tablecloth (prayer shawl) on their head, know that he isn’t any more spiritual than you.  Just understand that he’s trying to play an ancient musical instrument without a lot of practice.  I say if you’re going to try and blow air through an animal horn, at least come to band practice so we can try to get you tooting to the right beat!