LRC Email -- LRCPlexVipr3D Radar

Here's the email I sent out to Leadership Reno County alums on 5/20/13:

Don’t you love those snazzy names that meteorologists have for their radar systems?  The subject line of this email is my attempt at coming up with something for our group.  We need some sort of radar that helps us in diagnosing the situation when raising the heat, or, as KLC’s Raise the Heat resource asks, “How do you know when to raise the heat?”

Some answers:

■ If you are the only one doing the work and things are going slowly.

■ When time pressures are requiring action.

■ When people are bringing “elephant in the room” type issues to your attention outside the main group meeting time.

■ When you aren’t feeling satisfied with the amount of progress.

■ If you aren’t doing any of the work.

■ When you feel burning questions inside of you that aren’t being addressed.

(It was noted that it may NOT be time to raise the heat when you have severely entrenched opposing views.)

So, again, as the weather warms, let it be a reminder to you that you may very well need to engage in an act of leadership and raise the heat.  And see if it doesn’t help us make progress on issues in our community we care about deeply.  To that end…

Weekend Recap - The Creator's Throne

My sermon from 5/19/13 entitled The Creator's Throne from Revelation 4:1-11 is now online.  This sermon continues our church's work through the book of Revelation and really helps us get a glimpse into this God we serve.  Specifically, in this text, we see that He's Holy, He's Worthy of Praise and He's the Creator of all things.  He's pictured in this chapter as sitting on a throne.

I hope you're drawn in to worship and awe Him through this picture of Him in His Word.

World's Population Infographic

Loved seeing this graphic, which has profound implications for what we do in reaching out to others with the Gospel...

(HT: Vitamin Z)

Dangerous Calling Email - Mediocrity

Here's the email I wrote to elders and deacons at Crestview today:

Today, the final chapter of Dangerous Calling that was recommended for us to study after our last video session was chapter 10 entitled Mediocrity.  I resonate with much in this chapter on mediocrity because I knew what was required of me when I worked in the secular world.  I worked for a fast food restaurant that was awarded #1 in the nation for customer service in 1991 (and we received a $50,000 bonus as a store).  I worked for Sam’s Club during seminary and found their standards for serving the customer were very high.  Even when I did marketing work for IBM, I achieved awards for my work not by slacking, but by being efficient and excellent in all that I tried to do.  So, in the church, serving the King of kings and Lord of lords, how does my service line up.

Here’s Tripp’s way of exposing the issue: “Mediocrity is not a time, personnel, resource, or location problem. Mediocrity is a heart problem. We have lost our commitment to the highest levels of excellence because we have lost our awe. Awe amnesia is the open door that admits mediocrity. Awe of God is fear-producing, inspiring, motivating, convicting, and commitment producing. There is no replacement for this in the leadership of the church of Jesus Christ.” 

Today, then, maybe you’ve watched yourself grow slack in service.  The remedy for this heart issue is to return to your awe of the Savior.  Specifically, think about the picture we saw Sunday in Revelation 4-5 of the One seated on the Throne.  Awe Him.  And, let that translate to your service with the highest levels of excellence.  

LRC Email - Hopin' for a Heat Wave

Here's the email I wrote to leaders in Reno County this AM:

Yup, we’re back on the weather again.  While last week, I spoke of taking the temperature as a way to diagnose the situation, today, I want to encourage you to raise the heat.  Now, raising the heat affects things (even here in KS where we bemoan the cold weather and hope for warmer temperatures knowing that it will inevitably produce those tornadic May storm cells).  Raising the heat in our civic environs may be a risky adventure.  That’s why our raising of the heat must be purposeful and skillful.

Here’s one installment and simply a portion of the KLC’s Raise The Heat resource which gets at how we can raise the heat:

■ Use silence. Don’t jump in and answer the question for others. Let them do the work.

■ Allow more time. Tough issues will surface and progress will be made if you allocate enough time to let a group stew.

■ Grab the bull by the horns and declare a way forward after receiving input from others. Movement often raises the heat and gets people to engage more fully.

■ Lay out the consequences of inaction.

■ Define the roles of individuals and organizations, thus formally placing responsibility where it is needed most.

■ Use humor.

■ Provide an external reality check on the situation.

■ Identify the elephant in the room.

■ Ask open-ended questions.

So, as you consider how you might engage in an act of leadership by raising the heat, do it skillfully, purposefully and creatively so that we can make progress on those areas we care about deeply.

Hopin’ for a heat wave…

Weekend Recap - Worship God

My 5/12/13AM sermon is online.  Entitled Worship God, this sermon was an overview of Revelation 4-5 showcasing some reasons why the One seated on the throne and the Lamb are worthy of worship.  This is our eternal pole, our north star.  Here's how Spurgeon put it (a quote I used in my introduction from The Immutability of God):

"...plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea—be lost in His immensity. And you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul, so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow—so speak peace to the winds of trial—as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead."

Hope you had a great Mother's Day worshipping God as you honor families.

Dangerous Calling Email - The Danger of Familiarity and Humility

Here's the email I sent the elders and deacons of Crestview today:

In Chapter 8 of Paul Tripp’s book Dangerous Calling entitled Familiarity, he warns his readers of the dangers of becoming overly familiar with the things of God.  We have an awe-of-God crisis that must be engaged.  Later in the chapter, Tripp highlights what the awe of God will produce in the heart of a pastor that are vital for effective, God-honoring, productive ministry.  One area he points to is humility.

Here’s how Tripp introduces this idea: “There is nothing that will put you in your place, nothing that will correct your distorted view of yourself, nothing that will yank you out of your functional arrogance, or nothing that will take the winds out of the sails of your self-righteousness like standing, without defense, before the awesome glory of God.” 

He continues: “Somewhere along the way in ministry, too many [church leaders] have forgotten who they are.  They have a bloated, distorted, grandiose view of themselves that renders them largely unapproachable and allows them to justify things they think, desire, say and do that simply are not biblically justifiable.  I have been there and at times fall into being there again, and when I am there, I need to be rescued from me.  When you are too much in awe of you, you set up to be a self-righteous, controlling, overconfident, judgmental, unfalteringly opinionated, ecclesiastical autocrat, unwittingly building a kingdom whose throne will be inhabited by you, no matter how much you are able to convince yourself you do it all to the glory of God.” 

This week, we transition on Sunday mornings into Revelation 4-5.  Take some time and read through seeing how great God is.  As you see that reality, realize that this awe is meant to drive you in ministry.  Have a great week living out of this reality.

LRC Email - The Weather, Temperature and Reminders To Diagnose

Here's the email I sent out to leaders in Reno County:

It seems like every time I’m engaging in conversation with a casual acquaintance these days in Reno County, our dialogue turns to the weather.  Something like, “Will this winter ever end?” is offered as a talking point.  This caused my mind to jog to leadership competencies.  Most of us pay much closer attention to the physical weather than we do to the temperature of the leadership opportunities in which we are found.  When the weather is chilly, we’ll grab a jacket or sweatshirt to raise the heat.  When our situations seem to be cool, we wouldn’t think of raising the heat, because that might offend someone (or at the very least, we’re not willing to think of ways to skillfully intervene).  Today, I have a simple reminder: Take The Temperature.  This is part of diagnosing the situation. Taking the temperature might help us understand what’s happening and, in the end, help us make progress.   

A simple graphic on taking the temperature is found in KLC’s Pocket PlayBook: 

You can see that there are all kinds of ways of moving around this scale.  As we take the temperature, we get information that helps us step in to engage in an act of leadership (we’ll talk more about raising the heat next time).    

So, yes, the weather outside may be frightful.  But use it as a reminder to diagnose the situation by taking the temperature of your leadership opportunities and see if we aren’t able to make progress on the issues we care about deeply. 

With you in this amazing journey…

Weekend Recap - Called To Dependence

My sermon from 5/5/13AM entitled Called To Dependence from Revelation 3:14-22 is now online.  This sermon finished chapter 3 and the letters to the seven churches of Revelation.  It is Christ speaking to His people compelling them with the picture of who He is that they might depend on Him for true, spiritual life.  I hope it was helpful to those who heard.  And, I hope you had a great Lord's Day.

Sinners in Hands of a Loving God

That's the title of a chapter we recently explored in Small Groups (Gospel Identity, Chapter 6).  Many Christians live life as if God is angry with them when they mess up.  Much of this understanding isn't found in the reality that we are adopted sons and daughters of God, but rather in thinking of what are reality was apart from Christ.  When we discussed this chapter in small groups, there was an additional article entitled "Is God Angry With Me When I Sin?"  The issue has to do with God loving His children, disciplining them and what this looks like.  What's the difference between conviction and condemnation?

Here's how they answered it at the Village Church in a post entitled The Grace of Conviction:

1. Conviction might taste bitter to the tongue, but is sweet to the soul. God leads us toward life in Him even if it stings (Ps. 30:5).
2. Condemnation includes a stench of death and hopelessness (Rom. 8:2).
3. Conviction, though pointed at times, lightens the heart and soul of a person (Rom. 2:4).
4. Condemnation is overbearing and heavy upon the soul. It crushes because hope released from that burden falls square on the shoulders of something or someone other than the atoning work of Christ (Rom. 5:9).
5. In conviction, God’s love is seen very clearly. This means it is utterly inspired by love.
6. Condemnation turns everything inward toward self. So, rather than looking to the Lord for covering, provision and redemption, we look to self early and often in our shame and self-pity.

Those in Christ have been given the Holy Spirit to lead us into more and more holiness. Conviction is one of God’s sweetest gifts to His children. Rest in His grace and walk in His glorious light! Through conviction by the Holy Spirit, God both saves and sanctifies His children.

Today, then, be reminded of what God's done in the Gospel (maybe even by watching this video) and receive fresh grace from God to make you holy.  

God Loves You.

Watch and hear the good news of what God has done for you in Jesus.

This Sunday: Revelation 3 is a Wrap...

This coming Sunday, I plan to finish preaching through the seven churches of Revelation, specifically, dealing with Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22.  Here's some tweets I've written related to this passage:

When Jesus speaks, He speaks an an authoritative, reliable and relevant person. (Revelation 3:14)

Jesus knows your life and wants you to believe. (Revelation 3:15)
Casual Christianity (relating to God as it's comfortable) isn't appealing to Jesus. (Revelation 3:16)
Living life without an active dependence on God grossly underestimates your spiritual reality. (Revelation 3:17)
Jesus' counsel is that we come to Him as desperately needy people. (Revelation 3:18)
Jesus demonstrates His love by correcting those He loves, so we should nurture a heart for Him. (Revelation 3:19)
Hey! Jesus longs for fellowship with His people, so give Him a warm welcome. (Revelation 3:20)
When we persevere in Jesus, in the end we are given a hero's welcome by Him. (Revelation 3:21)
Open your ears and hear what Jesus has to say. (Revelation 3:22)


I hope you come ready for all the Risen Christ wants to communicate with you...

Dangerous Calling Email - War of Kingdoms

Here's my email for the week to leaders at Crestview from Paul Tripp's book, Dangerous Calling:

Today, we’re back in Tripp’s Dangerous Calling book thinking about Chapter 7, War Zones.  In introducing this idea, Tripp writes, “It took God employing pastoral hardship to get me to embrace the inescapable reality that everything I did in ministry was done in allegiance to and in pursuit of either the kingdom of self or the kingdom of God.  This truth is best exegeted for us in Matthew 6:19-34 (Please grab your Bible and read the passage).  I’m convinced that this passage is an elaborate unpacking of the thoughts, desires and actions of the kingdom of self.  Notice the turn in the passage in v.33, where Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God.”  The word “But” tells us this verse is the transition point of the passage.  Everything before it explains the operation of the other kingdom, the kingdom of self.  This makes the passage a very helpful lens on the struggle between the two kingdoms that somehow, some way, battle in the heart of everyone in ministry.” 

Tripp then unpacks 4 ministry treasure principles that are helpful in seeking to examine the motivations of our heart in ministry:

1) You will be treasure oriented in your ministry.

2) Your ministry treasures will command the allegiance of your heart.

3) What captures the allegiance of your heart will shape your ministry actions, reactions and responses. 

4) Your functional treasures are always attached to either the kingdom of self or the kingdom of God.

Today, will you ask God to shine the light on your service and ministry so that you may seek out whether you are serving the kingdom of self or God?  And, remember to run to God as your refuge.  

LRC Email - Once Upon A Time

Here's an email I wrote today to leaders in Reno County...

Howdy, Leadership Reno County People (sorry I was in TX last week)…

We’re all storytellers.  Whether it’s coming in from that long weekend to share our exciting exploits with others in the office or simply catching up with others by remembering when we did this or that, story looms large on the horizon of most of our lives. 

One of the contentions of the KLC curriculum is that to make progress on daunting issues, it requires that we act differently, that we engage in acts of leadership in different ways and this includes taking time to diagnose the situation.  The Quick Guide provides 2 questions that relate to story and help us come up with good diagnosis:

1) What’s our story about what’s going on here?

2) What story do we imagine others connected to our issue are telling?

Examining the story helps us diagnose the situation so that we can engage in acts of leadership in more skillful ways that propel us in the direction of progress.  Story matters.  So, next time you here someone sharing about “once upon a time” remember that dialing into this story might help you make progress on an issue that you care about. 

With you in the story of Reno County…

Weekend Recap - Called To Keep God's Word

My 4/28/13AM sermon, Called To Keep God's Word, from Revelation 3:7-13 is online.  Jesus, the Risen Christ, addresses the church at Philadelphia.  He shows what gives Him the authority the make a request and then lovingly encourages a group of faithful believers to keep His Word.  This short passage ends with future promises that help encourage the keeping of God's Word.

While there are varying opinions on the thrust of Revelation 3:10, it's easy to see the theme of keeping God's Word is the overarching theme of this passage.  I'm hopeful that as we worked through this, people were encouraged in their lives to persevere in challenging times by keeping God's Word.