The Sacred Shelf

The Sacred Shelf

There is a shelf in my office with books on it. Sure, there are quite a few shelves like it, but one shelf in particular holds 7 books that I hold sacred. These books are incredibly special to me. Each of these books have impacted my life in real ways; my life changed when I read these books for the first time. My life continues to change as I reread them each year. Two of them are written to pastors, but all of them are relevant and powerful. My notes and a few autographs make these books irreplaceable (to me). I wouldn’t sell them. No way.

So here, in no particular order, is my sacred shelf. Read through it and see if there is something that peaks your interest. Let me encourage you to read. Reading continues to change my life.

1. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness, by Eugene Peterson. Eugene is my favorite author. You may recognize his name as the guy who paraphrased The Message Bible. I got him to autograph this copy. It is worn and highlighted. He wrote it back in the 80‘s (way before it’s time, in my opinion). This book is what pushed me over the edge to pursue vocational ministry. It is direct, it is challenging, it is uncomfortably authentic. My favorite quote: “A successful writer will discover a workable plot and write the same book over and over all his life to the immense satisfaction of his readers. The readers can be literary without thinking or dealing with truth. Prostitute writer. A successful pastor will discover a workable program and repeat it in congregation after congregation to the immense satisfaction of her parishioners. The church members can be religious without praying or dealing with God. Prostitute pastor.”
   
   
2. Pentecostal Theology and the Christian Spiritual Tradition by Simon Chan. This is a book where I get really nerdy. It isn’t a book, really...it is a journal from the Pentecostal Theology Supplemental Series. It is also out of print and very difficult to find. Anyway, Chan talks in this book on how Pentecostal tradition has defined “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” and he gives clear and researched arguments for traditioning, implementation, tongues, and how the church lives. It is a very practical and “normal” way to interpret tongues in the various contexts. I hate the stigmas that Pentecostals have inherited, and, I feel, if more people were to study Chan’s work, it could be lived out differently and in a more normal way. (So much for ShakeyourbonbonIseethebikini...say it fast...it’s like talking in tongues)
   
   
3. (Re)Understanding Prayer by Kyle Lake. Wonderful, practical book on prayer. Kyle was a pastor in Texas (University Baptist) when he wrote this book. I love it. Very readable and simple. He also speaks my Gen-X language. Kyle died several years ago. This book is great.
   
   
4. The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman. It is a foundational book that all couples should read. “Brilliant cheese” is my one liner review. He’s old school, he’s old, and he’s cheesy...but the material is golden. I require all the couples I counsel to read and discuss this book with me (along with Dave Ramsey’s book on money). If you read and apply the principles here, your relationships will be better off. I reread it to stay grounded and challenged to love my wife and my daughter in their own unique way.
   
   
5. A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness by Gene Edwards. Classic leadership and brokenness book. I usually have interns and young staff leaders read this book with me in coaching. It is written as a poetic expression of three leaders and three perspectives. It is a very ground level book for leadership, in my opinion.
   
   
6. The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry by Henri Nouwen. This is quite possibly one of the only books that have made me sit in a fetal position and rock back and forth. It is hauntingly personal and developmental for a spiritual experience. It covers three disciplines and weaves their importance altogether: silence, solitude, and prayer. I thought about becoming a monk after reading this the first time. It is deep. It is challenging. Read with caution.
   
   
7. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henri Nouwen. Henri made the shelf twice! That’s only because he was brilliant (he’s dead). This book is a response of his own leadership findings after a huge life transition. He speaks to the leadership and the big temptations of Christ (to be relevant, spectacular, and powerful). Truly a brilliant work. Very small book, but packs power in its punch. If you are a leader and haven’t read this book, stop and go buy it.
   

So, what are your favs? Do you have books (or blogs or whatever) that have changed your life? Care to share?

Planning a quick, slow death

I used to be a week to week type of dude. I looked at a week, I planned for it, and that was that. It worked perfectly. The only time I really needed to work ahead was when I had vacation days coming up. I wasn’t a procrastinator, but I did occasionally find more work at the end of the week than I would have liked.

When I was a youth pastor, a week to week approach worked pretty perfectly. When I started growing my career, I found that it was, well...stupid. I was led to this thinking by several random questions that I kept asking:

• Why would a pastor only write a sermon a few days before delivery?
• Why would a band work on a piece of music mere hours before it was to be shared with an audience?
• Why in the world would I allow my time to be sucked away by poor planning?
  

The reality is this: crap happens. Week to week is slow death. This lesson is one my teams have helped me to learn, and that we are constantly working on. Everyone affects everyone. That means my sermon prep affects the music folks, and their excitement over new songs affects my sermon prep. When we work together, we have to work out in front of our goals, and we have to work hard.

Right now, I have the privilege of working with 9 different teams each weekend. We rely on each other. Along with that, we work with 4-5 other prep teams for what we have to accomplish. It’s sort of a funny flowchart, but there is no way we could accomplish our goal if we worked week to week. Since I am a part of the teams, from concept to delivery, it is quite daunting to think of the work we have to accomplish, and do so on time. I’m lucky to work with several pros who help this along. I simply ask questions at this point.

Getting to our current planning process (regarding our teaching series) has been quite the journey. I believe each team has to find their own rhythm and chemistry in the implementation. However, if you lead a team, you had better be helping them plan and plan in advance. We work about 3-4 months out on concept before delivery. That means that we work on it before the deadline. Our goal is to get to 6 months out. We’re not there yet.

I’ve included a snapshot of our process. Click on it and enlarge it. Look it over. If it helps you think or change your own normal, awesome. If you have something that can make our lives better, PLEASE SHARE IT.

Of course, Murphy lingers (ya know, Murphy's law?) and causes us to change course from time to time. Our goal is not to be so structured that we can't adapt. Our goal is to be structured enough, so that when we feel the need to change course, we can do so without utter chaos and disorder... but that's another post : )

That's Not My Job

I used to hear those words and cringe. Honestly, at times I have thought those were some of the most selfish words ever spoken, especially when it comes to working on a team. Over the years, I’ve learned and lived the difference between being willing to serve and being willing to lower the average.

Andy Stanley wrote a book called, The Next Generation Leader. The main principle that I took away is this: do what only you can do. This has applied to me in a lot of different ways. For instance, this week I will do tasks that no one else around me can do as well as I. BUT, when someone joins our team that can do it better than me (or at least 75% as well), I will gladly hand the task off. It hasn’t always been that way, though.

Throughout my time as a pastor (about 9 years...man, I am getting old), one of the things I have been really good at is organizing events: concerts, conferences, humanitarian efforts, mission trips, etc. I actually enjoy doing it. I’m pretty good at it. But, that’s not what God put me in ministry to do...I am not an event planner. I am a leader...I am a pastor...I am a coach...I am a multiplier. If I just planned events over and over, it would be OK. But, if I lean in to my calling and passions, more events get planned. I say this matter-of-factly, and with the text, there’s no emotion attached to it. Many of the events I planned weren’t fun. But, then there is Kenya.

I love Kenya. I love taking teams of people to work with my friends, Danny and Chrissy Bass. The day is fast approaching that I will hand off those teams to others. I dread that day...but I know it is for the best. I am empowering others and multiplying the ministry. I’m like this foundation type of guy...setting it up, doing it, and handing it off. But Kenya, I love this one dearly.

So, what do I do? Do I hold on to leading trips and teams because I am passionate about it? Or do I obey what I know God has called me to do and hand this piece off? What if God has something better planned for my gifts? What if, instead of one team every year or two, He’s getting me ready for something bigger? What if he is getting the work in Kenya ready for something bigger? That seems to be the trend so far. I should be leaning into this with excitement, but I don’t know the end result, yet.

I can empower and release leaders. Others can lead, others should lead. I should empower and release them to lead. If I don’t, not only am I holding back the passion and leadership of others, but I am short changing myself and God’s greater purpose. I want to lean in and do my job...

What has God called you to do that no one else can do? What’s your purpose? Are you chasing after that? Maybe it’s time to take a next step...like I seem to always be doing. Maybe, for you, it’s time to take a first step and discover. What do you think? Where are you on this journey?

Vintage Video

When I was a youth pastor, we shot this video. Audio is not great, and the dude who did the shooting/ editing is now a big shot living in Cali doing video work and making a name for himself.
Most of the kids in this video have now graduated or is in high school. Man, I'm getting old.
Enjoy.

What is love? (according to kids) from nate drye on Vimeo.

Sidetracked (look! a squirrel!)

Being sidetracked is a weakness of mine. My brain thinks about several things at once. For instance, right now, I am wondering what the people behind me are doing (I’m on a couch at Panera). Now, I am rereading my words and correcting the spelling/ grammar/ mistypes. Then there’s the temptation to head over to facebook real quick and check a couple of things, and email... Annoying, huh? I suppose another way of saying this is to “stay focused.” But I like the idea of sidetracked. It just hits home for me.

The main point, however we say it, is to not lose sight of the goal. This is true for in the moment, throughout the week, or over a period of years. For those of us who lead people, when we get sidetracked, we lose a lot: time, energy, momentum. Once we lose these things, we can’t get them back, we can only start over. Starting over is sometimes needed. Start over a lot, and you’ll lose.

So, over the years I have learned a few tips to help my sidetracking ways. I’m sure there’s a better list, this one is just mine. I’ll admit, if I could go back in time and read this list as a 20 years old, I would consider it extremely dorky. I don’t expect anyone to be as dorky as I am with this type of stuff. But, if you can get value out of it for your own strategy in leading other people, awesome. Find something that helps you; share it with others.

• Make a daily plan. 

  I have my “to do” list. It is always evolving and rarely gets completed by the end of the day. It combines work and personal stuff, because they’re both important. I use the app Evernote for this.

• Don’t lose the ideas! 

  Find a way to catalog them. Again, I use Evernote for this. I call them Brainstorms. I type them in the app as soon as I have them. Every week, I look through them and toss the ones I don’t think will stick. I hang on to the ones that I think are brilliant, and I share a few precious ones with others before they evolve into daily tasks (to do list) and pursue them.

• Make a quarterly goal.
  
Do this with each team you serve or lead with. Develop your way of getting there. Make that into action steps. Chip away at it throughout the quarter.

• Schedule your connections.
  
I know this sounds incredibly dorky, but if I don’t limit my email, facebook, twitter, or phone conversations, they will take up my entire day (especially with the blessing/ curse of the smartphone). Turn off the email and the internet and make appointments in your calendar each day to focus on them. I have 3 30 minute appointments during my work day for these. I also use TweetDeck to schedule and update my own posts. Interaction is huge. Give it time. Just don’t let it suck your productivity.

• Schedule play time. 

  Psychologists tell us that we have a threshold for self control. That means that it is quantitative (I can literally run out of self control). So, it is really important that I have time set aside that has no restraint. That usually happens on my day off, but I also try and make it an everyday thing. Whether it is walking around aimlessly at the office and talking to everyone, or reading blogs that I like, or going golfing...I make it a part of my schedule to do these things. In a way, it’s like I am tricking my inner rebel into thinking that I am wasting time. It’s on purpose.

• Determine when you’ve had enough before you have enough.

  Sounds like an eating rule, right? Well, it is. It’s also a good way to schedule your time at the office (if you have that flexibility). I have found that I can always find one more thing to accomplish before I leave the office. The problem lies within that thinking, though...because I can easily work another 2-3 hours without even thinking about it. I have a time limit, and it’s been a challenge to just LEAVE. But, I am getting better...and more productive.

• Read.

  Yes, it’s that important. Videos are cool, but reading is essential to leading. I don’t care what anyone else says, reading brings the biggest bang for my leadership buck. It doesn’t even matter if it is a leadership book, there are principles and nuggets everywhere. I have a bookmark folder for regular blog readings that I visit every day. I don’t read every blog every day, but I pick and choose. I read 2-3 books at a time, now. I love it. I usually get a book or two down each week. I am a nerd. I didn’t just get this way, though. I am 12 years into a reading habit. I assume it will get worse. Not a reader? Start with blogs. Read mine. Go to the column on the right and find some that I like. Make a habit of RSS feeds. Start there, every day...see what’s out there. I bet you will find cooler things out there than you could have imagined. Make the jump...those you lead are begging you to jump.

• Re-read.

  In my office there is a shelf of books I treasure. I re-read them every year (the titles are another blog post). They are precious books, and there re about 7 of them right now. Find your favorites and re-read at least once a year. Saturate yourself in them. The book of Proverbs is a wonderful place to start. This not only feeds me when it comes to leadership, but as a spiritual person, a father, a lover, and a man.

• Work Ahead.

  It’s like debt. Once you get behind, there’s little hope to catching up on your own. Manage your work like you would if you had to be away for a month. Start that habit NOW. It makes those you work with (and for) happier to work with you. this pays HUGE dividends.

Of course, this list is not original. I have gleaned and made personal the principles I have read (Scott Belsky, Seth Godin, and Rick Warren have made HUGE impact on me) and habitually practiced. I don’t do all of these perfectly, and, contrary to my dorky persona, I’m constantly challenged by this list. I hope you find something in this post to inspire you. If you did, share it with others.

End of the World- May 21

I was recently emailed by our office staff about calls we have received regarding the end of the world prediction on May 21. I was specifically asked how we (as a church) should respond to these calls.

Also, the calls we're getting are mostly from people who have never been to our church before, but they're wanting to know what we think. That part is pretty cool, that people want our opinion and will listen.

Here's my response, and I am sure the office staff will tailor this in a way that will be welcoming and loving.

There's a group of people that surface about every ten years and they make predictions about the end of the world. They like to use scripture with their predictions. Our church has no affiliation and does not recognize these groups as their very predictions contradict the words of Jesus (Jesus said NO ONE knows the day or the hour of his return in Matthew 24 and Mark 13) and they deter people from a true God given mission.

Therefore, we do not study these predictions or the people who make them, or really have anything to say regarding their predictions other than the above (that it is not based on a good interpretation of scripture).

Other pastors may have a more compassionate or wise way of saying this. I tend to err on the arrogant and cynical side of this as it is completely ludicrous, or, at least, every prediction regarding stuff like this has been ludicrous thus far. It seems history is repeating itself again.

What do you think? Too direct? (I have been known for that)

Either way, Saturday will come and go like the ones before, and we will all forget about this until the next prediction. I do like what Matthew Paul Turner has to say about this, as well. Go check that out.

And, for you pet lovers, here's a service for you that you may need to check out (caution: I am being sarcastic--thanks Stacie for the link to this).

God or pizza?

When I became a follower of Jesus, I was told that I would be able to "hear from God." As I grew (both in age and in my faith journey), I discovered that I would frequently credit God for a lot of things. I remember one night in college after binging on pizza (this particular story only involved pizza and soda...although I am sure other mind numbing vices could have produced funnier revelations, both are ill advised btw) with my buddies, I seemed to have some clarity around what God wanted me to do. Apparently, I have thought that God told me:

• Which college to go to
• What girl to date
• What girl to not date, but hang out with (in retrospect, this one was especially ridiculous)
  
• Which color pants to wear
• How much debt I should go into
• What scripture verses I should read
  

And the list goes on. It wasn't until I went to college (ya know, the one "God told me to go to") that I discovered how immature I really was. Once my belief system was challenged, I really started to grow. I studied scripture, asked questions of more mature followers of Jesus, and prayed quite a bit; I learned a few things about how God talks to us:

• He has said a lot in the Bible. Many times, all I need to do is dig and pray and I find some "God moments" (moments when scripture takes on more clarity, moments when I know for sure that God is using His word to speak to me right now, moments when I realize what I'm asking for is not really what I'm asking for...)
• He doesn't break open the clouds and give the Monty Python moment very often...in fact, this didn't happen a lot in the Bible at all. And, I have never met (nor do I wish to meet) anyone this has happened to outside of the Bible stories
• He very seldom gives outright direction for my decisions. I remember occasions where I thought God was telling me to do something (see above list); I understand that it was 99% self driven...maybe even the effects of a late night pizza binge. Now, I am not trivializing God's process and direction, I am trivializing myself and my understanding...there is a difference. What I have found is that God provides us all we need to move forward with our lives...and, contrary to many people's assumptions, God really doesn't care what job I have, where I go to eat tomorrow, what I wear today...what He is concerned with is who I am, how I am growing, are my needs being met, and what I am doing to show Him love (Kingdom work). Before you begin typing your response or rebuttal to this statement, really wrestle with the depth of those words.
  
• He continues to speak through all of nature. Paul talks about how God speaks through creation. That means, I can see glimpses of His Kingdom (direction, hope, love, etc.) by the things I see (nature, entertainment, books, people, all creations). That doesn't mean that these things are sacred, only that the divine can't help but to occasionally leak through His own creation...no matter how flawed we all may be.
  
• He does speak to me. It is always something subtle that I recognize after the fact, though. The writer of I Kings describes it as a whisper, something still and quiet. I find that my conscience leans in to God's direction when I submit myself. That usually means I quiet my own voice to hear another.
  

I don't know where you are or who you listen to...I don't know if you have ever heard from God or whether you question the validity of that notion. I do know that many people have said they have heard from God (myself included), and I know they have been wrong many times (myself included). So, when you determine how you learn and listen to God, what do you do when someone does something they say God TOLD them to do? Because, this has happened (9/11, crusades, abortion clinic bombing...the list goes on and on).

After having interacted with my share of idiots (myself included), I have some insight and advice. If I come across anyone who says that God has told them to (insert action here), I respond with skepticism. This probably isn't the most healthy of responses, but it's honest. I usually just take a step back and avoid that person because those are bigger words than I care to interact with. However, if I must address and interact with them, I will do the following:

• Hold their words up to God's truths (Bible). If it contradicts scripture, RUN.
• If the person is dogmatic, close minded, or pride filled with their words, RUN (this causes me to discredit many "rock star" televangelists or evangelical "perch sitters").
• Hold their words up to the fruit of their lives. If what they say contradicts how they live, RUN.
• Pray for God to grant me peace and understanding about what I have heard, and to "close the door" on the situation/ direction if it is not from Him. (This is the big one)
  

One thing I know for certain: even when I was immature with my faith, God somehow helped my direction. Paul said it so beautifully, that God will continue to journey with me.

I may mess some things up, other people may mess some things up, we all occasionally may look like idiots, but God is bigger than all of that. He cares, He speaks, and He directs. He may not have directed me to a late night pizza binge that sparked self centered decisions early in my faith, but boy has He seemed to use even that to turn me and point me forward. We never stop growing...