vision statements

I've been slaving over the creation of a variety of statements that are poetic, punchy, meaningful, profound, pithy, etc. Because when you express an interest in planting a church, you're supposed to have a bunch of statements like that. You have to have your purpose statement, your vision statement and your mission statement. You have to write out your goals, your strategy and your values. You need 10 words that all start with the letter Q that describe the church's DNA, and an acronym like "P.R.O.S.E.L.E.T.Y.Z.E" that outlines your outreach strategies.

I love dreaming about the possibility of a great, Biblical church in downtown San Diego that reaches people in need of God. I love talking about it with others. But I'm not very good at that other stuff. What I am pretty good at is stealing. So I've borrowed some Vision/Purpose/Mission statements from great churches (luckily, most good churches do basically the same things).

"to help people to find and follow Jesus Christ." (hmmm, definitely familiar)

"love God, love others, serve the world."

"to bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name."

"We are a community of followers of Jesus Christ, committed to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope."

"... to create environments where people are encouraged and equipped to pursue intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders."

I'd love to hear what others think. Don't get me wrong, we're not voting. I just want to hear your opinions...

who's your sherpa?

Over the past few years, I've been fascinated by the stories of those who've climbed the world's tallest mountains. From those who've reached the top of Everest or K2, to those who've completed the so-called 7 summits, the narratives of their challenges and accomplishments are riveting.

Last week on the radio, I was listening to a guy who is planning to climb Everest next year. He was joined by his Sherpa, Ang Dawa. This was notable because traditionally, climbers in the Himalayas don't meet their guides until they arrive at the base of the climb, and as instrumental as the Sherpas are to success, they usually don't receive the acclaim or publicity of those whom they guide.

I think this is ironic, because it has become universally accepted that climbing the Himalayas without a Sherpa is close to impossible. They are experienced mountaineers with an extensive knowledge of the area, and whose very physiology is adapted to the region. First time climbers don't have the strength, experience, knowledge or lungs to accomplish this feat by themselves.

My mountaineering experience is pretty close to zero. I have climbed the highest mountain in So Cal (see inset of me on Mt. San Gorgonio) at a lofty 14,499', which means that I stood a mere 17,000 vertical feet shy of the summit of Everest. Not so exciting. But I do see the value of the Sherpa. And I realize that in my walk with God, I've had a number of people act as my spiritual Sherpas at various times.

These are people who had a little more time with God, a little more knowledge of His Word, more ministry, more time in prayer and a willingness to help me get a little higher and a bit farther than I'd been before. Dennis, Rick, Craig, Drew and (of course) my Mom and many others have played that role at one time or another, and I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Unlike Everest or Denali, however, this climb of christianity doesn't have a summit. At every stage, with each new challenge, we need people who will help us, guide us and shoulder some of our burden. I'm not sure who my next guide will be, but I am actively looking. And I think it's a question that needs to be asked of all of us: Who's your Sherpa?

called or driven?

I'm currently reading Gordon MacDonald's devotional classic "Ordering Your Private World." The book has a tremendous premise: to their detriment, Christians (and especially pastors) tend to focus on the seen life, when their private lives are much more fundamental in their ultimate success or failure.

His message really hit home for me on many occasions, but the chapter which dealt with our motivation for Christian leadership hit me like a punch in the gut. MacDonald believes that some lead in response to God's calling, and some lead because they are internally driven. Some unfortunate symptoms he identified of those who are driven:

1. A driven person is most often gratified only by accomplishment.
(success is found only in a goal achieved, never in the journey or in lessons learned)

2. A driven person is preoccupied with the symbols of accomplishment.
(it only feels like success if others know and celebrate it)

3. A driven person is usually caught in the uncontrolled pursuit of expansion.
(there can never be enough success/accomplishment to satisfy)

4. Driven people tend to have a limited regard for integrity.
(ends justify means)

5. Driven people are not likely to bother themselves with the honing of people skills.
(there is usually a "trail of bodies" in the wake of the driven leader. "He's really hard to work with, but he sure gets things done" should never characterize the Christian leader)

6. Driven people tend to be highly competitive.
(self worth comes from besting others)

7. A driven person often possesses a volcanic force of anger.
(because his identity is in his accomplishment, anyone that might make him look bad can be the recipient of his sarcasm, biting remarks or unrestrained anger)

8. Driven people are usually abnormally busy, are averse to play, and usually avoid spiritual worship.

These are characteristics that I've often recognized in my own life. I think most driven leaders were called at one time, and at various points, they get off track (think of King Saul, I Samuel 10-31). What we need is to reacquaint ourselves with the voice of God and its primacy in our lives. We need to ask again some foundational questions: What's important to God? Who am I in Him? What are His metrics of success? And finally, what is God asking me to do? When we choose to move in response to His voice, instead of the urging of our ego, we'll find peace, confidence and true success.


"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had: Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross." Philippians 2:5-8.

pound it

Last week, amid all the last minute scrambling and politicking by Clinton and Obama, one moment caught my eye as being noteworthy. Just as Obama was getting ready for his coronation speech as the presumptive Democratic nominee, there was an exchange between Barack and his wife, Michelle. It was subtle, and appeared to be impromptu. They hugged, and then, warmly smiling at each other, bumped fists. Obama then proceeded to give his speech to thousands of worshiping supporters.

The moment with his wife was significant because it stood apart from much of what we've seen this year. For many candidates (especially the Republicans -- with Janet Huckabee as a clear exception), it seems like the year of the trophy wife. For the Democrats, the massively dysfunctional Clintons have claimed center stage. The Obama's relationship, however, has consistently appeared to be relatively normal and caring. Far from appearing staged, the fist pound was a snapshot of what appears to be a healthy marriage.

I can't help placing this moment alongside Al and Tipper Gore's very awkward mutual "face plant" kiss during the 2000 presidential election. In stark contrast to that unnatural and clearly staged moment, somehow it's reassuring to see a couple that can be comfortably affectionate in public. I think it's the same feeling a child has when he sees his parents holding hands. Knowing that the Obamas may very well be residing in the White House for the next four years, I'm glad to know that: 1. they're young enough to pull off the fist pound, and 2. that they still like each other. Even if I'm not in love with all of their political views, the Obamas represent levels of health and normalcy that have been far too often absent from the White House.

a great cloud of witnesses

This last weekend, for the first time since I can remember, I didn't attend church. Joy was raising money for Team Darfur by running in San Diego's Rock 'n Roll Marathon, so I decided to support her. Some might ask why I didn't join her in this overtly masochistic endeavor. I would remind those inquiring of the history of the sport. The man who originated the marathon, upon completing the 26.2 mile run, promptly fell over dead. I much prefer the role of supportive and pain-free boyfriend.

As I was waiting at mile 20 for her, I was impressed by a number of things. There were some great bands, awesome supporters, and the "running Elvi" were there in full force. But my immediate reaction to the spectacle was the one that has lasted longest. I couldn't believe how many enthusiastic fans and supporters there were. They waved hand lettered signs, rang cowbells, and shouted themselves hoarse. They weren't just standing at the finish line; they were stretched out over twenty six miles. And I could clearly see the effects of their cheers on each runner's expression and posture. When others are watching us, especially if they're encouraging us, we run better and farther. Joy said that she never would have made it without support and encouragement. I'm sure that was true of most of the participants.

As I watched these great fans yell and applaud for people they didn't even know, I was reminded of Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

I can think of a number of applications for this verse for me, for Christians and for the local church, but from my current life-perspective, one thought elbows the others out: can the local church look more like a rock 'n roll marathon? Can we be a little uninhibited and undignified in our encouragement of one another? If so, maybe our support will result in someone finding release from sin, or strength to continue when things are hard, or the guts to cast off something that's slowing them down. I think those are things I'd be willing to lose my voice for.

church leadership conference

I had the opportunity to attend a conference last week where I was going to meet with a number of church planters. I've always enjoyed hanging out with these guys; they are people who tend to be very creative risk-takers who aren't afraid to try new things. They have literally risked everything on the dream that they believe God has given them. The daunting task of starting a church from scratch also tends to make them great people of faith and prayer.

I went to this conference hoping to glean some practical advice about launching a church, and maybe to help me to decide if it's something I should pursue. Not surprisingly, God had something for me that wasn't on the conference schedule.

The first night, an Australian named Jossy Chacko (yes, that's really his name) spoke briefly. He felt that God had given him a vision to plant 100,000 churches in India by the year 2030. Honestly, I was blown away by the audacity of his vision. And, impressively, he's on track to fulfill it. I couldn't wait to hear more about his organizational structure, training and promotion.

The next morning, I caught him in the hallway. As we spoke, there were a couple of things that became obvious: 1.He did his homework. He had spent a lot of time and thought in creating a sound organization with Biblical discipleship at its core. And 2. His greatest concern with regards to church planting had nothing to do with a leadership model, promotion or organization. Instead, he talked about prayer, fasting, reading the Bible and seeking wise counsel.

I've had a lot of conversations lately regarding the topic of launching a church. Invariably, they cover the gamut of relevant issues, from demographics to ministry paradigms, through funding and promotion and back again. But when I talked to Jossy about my desire to start a church, he talked only about seeking God. He told me "If it is God's will, He will build His church" (Matthew 16:18). It would be easy to dismiss his advice as being oversimplified or culturally irrelevant. But Jossy is an educated, first world Christian with business experience and cultural savvy. He is also heading an organization that has successfully planted hundreds of churches in a part of the world thought to be completely inhospitable to the Gospel.

I would be an idiot to try to start a church without adequate research or organization. But I've committed to seek God's face and His will before anything else in this process. If you're a believer, I appreciate your prayers as well.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need" Matthew 6:33

(more) tolerance for truth

For a statistically based look at this cultural phenomenon (see below), check out this article from the Wall Street Journal.