who is man?

I remember a few months ago thinking a lot about the spirituality of advertising. Not so much how its evil and promotes greed and envy and what not, but rather, how advertisers use the spiritual to connect with us (and ultimately to connect us with their product).

Whether its the starbucks evangelist spreading the good news of the starbucks third-place experience or Nike's "Witness" campaign staring the miraculous feats of Lebron James, advertisers know that deep down, we resonate, we feel longing, we hunger for something significant, something mystical, something beautiful and right.

It speaks to our nature, our wiring, that juxtaposed mixture of dignity and depravity within. I came across another advertising video that does a powerful job of doing just that. It's an ad for a High-Def Television, but it evokes our wonder at nature and the infinite. Just watch this video and see what it stirs in your own heart, you'll see what I'm talking about.

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?"
- Psalm 8:3-4

"Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD?
Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice?
No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket.
They are nothing more than dust on the scales.
He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand."
- Isaiah 40:12-15

props for my peeps

hey everyone,

sorry for the drought of posts lately. life's gotten busy, and I've gotten quiet, which isn't always a bad thing. But nonetheless, I haven't had much to contribute to the great conversation of our lives or much to share from deep, soulful reflection.

but I do have some props for my peeps!

props to Tristan Mason, my brofriend and Pastor of Music Ministries at Christ Community Church in Plainfield, IL, who had an awesome post today reflecting on the struggle to live out honesty and spiritual health while doing church work. Check out his post, "the desert of the oasis" over at Radiate. He's got an awesome Rob Bell clip reflecting on the need to break out of our workaholism as ministers of the gospel, but since you're more likely to hit play than click away to yet another blog... here's the clip:

props to Brian Rice of LCI fame for a new blog called "Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way" that seeks to offer a primer on Ignatian spirituality to evangelicals interested in contemplative practices and spiritual growth. I'd have opportunities to learn about Fransician and Benedictine practices over the years, but Ignatius and his order were largely unknown to me until I started hanging out with Brian. He's got a passion for healthy, life-long leadership that's grounded in a well-developed personal spirituality. It's exciting to see him help "translate" catholic spirituality for an evangelical audience. He's just started so you can go back to the first post without feeling overwhelmed. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in spiritual formation.

props to Junior Jamreonvit for a recent post he wrote entitled "Year Two without Mom." Its definitely a tear jerker, but well worth the read. Junior's been a great friend of mine since our college days back at Biola, and I remember with fond affection his mom Penny. She was an amazing woman, incredibly generous and loving... I mean, beyond reason. She deeply loved her kids and her Savior, just an awesome woman of God. She was taken suddenly by a stroke, and I know the past few years have been hard for Junior, but to hear him share so honestly and lovingly about his mom is just amazing. Its a testimony to changed lives, to the beauty of Jesus, and the power of love.

three awesome guys in my life that I'd definitely recommend taking the time to read. that's it for now.

lifetime leadership lessons

Catalyst 09 is currently underway, and the Catalyst leadership has given Pastor Chuck Swindoll a lifetime achievement award for his enduring legacy in church leadership. As part of his acceptance, he spoke on "10 Things I Have Learned During Nearly 50 Years in Leadership." Its an incredible list and a great reminder to anyone involved in influencing others for the sake of God's Kingdom. Check it out:

1. It’s lonely to lead. Leadership involves tough decisions. The tougher the decision, the lonelier it is.
   
   
2. It’s dangerous to succeed. I’m most concerned for those who aren’t even 30 and are very gifted and successful. Sometimes God uses someone right out of youth, but usually he uses leaders who have been crushed
   
   
3. It’s hardest at home. No one ever told me this in Seminary.
   
   
4. It’s essential to be real. If there’s one realm where phoniness is common, it’s among leaders. Stay real.
   
   
5. It’s painful to obey. The Lord will direct you to do some things that won’t be your choice. Invariably you will give up what you want to do for the cross.
   
   
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary.
   
   
7. Attititude is more important than actions. Your family may not have told you: some of you are hard to be around. A bad attitude overshadows good actions.
   
   
8. Integrity eclipse image. Today we highlight image. But it’s what you’re doing behind the scenes.
   
   
9. God's way is better than my way.
   
   
10. Christlikeness begins and ends with humility.

Is there a particular lessons that stands out to you? I think #6 and #10 deeply resonate for me. Can you think of another lesson that you'd add to his list? Take some time to prayerfully examine your own motives for service and ministry as you read through his list. Good stuff.

knowing when to say, "when"

Earlier today I had a planning meeting for an upcoming all-staff meeting. We’ve been gearing up this fall to really sit with and examine core elements of our staff covenant, and I was asked to be a part of the planning for an all-staff centered on the issue of integrity.

This morning I had nothing. Coming off a youth group all-nighter, I’ve been dragging a bit this week and didn’t feel like I had much creativity or insight to contribute this morning to the planning meeting. As I walked into Pastor Aaron’s office where the meeting was to be held, he got up from his desk chair and while walking around the desk to greet me said, “I don’t feel like I’ve got much to contribute this morning, let’s just take some time to pray.”

In the moment, more than anything, I think I was pleasantly taken aback by his honesty and straight forwardness. We had a sweet time in prayer, simply affirming our need for God’s presence and direction, and that was it. Meeting over.

As I walked back over to my side of the church, I started mulling over what had just happened and it’s led me to a few thoughts.

1. It just felt incredibly right to start a new project with a time of focused, intentional prayer. Nothing else – no strategizing, brainstorming, researching – just prayer. Taking time to recognize our actual state, completely dependent on God, the one who loves us and the one who has called us to serve. All too often, We jump into doing God’s work without really taking time to discern His direction.
   
   
2. In that moment, Pastor Aaron demonstrated a refreshing integrity by being willing to admit he wasn’t able to give the meeting the focus it required. Most of us (me included) would try to power-up and push through, attempt to give some effort, even if it wasn’t our best, and fulfill the expectations that we’ve put on ourselves. There’s a vulnerability and honesty close to the heart of Jesus when we say, “I can’t do this now. Let’s sit with the Father for awhile.”
   
   (Incidentally, I’m sure Pastor Aaron had his own internal struggle with admitting that to me. Would he be judged weak or irresponsible for not fulfilling the initial plan? Etc.)

And now for a few reflective questions:

1. What things going on inside of me, make it easy or difficult to admit weakness and express vulnerability with co-workers?
   
   
2. What institutional values or strategies make it easy or difficult to admit weakness and express vulnerability?
   
   
3. In the moment, how aware am I of my own internal condition and how it affects my work and service?
   
   
4. What actions, practices, and disciplines can we embrace to become more aware of our internal situation in the moment?

the decade's 100 worst films

rotten tomatoes has just released their "worst of the worst", top 100 worst movies of the last ten years. It's definitely worth a guilt peak to see which of your favorites made their list-o-shame. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I've only had to suffer through four of top 100 (and no, I won't tell you which four).

Check it out at rotten tomatoes

#1 Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever - voted worst movie of the past ten years proves that even two good actors like Antonio Banderas and Lucy Lui can craft a monumental failure if they try hard enough.

God is not a man

props to Jason Mitchell for this one, great song from the Michael Gungor Band. I remember sitting in an undergrad theology class with Dr. David Horner at BIOLA one day when he said, "There's simplicty, and then there's complexity, and then there's simplicity again on the other side." Beautiful, Fitting, Awe-Inspiring Simplicity. I think this video brings a little of all three. Plus, it gets stuck in your head!

Million Miles Tour (and widget)

Hey Everyone,

Really excited about this one. Don Miller's new book entitled A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is coming out soon and he's getting ready to do a book tour, which just so happens to be swinging by Living Word on October 23rd!!! It's a friday night in autumn with Donald Miller, doesn't that just sound great? Anyway, you can read a quick review of his new book over on the Hearts and Minds Blog AND you can order tickets for Don Miller @ LW by clicking on the widget at the top of my blog. I'll keep it up there until the night of the event or until it sells out in case you want to spread the word.

FYI, Hearts and Minds in Dallastown is offering a sweet deal on the new book, pre-order it now and get it for $5 bucks off (only $14.99), plus for an additional $5, Byron will throw in a copy of Blue Like Jazz. That's a good deal, that's even a better deal than Sham-Wow.