Merge Worship

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately on the commitment it takes to generate change. Creating culture rarely happens overnight. It (usually) means doing the back breaking work of plowing fields and tearing down walls. This came clear to me on Monday. I was helping my Dad spread mulch in their yard. We'd already picked up a truck full of mulch and we were doling out load number two. I realized in that moment that most things of value take TIME.

Take on the challenge
Invest in the outcome
Marry yourself to the vision
Engage the process

One tough thing about being a leader is that part of you wants to look for the easy way out. Whether that means acquiescing to those who want to refuse change or settling for the status quo. That's much easier to do. And frankly, there are a lot of people willing to settle there.

I'm not one of those guys. I want to see people move forward and the Church grow and innovate. My prayer is that more people will be willing to spend TIME on seeing change happen.

What ways do you take the TIME to build culture where you serve and lead?

btw...my friend Chris said I should say that I just came up with that acrostic so no one would think I stole it from a book. :-)

Last night I had a daunting thought. Sometimes I treat God too casually. I mean, I get that He wants relationship with us and that we should "talk to Him like we talk to a friend". But I was reminded that He's not just another friend.

He's beyond another relationship to be pursued. He's more than just another interest. He's beyond being a part of my life. Scripture says He is life. I've spent a lot of my time trying to figure out how to fit His life into mine instead of asking how to fit my life inside His.

I LOVE the truth that Jesus loves us like we are. I embrace the fact that my imperfections are opportunities for His strength to be made perfect. And deep down inside I KNOW that my life is empty and useless outside of His presence and purpose. I want to be more Him and less me.

I'm feeling a tug on my heart back to reverence. Not the "you don't wear anything but a suit to church" (or a dress for the ladies) reverence. But a "God is holy and so far beyond my comprehension that I need to evaluate my continual respect level for Him" reverence.

So I guess what I'm saying is more of a prayer... Jesus help me to hold You in higher esteem. Help me to latch on to Your truth beyond my current circumstances. Help me to hold on to Your Word as the truth in every situation. Thank you for being my friend. I love you for that. But I also want to honor You as my King. Teach me that balance...amen.

How do you practice reverence?

I had a thought today. (congratulatory notes accepted) Could one of the reasons that people leave in leadership transitions in churches be because we as leaders have failed to connect them beyond ourselves to the source of our passion and drive? Could it be that we may have led well, but not really introduced true community to the people we led? I do understand that sometimes people will leave when you exit. It's happened to me in places. I get that people enjoy different styles and connect to various leaders/pastors in a special way. I still resonate and connect with people I helped lead/pastor in various churches but, if I'm doing my job well, I'm steering every one's heart toward Him. A proof that ministry is done well, in my mind, is that when you leave people stay because their connection to God is deeper than a personal connection to you.

One of my personal practices in this area is to deflect all the praise to God and accept criticism for myself. Not to be self deprecating, but to steer people to God in the good and to walk with them through the bad. I'm finding that continually refusing to embrace praise and pushing to embrace community is one way to deepen the bonds of friendship and also build the relational capital to help steer people's hearts past minutia to what really matters.

When it's all over, I doubt the Lord is going to ask me how well people resonated with me personally. I feel He's much more likely to ask how much of my life I spent steering people to the only true hope in this world.


How do you steer people closer to Jesus and deeper into community?

This weekend we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love this time to reflect on the goodness and greatness of a God who came to earth. Who lived and died and now lives again.

His victory is eternal.

His love is never ceasing.

His mercy is amazing.

His worth is unending.

I want to share with you the verses of a hymn we will be singing and would encourage you to take some time this week with these lyrics (and/or the Gospel story) and remember the work of the cross and the freedom available now to all who dare to believe that Jesus is real and His word is truth.


Crown Him With Many Crowns

Crown Him with many crowns the Lamb upon His throne
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but it's own
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity

Verse 2

Crown Him the virgin's Son the God incarnate born
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now His brow adorn
Fruit of the mystic rose as of that rose the stem
The root whence mercy ever flows the Babe of Bethlehem

Verse 3

Crown Him the Son of God before the worlds began
And ye who tread where He hath trod crown Him the Son of Man
Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast
And takes and bears them for His own that all in Him may rest

Verse 4

Crown Him the Lord of life who triumphed over the grave
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save
His glories now we sing Who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die

Verse 8

Crown Him the Lord of lords who over all doth reign
Who one on earth the incarnate Word for ransomed sinners slain
Now lives in realms of light were saints with angels sing
Their songs before Him day and night their God, Redeemer, King

The Tarheels are National Champions...again. This is their 4th title in my lifetime and it's always a fun thing. However, this team is different for me. Special. And here's why.

When we won the title in 2005 it was a welcome home for Coach Williams and a welcome back to our program. The next year, little to nothing was expected of this team. Then comes Frasor, Hansbrough, Green and Ginyard. Four guys who none of us knew. I loved Felton, May, McCants and that crew but I probably cheered harder for that 2006 team then I ever had. They reminded me of what it felt like to be a fan again. I pulled for us through the lean years, but this was different. There was a special connection for me to these gangly group of freshmen.

I love this team because they gave me a reason to cheer. They worked their butt off and showed us all what could be done when people come together with a common purpose and a willingness to work toward that end. They gave my 7 year old the same euphoric feeling I had as a 6 year old in 1982 watching my Dad's favorite college team bring home a national title. They came back (albeit mostly because of poor projected draft position) and came back on a mission. They brought joy to the Tarheel experience and proved that old Coach Roy could win with his own crew.

Honestly, I'm thankful that I got to pull for these guys and will always appreciate this ride from 2006-2009. I hope my son will get to experience a journey like this. And I get this will make me sound like an old fogey, but with the proliferation of early exits to the NBA, I'm not sure he will.

Thanks Tyler, Ty,Wayne, Bobby, Danny, Mike, Marcus, Deon, Coach Roy and crew. It's been amazing.