The Humility Remix – My new reading list

In lieu of my current revelation about the internal workings of my soul, I soon realized I needed a new reading list.

Here it be…my ghetto fabulous humility remix reading list.

Feel free to add to it.

1. Practicing the Presence of God – Brother Lawerence

2. Enemies of the Heart – Andy Stanley

3. Here I Stand – Roland Bainton

4. Just Like Jesus – Max Lucado

5. Absolute Surrender – Andrew Murray

6. The Interior Castle – Teresa of Avila

7. The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life – Amby Burfoot

8. 365 Thank Yous – John Kralik

9. An Unquenchable Thirst – Mary Johnson

10. Nearing Home – Billy Graham 

 

 

Catalyst 08 – Day 3 – In over my head

Today was another great day at Catalyst.  Andy Stanly closed with some great stuff, met with a few guys from Community, and an African Choir made everyone sob.

It’s kind of like summer camp.  You want to go back home and see your friends and family but at the same time you want to stay…because it’s awesome.  That’s how Catalyst is. Along with the above I was also pleasantly surprised by both Dave Ramsey and Franklin Graham.  Dave brought the smack down as he talked about the 5 enemies of unity – which are:

-    Poor communication
-    Gossip
-    Unresolved disagreements
-    Lack of shared purpose
-    Sanctioned incompetence

It really struck a chord with many people because although they all seem like no duh concepts, you quickly realize how in your organization those things exist.

Franklin Graham reminded us of how powerful the Gospel actually is.  I say reminded because I am pretty sure in the midst of contextualization many of us have lost the simple, profound, and amazing truth of the Gospel and how the Holy Spirit works through it. His time was also a spotlight on his dad – a man whom many know but cannot fully grasp the influence he has had in his life.

Before Andy Stanley got up to close the conference – Matt Chandler brought the thunder.  Seriously Catalyst planners, you should have given that guy more time. I listen to a lot of communicators and I am hard pressed to think of anyone else that could have said what he said in the manner in which he did it and it have the impact that it did.

Finally Andy brought us to a close with several different leadership quotes that have deeply challenged him.

-     “To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing.” – Craig Groeschel

-    “The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation”. – Focus, Al Reis

-    “What do I believe is impossible to do in my field…but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business”? – Future Edge/The Paradigm Book, Joel Barker

-    “If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what would he do?  Why shouldn’t we walk out the door, come back in, and do it ourselves?”  – Only the Paranoid Survive, Andy Grove

-    “When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.”  – Michael Hammer

All in all my Catalyst experience was better then the prior year.  It might have been the car accident setting the tone of brokenness for the rest of the week or it could have simply been that after the past 7 months I’m just a different person.  Stretched, challenged, beat down, uplifted, forced to swim in a hurricane, and just generally reshaped…which I believe isn’t a bad thing.  I have learned more about leadership in the past 7 months then in my entire life.  I have made plenty of mistakes, have had a few failures…but I never stopped.  I never stopped, because I think being in over your head is the best place to be.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my final Catalyst recap.  Catalyst 08 – Day 4 – The Dwarf House.

Thoughts on Rick Warren

OK, so I am breaking my blogging silence. Why do I choose to do it with a post about Rick Warren…well, why not?

Let me be clear up front…I am not bashing the guy. I have no desire to try and deny the incredible things God has done through Mr. Warren and his church. (sidebar – that sentence kind of makes me ill…I’ll let you figure out why.)

Sometimes I think he is brilliant, for instance, getting both McCain and Obama to do a joint panel gives quite a bit of free publicity…oh yeah, it also gives an opportunity to hear about what “Christians” and Americans really care about.

Other times I think he’s scary, for instance, getting both McCain and Obama to do a joint panel together. It freaks me out because it shows how much pull this guy has. Seriously, I don’t know what I think of any “pastor” having that much influence and authority. On the flip side of that Mr. Warren and his wife really have used a lot of their influence for some incredible things – particularly their current work in Africa which is quite amazing – so is the fact that he reverse tithes.

Now, I’m not completely sure why…I mean I don’t know the guy personally..but he does wig me out a little bit. I am sure he is a lovely individual who wants to see the kingdom of God expanded. However, for some reason Mr. Warren, Joel Olsteen, Tom Jones (not the singer), and a few others in the Christian world make my skin kind of crawl. While other like Bob Russell, Andy Stanly, Bill Hybels, and Hank Wilson excite me – and remind me of why I do what I do and that not all is lost in America when it comes to Jesus.

So where does that leave me? I dunno. I guess it leaves me in the same place I have been. Doing the best I can where I am at while dreaming huge dreams with great expectations of how God will use those who trust Him to build His Church. So Wether you are a part of a 300 person church in Lakewood, California – a 20,000 person church in South Orange County, a new church plant in Boston, a country church in Missouri, or in the streets of New Orleans…I ask one thing…Keep going…and for the love of everything good and holy try not to get in the way.

As for Rick, I think I could call him Rick now, I hope God continues to do great things…but he still wigs me out.

Until next time…

Catalyst

Chapter 1 – The opening

The morning began with men on stilts, a cow throwing t-shirts, a rock wall, a rapper, pancake corn dogs, and cannons that shot streamers. Then we went inside. The theme this year is “reverb” and in the spirit of this theme the opening experience was incredible. It began with an orchestra on stage while a conductor (not a real one) led them through some classical music and then the fun really began. The conductor began to wave his wand out into the audience and a spotlight followed, when the light finally came to rest it lit up a man in a tux way up high and he began to sing opera. Next the light went to a guy playing the didgeridoo, followed by a guy playing bag pipes, followed by some Japanese drummers, followed by some dueling banjos…and then a guy on guitar began playing Back in Black, then the orchestra played Back in Black, then the guy on guitar played Walk this Way, followed by the Orchestra playing Walk this Way…finally combining and playing a little Sweet Home Alabama. And the transition into the worship set was the coolest thing ever! The orchestra began to play Bittersweet Symphony and melded it into How Great is our God!

Chapter 2 – Speakers

Andy Stanley – What can I say? There are very few communicators that when I listen to them I completely feel the presence of God challenging me to my core…Andy Stanley is one of those communicators.

Patrick Lencioni - This is the author of “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”. I have never seen a more sporadic speaker in my life…that being said, he was great! He leveraged his apparent ADD and humor to great benefit for all who were listening.

Shane Claiborne - Interesting cat. Likes to push buttons, he embraces who he is, and above else has a desire to see peace throughout the world and the least of these taken care of.

Francis Chan – Although I love Andy Stanley I must say that Francis moved me. His heart, passion, vulnerability, humility and confidence challenged me to think in brand new ways. I will take much away from him…but above all things I will take away that God is doing something supernatural through me. It reminded me that I am the slave and He is the master…and even if I fail God will still be glorified and spread His Kingdom.

Rick Warren – I have to be honest, I’m not the biggest Rick Warren fan. I’m not a hater or anything I just don’t connect with his style. However, there is no denying the impact God has had through him. I respect the man immensely for his dreams, investment in leaders, and his willingness to allow God to use his influence throughout the world.

Chapter 3 – Angels and Demons

While I was in college I had many mentors. Today I ran in to two of them and let me just say one word…AWKWARD! One of them was and is like a father figure to me. He has always been my wise council and I hope he will continue to be. The other person…well, let’s just say that our relationship ended with me wanting to punch him hard in the neck. It was just an awkward encounter with him…but the other one was, as always, a huge blessing. I do wish the other guy well, and I am glad that God is using in him in some pretty incredible ways…but it was still awkward.

Chapter 4 – Cracker Barrel

We have eaten there twice in less than 24 hours. We don’t have them in California…which is a crying shame cause it is definitely good eats.

Chapter 5 – Reflections

In the ongoing journey that is my life I have found that the moment I allow myself to get away, God fills me with huge dreams and big ideas. This trip is no different. My heart longs to love people. My soul longs to make a global impact. There is this fire that burns so intensely within me that I can’t help but dream, and pursue the impossible. I am filled with a humble confidence knowing that God is leading me and doing amazing through me. I know that I am His, and that He will use me in ways that I can not even comprehend. I know that the dreams he is giving me are the dreams he has for my life…and I embrace them with anticipation. It is time to listen. Listen to his calling, direction, and rebuke. I am an unfinished wanderer who has given his life to change the world…and I have only just begun.

Until next time…