Sinner

Over the past 3 years I have discovered a rising star (now established writer) in writer Ted Dekker. It started with a free book I received that he co-authored with Bill Bright, the founder of the organization I work for and then, more recently, buying his books outright. His books have great conflict, action and edge of your seat turn of events. He writes in different genres including fantasy, horror, and action/adventure. And at the foundation is good story telling based on relevant themes of today.

Sinner is the latest book I have read, the third book in the Paradise Novel series and a great end to the trilogy. One theme in the book that I appreciated was the theme of tolerance. In the book, it paints a scenario in the future where race and faith relations are, by law, required to be tolerant of each other and if broken, would be considered a hate crime.

Dekker points out that in passing such a law would defeat the definition of tolerance to begin with because followers of Jesus (Christianity), by the basic beliefs it holds, clashes with the popular notion of tolerance (i.e. people who passed the law are not tolerant of Christianity's exclusive clams). Jesus states, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father (God) but by me." Pretty exclusive (or inclusive, depending on how you look at it, but that is for another post).

Tolerance, by definition, is a fair, objective and permissive attitude of other ideas that differ from your own. But when it comes to Jesus and His teachings, there usually is no permissive, fair and objective attitude towards His exclusive claims even though by standing by these claims, Christians usually are tolerant of other views (note, to be tolerant, means that you need to disagree and don't hold to differing beliefs, but you have a fair, objective and permissive attitude towards them). Although fictional, Dekker's characters who follow Jesus find themselves breaking the law by the simple statement of beliefs they adhere to and face the consequences of such a stance could be an accurate of where Western society is going.

Where do you think popular views on tolerance are leading to? Do you think followers of Jesus are tolerant?

Learning a few things about grief

Today is the 2nd anniversary of Abel's passing. Last year, I learned to grieve as a parent who didn't know what to do with reoccurring grief. This year I learned to grieve in the midst of being a father to a second child. There is still a lot to learn.





A few things I pondered this year as I spent time remembering Abel:

1. The quote from Lord of the Rings kept returning to me the past 5 days - "No parent should have to bury their child" - Theoden. Normally, that would be a very sad thought to dwell on and at times it is, but I also know that Abel is heaven and that I will see him some day. As well, I am comforted that he has been spared all the evils and suffering that comes with this life.
2. Today, I spent some moments at his grave and on his grave marker is the inscription James 4:14 which reads, "How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone." I am reminded that life is short and that I have no control what comes next - much like Abel's life. The reminder has given me renewed determination to be wise with my time and not take it for granted.
3. Mischaela, my 4 1/2 month old, is an absolute joy and she is a beautiful gift to us from God. She has not replaced Abel in any way, but has given me more perspective in the grieving process. Although I know God always has given good gifts, she is a great reminder that in the midst of a world that has been messed up by us humans and sin, God brings good still into this world.
   

Church is Not for You

Truth, when heard in clear, biblical context, is beautiful - even when it may be hard to hear. My pastor laid it out to us today - church is not for the saved, the Spirit-filled, the Bible verse memorizer, the ones who know they are going to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven.

No, church is for the lost because "the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Often times churches are planted, continued, and programed to keep the "flock" happy. As a result, what is bred are self-centered "Christians" who seek out churches who meet their needs. And the church who does that has lost what churches are called to do in the first place - to be seekers and searchers for those who are lost - just like Jesus who sought and found Zacchaeus.

What amazed me was that my pastor then went to challenge those who are not a seeker or a searcher to find another church. I am glad to be part of this community of Christ followers.

Is your church for the lost? Is your church made of seekers and searchers of the lost? Am I/you a seeker and searcher for the lost?

new insights

Well, with a facelift comes a new focus on what I want to dwell on this blog. Starting a new blog that is work related has helped me give new purpose on what I want to do in this space.

Mainly, I want to write about what God has been teaching me as I continue to follow him in my personal walk, as I serve in the church, and in addition to what I learn from work.

So I invite you to come along in the faith adventure to follow Jesus Christ and to become more like Him.

New Blog: Increasing Capacity

I have a new blog I set up for more work related posts. You can check it out at http://increasingcapacity.blogspot.com/ . I will keep this blog for personal reflections and insights.

Face to face communication here to stay

Although there are many online tools available to help with communication and collaboration, nothing replaces face to face communication. In this video, a leader of a virtual on-line company makes his case to employees at UPS that face to face contact can not be replaced.





I agree, there are things that can only be accomplished via face to face contact that not even Skype video chat can do. Recently, I went to a team meeting where we got to meet everyone face to face and have meetings that helped us move forward in vision and purpose. Not only did the direct communication between team members was valuable, we spent quality team building time doing fun activities that we can't do virtually (you can't arm wrestle over Google Chat).

This is a great case for conferences and off-site meetings and it can do wonders for a virtual team and communication with potential partners. And even though virtual tools can be used the majority of the time for communication within a team, face to face communication can not be replaced and be one of the team's channel of communication.

We Need You to Lead

... but people don't follow titles, they follow courage... And if you would just lead them to freedom, they'd follow you. And so would I.

William Wallace

After watching Braveheart the other day, I am reminded of Seth Godin's book, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, which I am currently reading. Tribes are groups of people connected to an idea with other people who follow a leader. A group is a tribe in waiting for a leader.

The Scots had a tribe leader, William Wallace, because he took the stand to lead a common cause - freedom. What is your tribe? What is your cause? And are you going to step up to lead? Because Godin argues that the best person to lead a tribe is you, because no one else will.

I agree - if there is a need for a tribe, a stand for a worthwhile cause, because there is no current tribe for it, it might be because you need to lead it for it to exist.

I think this is very applicable to many situations including campus ministry. For a new staff, a group is an MDA and to turn it into a tribe, it needs a leader. That leader may be you, or it may be a leader you will raise to lead that group so that it becomes a tribe.