Rules create loopholes — values do not

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear John Eldredge speak in person several months back. My life has been deeply impacted by his writing and his words that night continued that work. There was one statement he made that I knew at the time set a trajectory for my life: "the sorrow of the earth is bad kings."

Those words brought focus to my many thoughts about men and women and their (my) struggle to fulfill their purpose. In particular, it brought out the desperate need of humanity for leaders. True, purposeful, solid and, as this post from Fast Company perfectly explains, value centered leaders.

"Rules create loopholes — values do not. If those in leadership roles want to shape behavior, they must pay more attention to instilling values. They are the underpinning of belief, and that's what inspires people and gives them a sense of mission and purpose. Only beliefs and the values that underpin them can be shared. Values perform a kind of double duty by acting as both a source and a mechanism for regulation." - Dov Seidman

I encourage you to read the whole post, but first let me define leader and king as I see it: you.

Despite the headlines, the world does not need a better Obama, European Union or solution in Afghanistan, what the world needs is you and I fulfilling our true callings as kings and queens (little k and q). Kings and queens who humbly lead, manage and steward their individual sphere of responsibility with skill, compassion, vision and integrity.

This will never happen as long as we believe the inherently evil and life-robbing notion that the destiny of the earth lies in the hands of wealthy, successful, important, recognized, powerful, highly esteemed, recognized or elected as big L and K, Leaders and Kings.  And it won't happen if we believe the destiny is in the hands of Priests and Pastors.

Don't misunderstand me to say we don't need Leaders, Kings, Priests and Pastors. We do. Nothing works without a hierarchy. And don't misunderstand me to let all of them off the hook for the sorrows of the earth. There are many who's hands are guilty of much blood and sorrow. I'm not addressing those issues.

I'm addressing what I see as the biggest challenge in the world today: epidemic levels of worthlessness driven complacency. The world is FULL of people who have no idea what to do because they have no idea they matter.

See, there are two types of bad kings: evil ones and passive ones. The sorrow of the earth is passive kings (and queens - little k and q).

It's time to fully assume your throne.

Blog Action Day: Climate Change

Today I am writing in tandem with thousands of bloggers around the world taking part in blogactionday, an annual event powered by Change.org. Despite the fact that I don't agree with everything they do, I can support their idea of unifying folks to speak about the great issues of our day. And besides, I like this years topic: Climate Change.

I like it because I of three strongly held beliefs on the subject:

1.) Gravity and causes: Yes we're seeing Climate Change around the world, however, I do not believe it to be a grave threat to the existence of our planet or its inhabitants. The scant historical comparison data we have shows that the earth has had seasons like this before. Which would suggest that it's unlikely that today's issues are caused by my two cars.

2.) God: The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it - Psalm 24:1. He built the place and will care for it until its usefulness is through. It's egotistical of us - of me - to think that I can change that.

However:

3.) Christ Followers: If we believe what Psalm 24 says, why aren't we the environmental leaders? Why aren't we proactively leading the movement to properly and care-FULLY steward His world?

Why aren't I?

Oh The Humanity

I have a friend in Atlanta that I was blessed to meet for lunch during a recent business trip. During our conversation, John Eldredge's name came up and he mentioned a friend of his that’s working with John on a project. He went on to say she disagrees with his ministry because it is focused too much on man and not enough on God.

But isn't God's ministry focused on man?

Now, before you shout me down, let me assure you I am not lessoning the holiness of God, His desire for our worship or His hatred of our sin. Nor am I suggesting that God exists to serve us. As His creation, we are less. Because of our sin, He alone is holy. And because of all that and more, He is rightfully jealous to have us serve Him.

But what about our humanity? It’s a crucial question that I believe we’ve answered wrong. And it’s killing us.

Oh the Humanity

In an attempt to ensure that we never forget the holiness, might and sovereignty of God, we’ve accepted a lie. A lie that says if it wasn’t for us, God would be happy. The lie that we – collectively and personally – are a burden to God. We believe God made a huge mistake when He created humans and suspect He wishes we weren’t around. At the very least, we’re reasonable certain He wishes we were less…well, human.

And so we imagine a regretful and disappointed God sitting with His head in His hands thinking: “Oh the humanity! If only they didn’t need friendship, companionship and worth all would be well. If they could stop needing meaning, purpose, food, shelter, money and sex things would be perfect. And what’s with their different personalities, tastes, interests and desires? Sheesh.”

The Living Dead

And so we live lives bent on destroying or denying our humanity and the result is lives that are all too often, half lived - or perhaps lived in two halves.

The first half, based on a misinterpretation of the scripture about contentment, is a self-centered deprivation. We accept jobs, friendships, marriages, organizations, ideas and…lives that we really don’t like because we believe it wrong to long for more. So despite dreams, visions, imaginings and Scriptures that overflow with hope, joy, peace and…LIFE…we sit. Content.

The second half, based on fear of who knows what, is outward focused criticism. We see this when the reaction to someone else’s dream, vision, imagining or revelatory Scripture is “be careful…!”. Like when a musician says they feel led to play secular music and everyone screams “but what about the drugs and sex!” Thing is, we all do this. You need only read comments on Facebook, blogs, twitter or hear people in hallways – our natural bent is to criticize and put down those that want to live. And we seem to always do it with a tone of “its sad you still struggle with that part of your humanity.”

Oh, the humanity!

But why? Where is it written that we should hate the things that make us human? The drives, ambitions, desires, needs and wants? Resist the urge to criticize and correct me – I know we need His redemptive work in us – but think about my question. Where in the bible does God hate us for our humanity? Isn’t it the opposite? Isn’t it our humanity that he wants saved? Redeemed? Healed?

He doesn’t hate hunger, he hates gluttony. He doesn’t hate wealth, he hates desception, robbery, hoarding and lording it over others. He doesn’t hate sex, he hates its misuse and abuse. He doesn’t hate big dreams, he hates selfish gain. And on and on.

So imagine God saying “Oh, the humanity. I love them, they are created in my image. Created to live with Me in relationship so we can make something of the world I have given them. Created to work the ground, solve the problems, invent great things and love each other. Created to succeed at being the very things I made them to be – individual creations displaying My glory in infinitely unique ways!”

What would happen? What would you tell others? What would you tell yourself? And what would you be free to do?

Checking Homework

Had to pass this along as a reminder to always check your kid's homework before they hand it in to the teacher:

(Here's the reply the teacher received the following day) 

Dear Mrs. Jones, 

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer.    

I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit.  I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it.    Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole.  It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.

From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely, 

Mrs.  Smith

Switchfoot "Mess Of Me"

Watch this video of Switchfoot once again proving they are the most significant and important band of our time. I URGE you to follow these guys - they have the most life focused, encouraging music made today.

Here's the chorus of their soon to be released song, Mess Of Me:

"I made a mess of me I wanna get back the rest of me
I´ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my life alive
I´ve made a mess of me I wanna reverse this tragedy
I´ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my live alive
The rest of my life alive!"

'Mess Of Me' - Switchfoot (new single from new album "Hello Hurricane" - out November 10, 2009)

More About Covenant College

if you'd like more insight into our choice for our son's college education, read this post from Covenant's President, Dr. Neil Neilson. Be blessed:

Dr. Niel Nielson » Blog Archive » Welcoming New Students into the Covenant Community

Covenant College Orientation

This past Friday night and Saturday morning, my wife and I took our son to Covenant College, in Lookout Mountain, GA. He is beginning his Freshman year this next Thursday.

We are blessed and I am awestruck.

Awestruck because of a group of 10 or 15 eager upperclassman that unloaded our van and delivered Kayce's stuff to his room while he signed into the residence hall.

Awestruck by the beauty of what can only be called a magnificent campus on a beautiful late summer day - and we've been there several times. It's breathtaking every time.

Awestruck by a first orientation meeting that had 40 minutes of information and 20 minutes of open prayer led by the parents. Prayers for the protection of our kids, the peace of the parents, the clarity and focus of the teachers, and in everything, the lifting up of Christ.

Awestruck by the Friday night lecture of our son's first course given by the President of the College, Dr. Neil Neilson and his wife, Kathleen. They spoke of Big C and little c callings. Of the Big C calling to believe, trust and obey. And the little c callings of life - jobs, friends, relationships, hobbies, etc., etc. It's the little c callings that trip us, challenge us and reveal us. They are the things - thousands of them per day - that add up to a glorifying and powerful life. And Dr. Neilson called the the students to a such a life. One that while they are at Covenant, should be first and foremost about being a student.

And then there was the perfect weather of Saturday on the mountain and another orientation meeting. First up after worship? The Mayor of Lookout Mountain. Praying. Yup. Turns out his daughter attended the school and he is deeply interested in the new students and the success of the school. Following his talk, we heard much about the rules and regulations. Then, a panel of professors answered questions about how to succeed at the school. Two points stood out to me:
- It's not about grades. Yes, the professors said that. They stressed that focusing on grades will cause a person to miss the opportunity to LEARN.
- The enemy would like nothing more than to have every student fail and the surefire way to fail is to get straight As.

Everything they said was about life. Wow.

And lastly, awestruck by still more prayer and a son that was as confident as us that he is exactly where he's supposed to be.

Awestruck and blessed.
Definitely blessed.

Our Proposed Health Care Plan

I purposely avoid political topics on this blog because I find that people are often blinded by the terms Liberal and Conservative or Republican and Democrat and therefore unable to simply discuss issues. I've also found that I'm a strange mix of all of the above because my Lord is too and the Bible seems to be somewhere in the middle too. I don't see our problems as right or left but a result of the fact that we have no moral compass. The government wouldn't have to solve problems if people - especially those that can - would take care of those who can't.

I am concerned about the Health Care Plan currently proposed for our country though. Concerned that it is a knee jerk - a LONG overdue knee jerk - reaction to a non-critical problem. Don't get me wrong, we have health care problems and a disproportionate percentage of people do not get the care they deserve. But we also have an incorrect view that health insurance is a right just like home ownership. Neither is a right, nor are they the only solution. People can get health care without insurance - it happens ALL THE TIME! Yes some do, but most hospitals do not turn away sick/broken people. Likewise, people can have many forms of shelter that does not involve home ownership.

I could go on and on but won't right now. Instead, I encourage you to read this post and see if you believe this is a good proposal. Here are two or 50 points from the article.

• Pg 30, Sec 123 states that there will be a government committee that decides what treatments you are allowed and what your overall benefits are.
• PG 429, lines 10-12 give an Advance Care Planning Consultant the power to order end of life plans for a patient.

I thought this bill was supposed to prevent the disproportionate use and availability of health care. These two items clearly contradict this idea. The government will decide who gets what and when and they will decide when a person is no longer worth the expense of life. And btw, don't tell me that's not what this means.

One last thought: I hate the title of this post because I am not against Obama. I didn't vote for him, but I do believe him to be an intelligent man that wants what's best for our country. I also don't believe this is his plan, it is the result of many, many people's thoughts, concepts and ideas. On that note though, it unquestionably represents a society that believes government to be the solution to any and all problems (and the Rebulicans are guilty of this too). And that with limited resources available to government, the solutions must also rate the value of people.

Like I said, it's a moral issue. 

Faith and the Art of Motorcycle Riding

My son and I took a beginners' motorcycle riding class last weekend. My wife - yes, really - suggested he sell his car during the first few years of college and get a bike to ride when he's home. I, in turn, suggested the riding class and volunteered to attend with him to make sure he was taught correctly.

Okay, I admit it, I've always wanted a bike and will get my own as soon as I can (I'll also get to use his while he's gone too). I know, life's tough.

Anyway, among the many things I learned in the course (and let me know if you'd like info, I highly recommend it) were three key takeaways:

1. The bike will go wherever your head turns.
2. The bike performs best under power.
3. Everyone's out to kill you, or something along those lines.

Just like life.

During the training we were given opportunities to manuever the bikes through different degrees of turns - both sharp and more rolling. I struggled with these seemingly simple tasks until the instructor told me to stop looking at the cones on the ground and turn my head towards where I wanted to go. I thought he was crazy when he said to simply look at the end of the turn and give it the gas. Then I did it and the affect was exhilerating. Not only did it go where I wanted it, but the bike was remarkably stable despite increasing speed.

My life goes wherever my head turns too. I can talk about not having enough time, wanting to do this or that, my heart's desire to finally wrestle crippling sins to the ground or follow my life's passions, but the fundamental truth is that where my head goes, so goes my life. And this explains why my life is often wobbly too.

Then there was the lesson about power. I had thought that power applied to the wheels would upset the balance of the bike and that lessoning the power or applying the brakes would bring it back under control. In fact, the complete opposite was true. As the instructor said, the bike is designed to move. Upright.

So am I.

I'm not designed to fear, hesitate, over think and plan. I'm designed to move under power. And just like I controlled the bike, I move best when I'm controlled too. And the only control that works is my God. Daily.

Which brings me to the last point. The instructor never told us to be aware that people would be out to kill us on a motorcycle. He didn't feel he had too. In fact, it wasn't about what he said at all. Rather, it was about the tone of what he said - a matter of fact, "you know it's true, don't you?" I sensed he believed it to be such a truth that it didn't warrant discussion.

I share his perspective. I mean, you do know that your joy, peace, wonder and life is opposed, don't you?
Don't you?

A Wife's Concerns

I found this list on my phone today as I cleaned it out for a swap. Thought I'd share someone's perspective on the items of concern for a wife:

1. Affection
2. Conversation
3. Honesty and openness
4. Financial security
5. Family commitment

Beyond saying "yes and amen", I have two thoughts: financial security does not mean riches, it means bringing #'s 1, 2, 3, and 5 into your finances and I'd add a sixth: Be a man who leads from strength.