Do you understand your mission and identity?

When I preach, teach, and mentor leaders I often bring the message around to mission and identity.  These are the foundation for our discipleship.  

Mission is what I do.  When you are asked, "what do you do?", I'm sure you answer with your occupation.  Now, you could also answer with any number of other roles you play, i.e. parent, spouse, good neighbor, community activist, volunteer, youth coach, PTO member, student.  However, if you want to answer with the most important thing you are here on this planet to "do" the answer is, "I make disciples."  

Matthew 28:19-20 tells us that as we're going through life we're to make disciples for Jesus.  In other words all these other occupations are simply our "going."  They're the activities of life but not the mission of life.  As you are going through your life, every occupation offers the opportunity for you to share your faith and teach others how to follow Jesus.  As you work toward making disciples remember that your mission isn't exclusively individualistic, it is also a corporate mandate.  We should work together with our family and with Christian friends and we should especially work together with our church, to lead others to Christ and teach them to follow Him 

Identity is who I am.  When asked to describe yourself, I'm sure you start with your first and last name.  The answer to this question reveals how a person views him/herself and how they expect others to view them.  You could answer the identity question with the titles and the accomplishments of your life.  You can also answer with your membership in a group or your ethnicity or your social group.  Some people want to be known as artists, musicians, doctors, educators, homemakers, politicians, ministers, missionaries, union members, citizens, Americans, Pro athletes, accountants, gay, straight, Democrats, Republicans, African Americans, Latinos, Cardinals Fan, etc.  

Christians must remember that our primary identity is found in Christ.  Jesus created you, He redeemed you, He guides and provides for you, and He has a place ready for you to live in heaven.  I must remember that without Jesus I am nothing and I have nothing. Because of Him all my sins are forgiven.  I don't feel like I'm a perfect person but the fact is that in God's eye's I am perfect because when He looks at me He sees Christ in me (2 Cor 5:21.)  I am as righteous as Jesus but I certainly couldn't make myself THAT righteous.  In fact, I keep failing and falling short but remarkably I'm righteous anyway.  So, stop thinking of yourself as a failure or a sinner or a member of a group.  He redeemed your soul and gave you everything and in the process you became His.  You belong to Him.  So the question isn't "Who am I?" but, "Who's am I?"  My identity is that I belong the Christ!

2 Questions - How do these truths interact with each other?  If the greatest pupose for my life is to glorify God then, how do these truths help me to do that?

Why is domestic violence wrong?

Ray Rice is in trouble for hitting a woman and now the NFL is in trouble because they didn't dole out a severe enough punishment to Rice.  Not even Rice's teammates nor the NFL Players Association has come to his defense after the elevator video was released a few days ago.   Apparently the only person standing beside him at this point is the victim whom Rice subsequently married after the incident.

If the victim is willing to forgive and forget why is the furor still growing?  The answer is that almost every person in America is personally offended and deeply disturbed by the images of a man violently striking a woman.  We all understand this to be very wrong.  This was criminal in our minds, and it's a crime that needs to be punished regardless of what the victim is saying.  The fact that the almighty NFL is backpedaling fast is proof of the overwhelming public sentiment on this issue.

So, we all agree that domestic violence is very wrong.  My question is, why is it wrong?  Is it wrong because every time this crime is committed there are helpless victims?  Is it wrong because our stomachs turn when we hear of and see examples of domestic violence?  Is it wrong because it permits (primarily) men to arrogantly assume that they can bully their agendas past people who oppose them or tell them "no."  Is it wrong because our laws say it's wrong or because the vast majority of the American population agrees its wrong?

Take a second to consider what if the preceding series of assumptions weren't true.  What if our stomachs didn't turn at the sight of the video and what if we were all OK with bullying?  What if there was no law against what Ray Rice did and what if the vast majority of Americans said that he's allowed to hit his fiancé.  Would all this make domestic violence right rather than wrong?  Of course not!

I'm glad to see that our country is standing against this evil and that a star football player can't even find cover from the NFL or his teammates on this one.  However, this isn't evil because of our emotions or because of the popular opinion of our country.  Domestic violence is wrong because God says it's wrong.  Christians, do not forget to weigh every moral and ethical issue against the Bible so that we can see clearly what is right and wrong in this world.

Common Core?

These 2 words drove a preponderance of the debates in the recent AZ primary season for the Republican candidates...for ALL offices.  Logic would seem to dictate that this would be an issue for only the race for Superintendent of Education.  However, the simple question, "Common Core?" was surprisingly prominent in just about every race for state office.

What also surprised me was the paradoxes.  Conservatives, (a group of people whom I'm often associated with) are almost uniformly against an educational idea that purports to have accountability as a primary objective.  Furthermore, Common Core advocates seem to support the continuation of school choice which should find support among conservatives.  However, the greatest surprise of all in this toxic debate is that Common Core is focused on the principle of "standards," and yet conservatives didn't jump for joy realizing there would be no more social promotion.

I recognize there's a bigger picture here that includes a slippery slope making it easier than ever for our educational system to indoctrinate our children with relativism and humanism.  Our nation's move away from God's Word as the guiding document for governance and education is profound, accelerating, and barring a spiritual awakening, uninhibited.  So, should Christians fight the move to incorporate Common Core?  I'd say yes if the sole responsibility for educating my children rested with the government.  It doesn't.

The task of educating my 4 boys is my wife and my responsibility.  Public school is simply a partner and a tool available to us as we educate them.  Knowing that public education is less than ideal isn't exactly a new reality introduced with Common Core.  I've already learned to accept the bad with the good long before Common Core came along.  It's a parent's job to correct the bad and reinforce the good of their child's education on a daily basis.  Hopefully everyone understand that no one educational system, be it private, public, charter or home school programs will be a perfect partner.

So, in addition to being the Superintendent of my boys education I'm also busy working as a supportive influencer of public education along with Tammy.  At our local public elementary school where Tammy teaches and our four boys attend, we've seen that the Common Core standards have pushed forward significantly the expectations of what students are to learn at each grade level which we like.  I cannot yet comment on the affects of these standards on high school education nor the broad long-term impact of Common Core since its new and untested.  We're not fearful though.  We'll watch the trends carefully and cross that bridge later knowing that we hold the legal power and divine prerogative to choose a different educational option for our kids if and when that seems best for us.

Why I'm Not Doing the Ice Bucket Challenge

It's amazing that with all the excitement running rampant for such a great cause that there are many people who are scoffing and even undermining this effort to raise money and awareness for a cure to a truly awful disease.  Why would people do that?

It's because if I'm not on the bandwagon then I feel compelled to try and knock the wheels off it.  It's something that is sad but true about many Americans.  We jump on and off of bandwagons with impressive dexterity.  In the process we're not content to simply enjoy the new ride, but have to lob a grenade or two at the one next to me or even the one I was just on.

Watch and see that this is prevalent in America.  It's "give me 3 scoops of the flavor of the month" with a simultaneous gag reflex when offered last month's flavor.  Why can't we be happy for another cause or even another person who is experiencing success, or joy, or astonishment, or discovery, or laughter, or fun?  Why wouldn't we choose to bless rather than to curse?

The Bible calls it blessing others when we express that God is pleased with their goals and efforts.  If there is a cause that you wish you had the time or money to support but you can't, you can still bless it with encouraging words and prayer.  My bandwagons, our church, local school, 1Mission, and my community have each benefited from people like this.  People who are no longer or never were members, but who still bless anyway.

Tammy and I try to give as generously as we can to our church and to missions which doesn't leave much for giving to the many local fundraisers, ALS research, the guy holding a sign on the street corner, or the thousands of other great causes.  However, I'm not going to kick the guy on the corner or scoff at those who give to the Ice Bucket Challenge.  I want to bless those people for their generosity and the fun they're having doing something meaningful.

What is your response to Michael Brown's Killing?

I was recently preparing to preach from John 13:1-8 and found myself lingering on verses 2 & 3.  They are a parenthesis to the narrative and give us insight into what was going on in the mind of Judas and Jesus as the group entered the upper room right before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion.  However, if all you care about is the action, you could skip these verses but remember God has them here for a reason.

On one hand, Judas enters the room with his mind influenced by the evil one, hell-bent on betraying Jesus.  On the other hand Jesus has his game face on, knowing the power of God is at his disposal, knowing that his identity was found in God, knowing clearly what his mission was, and knowing that he could willingly give up his life because his destiny was with God.

This is important to understand because these 2 verses tell us the mindset of these two men as they entered the upper room, about to face a test.  Would Judas relinquish his selfishness and would Jesus succumb to it?  As the narrative continues in verse 4 we learn that Judas was empowered by the Devil, leveraging unhindered selfishness in the heart of this carnal man to ultimately produce violence.  On the other hand, Jesus was empowered by God, leveraging unhindered selflessness in the heart of this spiritual man to ultimately produce redemption.

As you enter into the dialogue and activism of the debate raging over the killing of Michael Brown you are facing a test which will reveal your mindset.  The carnal mind has a pre-formed agenda that is controlled by the Evil One.  The Spiritual mind is the mind of Christ, rooted in His power, identity, mission, and a future destiny in heaven.  It's a mindset that allows you to respond, in the midst of testing, in the way that Christ would respond.

So Christians, of every color, in your conversations and in your activism and through your discussions on social media, etc. your first priority is to have the mind of Christ evidenced in your responsiveness to other's needs and to God's call.  The mind of Christ will allow you to push past barriers that you otherwise would find impassable in your calling to be a peacemaker.  Whether you're a civic leader, a stay at home mom, a business owner, a policeman, a shift manager, or a corporate executive, if you're a Christian you've been assigned the job of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:16-18.)

When Christians pro-actively work to be peacemakers we honor God's name in front of the people we rub shoulders with on a daily basis.  When Christians set the example of what it means to have harmonious inter-cultural relationships we are a light in a dark world.  When Christians demonstrate how to take the lead in working out problems and solving crisis in a just and loving way, we will find that the world is taking notice of our witness.

For any white readers it starts here...how many friends of color have been in your home to share a meal with you?  How many times have you been invited by a Latino to join his family for a birthday party or spent the day with an African American friend?  Will there be people at your memorial service who look different than you?  Hopefully friendship and love will win the day when race tensions test your community and God will receive the glory because you embraced the ministry of reconciliation.    

Is being the "Next Tiger" a compliment?

It's been a while since I was compelled to watch more than 30 minutes of a PGA event.  Yesterday I was glued to the TV watching the leaders play the final 8 holes of the PGA Championship.

Rory McIlroy has suddenly emerged as a fantastically talented, up and coming "next Tiger Woods."  Of course everyone says this regarding the parallels they see in age and level of his displayed talent/success on the golf course.  But is Rory the next Tiger in another way?  The reason there is room for a "next" to ascend to "worlds greatest golfer"is that by most accounts Tiger's days of dominance are over.

Many see a correlation between his demise and the sudden dismantling of his marriage to Elin Nordegren.  What if Tiger had never been married?  Would he be fine today?  Maybe it's not really his bad back that has sidetracked his career, but his unfortunate marriage?  Did Rory figure this out before it was too late?

A popular refrain following McIlroy's impressive victory yesterday is that he's giving credit to his newfound freedom from his fiancé as the cause of his ascendancy.  It's not her fault, and of course he's a winner so it's not his fault.  It must be marriage.  Rory successfully escaped in the nick of time.  Now, according to Rory, all he has to worry about each day is going to the gym and playing golf (and cashing his 1-2 million dollar checks and $10 mil Nike endorsement deals)...a recurring fantasy of millions of men.

The truth is that Rory is right.  To attain super-ultimate, world class, elite ability at golf (or anything) you have to make big sacrifices.  Rory sacrificed a potential life-long companion and lover with whom he could have raised children and experienced the blessings of a family.  Of course many will argue that he can still do that later or that maybe he didn't really love her, arguments to which I don't argue.  But that isn't what he's saying.  Rory is, like many people, speaking of the benefits of non-marriage.  He's saying it's better to be free from the expectations and needs of a wife than to jeopardize your potential.

The Apostle Paul actually backs Rory on his rationale.  1 Corinthians 7:32-35 says,

         I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about 
         the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned 
         about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are 
         divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her 
         aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is 
         concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am 
         saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right
         way in undivided devotion to the Lord. 

Rory's problem is the object of devotion enabled by his freedom.  The practical problem that Paul points out in the context is that most people can't bear to be celibate for the sake of serving God whole-heartedly. So, Paul says go ahead and marry so that you can have an active sex life.

Now, would God endorse celibacy for the sake of unfettered focus toward earning the title of world's number one golfer?  Of course you're laughing at me now because you thought I was talking about marriage.  What does celibacy have to do with being single and what does monogamy have to do with marriage?  Rory's only giving up marriage.   He doesn't need to worry about committing himself to just one person for life.  At least that's what the next Tiger would believe.

So, today Rory can say that yesterday he beat arguably the next best golfer in the tournament field, Phil Mickelson by one stroke pointing to the edge he had as a result of his freedom versus Phil's unfortunate encumbrances.  He can say that in more ways than one he is the next Tiger.

Yesterday Rory's check was for $1.8 mil and Phil's was a mere $1.08 mil.  What a shame that Phil doesn't have Rory's edge and thereby lost out by a stroke.  Is Phil the devoted family man he appears to be?  We can't know for sure but at least his actions and his speech honor his wife, his kids and they honor God's institution of permanent, monogamous marriage.

Is Bigger Better?

The English Standard Version of the Bible translates Revelation 6:14,  “The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up…”  The word translated “vanished” literally means “an extreme splitting apart,” which makes you realize that those who will witness this end-times event will certainly see something quite terrible and spectacular!

This Greek word, apochorizo, is used only one other place in the New Testament…in Acts 15:39.  That’s right, it’s the word used to describe the splitting up of Paul and Barnabas.  There was no subtlety or thoughtful suggestion that, “we should just agree to disagree.”  This was a complete splitting apart of two friends and ministry partners who had spent countless hours and numerous bonding experiences together.  In short order they “vanished” from each other’s sight and consciousness!

In hindsight we all know God’s purpose for this fissure was to multiply these two capable co-leaders into two powerful mission teams.  Yet, I have to wonder how many of us would have argued with them…”but you could be so much more effective if you would pool abilities and work together as a team of four, instead of two teams of two!”  In today’s world of mergers, mega shopping centers, and “too big to fail” institutions we’ve become conditioned that bigger means more resources, which certainly is best for everyone.

Are bigger churches better for everyone?  The truth is that bigger is better…for some.  Speaking universally bigger isn’t better and smaller isn’t better.  Bigger is different from smaller, and you could say that, “bigger is separated from smaller.”   In the beginning God created light and separated it from darkness.  He also separated waters above from those below, and land from water.  God separated all of the species and people from the animals, and men from women, as well as married couples were to separate from their families of origin.  Why?

Simply speaking, God separates to distinguish purposes.  You are unique/separated from every other person in this world.  This suggests purpose regardless of how significant or insignificant you believe your abilities to be.  The same can be said for every church that is led by Godly leadership and every church planter who has been called by God.  When Christians understand this it leads to a "team" attitude rather than one of competition.  We're all on the same team trying to win people to Christ and to teach them to follow Him.  Each person and each church regardless of size has a purpose to fulfill as a part of the "making disciples" team.