African Barbershop Beatbox A-capella Dance

I couldn’t resist.  I had to post this little gem that made me smile.  The musician is Alex Boye.  Besides being an “African Barbershop Beatbox Accapella Dance”, he describes the style of this song as “Boyz II Men meets The Lion King”.  I had to post it for that reason alone!  Beyond that he writes,

This song is a song of gratitude spoken in 4 different languages expressing my gratitude to God for the goodness of life. The English translation of the chorus reads:

“WHEN YOU DANCE WITH GOD, YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT WAY”

This is not a cover, but an original song. Growing up, i loved listening to Boyz II Men and the beautiful harmonies. Later on in my life, i stumbled across African a capella groups and was enamored with the deep feelings of oneness i would get from it. I tried to re-create that feeling in this song.

There are no instruments in this song. It is all done by mouth. I had an idea to have multiple images of me singing the chorus simply because i am the one singing all the vocals anyway.

May you feel gratitude to God for His many blessings.  And may you dance too…

Creative Tension

cre·a·tive 

the ability or power to create

plus

ten·sion

 either of two balancing forces causing or tending to cause extension

equals

cre·a·tive  ten·sion

the ability of either of two balancing or extending forces to create

The ECC staff is gearing up for our yearly staff retreat.  And I can honestly tell you, it’s a blast.  What a great time of laughing together and getting past the daily routine.  It’s also a good time to plan and strategize together about ministry and how better to serve the kingdom as a team.  I am going with a wonderful sense of possibility for us and for the kingdom.  It’s going to be a great year of ministry together.

As I sit here now, the phrase that comes to mind is “creative tension”.  And that is a good thing!  I think we have great creative tension at ECC.  We have different people with different gifts and personalities and that enables us to excel in our area of ministry.  I don’t do what Bob Bruce does well.  And Bob Bruce doesn’t do what I am gifted to do.  Think about it, if everything and everyone was exactly the same, we wouldn’t grow.  But through creatively working through differences and giving up some of our personal desires we find something better.  Proverbs says it this way, “

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.(27:17)

This is worship in everyday life.  The way that we creatively find solutions to our differences honors God and creates something greater than when we started.  I can find a solution by myself, but if we work together as brothers and sisters in Christ to find an even better solution we create new possibilities through the power of the spirit.  David, the man after God’s heart, even wrote about creative tension.  “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)  This isn’t something that just happens…unity is when different people work together to overcome and leverage those differences.

I’m still learning to live in creative tension, but am confident that God will continue to use us if we are open to our differences and his creative possibilities.

8 Messages Through The Snow

I enjoy doing biblical word studies.  I’ve done a number of them already so as the snow was falling today I wondered, “What does the snow tell us about God and his plan for us?”  Now you might be thinking I’m a bit nuts, but I happen to believe that to often we reduce the world around us to just their material parts or the inconvenience caused by too much rain, snow or sun.  In fact, we know that the heavens declare the glory of God and no one is without excuse because of creation’s testimony.

So what do we learn from snow?

1.  Snow is symbol of the sinner’s brief time here on earth and what comes afterwards.

As heat and drought snatch away the melted snow, so the grave snatches away those who have sinned.
Job 24:18-20

2.  Snow is picture of God’s control over creation.

Psalm 147:16
He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes…and again in the next chapter…

Psalm 148:8
lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding

3.  Snow shows us how much we don’t know and can’t control.

God asks Job, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail…?”
Job 38:21-23 Job has to admit that he hasn’t and the truth is that we haven’t either…

4.  Snow is a symbol of our purity from God.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:6-8  And later in Isaiah…“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 1:17-19

5.  Snow can be refreshing and reminds us of trustworthy co-workers.

Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters. -Proverbs 25:12-14 (I’m not totally sure about this one…maybe it’s a Hebrew OT thing, but I’m not sure I get it!)

6.  Snow that comes too early or too late reminds us of the fools we know.

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
Proverbs 26:1-3

7.  Snow that comes to melt and water the earth is a symbol of God’s Word.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty -Isaiah 55:9-11

8.  Snow is a symbol of Jesus’ purity and power when he comes again.

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
Revelation 1:13-15

So as the snow falls today…remember that the world is more spiritual than we think and God is speaking to you right now through the snow.  He is not silent.  The problem is that too many times, we are not listening.

P.S.  One more thing…and this isn’t purely biblical, but it’s good advice.  Don’t eat the yellow snow.  ;-)

Thank you…

Silas had surgery on Monday to have a G-tube installed into his stomach.  The surgery went well so now he won’t have to have a rubber tube down his nose anymore.  We will be able to give him his liquid diet right through the G-tube button into his stomach.  The hope is that the G-tube will keep him from aspirating liquids into his lungs AND the special Keto-diet will help reduce his seizures.

This has meant a number of trips to Riley Hospital in Indy.  I want to say thank you for helping making it happen.  Many of you contributed money to send Sara and out on a date a couple months ago.  We went out to eat and attended a show at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw.  It was a great night for us to get away, but apparently there was money left over and Dan Friend decided to give it to us the form of a gas card.  That card, and a couple others we have been given, fully funded our trips to and from Riley this past week.  So, thank you.  You are the hands and feet of Christ to me and my family and I can’t thank you enough…

In the book of James, it says that believers should “not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”  It goes on to say that

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

You have done that with the simple gift of a gas card so that we could take care of Silas in the best way we know how.  Please continue to pray for him and others who are in the hospital this weekend.  No one wants to be in the hospital.  Especially on the weekend…and finally…

Brothers [and sisters], as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. -James 5:10-11

The Willow Leadership Conf…in short

It was the third year for the Willow Global Leadership Summit (GLS) and it was great…again.  A chance to get charged up and remember again, why I do what I do.  That I am called to make hard decisions and that leadership won’t be easy, but it will be God’s best for me.  I thought I’d share some of my “ah-ha” moments with you via my Twitter feed.  If you want to see all the Twitter comments from the whole conference (and there are a LOT of them), click on the #wcagls hashtag.  These here are my little nuggets of wisdom in 140 characters or less…

• People need to be reminded more than they need to be instructed…good reminder! :->-John Dixon #wcagls

• Humility is common sense, beautiful, generative, persuasive and inspiring and that is the reality shaped by the cross. #wcagls

• You don’t need the power to hire and fire or legislate or armies to change people in our church and the world…this is character and passion.#wcagls

• The most persuasive person in the world is the person who you know has your own best interest at heart. -John Dixon(from Aristotle) #wcagls

• Our culture is now cruciform…shaped by the cross (the greatest man we have ever known sacrificed himself humbly for others) #wcagls

• 1st record of this change in lit. is Paul’s writing in Philippians…”In humility consider others greater tinyurl.com/3hch82z #wcagls

• There was a humility revolution in the 1st century…Jesus’ crucifixion changed the way ancient people thought about greatness. #wcagls

• We are more attracted to the great who are humble instead of the great who know they are great. -John Dixon #wcagls

• B/c we know the Bible trumps all other books, we assume we are experts on politics, business, etc..to teach well, you have to listen!#wcagls

• Expertise in one area doesn’t count in another…a brilliant prof. can still jump out of a plane w/ a backpack instead of parachute! #wcagls

• Humilty is to hold power in the service of others. – John Dixon #wcagls

• Fools can change… And Christ died for this recovering fool!-Dr. Henry Cloud #wcagls

• The fool will adjust light, change truth and must have consequences.#wcagls

• A wise persom thanks u for feedback…good or bad #wcagls

• A wise person adjusts when the light(truth) comes to them #wcagls

• What does a person do when the truth comes to them? #wcagls

• “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (children too), for the rights of all who are destitute.” -Prov 31:8-Michelle Rhea #wcagls

• At the end of the day, great is thy faithfulness. God, give me strength to do it all over again even when it hurts.-Bill Hybels #wcagls

• Am I at the intersection of wanting to be faithful &wanting to be successful in the eyes of the world? Honestly? yes. still learning #wcagls

• Mama Maggie’s words are the words of God (literally, she speaks scripture) & her life is the life of God thru the Spirit. humbled.#wcagls

• “To be in silence is to be fully inside your own self. It’s not easy. But there we discover the taste of eternity. The Kingdom is within.-Mama Maggie

• “When I touch a small child. I am touching Jesus. -Mama Maggie serving Egypt’s poorest. #wcagls

• Forgiveness is not between you and another. It is between you and God. Mama Maggie paraphrasing David. http://tinyurl.com/4yovdnd #wcagls

• “My soul magnifies the Lord, for he has done great things for me. -Mama Maggie quoting Mary. http://tinyurl.com/3mwr3k2 #wcagls

• Persecuted pastor in Ethiopia prays, facing death, for US Christians suffering from lack of prayer and too many churches/bibles. #wcagls

• We assume that if we have great leadership, everything we lead will grow & succeed…tell that to Jeremiah, eh Bill? Tough calling. #wcagls

• As tribes spring up things are changing because the still want what everyone wants…to be in synch with what OUR people are doing. #wcagls

• This notion of average products for average people doesn’t work…we’ve branded ourselves to death. -Seth Godin -#wcagls

• Pentecost was the birthday of the CHURCH. From the beginning, the church was designed to be a global movement! #wcagls

• Jerusalem (our own hometown) is the place where we have to speak truth, to power and confront people who loo… (cont)http://deck.ly/~yhgRG

• Emerging leaders are global by default. How have we responded? Have we pushed thru?-Brenda Salter McNeilhttp://tinyurl.com/3jn8x3l #wcagls

• God is convening his people (from all nations) and God is talking to us (truth) through Brenda Salter McNeil fromhttp://tinyurl.com/3jn8x3l

• You are the result of a grand conspiracy of love…what will you do?-Cory Booker #wcagls

• Stop worrying about what you want to do and worry about what you want to do NEXT…a yoga principle to avoid a world of HURT! #wcagls

• Ways to create: Take small steps with what you have, Limit the risk for step, step into reality and have some resources round you. #wcagls

• “If you can’t predict the future, create it.” #wcagls

• We are all entrepreneurs, but too few of us get to practice it.#wcagls

• You must be re-inventing yourself at least 3-5 times through your career! #wcagls

• Why can’t the next 10 years in the ECC Worship Arts Ministry can’t be the best ones yet? Do I WANT that? Yes, God please help me. #wcglas

• My job, in God’s power, is to move the ECC Worship Arts ministry from here to there…we leaders need to have the faith to do that! #wcglas

• “I need my boldness back. I’ve lost my faith along the way.”-Hybels What kinds of risks am I willing to take…will I take action? #wcglas

• What 5 words distill the gospel for you? Hybel’s are love/evil/rescue/choice/restoration. #wcglas

• The church is in the business of human transformation through the gospel into disciples! But sometimes we get fuzzy on the message #wcglas

• When was the last time we examined the “core” of who we are? I am way overdue with this one…our ideas are tired & need a retread! #wcglas

• By not NAMING problems we don’t face or resolve them and the Kingdom of God is weakened and demoralized! Acts6 church did just this! #wcglas

• Am I naming, facing and resolving the issues in my ministry? That’s a “buck stops here” type of question…#wcglas

• Is there a pattern of a bad attitude with people you work with? That is the time to intervene & the 30 day clock starts ticking….#wcglas

• The line exercise forces to prioritize & ask good questions. Are people under challenged, on wrong tasks, or is a hard talk needed? #wcagls

• What is your plan for dealing with challenging people in your ministry? #wcagls

• Do you think it’s possible for whole organizations to be Under/Appropriately or Over challenged? With too much going on? #wcagls

• You don’t want to be “under-challenge”…you will atrophy and you won’t bring your best game to ministry #wcagls

• Leaders do their best work when just in the “Dangerously Over Challenged”…too far into that zone & you’re in danger, but a little is good.

Erasing Hell or at Least Trying to Diffuse the Heated Conversation

Interesting video from Francis Chan about Hell…he makes some good observations.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out although, as he points out, there is quite a lot a stake.  AND, we are dealing with a God who is in his being perfect holiness, justice, goodness and truth.  Thoughts?

How Does Diversity Make Us More Like Jesus?

An interesting article from Andrew F. Walls about the church in Ephesus.  It was there that the term “Christian” was coined.  Walls contends that the reason for that was the blending of cultures that was happening there.  Jews who followed Yeshua were hanging out with ex-pagans who now worshiped the God-man, Jesus and people didn’t know what to do about it.  What do you call this group of people who are obviously a group, but not defined by race or culture?  You call them “Christians”, say’s Walls.

It’s an interesting response to the question, “Why should the church be diverse?”  Many times the spectrum of discussion ranges from “Diversity is it’s own end” to the other side of “People are different so why should we try to mix it up?”.  Walls points to a different idea…a diverse church brings us into the fullness of Christ making us more like Him.  Hmmmm….check it out here.

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

A provoking and challenging letter from Shane Claiborne, a neo-monastic in Philly, in Esquire Mag. to all “nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends”.  He starts out by apologizing for all the stupid stuff that Christians (you and me, that is) do.  He then points out that many of us talk the talk, but don’t live it.  It’s one thing to talk about faith, but bringing orphans into your home is a whole different bag of chips.  And when the ex-orphan, now son has a serious medical condition those chips get extra crispy.

This is a good read for the day after Easter…IF Jesus meant all those things he said and IF he actually rose again from the dead…then what?  I’m just asking…then what?  Shane takes a stab at the answer…

Multi-cultural worship @NCF

I’m still learning so much about worship…it’s a life-long process.  The latest chapter for me is to get out of the white, majority suburban bubble and explore multi-cultural worship.  How do people in other cultures worship God?  And how do people from different cultures worship together in unity as a picture of the worship in Revelation?

I don’t know.

But when I do, I’ll write a book and make a lot of money.  kidding.  For now, I’m just learning and growing.  I thought I’d share a piece of the journey with you.  This is my Uncle Jim leading his multi-racial congregation in TN.  They’re singing one of his songs that is a favorite at his church…Keep Looking Up…

Israel, Arabs, and the Family of God

An interesting article from John Piper that handles an issue that evangelical Christians, in my humble opinion, need to consider.  Many times, we give preference to the Jewish people and the modern state of Israel without consideration to the Kingdom of God that Jesus established.  He writes…

His perception is that Christians in America give carte blanche support for Israel. No injustice against Palestinians or Arab Christians elsewhere seems to get a response in American pulpits.

So I thought it would be good to publicly affirm a few positions that I think the Bible mandates…

 

Piper’s first of 10 mandates is that “True Christians are citizens of the kingdom of Jesus Christ first, and only secondarily citizens of any earthly nation or state.” I was reminded that I had a prof. in college who told us that we were Christians (BIG “C”) first and anything else (american, republican, democrat, pacifist, vegetarian, conservative, etc) second.  It’s also important, he said, to make sure that the second descriptive was always kept in lower-case importance.

You can click through to the whole article here, but what do you think…?

Israel, Arabs, and the Family of God.