Yesterday I was doing nothing and slipped a rib outta place.  Yeah.  It was one of those “is this really freakin happening…again?” moments where I found oxygen tough to inhale and my suppressed rage pretty easy to access.  To say I was in pain, confused and thoroughly ticked off, is an understatement. But I’m finding that truth often speaks the loudest in pain and this didn’t fail to deliver a great dose of understanding.

By now, our family is so used to these “daddy’s back’s out” expereinces that it’s like a routine fire drill.  Everybody moves to their predetermined position–one kid runs to get an ice pack, another plugs in the back massage thingy and my poor wife drops whatever she’s doing to figure out how to help her helpless husband.  Then everybody stares in anxiety as the biggest human in the house is reduced to a fetal-like position on the nearest floor or bed.  It’s really a beautiful way to start a day.  They’ll all need therapy someday.

Bio-freeze was starting to warm the area of my back as I drove into the city for the first of many meetings.  I was still hacked.  “I can’t function with this broken machine of a body!” I yelled to no one in particular.  “I can’t depend on this piece of junk You gave me…it doesn’t work!” I said pounding the steering wheel.  Now I had accurately directed my speech toward God.  He’s into honesty…we’d do well to get on board with that too.  But graciously, instead of stopping my heart and allowing my car to careen into the ditch, He answered my cry.

I was reminded of the passage in Psalms 147 where the writer gives beautiful insight: “His (God) pleasure is not in the strength of the horse nor his delight in the legs (or back..nathan version) of a man, the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.”

You see, it’s not the outside exterior that God finds pleasure in.  It’s not the physical prowess that God delights over.  He didn’t look at our mere appearance upon creation and call it “good.”  It’s much deeper.  It’s the beautiful inner weaving of human will and human mortality; our conscious decision  to accept the dismantling of our bodies while our minds are being renewed.  The hope that even in the midst of the outer shell wasting away, the inner self is being formed with a greater hope, a transformed perspective, a fresh beginning in the hands of an Almighty God.

Being “humbled” by pain seems too pious.  The process for me has and will continue to be gloriously humiliating…getabsorbed…n

I’m a huge U2 fan.  I was writing some things in my journal this morning that I realized were influenced by their song “Magnificent.”  Figured I needed to give them some props.

Yeah, I know.  It’s not hip and cool to be into these bands that hone their craft in such a way to make their message sustainable over decades.  They’re sell outs, right?  Well, I’m sold.

Melodically and lyrically these guys have taken unique perspectives and made ‘em accessible to the rest of humanity.  U2 has inspired me over the years because the box they come in is littered with f-bombs, prayer breakfasts, sexual tension, Aids relief, unbelief and life through Jesus Christ.  Raw humanity, redemptive God.  All for you too.  (Get it..U2?)

So back to the journal…God made flesh.  The Word dwelling among broken men through the purity of a virgin. Only love could have prompted such a risk.  Only love would conceive life in the barren; filling the empty place in Mary’s womb and eventually filling the void in our hearts with the gift of heaven’s Child.  Herod was looking for a “man of power.”  Someone to seize the earthly kingdom from his treacherous hands.  Jesus came lowly, humbly, as a Child…appearing to shepherds, breathing the filthy air of a common stable in order to rescue us from the treacherous grasp of sin.  He who reigns in majesty over all the universe, was born to a peasant girl in impossible circumstances to make eternity with God possible.  He sold out for us.  Only love…getabsorbed…n

Last year at Catalyst 08, I wanted to jump off a building. Or at least draw one of those cartoonish type holes that Bugs Bunny seemed so adept at using and disappear for a while. Or maybe blow something up. Yeah, it was that kind of season. You’ve had em, right? So intense that you can’t focus on anything else and so heart-breaking you never think you’ll recover and so…

So last year!

As we get ready to embark on our journey to Catalyst 09, I can’t help but wonder “what will this look like next year?” So much has changed since 08 I can scarcely believe my eyes. Fresh dreams, incredible futures, limitless potential….I’ll be riding in close proximity for hours with some of the brightest, most energetic, creative, and passionate people I’ve ever met. This beautiful group from City Community Church in Indianapolis make my head spin at the eclectic possibilities and my heart leap at the potential message of hope we’ll collectively express to the world. I actually like just being with these people! At CityCom we’ve know that investing in some of these present leaders will reap huge dividends in their lives and for the global Kingdom in years to come.

Thanks Catalyst team for providing a conference that encourages growth, challenges mindsets and breathes life into all of us by giving us a space to worship our King together. Every year I’m there, no matter what season of life I’m in, you truly are a great “leadership filter for what’s next in the Church.” You’re changing the landscape of Indianapolis…getabsorbed…n

I just ran into the umpteenth person this week who is basically afraid of the adventure.  Safety in the familiar is understandable but probably not Kingdom.

My constant nagging question of late is “what am I doing that I couldn’t do apart from God?”

In other words, am I operating under my own strength and therefore accomplishing what’s easily attainable by sheer human endeavor? Or am I completely dependent upon God to move through my life to do His will through me? Hmmm..I know today’s answer…you? getabsorbed…n

Creativity “attracts” (yeah I know we’re not supposed to use that word…whoops) creativity, weaving together  a beautiful expression of the mission of the church and an accessible way to unveil facets of God’s character.    City Community Church is ridiculously blessed with oodles of creative talent.  Seriously.  Songwriters, theater majors, graphic designers (God send us video producers…yes that was a cheap plug:) fashion folks…the list goes on. It’s rare to see so much amazing ability crammed into a church plant that’s only 13 weeks old.  Makes me giddy with excitement and  tremble in wonder about what God is up to in Indianapolis….  

I love listening to a new song that engages me to interact with God on a totally different level.  I love seeing a dramatic sketch that challenges my often tightly held (and inaccurate) perceptions.  I love a painting that gives my thousand words a rest as I gaze into it’s purpose and meaning.  I love a message that draws me into the tension of a creative moment.  I appreciate creativity that draws me closer to my Creator and gives me a glimpse into the unfathomable depth of His being.  

Traditionalism kills creativity.  Safety kills creativity.  Religiosity kills creativity.  Insecurity kills creativity.  Jealousy kills creativity.  Once you rid yourself of those mindsets and exit the man-made institutional church prisons that foster such ideas, you’ll unleash the creatively redemptive image that dwells inside of your heart and we’ll all grow from it.  

Please.  We need you to create…get to it!  …getabsorbed…n

I see a ton of businesses and church plants try to do the Lone Ranger thing and quite frankly, it often struggles to work.  Did you know Tonto was originally written into the radio script just so the Lone Ranger would have somebody to talk to?  I mean sure the Lone Ranger could kick butt and shoot people yet he was bored, didn’t know where to go, depressed and often suicidal. (ok I made some of that up:)  ”Leadership is lonely at the top,” they say.  Well, it doesn’t have to be.

Of course I think they called him “lone” cause it felt American, independent, tough.  If they woulda called it “Two Guys on Horses” it probably wouldn’t have felt so cool.  I mean nobody wants to share credit, right?  What, did you forget about the other fella?

Tonto wasn’t just a side-kick or a multi-cultural token.  The guy was on par with the Ranger in wit, courage and general whoop-up skills.  Two were way more effective than one and it showed in every half-hour episode.  We at City Community Church know it to be true. 

What about you?  Are you the Lone Ranger type?  Might wanna rethink that one cause well, he kinda wasn’t…getabsorbed…n

So often I see good intentioned people wanting to make a difference in the world but motionless in their approach to bring a ray of hope.  I should know.  I’m people.

Sure there’s a lot of talk, but talking about doing something isn’t real useful to the something you’re talking about.  You gotta move.  Here’s a few resources that might get you outta the chair and into the adventure…

Go on a trip

Extend compassion

Do something in your community

Give to a cause

Read a dangerous book…doesn’t sound like much but becoming aware can have a great impact on your motion

Find a screening

Sponsor a child

Attend a conference

Subscribe to a newsletter

Buy a map

Watch a video

getabsorbed…n

Here’s some brief, random things I’m learning from our adventure in Indy known as City Community Church…might be helpful to others planting or just people breathing:)…I still can’t believe God has entrusted this moment to us…are we writing any of this down??

Focus on preparing people for the 167.  (hours that is)

True disciples aren’t mass produced by an efficient “church” machine..they’re hand-made over a lifetime by devoted followers of Jesus Christ

Be flexible…structures gotta bow to functionality.  It’s easy to set something in stone and then 2 days later feel the overwhelming urge to jackhammer it.  Only then you can’t cause it’s too hard.  Might as well just let Jesus be the only Rock and leave everything else soft and pliable. Clayish, if you will.

Be mobile…don’t get too much stuff or you’ll have too much stuff.  The great evangelist and philanthropist George Muller was know to say (I’m paraphrasing) “Never have more stuff than you could pack in a day.”  I want to be ready to go, to do and to become all that God desires.  The more stuff I have the harder that becomes.  Tough to GIVE when all you’re worried about is what you’ve GOT.

Cultivate your first love.

I’m moving from what I was, into I AM

Be there for your family.  Yes, you wanna love the world.  Start with those closest to you.  If your twitter peeps and facebook friends take precedence over your spouse and kids, you’re a sad, sad little person preparing for a lonely virtual existence.  Seriously.  You’re not that important.  But you could be…

Create space in your life. 

Be compassionate…everybody has a story; what’s yours?  It’s easy to become judgmental and impatient until we realize what God continues to do in and for us on a daily basis.  The story drives the action.  Help someone re-write their story or walk alongside as God renews their perspective and you can speak into the future of their actions with growing compassion.  Point fingers and..well…that hasn’t worked out too good.

Look into people’s eyes.

Lead and follow.  Leadership by committee doesn’t work.  Heck doesn’t really make sense but on the other hand, it seems like everybody has been a part of a poor, authoritarian leader’s ego trip.  I’m a leader.  I’m also a follower of the greatest leader the world has ever known and He calls me to serve as He did.  Only servants know how to serve…

Visioneers cast vision that vision-nots can see.  Vision-nevers will try to gag and blindfold both.

Build THE Kingdom…not yours…getabsorbed…n

It’s so easy to get caught up in uselessness.

Recently my wife was listening to a sermon series out of Gateway Church in Dallas.  The series is a great reminder that the Holy Spirit isn’t weird; people are.  I highly recommend it to any kid who grew up scared to bring a friend to church because, well…you know… or any adult who just has basic questions about the Holy Spirit.  Good palette cleanse…

It got me thinking though: how much of what we do, did we learn from relationship to man as opposed to revelation from God?  In other words did someone teach you that concept  which now drives your life from a church pulpit or small group or felt board discussion when you were 8?  Did you ever ask the”why” question or were you told that this is just the way it is?  The ripple effect of poor teaching over time can be rather damaging.  Men have been known to be wrong, self-serving and just flat out ignorant.  Ask anybody who knows me:)

Now contrast that relationship to man with revelation from God.  Revelation from God can happen in an instant (clouds break, bright light, voice that sound eerily like James Earl Jones)…but I’ve found it often takes searching, digging, pursuing over a period of time..ie pulling out YOUR OWN Bible and reading it, setting aside YOUR OWN time to be with God outside of Sunday morning.  It’s a ton more intentional and potentially more transformational.  Unless of course you’re just looking for useless information used to uselessly worship God.  Your call and mine…just know we’re not fooling anybody…  

At City Community Church we’re constantly aware of our tendencies to fall victim to useless worship.  We want to challenge you past uselessness and launch you into a transformational relational revelation of the I AM.  It’s easy to recite something you’ve heard but it’s often useless.    It’s different to draw near with your heart and allow your life to change.  In what areas are you simply giving lip worship to God?  When’s the last time you asked “why?”…getabsorbed…n

“These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.  Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men.” (Matthew 15:8,9)