over-correcting
Have you ever heard of someone having a wreck because they swerved to avoid something in the road and then over-corrected to get back on track?
It's a pretty easy thing to do. The adrenaline is flowing, and there's a little bit of fear for the moment just hoping you get things under control.
A couple of years ago, I swerved to miss a deer in the road and almost wrecked hitting the deer and both on the over-reaction. Luckily, I stayed under enough control to stay on the road and keep going.
The tendency in leadership is to do the same. We want to avoid a situation or circumstance so much that we over-correct and get out of balance. This happens almost everyday in theological issues, philosophical issues, budget issues, and social issues. We want to change or fix something, but we only change sides on the scales. Instead of correcting the issue, it becomes skewed again... just on the other side of the spectrum.
I understand this may be a little bit vague, but it's on purpose. Think about your own examples of where this has happened.
Discover what you value... and invest generously in those things. But don't neglect the other important things and give them just token time to make it by. Balance it out.
Let's be careful when trying to avoid a certain paradigm or situation or response that we balance our balancing act and not over-correct. Otherwise, nothing has really been fixed. Other problems are just waiting around the corner.
Labels: development, leadership, management
obey quickly
God sometimes asks us to do crazy things, and it's more a test of our obedience than of the action.
Abraham finally had his son in Genesis 21 and then in Genesis 22 God asked him to sacrifice his son. Are you joking me? Geez.
What I noticed this morning reading this story was Abraham's response.
2Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.
Abraham didn't put it off and wait until late into the next day. He got up early the next day and obeyed God. I know my tendency when I don't want to do something is to wait until the last possible minute.
What is God asking you to obey that you have been putting off or avoiding?
I know this is the question I am asking myself today. I want to make sure I am quickly obeying God.
Labels: christianity, ministry
feelings can lie
What I feel is not always true.
It's not always realistic.
It's not always fact.
It doesn't even always make sense. [I know... I just broke the parallel flow]
For instance, sometimes, I'm so frustrated with people that it's hard to imagine loving them or getting over my feelings.
Sometimes, my feelings tell me I can do things on my own when I know I'm completely dependant on God.
Sometimes, they tell me God has left me to take care of myself and that He will not come through.
No matter how much I pray, read my Bible, fast, or worship, I can't seem to find God or the answers I need. Nothing seems to work, and the harder I try, the further God seems. Perry Noble had a great post about this today.
Honestly, my feelings have been lying a lot to me lately. I have to consciously remind myself that my feelings aren't always true.
God is faithful to the end. He will never leave me. He sticks closer than my closest friends. No matter how tough or long the test, God does not forget me.
My feelings can and will lie.
Labels: christianity, development, management, theology
grad school
I've been planning on going back to school every since I graduated from SAGU with my undergrad degree in December 2006.
Unlike most people I know, I actually like school. I would love to have multiple graudate degrees someday. I love learning. I love listening to discussions and debate. And I love reading.
One thing I want to change in grad school is actually participating in class more. I've always been a pretty indendent learner and stayed away from offering thoughts in class. I want to change that though for the next go around.
I have been looking at three different schools primarily: [in no particular order]
1. Bethel University
2. Regent Unversity
3. Dallas Theological Seminary All three are great schools, and I've heard good things about them all. My decision will have a lot do with where we end up and what we are doing. I've started looking back at the schools' websites, degree plans, financial aid, etc.
I may not start class in the fall, but I'm beginning to re-move in that direction. Labels: development, education, personal
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Labels: blog updates, personal
disappointments
I'm learning disappointments are a part of life. Not that I already didn't know that, but before things have been pretty small.
I didn't make the baseball all-star team when I should have.
I didn't get what I wanted for Christmas one year because the store was sold out.
I had to miss out on a conference I wanted to attend because of extenuating circumstances.
All pretty small, right.
But these things I had not spent years thinking about, praying about, fasting over, and really, really hoping for.
Not everything always works out... even when it feels completely right and seems like it's a no-brainer. Even when you can't shake it from your mind and heart for 3 plus years. Even when it seems like God has clearly spoken. Some things just don't happen.
For me, this last one has not yet been finalized, but it seems certain it will soon.
But disappointment is a part of life for everyone. It comes in both big and small doses. The question now is how do I handle it? How do I move on? What new challenges do I actively and passionately pursue without being scared of the risk of failure and disappointment?
Labels: personal
did you know
I'm sitting here at work and I get a text from Lacey. She is getting her food handler's permit for Starbucks today. She's started working there for a summer job since she's a teacher.
It says, "Did you know that cockroaches can run up to 3 miles per hour. Fun food handler fact of the day."
First of all it made me laugh. She does that often. Secondly, random fact of the day to enlighten my world and now yours as well.
This may be true, but I'm not so sure the guy in the picture can.
first responsibility
To be honest, I've been pretty low lately.
I'm learning a couple of lessons over the past few days.
I know God's plan is perfect, and He will never leave me, but it certainly doesn't feel like either one of these truths is legitimate in my life right now.
Thanks to Erwin McManus for introducing the thought that God's plan for our lives isn't always the straightest path. It's not like this is completely profound, but it is for someone like me. My practicality can sometimes influence my decisions and thought patterns... but sometimes God isn't the most practical or predictable. God's plan can different than we might think.
Thanks to Nathan for helping me to remember that arriving at "my ultimate plan" isn't the path to fulfillment or complete happiness. For me, it would be planting an urban church that makes a difference in a major city. I have to find those things in every moment of every day, while doing my best to serve God on the journey.
The journey can be long, difficult, and lonely. And a particular arrival moment doesn't prevent these emotions or feelings. They simply have to be dealt with on the journey. Arriving at the destination isn't the answer I need or should be looking for. I need to find my fulfillment in God's plan for my life... not the big plan, but in the day to day process of knowing God more.
Isn't that my first responsibility anyways?
Labels: christianity, ministry, personal
Have you ever heard of someone having a wreck because they swerved to avoid something in the road and then over-corrected to get back on track?
