The Church

Today, I spent several hours in conversation with Pastor Ron and then a couple hours in Denver with two pastors there - all talking about the health of the RCA churches in our region. I don't know why doing church has to be so difficult.
Well, maybe I do have an idea. Perhaps it is because leaders of the church do so little strategic thinking. It is interesting that we think about transforming people but hardly ever have a thought about transforming the church.
Michael Porter, a professor at Harvard Business School, was a speaker at the Willowcreek Leadership Summit and spoke about "How do we do good well?" His premise was that it is easy to do good, but to do it well requires strategic thinking about and answering four questions:

1. Have we defined our goals clearly?
2. What set of needs shall we address?
3. How do we deliver goods/services that meet those needs?
4. How do we get alignment or how do keep everyone focused on the answers to the first three questions.

I struggle with pastors who are called to ministry but have no idea concerning the answers to those four questions about their particular church.

As I read & reflect on scripture, I find again and again that God has very clear and perceptive answers to those questions for the universal church.

I will continue to pray for the leaders of the churches I influence.

The Class continues

This weekend, I'm attending the Willowcreek Leadership Summit here in Colorado Springs. Great speakers and worship time but the Foundations class I just completed at Fuller Seminary continues to occupy my mind and heart.
For that class, I read most of Joan Chittister's book, "Wisdom Distilled From the Daily-Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today." From that book, I garnered the following "rule" that I now read daily just before practicing my bible reading and prayer. It grounds me and I wanted to share it with you.
1. Spirituality is more about principles than practices. It is not about my schedule as much as it is about my priorities; attitude over behavior. I seek a change of heart and a turning of my mind.
2. The scripture is a guide to God, not God. This is not spiritual gymnastics. It is awareness of the reality of the Gospel.
3. This is not an enterprise of private whim but a conscious gathering of wisdom & encouragement from others (the Holy Spirit, church fathers, canon authors, moderns following Christ).
4. These practices are NOT about my needs or me; my family and my community have a claim on the merit of my life.
Thank you, Father, for teaching me from the contemplatives of the past. Amen

Messiness of life

Today, we are in Breckenridge enjoying a few days away while Mindy is at Lions Camp. This is the highlight of the year for all three of us. It seems that our life is perfect during these times. Mindy really enjoys camp and we really enjoy a few days of quiet, restful, non-meeting, silent telephone, etc. All three of us are just about as happy as we can be!
This morning, during my time of reflection and daily meditation, I read a daily email from Os Hillman. Here is a copy.

Embracing the Mess
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

(you can subscribe at http://www.churchgrowthmail.org)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. - Proverbs 14:4My wife and I run together through a new home subdivision. Often we see the street filled with red clay from the land as bulldozers clear it to lay a foundation. The job site is littered with lumber, all sorts of trash from workers, and is generally a mess. The house looks ugly; it has all its insides exposed as it is being pieced together, yet this process is necessary to get to the finished product. When completed, the home is beautiful. The landscaping looks like it came out of a home-design magazine. Everything is clean and perfect in order for the new homeowner to move in.Our walk with God is much the same process. Often we must go through a messy period of our lives in which all aspects of it are in disarray. It is in these times that God builds a new structure. He might remove some structural timbers in our lives and replace them with new ones. He might even add on another room. And unless this process takes place, we will never see the end product. The goal is more Christlikeness. In order to achieve this in us, He requires a period of removing all that is not of Him. It can be a painful process.It would be impossible to keep oxen in a barn without having to clean up the mess from time to time. It just comes with the territory, but the result of the oxen is an abundant harvest. God may be allowing a mess in order to ensure a fruitful harvest in your life. Learn from Him so that you might experience the fulfillment of His purposes for you in these times.

Father, thank you for reminding me that the external life is not the most important. The internal life - our desire and growth in Christlikeness - is just as important to you. Help me keep my eyes on both. Amen.

Beginning

I just finished a seminary class "Foundations for Spiritual Life". I pledged my time and attention to a plan of personal discipline that will cause me seek, on a regular basis, to practice the presence of God.
As I practice my discipline, I intend to share my reflections here. The purpose of those reflections are (1) to help me focus my mind and (2) share with you who visit here my insights, discernments, visitations, etc.
You are welcome to respond but you are not expected to do so. If something strikes a chord in you and you want to share, you are most welcome.