Losing Any Weight Lately?

Well, I did it.  When the New Year started four months ago, I told my wife, Joye, that I was bound and determined to lose weight.  I had gotten out of shape and overweight over the past few years, and at my age, it was limiting my effectiveness in all areas of life.

Last weekend I lost my fortieth pound and officially passed my goal on the 117th day of my diet. 

People have asked me how I did it, like there is a secret I know that they have yet to discover.  It’s been a hard one for me to answer, since the key in my opinion has simply been focused determination.  Sure, I cut out certain things from my diet and added a regular exercise routine to my daily schedule.  These things obviously made a big difference physically.  But I’m personally convinced that my singleminded focus is what finally got me across the threshold. 

All along the way there were little temptations to steer me off-track.  Snacks brought into the office, lunches out with ministry leaders, variations in meal routine, even comments that I was “close enough”…but I was passionately determined to get to the goal, and refuse to settle for anything less.

I share this, because throughout the process I’ve had considerable time to reflect on weight loss in a spiritual, congregational context.  I personally believe that there are a lot of churches that need to “lose weight.”  They’re out of shape and that limits their effectiveness.  They need to become more fit and make strides toward removing the excess weight of programming, etc. that keeps them from their optimal ministry for our Lord.  Could the key be focused determination?  Would it help if our churches were reminded of the reason they exist and with singular, resolute focus on the mission of Christ, they moved forward to accomplish His mandate for them? 

WARNING!  There will be many subtle (or not so subtle!) distractions you’ll find along the way that will test your determination to stay on course.  Don’t give in!!! 

It’s a matter of the will.

And if you keep your focus, you too will be amazed at how much can be accomplished in a surprisingly short time.

originally published at http://www.mybcmd.org/blog/5 on May 3, 2008

Happy Birthday, Jonathan!

Well, today is the sixteenth birthday of my one and only son, Jonathan.  Consequently, I am flooded with a variety of emotions.  I feel amazed…am I really old enough to have a 16-year old young man living in our home?  I feel proud…he is learning and maturing before my eyes into an impressive, poised teen-ager.  I feel angst…how could I have let so much time go by without investing more time and energy into my son?  I feel joy…he loves God and people very much, and I’ve convinced he’ll go far in life, as He pursues God’s will.

All of this makes me think about the crucial needs he has from me at this point.  No doubt I still need to be there to equip him for adulthood.  The methods of instruction may change but the need remains, albeit from a more experiential side of life.  Another need he has is for me to listen to him as he processes life.  He needs to know he’s being heard and that what’s important to him is valued by me, if for no other reason than because it’s important to him.  He also needs my constant encouragement and support, to comfort him and to challenge him, but above all to remind him that he’s not alone…I’m here for him as he needs me.  But ultimately, he needs me to keep pointing him to the Lord, since in the final analysis God is the One who will provide him with what he needs for the adventure we call life.

In a sense the church planters among us could use the same from us as we encounter them.  They have many similar needs–to be equipped, to be heard, to be encouraged and challenged and to be pointed back to God as the source of everything they need in life.  At our recent Summit with our church planting leaders, they reminded us that one of the best things we can do for them has to do with personal presence and support for them and their ministry.  So, why not encourage a church planter you know today–by a phone call, a visit or even an email to remind them that we’re in this together, and that they are making a difference for our King? 

Thanks, Jonathan, for reminding me again what’s really important in life.  May this coming year be filled with love, learning and laughter as you journey farther down the path of life with our Lord Jesus.

originally published at http://www.mybcmd.org/blog/5 on May 1, 2008

Something New

Blogging is a whole new concept for me.  It’s not that I don’t have a lot of thoughts; I have plenty!  It’s that I typically don’t take time to write them down, especially like this for all the world to see.  So bear with me…and if any of you bloggers out there have any advice, I’m listening!  Help me do this better, for all who may be interested.

I’m always into something new; it’s the world of church planting that I live in.  In church planting we learn that new believers, new groups, new leaders and new congregations are the signs of a healthy plant.  It’s always creating something new.  I guess the vibrancy and the dynamic nature of newness inevitably stretches a new church toward growth and away from the gravity of letting things settle in “as is.”   Church plants that aren’t doing something new will sooner or later (probably sooner!) have health problems.  In fact, this one fundamental difference may be the telltale distinction between an established, plateaued church and a growing church plant.  All the research suggests that this element of “newness” manifests itself in a variety of ways in church plant life, from worship to discipleship to evangelism, and is one of the main reasons that new churches reach lost people so well and grow so dramatically.

So what about me?  It’s easy for me to talk about group dynamics and organizational structure and rally the troops to start something new.  But on a personal level?!  That’s tougher.  Yet it’s just as necessary for me to stay healthy, spiritually.  There needs to be a vibrancy to my own relationship with the Lord that is found in new applications of timeless spiritual disciplines, new ministry opportunities, new relationships that God is affording me.  That’s what discipleship is all about.

So join me as I start something new, in hopes that God will grow me, with and through you.

originally published at http://www.mybcmd.org/blog/5 on April 30, 2008