the reluctant leader

Too Busy to Blog

Someone recently asked me why I stopped blogging. I didn’t actually stop, just been too busy – traveling too much. I’ve been home (Manila) four days out of the past five weeks. I love traveling, but I really love being home.
 
Here’s where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing:
 
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – ministered at City Church, a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-campus church led by Wayne Alcorn
 
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia – taught 800 ACC pastors on discipleship at the Australian Christian Churches Queensland leadership conference
 
Sydney, Australia – regional leadership summit with our Every Nation pastors from Australia and New Zealand and ministered at the 10th anniversary of Every Nation Sydney
 
Singapore – Every Nation Asian Pastors Equipping Conference (APEC) with 180 Every Nation pastors, missionaries and church planters from 25 nations
 
Manila, Philippines – three days in Manila to unpack and re-pack
 
(retreat center near) Innsbruck, Austria – European Pastors Equipping Gathering (EPEG) with 40 Every Nation pastors, church planters and missionaries serving in Europe
 
Innsbruck, Austria – Cross Culture Conference with representatives from Every Nation churches in Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Sweden, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, England, Spain, Austria and Switzerland
 
Normandy, France – a week off with William as our tour guide (pix on fb)
 
And now we are back in Manila, and back online, blogging again, with some substance coming tomorrow…

NOTE: the personal photos, notes & anecdotes that have vanished from this blog site, can now be found on facebook and twitter.

The Folly of Wealth

A few days ago I posted a blog about 10 rich people, and another blog about 2 rich people who suffered tragic deaths. While reading Psalm 49 this morning, I kept bumping into verses that put wealth into its proper perspective - which is an eternal perspective. Here are my quick notes…

Context of Psalm 49:
Verse 6  “those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches”

7 truths about wealth and wealthy people:

1. Salvation is not for sale, no matter how rich you are
Psalm 49:7-9 when it comes to redeeming a life, “no payment is ever enough”

2. Wealth is temporary
Psalm 49:10 everyone eventually dies “leaving their wealth to others”

3. All rich people die
Psalm 49:12 “Human beings, despite their wealth, do not endure”

4. We should not be impressed with or intimidated by wealth
Psalm 49:16 “do not be overawed when others grow rich…”

5. No U-halls behind a hearse
Psalm 49:17 “they will take nothing with them when they die”

6. People pander to the rich
Psalm 49:18 “people praise you when you prosper”

7. Some people have money but live and die like animals
Psalm 49:20 “Human beings who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish”

Jesus warned that the "deceitfulness of riches" can "choke the word" in our lives. (Matt 13:22) Have you ever been deceived by riches and wealth?

***flying to Houston, Tx in a few hours to preach at Every Nation Church.***

Slumdog Lifestyle, Minus the Millions

  The multi-awarded Slumdog Millionaire movie follows the lives of Salim & Jamal, two of the world's 1 billion squatters. Salim & Jamal are not real people, but the story - the story of poverty, violence, corruption, hopelessness and hope - is very real.

Two days ago, I visited Barangay Pinagbuhatan, one of Manila's many squatter communities. It looked and felt like scenes from the Oscar-winning movie. But this was not a movie set and these kids were not actors. These were real people, and this was real life. 

I walked through narrow sewage filled allies, past tiny shacks to the home of Emily - one of our Real Life Foundation scholars. Emily's mom was gracious, kind and hospitable. Their home was smaller than my office. I could almost touch the right and left walls at the same time, and could easily place both palms on the ceiling while standing flat-footed. There was no furniture. How does a family with 5 kids live in a  home smaller than my office?

I looked through the hole in the "wall" into the next house. I looked up at the sky, through the holes in the roof and wondered how any home in this community could survive even the weakest typhoon. Then I thought about the super-typhoons that flatten billboards and uproot trees, and I prayed for these families.

I left Barangay Pinagbuhatan burdened for the poor and determined to do more. 

I pray that we will raise millions of pesos for our Real Life scholars tonight and tomorrow night at the "Van Hagen & Van Hagen: Brothers in Art 2" exhibit at The Gallery of The Peninsula Manila.

I really appreciate the Van Hagen bros and hundreds of others who volunteer their time, talent and money to help our Real Life Scholars. If you are in Manila, drop by the Penn, buy some great Van Hagen art and help a scholar.

A Few Good Blogs

Here are some good blogs I read this week:

- Funny short blog about money…

- Serious blog about priorities & family…

- A father/son tear jerker…

- Oprah & the gay debate…

- How the stock market works…

- The importance of community, but not necessarily “Christian” community…

- “1 Life to Live” – make it count…

Bonus blog links:
Victory-Manila is on a 30 day “1 Life to Live” campaign, complete with about a million people doing 30 days of blogs about how they are maximizing their 1 life. There is no way to read all those blogs and still max your life, but here’s a list of some Victory pastors who are blogging for the next 30 days as part of the "1 Life to Live" campaign.

What’s the best blog you read lately?

Christmas - Past, Precent and Future in 85 Words

Thinking about what Christmas has become and where it came from...

Creation. Adam. Eve. Paradise.
Snake. Mango. Sin. Separation.
Promise. Prophets. Prophecies. Hope.

Time.

Zechariah. Speechless. Elizabeth. John.
Nazareth. Gabriel. Mary. Joseph.
Incarnation. God. Man. Jesus.
Caesar. Census. Journey. Bethlehem.
Star. Shepherds. Manger. Baby.

MESSIAH. IMMANUEL. CHRIST. SAVIOR.

Magi. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh.
Herod. Murder. Angel. Egypt.
Disciples. Cross. Resurrection. Go.

Time.

Trees. Lights. Ornaments. Reefs.
Gifts. Cards. Parties. Peppermint.
Snow. Mistletoe. Red. Green.
Santa. Elf. Reindeer. Chimney.
Scrooge. Grinch. Potter. Clarence.

Mall. Shop. Visa. Debt.
Obligation. Materialism. Gluttony. Depression.

Huh?

Truth. Faith. Repentance.
Peace. Joy. Hope.
Jesus.

Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year.

Christmas '07 – Simple Blog here.

He Was Too Young to Die

For the past 5 years, Jess Puertollano came to our Manila apartment every Friday and turned our 16th floor kitchen into an art studio. In that kitchen, he discovered and mentored the artist that was hiding inside our youngest son. We never expected an artist was in there - maybe an athlete or a comedian - but not an artist. But Jess found one.

Jess was a faithful volunteer in kids ministry at our church, using his art skills to create amazing props. His day job included being an award-winning set designer for TV shows and stage productions.

Jess died a few days ago of multiple organ failure. He was too young to die.

Here are some pix of Jess and 3 of his star students and their work at an exhibit in Manila last year.

A few of Jonathan's latest big paintings here.

These paintings would be stick men and scribbling if not for Jess. Memories Jess helped create are hanging on walls all over our home.

He was a good man, a good artist, a good teacher - and he will be missed.

Post-Election Insights

Got an email from my friend, Brett Fuller this morning about his post-election thoughts. Brett leads a church in the DC area -- a multi-ethnic church that is about 50% African-American, about 40% European-American and about 10% Asian and Latino. Here's Brett's sermon/email - a little long - but worth reading...

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Please Listen carefully to every word I say & wait until I finish to judge both my spirit and my words...

1. Reconciliation is our calling - a key to unity is understanding, not just tolerance

2. We are called to influence thinking, not tell people how to vote

3. Whoever is elected is God's choice:
    Ps 75:6-7 "Promotion does not come from the ea t or the west, but from the Lord."
    Rom 13:1-7 "...ministers of God for our good...

4. Could it be that the election of Barak Obama is the beginning of an answer to the prayers of the saints who picked cotton as slaves? A righting of a 400 year injustice? Many African American Christians believe "Yes" and are praising God for His listening ear. Could it be that the beginning of the line for the "nationally need to be addressed issues" did not start 40 years ago with abortion being legalized or the gay rights agenda endangering biblical family values? Maybe, the beginning of the line was the correction of 400 year ethnic injustice where 25 million people died in the transatlantic slave trade. Where black folks were Constitutionally dehumanized, beaten, and denied basic human rights. Could this election be the beginning of God answering prayers in connection with a prior sin? Who knows, but something really big is being fixed. With President-elect Obama transitioning into the White house, racism is now localized, not nationalized. With this great advancement, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) must now justify its need to exist and Jesse Jackson may become just another very important historical American figure. Again, something really big is being fixed!

        Heb 11:13 "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth."

5. Grave Covenant Church tries embrace a complete Biblical world view. Some have accused us of being theologically liberal and consenting to me sex marriage and the pro choice agenda. Others have said we are overly conservative and are only concerned about Pro Life issues and the anti-biblical redefinition of marriage by the gay rights activist. They contend that we have no heart for the poor.
May I set the record straight...GCC is/hasbeen...
    - Pro Life till the grave
    - Started "Black Americans For Life" with Kay Cole James 1984
    - I've been arrested twice by peacefully trying to stop women from killing their babies
    - GCC Spent 3 years of Saturday mornings counseling women to not make the worst decision of their lives
    - Granted up to $5k those who wished to adopt
    - GCC gives approx $50k per year to orphange projects every year and has established 4 in Africa
    - GCC gives between $25k-$35k to assist inner city kids in education, morals, salvation and good citizenry
    - Cynthia & I have adopted
    - Pro Biblical Marriage ($60k on canvassing pastors to sign Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as being between a man and a woman in 2005)

6.We don't believe that October & November is the only time to present a Biblical World View. April, June and February are great months. If one doesn't hear me in April, they won't in November either.

By the way, I favored neither candidate because neither completely embraced a Biblical World view. However, the one I voted for will not be moving into the White House in January.

When I voted, it was one of the saddest days of my life because my version of a biblical conscience would not let me vote for a man who believes it's OK to end the life of a child before birth.

Yet, I was filled with memories of being the first family to break the color barrier in our neighborhood. I remember no realtor would sell to us, so we had to pay over what the house was worth when we bought from an individual owner. I remember reading about the cross burning in my neighborhood. Memories of being called unmentionable epithets freshly came back to me. Our property was destroyed, our family was denied access to our neighborhood pool and I had to fight physically and mentally just to be equal. All this ridicule strongly drew me - on Tuesday - to participate in God's rectification of history - indeed, His answer to my prayers & the prayers of my ancestors.

However, my version of a biblical conscience would not let me vote for history. Like those abolitionist who had to speak up for those who had no voice, I had to use my vote to be in concert with the spirit of my ancestors, not just their particular cause. Therefore, I voted for the policies of the man which I believed were most proper.

On Wednesday I cried for joy and for sorrow, but I felt God had done something right and so had I.
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Brett is one of the wisest and most principled men i know. I appreciate his insights about history and the election. What do you think?

Something is Wrong When...

Sunday AM. Up early again. Jet lag.
Been working on my sermon for a few hours...

This blog started me thinking that
something might be wrong in the Church when we...

- are more passionate about a political party, than about the Church

- boldly tell our neighbors about our candidate, but don't tell them about our Savior

- joyfully give money to a political campaign, but don't tithe or give to missions

- pray for our candidate's victory, but not for our neighbor's salvation

- transfer our trust from God's word to a political system.

Yea, something is wrong when we put our hope in the messianic promises of candidates. It's called idolatry, and folly.

There's been a lot of passion and excitement during this campaign season. I would love to see that kind of passion about the Kingdom of God - about things that are more eternal than temporary.

My StrengthsFinder Results

My friend, Paul Barker is coming to Manila next week to help us find and max our strengths. All our senior staff were all supposed to read the StrengthsFinder 2.0 book and take the online test.  Seems like everyone in Nash and Europe is talking about StrengthsFinder 2.0. There are 34 strengths or themes that describe the way we think/process or do life. The test determines your top five.

After putting it off for months, i finally took the 177 question test. I hate tests.

According to the SF 2.0 test, here are my top 5 strengths or themes that define how i go about life:

5. Procrastination
4. Reluctance
3. Stoicism
2. Cynicism
1. Sarcasm

Actually those are not my top 5.  i think my test results had some type of technical glitch. I need to be re-tested b/c my top theme was "relater" which is described as a touchy/feely kind of guy who loves intimate conversations adn is really in touch with feelings. "Don't worry about finishing the job on time and don't worry about going over budget again - what really matters is that you feel affirmed."

Definitely not me. Unless this whole SF 2.0 experience is a way to get me in touch with my inner Dr Phil. Or maybe someone hacked into my computer and changed my answers.

The other 4 of my top 5 strengths/themes sounded more like the real me:

1. Relater ???
2. Belief
3. Maximizer
4. Futurist
5. Harmony

2-4 actually sounded like me. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around that "relater" theme. Please tell me how you feel about that.

I guess when Paul gets here, he can help me sort it out. And i hope that makes you feel affirmed and important, whether or not you get the job done.

10 Reasons Not to Panic, Despite the Wall Street Meltdown

I posted this yesterday on my other blog. Dont usually double post, but thought it might be good to post here b/c of all the fear, worry and panic going on around the world.

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Banks closing. Stocks crashing. Finger pointing. Gas shortages. Mass panic. Politicians blaming each other and passing the buck. That’s America.

Here are my top 10 reasons not to panic:

10. Because God, not Wall Street, gives the ability to produce wealth.
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. - Dt 8:18

9. Because of God’s covenant promise to Abraham
But you have said,  ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”  - Gen 32:12

8. Because God has plans to prosper His people
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,  “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  - Jer 29:11

7. Because God rewards those who are kind to the poor
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. - Prov 19:17

6. Because God blesses generous people
A generous man will himself be blessed - Prov 22:9

5. Because if we give to the poor, we will lack nothing
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. - Prov 28:27

4. Because God provides so we can be generous
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - 2Cor 9:11

3. Because God does not forsake the righteous
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. - Ps 37:25

2. Because God takes care of tithers
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty,  “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. -Mal 3:10

1.    Because God promises to meet all my needs
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. - Phil 4:19

What are your reasons not to panic?