Strengths

If you get the chance, I would highly recommend reading the book Now, Discover Your Strengths, by Marcus Buckinham.  I found it to be extremely insightful and very counter-intuitive.  The premise, if you are not familiar with his work, is that we should discover our strengths and then spend the majority of our time working on and cultivating them.  We should never emphasize making our weaknesses into strengths.  He believes this is impossible and futile anyway.  This isn't a book to tell which career to go into, but rather how to utilize your unique giftedness in the context you are in already.  I don't know where Buckingham stands in regards to Christianity, but I can't help hearing Paul's words for us all to utilize our spiritual gifts for the advancement of the Kingdom.  I believe this book, and this concept, are tapping into how God has designed things to be in the world.  God wants all of us playing our unique role, in our particular context for His glory. 

A related aside...the book will come with a code that will allow you to take the online assessment test.  It will give you your top 5 areas for potential strength.  Very helpful.  Worth the price of the book.  This gives the book a very practical element instead of just a nice theory.  Check it out.

Great dinner

So this past Monday, Heather and I had the opportunity to go out to dinner with Chan and Stacy Kilgore.  Chan is the lead pastor of the church I will be apprenticing with starting in August.  Heather and I left that night feeling very encouraged and excited about the future God is leading us into.  It was so helpful to hear the Kilgore's story--both the good and bad of church planting.  I feel like I haven't been very "future" oriented lately since the past month or so has been focused on finishing well at Orangewood.  It feels nice to be freed up to now focus on this future work. 

Two things I am most excited about right now:

1. Beginning to realize that when God called us to plant this church it isn't just about our future, but also the doors He is opening for those who will join up with this new work.  Both in terms of people coming to faith and others who will help lead and serve at the outset.  Cool to see this as something bigger than just what Heather and I are doing next. I really pray it's the catalyst for change in many people's lives, just like it has been in ours.  It's also pretty cool (and somewhat overwhelming at times) to not know who any of those people are yet.  It'll be fun to see who God brings.



2. A venue/meeting space possibility.  Big meeting on Thursday afternoon.  I'll keep you informed.  It could be really cool though.

Peace.

Getting rid of pretense

So I've recently subscribed to two new podcasts, which I will link below.  Both feature Steve Brown.  One is interview focused, which has been fantastic.  You really should have a listen.  Don Miller, Anne Lamott, Dave Goetz, John Eldredge, etc.  I've heard these people interviewed before, but none as good as with Brown.  Check it out.

The other is the Scandalous Freedom podcast, based on Brown's most recent book.  There's a lot I want to comment on, but for now this is the thought that has been bouncing around in my head the most.  In the second session, he talked about "losing our witness" as Christians.  He argues that we lose our witness the most, not when we act hypocritical, but when we act with pretense.  Let me explain...though Christians are criticized for being hypocritical, this is never the issue, because ultimately everyone is a hypocrite.  The bigger issue is when we wear the mask and put the pretense that we have it all together.  People want us to be authentic.  They need us to be authentic.  We need more confession booths (Blue Like Jazz reference).  What would it look like if I gathered my neighbors, extended hospitality, and then proceeded to repent of all my junk.  Might be a way to start a church.  We'll see.  I'll probably chicken out. 

The Brown Sessions (interviews)

A Scandalous Freedom

Steve Brown etc.

2 Helpful Church Planting Resources

1.  A helpful display of statistics related to the great need for Church planting-- click here to watch the presentation.

The above resource comes from Drew Goodmanson.

2.  A great explanation of the WHY behind church planting, written by Tim Keller, click here.

Always be prepared...

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...
--1 Peter 3:15

So I started reading this book today and it has been a good and convicting read thus far.  I readily admit that I haven't been great when it comes to evangelism.  It is something I want to be far more intentional about.  Part of my struggle, or perhaps the majority of my struggle, is not with the "be prepared to give an answer", but more with how does one even get to a place where someone is asking.  Does that make sense?  This verse strikes me as more reactionary (in a good way) than intentional.  Obviously if someone asks me for the hope I have, I need to tell them.  I want to tell them.  But what if no one is asking?  Do I steer the conversation?  Do you "force" these types of conversations/discussions?  A big part of me rails against canned, programmatic ways to share the Gospel.  Yet there is at least an intentionality that I often don't have.  For instance, the other night at Olive Garden with Heather...the gentleman at the table next to us handed the waitress his payment along with her "free pass to heaven."   He was very gentle about it.  He was respectful.  However, she hadn't asked.  I can get critical when I see that, yet that's probably to just cover up my lack of boldness at times. 

Well this has all gotten very stream of consciousness style...guess that what happens when you're a full time blogger.  Peace.

Restraint

All I'm saying is that it's been out for 3 days now and I haven't gone to see it.  That's got to be some kind of spiritual discipline for a mac geek like me.

Mackinley's Baptism

Well Miss Mackinley got baptized this morning at Orangewood.  We've posted a little video for your viewing pleasure.  She was definitely animated.  She went from extreme happy to extreme meltdown.  Pretty funny.  Reggie Kidd did a great job as well.  All in all it was a pretty fun day. 

Though I don't believe baptism is an issue worthy of division (infant v. believer), I really like the communal, covenantal aspect of infant baptism.  We really do hope Mackie grows up to love and serve Jesus.

Peace.