Spend a few moments with it this week. Let it settle. Let it soak. Let it mark you.

Verse 1:
Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
One thing remains

Chorus:
Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me

Verse 2:
On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains

Bridge:
In death, In life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love

One simple phrase he said has been rolling around in my heart for days now:  ”Nothing Rocks Forever.”

Nothing.

Rocks.

Forever.

What was once a big deal can become yesterday’s news. That which was once the biggest thing since “sliced bread” now feels like toast that’s been sitting out on the counter too long. This is how things go…whether we like it or not. Nothing rocks forever. We live in a time of discontinuous change. For change to be “discontinuous” means it is without sequential order or coherent form. In other words, it is unpredictable, unprecedented, unbiased, and often unbecoming.

Change is, well, messy.

That’s why it is important for leaders to foster an ongoing culture of change within their organizations. It’s not enough to resign ourselves to a “if we change…” mentality.  We must now operate on the premise of “when we change…” because nothing rocks forever. Discontinuous change is afoot.

How should we then live?

• Put more energy into operating principles rather than “soon-to-be obsolete” programs. Principles have greater duration, whereas programs die fast.

• Give everything an “Expiration Date.” Rather than waiting until an event, idea or program is on it’s last breath, consider establishing an expiration date. Throw it out before you have to wonder if it is rotten or not (and don’t make your friends “take a drink and tell you if it’s sour”)!

• Hang out with Change Artists. Immerse yourself in the writings, teachings, blogs, and company of individuals that understand that nothing rocks forever. Like iron that sharpens iron, we need these folks to keep us on the cutting edge. By the way, these don’t have to be the coolest kids in the crowd. Some of the best change artists I draw from have been dead for years, and others certainly wouldn’t be identified as “hipsters.” They do, however, understand change.

• Fail Forward. John Maxwell, an influential change artist, was the first person I heard use the phrase “fail forward.” The idea is that failure is inevitable so you might as well let it propel you towards growth. Too often, we equate failure as a setback, but for us to develop a culture of change, we must make friends with failure. Go ahead…try. Try something. Try anything. Don’t just sit there. Do something. Be something. Sure you will fail. Welcome to the club.

If you don’t try (and also fail) then you may never discover what ROCKS. There are a lot of ideas that are waiting to be discovered and ROCK for a season. Not forever, mind you.

Just for a season.

That’s how seasons work…they change.

There was much joy in that city.  Did you catch that?  Joy in the City.

This concept captivates my heart. What would it be like to have a city full of joy because of the life of Jesus and the proclamation of the Gospel?  When Phillip brought the message of Christ to the people of Samaria, it had a considerable effect upon them.

Unclean spirits were cast out.

Paralyzed and lame people were healed.

And, there was a notable sense of joy in the city.

That puts a smile on my face. I am captivated with the idea that a city could resonate with the life of Jesus to the degree that there is a tangible tone of JOY.   Does the message that we proclaim today have a similar effect?

If not, then perhaps we’ve forgotten that the Good News is supposed to be…well…GOOD NEWS.

What would “joy in the city” look like in the place you live?

The following reflections are a work in progress. I’m only musing.

When I saw him walk in with his full priestly garb my first thought was how underdressed I am right now. Granted, this is my day off. Yes, I’ve showered, but I just threw on some clothes consisting of faded jeans with a huge rip in the knee, thrashed shoes with a tear in the fabric, an Athletic Booster t-shirt from West Salem High School, a black hoodie with some skater logo on it (all in an effort to look relevant to the kiddos), and a Nike baseball cap. I’m a walking billboard – my life is a product placement.

Then there is the priest – the man in black. He’s in pressed clothes, dress shoes, overcoat and even a classy top-hat (admittedly, I am a bit envious of that). In stark contrast, a bright white collar peeks out to confirm all questioning of this man indeed being a priest.

He and I serve in similar roles, but you wouldn’t know it.

More musings that are converging…

During this time I was reading my Bible on my trusty iPad. This digital device is absolutely amazing. I’m typing these thoughts on it right now. While reading my Bible off my iPad my gut started feeling weird, and I couldn’t really explain until right now why I wanted to have my actual paper Bible in my hands instead of the iPad. When I switched to reading from my tried and true NIV, leather bound copy of the Scriptures, I felt better. I felt like people around me would notice it and would say, “Oh, he’s reading a Bible.” I didn’t do this because of pride or be recognized. I did this because over the years many a conversation have been struck up by people saying, “I see you’re reading your Bible. Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

This has become my…well…my white collar.

When I read the Bible from my iPad or iPhone I’ve only had people say, “Hey, that’s a pretty cool dealio. How much you pay for that and what kind of tricks can it do?”

Now, I’m not a legalist. I’m about as far from that description as could be imagined. I don’t think the words of Scripture are more holy on parchment then on a glossy screen. I don’t subscribe to the notion that a person is more righteous when wearing slacks and a button down shirt vs. jeans and a t-shirt. I’ve been around that block in my past and it’s not a good trip. It’s religion, and religion kills.

More musings that are converging…

Today my devotional reading is Ezekiel 44 and interestingly it’s about the priestly garments. Coincidence? I think not. The bulk of chapter 44 deals with what the priests and Levites are to wear in the temple (inner courts) and outside the temple (outer courts). Verse 19 says: “When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes…” It goes on to address hair length, wine consumption, marriage and divorce with a culminating statement: “They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.”

As a student of the Bible I can say with a level of confidence that the Older Testament finds it’s fulfillment in the person of Jesus in the New Testament. The external requirements of the Older Testament points towards an internal work of the Spirit. For example, the law of circumcision is now a physical representation of the work of the Spirit in the HEART. In a nutshell, Jesus wants our willful surrender not our wardrobe. He’s not much concerned whether we read Scripture from paper or a computer. Jeans or slacks? Not major issues for Jesus.

But are they issues for me? Do I need to do certain things personally? Do I sense a desire to read from my paper Bible because it keeps my heart focused (it’s so easy to check Facebook or read email from my iPad)? Does it add a level of accountability for me to have people SEE me with a physical copy of the Scriptures? In other words, does the priest wear the white collar so that he’s reminded that he is INDEED A PRIEST? Are there disciplines that we think are FOR GOD, but actually are FOR US?

Musings.

I say these magical words nearly every weekend.

In an effort to set the audio levels of my wireless headset microphone, the sound tech and I go through a ritual affectionately called “Testing 1, 2, 3″ in which I casually stand on the platform of our pre-service church auditorium and say repetitive comments while he/she attempts to make me sound better than I actually do. I keep asking that they put more bass into my voice so I don’t sound like I just entered adolescence (to no avail)!

The goal of our exchange is mult-faceted. First, we want to discover if the microphone is EVEN connected. Often, other ministries will use equipment and forget to plug the cable back in. Secondly, we want to set the levels appropriately. It’s always unfortunate when we forget to soundcheck and my first words are with a room full of people. Invariably this will include a deafening “Good Morning!” or worse yet, awkward silence because it’s not even on! So, setting the appropriate levels is important. Lastly, we are are on a hunt for what we call “sound system demons.” Every church PA system has them. If you’re a pastor/leader or a sound technician then you have faced those demons head on, with a mixture of both success and failure. These are those oddities that enter into a sound system without welcome. Call it feedback, call it poor wiring, call it a bad cable, call it whatever you want…it’s the “sound system demons” and they don’t need a “be healed,” they need a “COME OUT!” During a church service we want to do that which is helpful, NOT hurtful. Nothing quite messes with the presence of God like microphone screeching (ie: the witch from Wizard of Oz…I’m melting! I’m melting!).

Is it connected?
Is it appropriate?
Is it helpful?

Testing 1, 2, 3.

As a leader, I think it’s important to have a forum or outlet to test out ideas in order to discover if they truly connect and if the material is appropriate and helpful. Recently, I took a group of pastors and leaders through a 4-hour training course of ideas, objectives, and musings that I have been growing into over the years. My heart is to resource leaders with concepts that are being developed in my heart and life. I don’t have it all figured out. I’m still wrestling. I’m a work in progress.

Testing 1, 2, 3.

Hopefully the material that I share will be radically different over the coming years, because of the way the Lord is birthing “new and living ways” within my soul. Hopefully it will morph in order to foster greater connection. Hopefully it will morph to be appropriate for various groups and needs. Hopefully it will morph because I want it to be helpful.

Testing 1, 2, 3.

What are you testing out? What ideas do you have that need to be given voice? Don’t wait for it all to become perfect and polished. Go for it. See if it connects. Tweak with it until the appropriate levels are discovered. Speak it out and see who is helped along the way.

In 1 Kings 3 Solomon, in a dream, asks the Lord for wisdom. His prayer is one that I have asked on a number of occasions and in various ways:

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? 1 Kings 3:9

Although a dream, this nighttime prayer became a reality. Solomon was indeed graced with immense wisdom. We discover its practical implications through an interesting encounter with two mothers (albeit prostitutes) that came to Solomon to have a disagreement settled.

One of the mothers had rolled over onto her baby in the middle of the night, smothering the little one. She then switched the dead baby for the living one. This was a classic “While You Were Sleeping” moment. However, like any mother worth her salt, the woman knew that the dead baby simply was not hers.

The battle of words begins: Yours. Mine. Not Yours. Alive. Mine. Dead. Yours. Mine.

Enter Solomon.

After listening to the arguments, in a bold move, Solomon presented a solution. His remedy has become a prototype for conflict resolution. Throughout the centuries, leaders have leaned upon Solomon’s sagely advice:

Bring me the baby. Oh yah, and a sword too. Gasp. I’m gonna split this cute little thing into two evenly divided pieces. Bigger Gasp. Each of you will get a piece. That should settle this. Another huge Gasp.

In church life, Lead Pastors have to “split the baby” all the time. Not literally, of course. The baby is representative of ministry focus, good ideas, financial resources, etc. etc. All ministry leaders have their “babies” – the ministries they oversee, the specific ideas and concepts they generate, and the passions that are burning brightly within their hearts. These all must be cared for and nurtured and yet, sometimes, the baby must be split. Not every good idea can be integrated. Rarely are there enough resources available for everyone’s passion to be released at the larger, congregational level.

So how does a leader “split the baby” effectively? Here are few thoughts:

1. Pray for wisdom
Before issuing a decree, talk to the Lord. This can happen on the fly or over time. Sometimes decisions must be made quickly and the leader must seek the Lord in “real time.” In other situations, wisdom would demand a reprieve in order to pray. There is nothing wrong with saying, “I will need to get back to you. I need to take some time to pray about this. Will you join me in praying this through?” Scripture tells us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

2. Listen closely
Leaders often have very refined views and directions that have been shaped over time, and therefore can be predisposed to poor listening skills. Ok, maybe that’s just me. In other words, we have been around the leadership block and we have heard many things, often with similar, predictable patterns (ie: been there, done that, bought the t-shirt!). Because of this, it’s so important to fight the urge to tune out, but rather listen…closely. The next best idea may be in the your next conversation. The Holy Spirit will often steer our hearts as we listen to his voice and to his people.

3. Value subtleties
When leaders are called upon to make decisions regarding great ideas with limited resources, one must depend upon subtleties. In Solomon’s case the subtlety was how the real mother refused to see the baby split (thus killed), but insisted that the fake mother receive him. This expressed true love, not selfishness. We need the wisdom of the Lord to pick up these kinds of subtleties when it comes to leadership decisions. Often when deciding between ideas we must actively listen for the little details that separates good from great. These subtleties will serve us in our decision making process. And we MUST make decisions…

4. Make clear decisions
At some point, after seeking the wisdom of the Lord, listening attentively, and weighing out the subtleties, a leader must make the call. That is what separates leaders from..well…followers. When you feel as if you’ve gotten the best information possible and have prayerfully been submitted to the wisdom of the Lord, then one must make a decision. If it is to “split the baby” then do it. If there are other options, then choose one. This is the tough stuff of leadership, and we wish we could “defer” it all the time. That would mean, however, that we aren’t the leader we think we are. Leaders make clear decisions.

5. Move on
This may sound cold and heartless, but, leaders have to “move on.” There will always be another decision to make. Even if you feel that you “really messed up” the last one: move on. You will live to fight another day. There will always be another “baby to split.”

Leaders: seek the wisdom of the Lord, listen to your people, value the subtleties that surface, make the hard calls, then move onto the next challenge. This is leadership. It’s not always easy. But, man, it is vital.

“Our coffee beans are roasted daily and delivered to your cup through the brewing method of your choice. Choose between pour over, French Press, La Marzocco or Clover. In addition to a full line-up of coffees offered year round, we also seek out small batch coffees sourced from individually owned farms that are available when in season. Check out our blog to see what’s in season today.

Tea is selected through the same deliberate process as our coffee beans. Each tea has been taste tested by our resident tea master and selected based on its uniqueness and originality. We brew whole leaf by the pot or cup.

Fresh food and pastries are baked daily and racked European style. All of our decadent delicacies are produced by Essential Baking Company, a local favorite.

Stop by in the evening and check out some of our local music talent ranging from live bands to our favorite DJs spinning on the tables. Choose from our selection of beer and wine to end the day.

Whole leaf teas, delicate pastries, live music, beer and wine. This coffee shop meets you at street level.”

Sounds great.

So…On August 2009 I wrote a paper for my Graduate Degree. I called it “The Soul of Starbucks.”  I based it upon a 800 word memo that Howard Schultz distributed to his employees.  In the memo Schultz said:  ”Over the past 10 years, in order to achieve the growth, development, and scale necessary to go from less than 1,000 stores to 13,000 stores and beyond, we have had to make a series of decisions that, in retrospect, have led to the watering down of the Starbucks experience, and, what some might call the commoditization of our brand.”

I gave the research paper I wrote to a few of my local Starbucks baristas, including a regional manager. She said she would pass it up the chain. Not sure if that happened, but, when I read about the 15th Ave Coffee & Tea concept I went back and read my paper. The connection is pretty uncanny.

Here is the paper: The Soul of Starbucks

Here is the final paragraph conclusion I proposed:

“I would recommend that the Starbucks Corporation diversify. Rather than trying to move the existing stores back to basics, I believe they should hive an offshoot of Starbucks. One that is reflective of the classic coffeehouse, complete with hand-operated espresso machines and on-site brewing and grinding of beans. Each store should reflect the community in its art and décor.Each venue should not feel like a store because the main product is no longer music, books, movies, mugs, and machines but rather the coffee and the atmosphere. Isn’t this how the whole thing got started anyway: one store in Pikes Place brewing really good coffee. I recommend that what IS should stay AS IS and that energy be placed into creating ‘another place’. Perhaps Schultz will spark the kind of discussion needed to get the Starbucks Corporation to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’.”

I hope 15th Ave Coffee & Tea makes it to Salem, Oregon. I’d hang out there with a fresh brewed cup.

“And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.”  Exodus 27:20-21

Here we discover God’s command to the priests that there should always be a light left on in the temple. The inner court must alway have illumination. The lamps were to be filled with pure beaten olive oil.  The process by which olive oil is harvested and refined is amazing. There are various grades of oil (ie: extra virgin) and the command was such that only the purest form be brought to the inner court to keep the light burning day and night.

Throughout Biblical history, we discover that oil is often used as a typology of the Holy Spirit and His anointing presence. From this passage, one can surmise that the Lord God desired that there be a visual reminder of His Presence always burning brightly within the temple and before the people.  God’s desire for His manifold Presence to be expressed, enjoyed and exalted remains today. He wants His Presence to be evident in our modern churches.

How often have we been a part of or at least aware of congregations in which God’s Presence has not dwelt for some time?  These are empty shells, white-washed tombs, and shadows of their former selves.

The lights are barely on, and God is certainly not at home.

How can we, in our postmodern culture, insure that the Presence of the Holy Spirit still burns brightly within our midst?  I believe there are two components that are found in the Exodus 27 passage.

1.  The People Bring It

The people of Israel were commanded to bring the pure oil to the temple for the lamp to remain lit. There is a responsibility on their part that is often overlooked today.  Our contemporary churches have largely become spectator based in which folks rate the service like that of an episode of American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance? In large part the leaders of the local church have a heavy expectation to “bring it,” and if there seems to be a lack of God’s Presence then the service is rated accordingly. In this passage we discover the opposite expectation.  The people were to “bring it.”

Imagine, Spirit-filled believers coming together and collectively bringing the indwelling Presence of God with them. Our church gatherings would be lit up! That’s where the pastors role begins.

2.  The Pastor Tends It

Aaron and his sons were the priests of the temple. They were commanded to tend to the lamp from evening to morning. What is notably absent from this passage?  Bringing oil was not their responsibility. Their role involved tending. Today in our churches, we have pastors that are given the same role: to keep the lamp burning with the oil that the people bring.

I have known good and Godly leaders that are struggling in their place of service. There are a number of reasons why this could be the case. But it occurs to me that perhaps they are trying to keep a lamp burning without oil. Another image would be: making bricks without straw.  These well-meaning pastors have too great an expectation upon them to be both bringer and tender. That is an undue expectation.

Welcome to the Kingdom of God partnership:  people and pastor. Together we can keep the light on for God.

Everything I do is laborious. Moving is difficult. Sleeping is fitful. My laptop is overheating. My perspiration is sweating. It’s pretty much bad. Today hit around 104 degrees…in the shade. I felt like a HotPocket in my truck. It served as a metallic sleeve wrapped around me as I drove around in one big microwave oven. The imagery could go on and on.

Bottom line: I am longing for January.

Ah, January. The month that gave us more snow than we had had in a long, long time. Those were the days.

Isn’t it interesting how we go from one extreme to another. Hot…cold…hot…cold.

I guess it’s better than being lukewarm. Scripture makes it clear that we should avoid lukewarmness (see Revelation 3:16).

Sadly, we crave the comfort of lukewarm living – like warm milk, it’s safe and calming.

But it’s not very exciting.

The days we are living in need people that will live extreme. Not lukewarm. Hot or cold.

What will you be?