Getting What You Want... Not always a "good" thing....

Have you ever wanted something so badly that when you did get it, you wondered what you were thinking in the first place?

It is somewhat ironic that often that one thing that we are absolutely convinced will make us "happy" or "fulfilled" turns out more often than not to be the thing that almost ruins us!

i remember a few years ago sitting around my house in the far western suburbs of Chicago thinking that if i had the chance i would jump at the opportunity to be a co-pastor of a church. i recall even thinking that God was giving me all the "go for it" signals on this idea that anyone could ask for... friends who affirmed my leadership gifts, conversations regarding an emerging, new "shared" church leadership paradigm and the ultimate... an unsolicited phone call, offering the "opportunity of a lifetime" helping to co-lead a church in another part of the country!

WOW! What else could an earnest, eager and more than slightly immature person ask for?!?

Well several years later, i realized i should have asked for a whole lot else!

• Did the experience allow me to develop more as a leader?
• Was the experience necessary for future opportunities that might come my way?
• Was the experience fun?

The answers: Yes... Probably.... and only if you think of having teeth extracted from your face as a "good time"!

i often found myself during those several years wondering how could i have misunderstood all the "signs"? And you know what? i never really came up with a truly satisfactory answer. i did however realize that one must exercise extreme caution when thinking or believing you have come across your supposed "opportunity of a lifetime"!

i also believe that one of the most painful prayers that can be answered "yes" is the one prayer you pray to get that one thing you have always "thought" you wanted... and you get it.

PS. Oh yeah, one more thing... this past weekend at our church we celebrated with 34 baptisms! It was an awesome way to end a great summer!

I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me....

Running a bit late on this post but it has been a been a bit of a hectic week.... good but hectic!

i saw something happen the other day that i thought i would share because it was pretty disturbing although i am not real sure why....

In preparation for an upcoming training meeting for some leaders of our small groups i went to a local grocery store to purchase supplies. What is interesting is this is a local store where members of my family and myself constantly recognize people from our congregation and they recognize us. i am almost certain that every time i go to this store i see someone that i know.

Anyway, as i was leaving the store to return to my car i saw someone that i knew but i could tell they were in the middle of talking on the phone so we never acknowledged one another. However, since my car was a couple of rows away from them i could clearly see him but he never saw me. One of the things i also noticed was that this person was parked in the "Handicapped Only" parking stall... which was strange because as far as i know this person is not handicapped at all. Now all of a sudden a wave of thoughts hit me like a ton of bricks... first i thought..."They know better..." then i thought, "They don't get it..." only to be followed by, "i wonder how many people see me do "something" in public and think these same thoughts about me?". Ouch!

i came away from that experience reminded that before i begin pointing out the stuff in my neighbors' backyard, maybe i should focus on cleaning mine first. It's easy to condemn someone else but that is the problem isn't it? Taking a closer look inside of ourselves before jumping to conclusions about others and their actions is a lot more difficult than it sounds.

My gut feeling is if we were to as individuals commit to this type of "fearless self inventory" on a regular basis, i bet a ton of finger pointing, tongue wagging and blaming would cease or at the very least, ease up a bit....

My Leadership Summit Experience

This past week on Friday i had the chance to go to Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL for the right price... FREE!

One of the guys who interestingly enough, previously served on the staff of the church i serve at Westbrook, is the person that allowed me to tag along with him. As a matter of fact, Mark served in the same position that i currently fill at our church... Pastor of Spiritual Formation.

At any rate, the day i attended The Leadership Summit was absolutely phenomenal! The first speaker that i heard was former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell.Unfortunately he was not able to be on site for the event but there was a recorded interview between he and Senior Pastor Bill Hybels. All i could think about was how much i would have loved the opportunity to be one of the soldiers under his command! His insights on leadership (The Powell Principles) were simple but powerful. The other thought that continue to occur to me was "Man, i wish he would run for President..."

i also listened to John Ortberg, Senior Pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California. John was a teaching pastor at Willow Creek before he moved out West. The topic he tackled was "A Leaders Greatest Fear". Very, very challenging! In particular the concept of the leaders' "shadow mission" versus "authentic mission" made for a very uncomfortable topic. Using the Old Testament book of Esther as a backdrop, he did an incredible job of making it possible to hear a pin drop!

These events are especially powerful for me, it's as if they fill my own "leadership tank" and remind me of why i do what i do... so next year if any of you plan on trying to attend this event , give me a call.... i'll take the FREE ticket!

Nothing To Talk About?

This is crazy... i am sitting here having made the commitment and attempting to follow through on writing for my blog at least once a week thinking to myself... "i really don't have anything to say this week" which is sort of strange because typically i have something to say or at least write. But not this week.

Don't know why, but it's true... even as i write this i am thinking...."No one is going to read about how you have nothing to write about...you numb skull..." More of that negative self-talk... i thought i had worked through that but it comes back every now and then... it's a little like that really annoying relative that you know every few months you're going to have to deal with at the next family gathering.

Anyway, while there is a lot going on in our home, in our church and in our lives... generally speaking we continue to enjoy our transition to life in Chicagoland. i haven't forgotten about getting photos posted to this blog of a couple of recent missions trips that different folks in my family took to Mexico and Atlanta, Georgia. As soon as the photos are ready there will be a link directing you to the photo albums, i appreciate your patience.

Oh one more thing... next week i hope to make a trip to Lincoln, IL where i will participate in a Seminary Orientation day... i am planning on picking up where i left off a few years ago with regard to my graduate degree. i am looking forward to the challenge of graduate studies this fall. i am continuing work on an MA in Leadership Studies. One of my dreams is to eventually complete a Doctorate degree in Leadership Development (i know, i know, i know... at heart i really am a geek). The concept of leadership in general is intriguing to me... i think part of the reason it is so interesting to me is that for a long time i had a very hard time grasping what it meant or even what it looked like to be a leader. i am still learning and am excited about getting back in the "academic" saddle so to speak.

The fall season is already upon me and while i didn't have much to write about today, in the next few weeks i look forward to sharing about...
1) An upcoming six week all church small group initiative, IntersectCulture
2) A weekend with sociologist and author Dr. George Yancey
3) Ongoing and upcoming Mosaix small group curriculum writing projects and opportunities just to name a few things!

Hmmm, isn't that interesting? i didn't think i had anything to write about although some of you are probably thinking...."Dude, don't kid yourself... i just wasted five minutes reading your silly blog because you really didn't write anything!"

Have a great week!