Convince: Game on....

Convince: Game on....

Game on....

Game is on, as we prepare for the presidential election again in November 2012. Before I go on, this is just my rambling, I am not pushing or advocating for any side. I am only going to put out some thoughts that are rolling around in my mind. As disclaimer, I am not going to address or get into a long debate with myself or anyone else for that matter, about anyone voting for or against a presidential candidate based on their race. It is going to happen, and it is going to happen on both side; discussion over.

Now what is rolling around in my head is this, how does the rest of each of us vote because everyone purports to believe in a God who does right for the greater good. A GOD, who is willing to sacrifice, to help all – John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. - and then reconcile all to Himself with unconditional love. Legacy, legendary, and epitome of leadership in living color. Do we vote with any of this in mind, which means a sacrificing in our today to make a better tomorrow? Do we vote with an emotional bent or do we involved a healthy balance of God-centric focus? Do we take the time to see our culture, our communication vehicle, and the avenue we used to matriculate to our success, our accomplishments to vote, without stopping to ‘see’? We have not embraced the breath, the depth and the width of the larger issues in society, and we will never do so, unless we seek outside of what we know as diverse or different.  Are we willing to explore a more expansive lens in our work toward change that actually helps the marginalized voices within the larger society which includes female, minorities, and the poor that is beyond our comfort zone? Are we so caught up in our pedagogy of truth, firm in our well-oiled machine of reality, and inflexible in our perspective on what is economically and ideologically sound, we are unable to be reflective enough to give the opposition an opportunity to be actually heard, not just listened to, as you prepare to articulate your lucid response? Are we afraid that if I actually listen to the opposition utterance with the attentiveness, as I desire from them, it would re-shape, re- direct, and construct a more balance vision and understanding of what we need as a country? See all experiences are learning experiences, teachable moments, and epiphanies when we remove the defense, and speak what is right to do.  Not being hell-bent on what we have the right to do; this is a very limited or myopic lens.

Yeah, game on, and we need to remove the claws on attacks on each other, and begin seeking true change; we are as strong, as our weakest link. I believe we are so deep in ‘our perspective’ we cannot see the entire majestic panoramic view.  Marcel Proust had it right – “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” We can move to different places and see the same thing but when the lens changes, we see the difference in HD.

I understand, we all want what is best for the country, we seem to forget divided we fall. No one wins when battle lines are drawn, and eye for an eye mentality is the course of action. We most certainly go blind, with this mentality. So, as you look toward the election day of 2012, ask yourself what am I really voting for, or am I really voting against something. See change is a curious thing; we cannot truly achieve change, unless we are willing to change.  Wonderfully web we weave, when we first seek to deceive. The problem we do not even seen how damaging it is, until it is too late…Your vote, your choice, and game is on!!... “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what the nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” (Romans 8:5 NIV)

Servant Leadership

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)

Leadership is all about serving others. It is not about being served.  It is not the position, the status it brings, or the title one gets. However, it is about an aptitude and attitude because if you take on a position with the wrong mindset and attitude, life will be miserable. Your reign or tenure in the position maybe long or short, but it will be thwarted with conflict and confusion. Whether we desire to own, admit or agree with it, leaders dictate the temperature of their organization, group, or team. We know a tree by the fruit it bears, and we know who you are by the people you lead. Julius was right when he told Bertier in the movie Remember the Titans –Julius: Attitude reflects leadership, captain. This was pivotal point in the movie where all things begin to change. However, it would have never changed, if Bertier was not willing to own, what he already knew; he had to change. Was he a bad or inadequate leader? No, but he fell victim to the attitude- it worked before, or this is what, I have always done. When you are a leader, you can’t be stagnate but you must be principled with patience, integrity, and courage. When you know, you are there to serve, not just to be served; you are able to evolve as your duties, responsibilities expand.   It is about attitude, not a title or a birthright.

In the verses above, we have traditionally heard about them when it comes to salvation but it also speaks to servant leadership. Servant leadership embodies these: God so loved the world, He gave, serving; that whosoever believe in him, shall not perish, serve; and came to save, not condemn, serve. Serve means to assist, supply, attend, provide, or fulfill; all things Jesus did by coming to earth. He also knew, He was here to serve. Over and over again, we find the Anointed One serving whether it is cleaning feet, offering drink, feeding, or healing people. The definitive description in how to be a servant leader is in the life of Christ, and as a result we seek to serve him. His attitude, aptitude delivered in a cloak of unconditional love, fastened in place with unlimited mercy, knitted with another chance forgiveness, andpolished with continuous grace to keep us. And although, we are not perfect and cannot replicate it, we can come to the position of leadership with the right attitude and mindset; service. Leadership is not ever about the leader; it is and always about the people being lead. Servant leadership is choice, we should choose if we are to become a successful leader. We must practice it, to be come it. Your choice, choose well.

For the things which we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing: men become builders by building houses and harpists by playing the harp. Similarly, we become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control. - Aristotle

Why we Matter

Why we matter? We matter because God thought, and we were. It was not about because individuals decided to have a family, you are here. If that was the case, we would not have surrogates in this country, or family bemoaning the fact, they cannot conceive, or the multimillion dollar industry for reproduction purposes. Nor is it about sexuality, ethnicity, gender, wealth, where we live, or abilities. Because it is not about who you are, but whose we are; we all matter. In John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (NIV) – everyone like to talk about, speaks to the fact the Son died for the, world- that means us all. God created us as we are, and it was not an accident, it was an intentional act; regardless of the circumstances of your conception or challenges. If you don’t believe me, asked the millions of women who have had miscarriages over the years. Also, the parents who had a baby today, but the next day their baby is gone.

So the next time you are consumed with doubt and musing of ‘I wish, I would have never been born, or I have no reason live’ remember these verses Psalm 139:13-16 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be - Know you have significance, you matter because God does not make junk, but jewels; the Father does not create trivial, He forms treasures, and the Father never made a mistake, He we are marvelously and fearfully made in His image….Justsayin’

Learning the lessons

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 NIV

1.       Hurt people, hurt other people

2.       What we put out to others, others return it to us

3.       Before you seek forgiveness, grant forgiveness for it opens a whole new life for us

4.       Changing our tone, changes the meaning sent out to the world

5.       Change starts in the inward parts before the outward parts will be accepted

6.       Time teaches only those who are seeking

7.       Unless your standards aligned with the Father, they will never sustain

8.       Someone seeking the best for you, and someone trying to tell you what to do, look the same but they are not. One is for your good, and the other is not.

9.       True love in any form is unconditional because it is given freely, not because of what you did but what God has done.

10.    You cannot keep all you have, and get all you want; something must be release as it in nature, it is with man

11.    Giving to others, gives to you in surprising proportions

12.    Unforgiveness hurts you, not the person you are not forgiving

13.    Prayer is about being one with God, so you are aligned with God

14.    God created only treasures, not trash; that is man made

15.    We cannot control what others say to us, but we have total control on how we respond

16.    Self-hate allows negative speech to stick like super glue

17.    Today’s struggles are preparational  blessings for our divine ordered destiny

18.    God’s logic shakes our very foundation of possibility to show us His vastness

19.    God will not do or allow others to do, what you can do for yourself

20.    We are all on a journey of self-discovery, although our paths maybe different, the end result is the same, to live our truth

21.    Just because you changed, it does not mean everyone else will change

22.    Not letting go of the negative experience as a badge of courageous endurance, make it impossible to appreciate the great things happening to us presently

Steeple or People: Both

Steeple or people, as Christians, we are called to be the church. Not to say a physical facility is not needed or necessary. However, it is to say we should always remind ourselves what we are about; winning souls for the Father. Let me make this disclaimer just in case someone reads this, and think I am against church growth and/ mega church; I am not.
As I look out into our society today, I see more and more focus on bigger and better. It seems no one understands, if the church is little and lingering, then you have growth and ghastly. For some reason as the church increases, God focus decreases. Not all the churches but far too many, this is the fate of the church; so goes the people, so goes the church. Material gains are the focus, and it becomes paramount over spiritual increases. The fresh, innovating approach to teaching, preaching and connecting to invigorate the members, and allowed for growth to occur in the first place, is no longer the vehicle used. For some reason instead of building on what enable growth, we are sucked in by notoriety, celebrity status, and fame, we become lost in the confusion. However, if we go back to the word and take our lead from the life of Christ, we would see quickly enough, He never let anything move Him from His mission, purpose, and focus – win souls for the Father. When we follow Christ’s example, God maintains it because what God directs, He protects, and when He places, He provides for; thus, growth occurs.
See, we should be reconciled unto God, not man but for some reason, we desire reconciliation with man over man. The irony is this, when we submit and let God reconcile us to him, the right people seem to come to us with all that we need. In Luke 10:12-14 we shall find this most prominent  - Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”  He replied, “You give them something to eat. “They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”  (About five thousand men were there.). The rest of the story is they were fed; what is my point? My point, God provides for those He draws; He blesses, what is increased in His name that is beyond what we could have imagined or requested. We, Christians, just have to believe and follow the Bright and Morning Star that never goes out.

The truth shall set you free

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”…. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:12;31-32

Although, I am not without errors, and I stand before you, figuratively, owning I am a work in progress and there are some kinks in my armor of godliness...wink...I have learned a few things on my travels...The truth shall set you free. We have heard it, and even spoke it a few times ourselves, if we are honest. Yet, we deny our truth because of fear of not being accepted by our circle, the masses, or by self..sigh.... However, we wonder why we struggle to live free. We struggle as a result of the emotional, mental, and psychological baggage binding us to now, as we replay the Ferris wheel like effect in our heads. We lie how we fit, where we fit, and who we fit with; so not to be separate or ignored. Taking risk that are really gambles, not realizing they are not the same although on the face, they look the same. Risk is something intentional and usually calculated, and we can rescue ourselves from, whereas a gamble is something, if goes wrong results in immutable consequences. That only the Father can get us through to the other side, and above it. Nevertheless, we seem to be in constant motion trying to prove, we are Christian; in an unconscious seamless routine. The funny thing is, light does not have to tell anyone they are there, it’s seen. We cannot walk in darkness and light, no more than you can walk in truth and in falsehood. But without fail, we move forward with flawless precision by putting much effort in trying to convince others we are, who we say, we are, and to ensure other don’t live a lie...really?... Forgetting darkness cannot bring out light, in anyone. We try, and wonder why we do not get the desired outcome; it is not a mystery really.

We seem to forget what is true for others is also applicable and true for us. See, truth is the thing which chills our foundations, opens us to God’s light of deliverance, and breaks our unshatterable shield. Yet, we cannot get there without willingly submitting to walking in the path of God, not judging others, willing to forgive all, give up self to the Word, and seeing with the eye of God, so we can unconditionally love. For God protects with exactness, where He directs, no matter what anyone else tells you. Yet, getting pass the madness circle is possible but difficult. We need to seek the light guiding our way to God. It is not easy, the process requires work. It means not seeking our revenge but letting vengeance be God’s; making forgiveness be part of the momentum moving us upward and onward, and not creating the work in progress called ‘destruction production starring yours truly’ because our faith is bigger, than our ego. Then the days of inner peace gained are priceless and plentiful….The truth shall set us all free….our choice, our life…God forbid, so the words planted in our soul, after harvest releases tears of joy and a bouquet of love on the world