Praying ABCs

One time, when I was lying on an operating table for a broncoscopy, they were just getting ready to jam a big tube into my nostril when I felt the strong urge to pray.
So I thought, "for every letter in the alphabet, I'll come up with a word for God."
I thought this might pass the time; stretch my creativity; take the focus off me;
& give Him some long overdue praise!
Well, it stuck with me and I've been doing it ever since.
It's like 26 ways of letting Jesus know how much I love Him.
When I journal, when I worship, when I pray,
I'll walk thru the ABCs.
And to take it a step further, I'll try to come up with different words each time (with the exception of Q, X, and Z, not much you can do with those letters)
Anyway, it goes something like this:
Dear Father, you are Almighty, Beautiful, Creative, Destined, Everlasting, Faithful, Glorious, Holy, Incredible, Joy, King of Kings, Love, Mighty, Noble, Omnipresent, Perfect, Quintessential, Redeeming, Safe, True, Undeniable, Victorious, Wonderful, Xcellent, Yahweh, Zealous....Amen!

"Jess"

When I was a little tyke, my p.'s were like hippy-Christians. I remember many-a-weekend where their hippy-buds would come over for "house-church," and they'd all show up with their kids & potluck dishes in tow. We lived out in the country, on one long & lonely road where there were 3 houses on it and nothing but rows of corn in between. As our parents would worship and study the bible in our living room, we kids would play outside, the good ole' games: kick the can, firefly catching, hide-n-seek in the corn fields, freeze tag.
One of my little buds was a girl named "Jess".
I remember making fun of "Jess" alot. She was from a blended family, she had a funny last name (as if I didn't), and, well, gosh, I don't know, I just made fun of her.
"Jess" had a very difficult upbringing. Too difficult to blog about. I would never describe the details to you. But it was a very, very difficult upbringing.
Years later, long after parting ways and now living in different states, I got some news. "Jess" had found her little brother dead in his bed. He had shot himself. He was only 15 or 16. My brother (who was the same age as her bro and who grew up playing with them) and I drove back to Ohio to attend the funeral. What can I say? It was one of the saddest things my eyes had ever seen.
And after all "Jess" had been through in her life, now this.
I don't know where "Jess" is today. But she was on my heart. I wish I could take back all the teasing I did to her. And I wish I could just sit down over coffee and just let her talk. But I can't.
I guess I'd like to say that if you have someone you'd like to sit down with, do it today.
Tomorrow you may not be here. Tomorrow, they may not be here.
Don't let time be your culprit for absences in your heart.

My Haman Being

Esther. It's not a book in the bible I pay alot of attention to. I guess I figure it's a story I already know. HA! I know nothing!
'Cause today, I read Esther 5:9-13 and it shouted "Wake up, fool!" right to my soul:
Now you'd think I'd be changed by something Esther did. Oh no, not me.
No, God had to convict me about something this Haman-joker did in Esther 5.
Haman wasn't a human being, he was a "haman being" -- a guy so full of himself.
Alas! Note to self:
don't say things like:
"I had this great idea..."
"What do you think of my new..."
"You should have seen me..."
"I don't mean to brag, but..."
"I'm never wrong..."
"I know it won't fail..."
When I talk like that, it's not just a bunch of words.
It's a bunch of words coming from a cocky heart.
"Jesus, please give me a heart of humility; a heart willing to not get credit, to not esteem itself, to not be noticed. Jesus, please take away my Haman being."

Footprints no more!

While on vacation, I had this perfect idea! I'd take a picture of my footprints in the sand and blog about that cheesy "Footprints" poem. However, no sooner did I click the camera, and the darn ocean came and washed away my beautiful set of footprints. (see picture)
Ya know, I can have perfect ideas in my head all day long, but when they are put into action, they WILL be imperfect.
And I just think its cool that God works like that.
As leaders, God gives us a perfect place for our dreams and ideas to roam....it's called our mind.
And He doesn't interrupt much there.
He also gives us imperfect places for our dreams and ideas to play out...it's called our actions. And alot of times, He interrupts there.
As I lead, every time God interrupts my actions, I'm so glad that He did.
Man, would I do some stupid things if God wouldn't step into my actions.
So as a leader, be glad if you have a perfect idea to take pictures of your feet, AND don't be ticked if the action of it gets washed away by the ocean -it just means God's got something better.

Grape Laffy-Taffy & Chicken Salad

When I was in college, my roommate, Shelly and I headed downtown Chicago to my Uncle's pub. On our way back, cruisin' down Interstate 90, Shelly started to feel the repercussions of a long night of bevaraging. Moments later, losing control of her bodily functions (and losing control in general) she was kind enough to not vomit on me.
Rather, she projected her vomit all over my dashboard, my passenger window, and my fabric-ed passenger door.
Surely, it was the most disgusting thing.
But wait, there's more.
Shelly had just pigged out on a chicken salad sandwich & grape laffy-taffy. So....
So we got back to the dorm, & way too tired to clean my car, decided to just leave it.
And due to the facts that it was snowing and there's often vandalism, elected to keep all the windows rolled up.
And who got the privilege of not only opening my car door the next day but getting bull-dozed over by the most atrocious odor EVER,
AND had to clean it several times only to have minimal results in its odor-removal?
Yours truly.
Whats my point?
Does it stink when people barf all over you?
It can. Literally and figuratively.
Three of my biggest influences, Sharon, Kelli, & Steph, have taught me alot (namely by action) about not puking all over others with their problems.
Prior to their influence in my life, I was lured by this fallacy that strong friendships were built by letting each other barf every crisis, trial, downer, boo-boo, incident, & detailed frustration over one another.
Thru these guys, I've learned better:

People can't rid the odor, or clean our "barf" as well as God can.
So Christ came and Christ said, "Come to ME when you are weary" (Matt 11:28)
Perhaps the best thing we can do for ourselves is give it all to Him before barfing it all over another.
Good ole' Shelly. I have her to thank for teaching me to not mix grape laffy-taffy & chicken salad.
But its good buds like Steph, Sharon and Kelli I have to thank for showing me that the best thing you can "barf" all over a friend is just a ton of God's love.

"Back of the bus, Fungus-Face!"

I have lots of stories from an unpredictable life. And the double bonus to blogging is it's theraputic for me; hopefully encouraging to you.
Tonight, I don't feel like giving you some big, fat, deep philosophical leadership tip.
I'm just gonna tell you a story and let you figure out how it applies to how you lead.
When I was 11 years old, we moved to a new town. That year, I was the new kid in Mrs. Roberts 6th grade class. To this day, I still don't know why I was so unfortanate to land in a class that was made up of 24 jerks and snobs, but there I was. From the very first day of school, they started to pick on me. (this story could be historically long with detail, but I'll just share one part of it tonight.) Anyway, one day, as I walked onto the bus, & reached the top of the 3 steps, I knew something was up....again. Sonia Provo had formed some stupid alliance with all my peers and had speerheaded a malicious effort. All at once, all the kids moved to the edge of their seats. Of course, the bus-driver could not take off until I was seated. So seat by seat, row by row, I passed the giggling and smirking boys and girls. Nobody would move in. Nobody would move over. As I write this, my heart is burning, it truly was an awful moment. Sonia stood up and yelled at me to go to the back of the bus. The nickname the class had so endearingly gave me was "fungus face." So as I made my way to the back of the bus, I'm sure I heard that name, as well as their laughter, as well as Sonia's taunting.

I don't know why God allowed these kinds of things to happen to me.
As an adult, I've seen some thread of good--that its given me a killer-instinct to defend & protect people I love and people who are helpless.
But I still wouldn't wish that moment on any 11 year old.

Leader: don't you dare blink

Today, my little family & I went to the Miccosukee Festival.
I've lived here 10 years, & never visited any of the Indian reservations
indigenous to S. Florida.
As we walked around, I realized there was a real culture here:
starving to survive, yet not to be reckoned with.
I was taken aback by how closed-in I am, and how wide-open the world truly is.
As we made our way to the main attraction what a blessing it was when the band performing was a family from Peru. (Hey, we totally have an FRC campus in Lima, Peru!)
This family was so talented, so generous, so passionate.
And as we sat there and thoroughly enjoyed their performance,
I felt like Frosty-Tinman, who's skin began to melt; who's heart began to soften.
Man, I thought, "Bono gets it; Live Earth gets it; Green Day gets it; Nickelback gets it; Oprah gets it!"
They find pockets of need in cultures that aren't theirs.
They're trying to find needs and trying to fill them.
So who do I think I am?
As I listened to this beautiful Peruvian group, & my eyes skimmed the Indian women at the craft tables,
I realized I have an addiction within my self:
AN ADDICTION TO THOSE LIKE MYSELF.
Leaders, I think I heard God today--through the different music and the people unfamiliar.
And I think He said,
"You wanna lead? Then lead with eyes wide open.
If you blink at certain others, then you don't see the world the way I see it;
& if you don't see it the way I see it,
how can you change it?"

Leader: Crying on Her Knees

Today, we were chillin' by the pool,
fifteen feet away from us, there was a woman.
She was on her knees, with her head and hands holding her up against a concrete wall.
That's what caught our eyes.
She was crying so hard.
That's what caught our ears.

The sunbathing old man near her, was asking her if she was OK.
A pool attendant walked past and asked her if she was OK.
A lifeguard walked up and asked if she was OK.
I sprung up from my sunbathing spot, ran to her and got down on my knees beside.
"Ma'am, I am a pastor's wife, may I pray for you?"
She looked up from the concrete wall, still crying & nodded yes.
I can't retell what i prayed, 'cause I barely remember arriving to the scene.

When I got back to my seat, Raul and I realized something.
Sometimes, a victim needs a fire fighter's badge.
Sometimes, a victim needs a paramedic badge.
Sometimes, a victim needs a lifeguard badge.
Sometimes, a victim needs a Christian badge.

Christian, you are a leader & you are timelessly deputized with a badge for victims.
And 'though people may not see a badge pinned to you,
they NEED the badge of Jesus worn on your heart.

Its been 20 minutes since this happened. I have prayed for this woman 4 times, cried for her twice.
Could you do something?
Would you pray for her too?
(the only thing we heard was her son did something to her)

And never forget your God-sent ability to arrive to the scene of another's pain.
As leaders for Him, there are alot of scenes we'll get called to,
where the only badge required is Him.

Leadership: Lego My Ego!

"My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20 TM).

Leaders are sometimes left in a puddle, asking: “I thought God put me at the top? Why did everyone else put me at the bottom?”
Spiritually speaking, if we are led by others, then we are not led by Him.
Practically speaking, we have to let go of our ego.
When others determine the value of our leadership calling, it is OUR ego that let it happen.
Somewhere along the way, we emptied our crucified-with-Christ ego,
& let others fill it with their opinions.
I am very passionate about this life-struggle.
So there is nothing I want more for you
than to know you don’t want to struggle with it either.

>Let's re-ask God to be the ego in us.
>We were created to be self-confident and not others-confident.
>We were created to be self-esteemed and not others-esteemed.

>We were created to be made in the image of Him - NOT the image others want us to be.

Like Paul, we need the One who made us to be the One to change us back.
Have you lost your ID? Do you need to lego your ego?
Ask God.

50 Most Influential Churches

Today, I read about the 50 honkin'-most-influential churches in America. We didn't make it this year, but we are SO gonna be on this list next year! Here it is if you wanna check it out: 50 Most Influential Churches

Observations While Traveling

I have been waiting 5 years for this vacation. But the road to where we are was not without hassle. As tempted as I am to give my top 100 reasons why NOT to travel thru the air, I will instead give a couple observations I had WHILE traveling. And, someway, somehow, tie it to leadership.

1. At the Ft. Laud. airport, 2 Peruvian men did not speak English. The airline-Nazi directing the flow of the line was so rude to them. Thankfully, Raul stopped & noticed and took on good-Samaritan skin---helping these 2 lost & confused travellers, all the way from the baggage check-in to their gate. Leadership Point - don't ignore rudeness and don't dish out rudeness, instead....kill it with kindness.

2. Upon arriving to the resort, 2 couples are at the guest service desk. Raul & I, and another couple in their 60s. Both couples there to voice a concern. Ours? They left Raul's luggage in Florida. This is a legitimate concern and a BIG reason to be ticked off - but we're on vacation, so we filled out paperwork & went on our merry way. However, all the while, the other couple was complaining about something too. Conversely, it was truly unbelievable how the woman was acting! She started yelling at her husband, then she took her hat off and threw it at his face and stomped off yelling--leaving him there, in front of an audience, in a pile of shame and humiliation. Leadership Point - when the stress level is totally at its peak and we are w/ others, our best leadership skill will be NO action verses psycho-reactions.

Lead 'em to the water

OK, so this is old news, but when I stumbled across these pix, it felt brand new again.

Two years ago, my youngest bro, Chris, got baptized at my church's Beach Baptism.

In the photos are Chris, Pastor Allen, Pastor Raul, Jason (my oldest-youngest bro) and me.

While Chris was living here in S. Florida, attending my church, I got to "lead" him a bit.

Not because I am any more holier than he is; simply led him by example and relentless prayer.

I'm his big sister, that's my job.

Do you realize the scope of your leadership?

Do you really grip the fact that no matter who you are, where you are, what you've done,

IF you follow Christ, THEN you are a leader!?!?!

You are in leadership to lead people to Him.

You gotta embrace that!

Who are you leading to Jesus?

Who are you leading to church?

Who are you leading to the water?

We don't have alot of time, so let's get it started, man!

Inside my private prayer journal?!?!!

I have my daily quiet time in the morning.
Before kids came, I read and journaled for about 30 min.'s.
Today, with little kids, I read and write for about 15 min.'s.
Right now I am reading the NIV bible and I write in cheap-o journals (Walmart, & clearance tables at Barnes and Noble have great ones).
I thought I'd share a recent entry...word for word.
(warning: some of this will make no sense).
Don't know what any of you will get out of reading this,
but felt led to do it so I am.

July 8
Praise:
whom the Son sets free is free indeed! You are the way, the truth and the life, you are my King adn your love is amazing.
Thank you for:
-helping me write my teaching
-helping Gar teach this weekend
-Raul - my best friend who I trust the most on Earth
-your daily favor in our life: home, rest, health
-DJs 1st teacher, Mrs. Mora, and her permanent investment in his life.
Lord, I pray for:
-the FRC campuses, for them to grow, by even one today
-my teaching next weekend, empty me of myself
-Gar, Melissa, Allen, Sharon, Matt, Steve, Sammy
-Amy - please keep that baby in her womb, please keep baby safe til full term
-please give me patience w/ Andy and DJ; discernment for when to discipline

Dedicated to the Hurting Leader

This post is for hurting leaders:
the confused; the struggling; the attacked; the dejected; the depressed; the lost;
the suffering;the fallen.
Leader, if these words describe you, do not let these words define you.
You exist in the eyes of God as if you were his only treasured leader.
To Him, you are irreplaceable.
He sees you where it hurts and he only wants to meet you there.
I pray, that this day, you are encouraged by His promise:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8)
This is not a catchy phrase or a good Hallmark line.
2 Corinthians 4:8 is a promise that has the living breath and the beating heart of God behind every word.
He put this verse in His book, which has outlasted every book ever written over the last 4000 years.
His word spans all generations and has saved the most downcast and dejected.
If you used any of the aforementioned words to describe you, use God’s promise to define you.
Hug on these words as though they were the only words left—and know that that would be plenty.
And where ever you are, in the darkest corner of a lightless pit,
God is sitting there right beside you.
Friend, I’m praying for you.
And He loves you.

READ TO LEAD!!!

I hate to read. I pray to lead. If you pray to lead, you must read. We must read to lead! Here are some of my fav's...

1. It's Your Ship

2. Jesus-Leadership

3. The Creative-Leader

4. Purple-Cow

5. No-Perfect-People-Allowed

6. Anything by John Ortberg

7. Anything by John Ortberg

8. Anything by John Ortberg

9. Dont-Know-About-American-History

10. The Giving-Tree

And the winner is...

Well, we put this photo before the judge, along with your hilarious entries.

And the judge chose, "R's" entry as his winner.

"R" posted the comment, "Funny Daddy"

So, "R", I will be giving you a crisp $50 bill this week! Congratulations! And for all of you who participated-- thanks, man! This has been the highlight of my week. You have a wonderful sense of humor embedded in your leadership. That's a gift. Don't take it for granted - leverage it to lead others to smile.

Chicken-Leader

OK, so, leaders lead because they exhibit tenacity in the face of danger; they have courage in the unknown; they model strength in the midst of weakness........right?
Right. But not always.
I am TOTALLY scared to death about something.

I feel like I have fear-flu: an all-over pain in my joints, my organs, my chest, and yes, even in my intestines.
I'm just wondering...do we think its OK to cut leaders some slack when they feel chicken?

In other words, will it suck the leadership out of a leader if the leader is at least bold enough to admit they're scared?

With the topic of fear, I always think of Daniel in the bible.

Did he become a leader as a result of not being scared when thrown into a den of lions?

OR

Because Daniel was scared to death, and came out of it better (lit. & fig.), he became an amazing leader?
Hum....hey, if you can translate this post into something, will you send along your thoughts? Your words could be the answer to many chicken's prayers.

Sweaty Leadership

These are pix from July 4th, and this team is our FRC-Doral campus. Again, I tip my hats to my Flamingo-friends. They sweated alot to reach out on the 4th. South Florida in July is bloody hot, man. It got me thinking about Jesus. In his leadership, I'm sure he sweated alot for the sake of reaching out. He didn't have a car w/ AC to get from one soulful task to the next. He didn't have a vacation place to escape to, in between healing missions. Jesus was a man on his feet, sweating in desertland, all for the sake of reaching out. Do you think....that in order to "lead it" we sometimes have to be willing to "sweat it?" The ultimate display of this, of course, is the carrying of a cross on a back, after being whipped, all the way up a hillside, then being nailed to it. Sobering thought.

Leading & Fighting

OK, leaders - we lead, right? But how do we fight? I don't mean take him or her out back & see who will throw the first punch (which, btw, happened to me in 7th grade). But how do we, as leaders, handle conflict?

I think if its a unilateral conflict (you vs. someone alongside you), follow what the bible says and do what you have to do (in private) til you can walk away agreeing or agreeing to disagree. And leave it there!! Don't ever take it with you, to be exposed to the rest of the team.

What if you have conflict w/ YOUR leader? Well, again, we can look to the bible, where we are clearly told to submit to our authority. The ultimate vision hasn't been given to us, its been given to the one leading us (otherwise we'd be in the bigger office). So push the envelope, but don't push your way out of a job.

What if, as a leader, you have it out with one of your followers? Hum...I am not going to speak to this because I am not very good at it. Sorry, but this blog is no good if I dish out bogus advice.

Well these are my quick thoughts on leading and fighting, what are yours?

You, Me, Us, We - July 4th!

More photos of the FRC Sawgrass Brigade Parade!!

You, Me, Us, We - July 4th!

My church has a campus at Sawgrass Mills Mall, in the Regal theater. They participated in a parade today. They had a great spirit, and it was bloody hot outside!

$50 & the word WITH

OK, first things first, only 2 people have entered my contest (see post below). So that's it...I am up'ing the annie. Instead of a $10 lame-o gift card, I am giving away $50 to the winner of this contest....now will you play?

Here is a thought I had on leadership today....
Lets consider the word, "WITH"
Nehemiah 2:4-5, "The king asked, 'Well, how can I help you?' WITH a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, 'If it please Your Majesty and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.'"

See the word "WITH" up there?
How many times do we forget “with” in our leadership?
I lead a person to God, but not WITH a prayer to God first.
I lead a fundraiser for the first time, but not WITH a prayer to God first.
I lead a new initiative at work, but not WITH a prayer to God first.
I lead my family to a new church, new 'hood, new school, but not WITH a prayer to God first.

A BIG key in his leadership was Nehemiah’s “with.”
A new leading should begin WITH prayer & WITH God.
If Jesus leads you, then how can you lead without Jesus?
When we pray BEFORE any leading,
we give Jesus the right order He deserves:
He leads us; us leads others.

Enter This Contest & U Could Win!

I'm looking for the best caption for this picture. Submit one. All entries will go before an outsourced judging consultant, (DJ Palacios, Inc.) and the contestant, who's entry he selects, will win a $10 gift card to Starbux or Dunkin Donuts. If you are entering out-of-state, and you win, your gift card will be mailed to you via snail-mail. Have fun and thanx for playing!!

Food for Followship, the last one

For the most part, I've talked about following, as it pertains to people.

This time, I'll spin it different: following, as it pertains to things.

With these things, what do you follow? The high road? The low road? The middle road? Or no road?

1. Food

2. Exercise

3. Books

4. Entertainment

5. Rest

6. Faith

7. Money

8. Internet

9. Tollbooths

OK, well I can't very well ask you to answer and not answer myself. But trust me, its tougher to blog your answers to the public than just answer them in your head!! Here are my answers as they correlate to the above list.

1. High road

2. Middle road

3. Middle road

4. Middle road

5. High road

6. High road

7. Low road

8. High

9. Middle/Low (hey, if it's a change-only booth and I don't have any, what am I suppose to do!??!!)