Apology, Mark

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I've been re-thinking some things which have taken a toll on my brain. Stuff that's a little spiritual, a lot financial, and a confusing combination of the two. Something this week sparked my spiritual side.

Mark Driscoll is the lead pastor of Mars Hills Church in Seattle. He has become a lightening rod for controversy within the church and, at the same time, is deeply committed to the Bible and what it says about how we should live. I disagree with some of the things he teaches but I'll save that for another blog. Mark appeared on Nightline last week and talked about the state of religion saying that if people would have made up a religion and voted on it, they would have come up with something like a "Salvation by eating chicken wings and napping". At least he said that is what he would have voted for. It was a great interview. Here is a Readers Digest condensed version.

Tragic

A pastor was shot and killed last weekend.

It has been a week of pain, sorrow, and confusion. Pray for the church in Maryville, Ill. and, also, the Church as a whole. Pray that we focus on God's love and grace even in the face of tragedy. Bad things happen to good people but that doesn't minimize his God-ness.

Lord, heal us.

Team ideas

It's always good to take our temperature (determine where we are) and set our benchmarks (determine where we want to be). If you are part of a team (either at home or at work), can you affirm the following?

1. I want to be a servant leader, remove hurdles and obstacles so my team can soar
2. I want to push the envelope, be willing to step out on the plank, make mistakes but go after BHAG’s (big, hairy, audacious, goals)
3. Filter out the negative noise and critics
4. Be real about my weaknesses, mistakes, with humility
5. Solution oriented, if individuals make mistakes, just correct it and move on- take care of the client, offer an apology to a team member, encourage, fall forward
6. My team will know I am for them
7. I want to be candid, matter-of-fact, but with the goal to help people take steps and speak to the elephants in the room
8. Be in the trench with the team, roll my sleeves up, be willing to do what I’m asking my team to do and more
9. Understand and create the vision, then cast it- over and over and over to individuals, teams, and organizations... Make what we do significant, life-changing, industry changing, world changing
10. Model focus and hardwork- energy to simply keep getting things done

Guest Blogger Jeff Bell

Why pray if God already knows the outcome?

This is a great question. And I love the initial recognition of the “all-knowing” nature of God!

At times I’ve wrestled with this question myself. I even remember wondering if God just wanted us to pray to Him to “fulfill His ego”. Man was I off. My understanding of the purpose of prayer was the problem.

James 5:16 tells us to “pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”. So without a doubt I believe that prayer can truly impact and change circumstances. The bigger issue though is that prayer is less about informing God and more about transforming me. Prayer is less about what I share with God and more about what happens in me as I share with Him. It’s more than just me asking for something; it’s me acknowledging that God is the source of the answer, the source of the hope. It’s more than just a conversation; it’s about a deepening trust, being authentic about my deepest needs and deepest desires to a God I can trust and rest in. It’s more than a scheduled routine; it’s about me seeking time in the presence of our sovereign, creator God. “You created me, You created everything, I can trust You with this.” This pleases God. This honors Him.

When we offer praise, ask for help, intercede for others, confess sins, or express our love and devotion to Him, we aren’t telling God anything He doesn’t already know. But doing so pleases Him, impacts us and impacts our view of God. And sometimes it even changes things.