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I pity the fool. The April fool.

April 1, 2013 in trust, Words with 8 Comments

Well, it’s April 1st. Some people call it April Fool’s Day.

I’m not a big fan. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve got a pretty good sense of humor. I like to be lighthearted and I try not to take myself too seriously. I also try not to overspiritualize stuff. But… there’s just something about dedicating a day to untruth that rubs me the wrong way.

I don’t like spending a day out of every year not knowing if I’m hearing the truth from people I would normally trust. I’m not a fan of licensing and endorsing an annual deception day because it’s “all in good fun.”

Fun for who?

Please don’t tell me something about yourself or someone else today that isn’t true. I’m endeavoring every day to say what I mean and mean what I say. I’m also endeavoring to surround myself with people who are on the same quest. I don’t like cynicism, especially in myself. I’m doing everything I can to shut it down everywhere and every time I find it in me.

I’m a believer, not a cynic. I want to believe what you tell me. I also want to believe that you believe what you tell me.

Call me whatever you like, but I’ll be sitting out this April Fools Day.

“People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,” Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.” ~ Proverbs 26:18-19 (MSG)

I don’t want to be that guy.

I pity the fool.

The April fool, that is.

Bonus Mr. T. video:

video link for mobile devices

My big 21 day challenge!

March 12, 2013 in faith, Spirituality, trust with 14 Comments

“Every day [of my life] was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place.” ~ Psalm 139:16 (GWT)

I think we all know God has a plan for us, right? If not, He does. It’s a good one, too.

Knowing there is a plan and trusting God for the steps and the outcomes are two completely different things. The latter is the harder part some days. It’s harder for us, naturally speaking, because it requires faith. It requires us to quit trusting what we see, hear, feel and think. It also requires us to believe that He sees more from His vantage point than we do from ours.

Cooperating with God’s plan requires us to say “yes” to Him before we actually know what the road ahead looks like. Actually, it requires that we make a habit of saying “yes” to God and His plan sight unseen.

To form a habit, you just need to do something for 21 days in a row, right?

Today, I’m issuing a challenge. It won’t take more than a few seconds each day.

Here’s the challenge – for the next 21 days take a few minutes each day to do these simple things:

Commit yourself every day to The Lord to do all He’s called you to do.
Do what is right in front of you to do and do it as a service to God.
Pray “Your will be done today in my life.”

Making these actions a part of your routine will make a huge difference. Just wait and see.

So, who is up for the challenge?

Who’s in?

Tell the truth! Lovingly, please.

November 12, 2012 in love, trust with 1 Comment

“Apart from blunt truth, our lives sink decadently amid the perfume of hints and suggestions.” ~ Alfred North Whitehead

On most roads there are two ditches. The “truth-telling” road is no different.

I know people who, at all cost, avoid telling people what they need to hear – especially their boss, pastor or anyone influential in their life. I know others who feel they are “called” to say whatever they perceive to be the truth, yelling it at the top of their lungs, wounding people with their sword of truth almost as often as they speak.

These, my friends, are the two ditches of truth-telling.

In reality, the ability to “speak the truth in love” and have it bear fruit comes through relationship, trust and permission to speak into another person’s life. It is NOT our responsibility to sound the alarm, constantly correct others and think of ourselves as the only one God can use to get the message across to the world.

It is everyone’s responsibility to lovingly tell the truth. Yours. Mine. Everyone’s. It is also our responsibility to surround ourselves with people who love us enough to tell the truth and commit ourselves to heeding their counsel. According to 1 Corinthians 13, love “always protects.” Truth given in that atmosphere feels safe, protective, and that the other person genuinely has your best interest at heart.

“Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.” ~ Proverbs 16:13 (NLT)

Do you have trusted advisors who will tell you the truth?

Are you a trusted advisor committed to telling the truth?

Let love be the measure you use.

How to get rid of your stress

October 2, 2012 in responsibility, Rest, trust with 1 Comment

Stress. Been there. Done that. Designed the t-shirt.

I bet you have, too.

In a recent “aha moment” I discovered a huge source of stress in my life. Since I know I’m not the only one who has ever dealt with this, I thought I would share it with you. Maybe it will help you like it helped me. I hope so.

My big revelation went something like this.

There are some things I can affect. Others I can’t. Apparently sometimes I forget the latter. Responsibility is a big deal with me. I take my work, calling, relationships and assignments very seriously.

Sometimes too seriously.

Sometimes I take on the care of things I can’t really affect. Whenever I catch myself doing that, it’s a great time to humble myself and admit there are many things above my pay grade. Actually, above the grace given me to do MY PART. If doing my part won’t affect the perceived problem, I have to know that it’s beyond my grace, beyond my influence, beyond my control.

Stress comes in when I insist on going out beyond my grace and assignment, assuming the responsibility of others. That, my friends is a recipe for pressure.

Time to humble myself again. Time to rest in the grace given for my assignment.

Here are two great tests of humility, both of which I have recently failed. Honestly ask yourself how you look in the mirror of these scriptures:

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.” ~ Psalm 131:1 (NIV

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…” ~ Romans 12:3 (NIV)

Anyone care to join me today as I humble myself, do my part and trust God with the rest?

Ungood

November 15, 2011 in responsibility, trust with 2 Comments

Professionalism. This is a touchy concept for many creatives. We spend years honing our craft and developing the confidence we need to be able to “deliver the goods” when it’s time. Trusting yourself, your training and your practice is good, right?

Only up to a point.

The point at which it becomes “ungood” is when we trust solely in ourselves, our giftings, training and preparation. It is profusely ungood to forget that you are a steward of a gift given to you by God, through grace, to touch and bless the world. In proper perspective, our readiness to “deliver the goods” is only part of the equation. The other part is God’s part. This is the part in which we cannot and should not ever try to be responsible. Trusting ourselves is only good in the context of our stewardship of the gift entrusted to us.

It is also ungood to throw away your responsibilities as you are trusting God. This is the obvious mark of an amateur. It is also the mark of laziness. It’s an unhealthy attitude that is the source of much of the bad art that has come from the church for years. Ungood. Truly ungood. Your part isn’t everything, but it is significant.

It’s really about the fine art of balance. It’s about walking in the center of the road and staying out of the ditches. Reality is, the center of this road is partnership with God. He is your partner, and you are His.

”Practice like it all depends on you. In the moment, trust God, because it all depends on Him.” ~ Dan Maclean

My friend Dan hit the nail on the head in this statement.

We prepare.

We do our part.

We know our limitations.

We trust God.

“…that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:12-13 (NKJV)

You are NOT without a covenant. You are NOT without hope. You are NOT without God.

Remember, you have a partner in everything you do. The best partner ever.

He has a partner in you, too… a good one, if I do say so myself.

Team Essentials: Trust (1)

March 22, 2010 in team essentials, trust with 0 Comments

Trust is the foundation of a healthy team.

Ever been on a team with people you didn’t trust? Painful. Ever been on a team and couldn’t be trusted by the other team members? Doubly painful.

A team without trust isn’t a team.

A team without trust is a group of individuals who become consumed with protecting themselves and getting to/staying at the top of the “food chain.” Lack of trust always breeds unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. Distrust is a greenhouse for the whole range of self. After all, when you can’t or won’t trust others, you know you can trust yourself… right?

How can team-members build trust? First of all, someone needs to set an example. Be trustworthy. Kind of a no-brainer… or is it? I guess if it was really a no-brainer, it would be the norm and not quite so rare. The problem here is that it is risky being the culture-changer. You’re out there on the edge. What if nobody has your back? Don’t allow your thoughts to get over on that possibility. If it happens, it happens. Instead of bracing for the worst, focus yourself on showing others that you have their back. Then do it again… and again… lather, rinse, repeat. Easy.

There’s a quick way to short-circuit distrust in the ranks. Create a culture of public praise and private critique. In team meetings, develop a forum for team members to tell what they like about each others ideas or work. Positive communication will help you re-build damaged trust and it will help to set a “team win” culture.