Summer Reading Series: Book 2 - Toy Box Leadership

As the summer kicked off, I had the opportunity to sit down over coffee with a friend at CCU who works in the Student Activities office.   As we were discussing several things, specifically how I thought I should lead BCM in the coming days, I made a comment that reminded Nick of a book he had just read.  He asked me if I had read it, and when I told him I hadn’t, he then explained an analogy the book uses to talk about the same principle I was communicating to him.  After our conversation, I was impressed with how clearly Nick remembered the example and I immediately setout to buy Toy Box Leadership and add it to my summer reading collection.

TBL is a fantastic read, both for nostalgic reasons and also because there are several incredible leadership lessons one can learn.  From connecting through relationships to leading groups of people, the authors do a great job of relating childhood toys to critical leadership pointers for anyone influencing people.  I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn more about how to lead people well.

Here are some quick pointers from each chapter:

Chapter 1: Lego bricks teach us about RELATIONSHIPS 

Building begins with connecting

Chapter 2: The Slinky Dog teaches us about steering VISION 

You must pull, and then be patient

Chapter 3: Play-Doh teaches us about MENTORING

Molding people through proximity

Chapter 4: The Yo-Yo teaches us about CREATIVITY 

Letting go is paramount

Chapter 5: Mr. Potato Head teaches us about COMMUNICATION 

The right face at the right time matters

Chapter 6: The Rubik’s Cube teaches us about ETHICS 

Ethical leaders make the right moves

Chapter 7: The Rocking Horse teaches us about EFFICIENCY 

There can be a lot of movement, but not much progress

Chapter 8: Little Green Army Men teach us about STRATEGY 

We must value the setup and preparation

Chapter 9: The Lite-Brite teaches us about the CLARITY of our message 

We must illuminate what we want to communicate

Chapter 10: Weebles teach us about ENDURANCE and PERSEVERANCE 

Staying down is simply not an option

Summer Reading Series: Book 1 - Radical Integrity

One of the reasons I love the summer time in the campus ministry world is I get to take some dedicated time to read.  As I write that, it seems quite weird to me because I used to HATE to read.  In high school, I remember using Cliff Notes all the time, or better yet, in AP English, we had our own Cliff Notes in the two brightest students in class who ended up being Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  I would just sit and listen to Emily and Ashely explain all the "fascinating" things they learned in reading and then regurgitate those on tests.  It served me quite well for the time being.  In college, I didn't read much either mainly because I didn't enjoy it.  However, when it was time for seminary, I had to make a choice: learn to love to read or be miserable because reading had to happen.  So, now I love reading and I see incredible benefits in doing it.

So this summer I have chosen a variety of books from different field, subjects, and authors.  Some of them might be beneficial for you and some might not be, but hopefully these writings might help clarify some of my thoughts in reading and help spur you on to reading as well.

I have often heard the famous quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "When Jesus calls a person, he bids him come and die," and I also know of his work, "The Cost of Discipleship."  However, I have really not learned much about the man himself, and so I wanted to read a book this summer that would scratch the surface of Bonhoeffer.  So I picked up, "Radical Integrity: The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer" by Michael Van Dyke.  This was an incredibly easy read, and in fact once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.  I read it in a couple sittings, and it was very enjoyable learning a brief biography of Bonhoeffer's life.  Van Dyke walks the reader through Bonhoeffer's maturity and into his ministry calling, and it is quite easy for the reader to feel the weight of the decisions Bonhoeffer has to deal with.

I would recommend this book as a surface level introduction - it does quite well orienting one with the general history of Nazi Germany and how Bonhoeffer lives, or rather dies in the context of the Holocaust.  One also sees how Bonhoeffer was dedicated to the cause of Christ while living in the midst of a moral dilemma and trying to make sense of faith while experiencing injustice.  As I read the book, I began to continually try to make sense of injustices happening today all across the world.  Additionally I was struck by how Bonhoeffer viewed "nominal Christians" or those who simply identified with the religion culture but had no relationship with Christ.

Van Dyke writes of Bonhoeffer's thoughts, “Berliners were in the mood to hear sermons that them feel better about their Fatherland, but they were not always receptive to messages that made them feel bad about their sin.  They wanted a religion that made them better Germans, not a religion that forced them to confront their inward need of a Savor.”(Page 66) 

And again, "To make an analogy, Christianity for them was like bull fighting in Spain.  They entered into the spirit of the crowd (or the culture) without understanding what they were doing, or why they were doing it.  Such people were living according to a mythological reality not a biblical one." (Page 174) 

Many people would label Bonhoeffer as a man of God - however, according to Van Dyke, “Bonhoeffer would not have called himself a man of God.  He was a man who loved God and tried to serve Him, but he was also a man who made mistakes and at times questioned God’s purposes.” (Page 204) 

As long as we live in this world, we too will make mistakes and sometimes even question God's purposes.  However, like Bonhoeffer and so many others who have gone before, we must walk by faith, trust God, and follow Christ even if it means death because to live is Christ and to die is gain!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I am not a sentimental person, except when I am.  I admit that sounds like I don’t know what I am talking about, and well maybe I don’t.  I’m really not that sentimental, especially when compared to my wife or even her or my family. However, there are some things that really make me nostalgic – and once I begin to venture down memory lane, bring on the sentimentalism. 

This week I had the opportunity to attend a BCM director’s fellowship at the University of Georgia (my alma mater).  The quick back-story is that UGA was not where I initially wanted to attend college.  In fact, of my last three choices, it was dead last, yet in God’s perfect providence, it was not only the right place for me, but also it became my second home.  As I drove on campus 15 years after I initially did as a wide-eyed freshman, it was incredible to think about what God has done in my life and what all I have been able to see and do over the last few seasons of my life.  In addition to not being that sentimental and maybe for fear of it, I am often guilty of not “stopping to smell the roses.”  I think I have a very bad habit of not celebrating things, and in that habit I often act like the Israelites and forget how God has worked.

So in a tip of the cap to being sentimental but more importantly a thank you to the Lord for what He has done in my life and allowed me to live through, I wanted to stop, ponder, and remember.  Maybe it’s time for you to as well.  In your busyness have your forgotten what your life used to look like?  Have you forgotten the blessings God has poured out on you?  I know it’s something I am guilty of and this moment of nostalgia has birthed a thankfulness in my heart.  Here is a list of words that capture some of the memories.  These are just words and it is impossible to list everything, but each represents so much more than just words. 

Small Groups, Wesley Foundation, BCM, Canoing the Chatuga, Camping, Men’s Retreat, Football Games including SEC championship, GA-FLA, Ice Storms, Broken Ankle (Twice), Changing Major (5x), Youth Intern, Dorm on Fire, a couple golf rounds, Basketball Games, Braves Date Night, Move-in help, Downtown loft, then a house, then a townhouse, and then an apartment, hole in head, Scotland Mission Trip, European Adventure, Yellowstone National Park summer missionary, Substitute Teacher, Men’s Soccer League, Southwestern Seminary, Discovering Pappasitos, Uncle Julio’s, , Fuge Camps (Philly, Mobile, Greenville, Asheville), Spin 360 ministries, Texas Rangers Games, some golf rounds, Valet Job, Revival Preaching, Trip to Alaska, Trip to Hawaii, Greek, Hebrew, Turning Hearts Tour, Kennesaw State University/SPSU BCM intern, Beach Reach, Bear’s Best, Master’s visit, Anderson University, MARRIAGE, obtained debt, paid off debt, Key West with Mosaic, Boston, Seattle, Beach Reach again, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Hawaii, Puerto Rico Cruise, Mediterranean Cruise, Biggest Loser, Crossfit, Myrtle Beach move, bought house, sold house, bought house, Crossfit Competition, Pelicans game, infiltrated cult for speech, push starts for the Honda, bought two cars, officiating weddings, salvation of friends, judge for Mr. AU, BCM formal at UGA, West road trip with Elliott, Price is Right, Steinmart, Crossword puzzles is class, all-nighters, 9/11 and aftermath, Chicago, NYC, Red Sox games, secret church, final four in NOLA, 121 community church, mammoth caves, Texas Adventure and Wichita Falls, LA trip, academic team, Green Hills golf course, 4^th spectacular, ski trips, electric peak hike, death of nephew, death of friends, separated shoulder, bear encounter, DNows, discipling guys, braces, marriages of friends, The Bridge, meeting and loving my new framily, sending missionaries all over the world, students becoming disciple-makers…..

The list honestly can keep going, but one thing is certain.  In good times and bad, God is always good. He is always faithful.  He is AWESOME.  The last 15 years have been incredible not because of the cool experiences or things I have been able to do.  They have been incredible because 17 years ago I heard the Gospel preached at Brookwood Baptist Church and God radically changed my life.  He has continued to change my life and will continue to do so.  God does this through people, places, and things and my recent visit to UGA reminded me of so many of these!

Delighting in the world or the WORD?

This morning I had the privilege to share a meal and Bible study with a few incredible college students.  Our text this morning was Psalm 1.

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

     nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

     and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

     planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

     and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

     but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

     nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

     but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1 forces the reader to ask himself  - do you want to be blessed?  I think almost everyone would say, “Yes, I want to be blessed.”  However, this world offers so many different opinions on not only what it means to be blessed, but also how one might obtain the blessed life.  In Psalm 1, the author establishes a contrast between two sets of people – the righteous and the wicked.   In his eyes, every single person falls into one of these two categories.  While believers must understand that positional righteousness comes only through faith in Christ, God also calls us to practical holiness – we must pursue righteousness in our life as a result of the right standing we have before God.   In studying Psalm 1, however, we must be careful to fully understand the contrast God has for us.  I don’t think he is simply making a contrast between wickedness and righteousness.  Rather, I think God wants us to examine the object of our delights.  The contrasting question being posed is, “Do you delight in the things of this world and its ‘wisdom’ or do you delight in the Word of God?”

 If we want to live a life that pursues righteousness, we must transfer our delights.  We cannot seek to delight in the world – we must delight in the Word.  What is interesting about this is that no one ever teaches us to follow the world.  We don’t fall into sin out of duty; rather, we sin because of misplaced affection.  We observe the world, we believe the world, and ultimately we begin to follow the world.  What the Psalmist would rather us do is DELIGHT in the Lord and His Word.   We delight in the Lord as we meditate on the truths of Scripture and relishing the Gospel that gives us life.  As we behold His Word, behold His grace, and behold His love we learn to delight in Him – not out of duty – rather, we delight in Him because we see Him as the all-satisfying Lord!

As we find out delight in the Lord, the psalmist encourages us that we are like a tree planted by steams of water.  In this, there are incredible blessings that come.  He says that we will be fruitful.  He says that we will endure.  He says that we will prosper.  These are amazing blessings, but we cannot simply obtain these in and of themselves.  They are but the bi-product of us delighting in the Lord.  If you want to live a blessed life pursuing righteousness – you must delight in the Lord.   In my life, no one has forced me to eat out of duty – food is my quest – and I love eating.  I delight in eating food.  Likewise, my prayer is that I don’t reduce delighting in the Word as mere duty – it is a duty because I need it, but more so the Word is delightful and a blessing!

What God has taught me through CrossFit part 5: humility

Growing up, my parents always encouraged my brother and I to be active.  While we dabbled in neighborhood sports from street hockey to basketball, our love was soccer.  In fact, we loved soccer so much that we never participated in another team sport until I played high school football my freshman year.  However, athletics were always a part of my life and I would consider myself to be an athletic individual.   Like many athletes, I have struggled over the years finding my identity in sports and results.   As you succeed at something, it becomes more and more of a challenge to remain humble.  However, with CrossFit, God has continued humble me, and He has also taught me the value of HUMILITY.  In making this statement, I am in no way declaring that I have figured this thing out – I haven’t.  I'm simply saying, God has been challenging me and teaching me lessons about the value of humility and often times crushing my pride.  There is still pride to be crushed!

A year ago I walked into CrossFit with “confidence” about my ability to complete workouts.  However, within a few hours of foundations class, I soon learned I had so much to learn and so much room to grow.  In fact, by that Friday, I had realized I was weaker than I thought I was and I was certainly fatter than I thought I was.   During that first week I remember seeing a sign posted about the “box rules.”   One specific rule caught my eye.  It stated, “Check your ego at the door.”  At first I thought this was simply an encouragement so the community could get along.  However, what I soon learned was that this is necessary for every individual if you want to last at CrossFit.  You see I believe if you go into the box everyday with your ego intact, you simply will not last.  Why?  CrossFit is HARD, and it really doesn’t get easier. There is always more weight to life, better techniques to learn and master, a faster time to run or row, and more reps and rounds to complete – it does not end!  Each and every WOD will leave you wondering what you got yourself into and how in the world you are going to show up tomorrow.  The WODs that appear easiest are often times the hardest.  What I have learned is that if you don’t check your ego at the door, CrossFit has a way of helping to humiliate you and crushing your pride.  That is why you will not last in your pride.

It is amazing to watch humility in action as well.  What I have witnessed at our box is that the best athletes – the best lifters – the best competitors are often times the ones that display the most humility.  Humility displays itself in so many ways, and it is beautiful to watch and learn – these athletes listen.  They ask questions.  They want to learn.  They are teachable and moldable.  All of this screams – I have not arrived but I want to grow - I want to get better.  Additionally, these folks often are quick to answer my questions or others’ questions.  They are not about hoarding what they have learned.  They are about seeing everyone grow.  Granted, this is not true of everyone, but I can honestly say I have seen it firsthand and it is beautiful!

This humility and willingness to learn is exactly what we see in many of the disciples in Scripture.  As Jesus first called His disciples, he didn’t call people who had it all together.  The world looked at the original disciples as unlearned men but they were teachable and even though they were extremely slow to learn some lessons, we do see a willingness on their part to confess their need.  Jesus can use anyone who wants to be used, but wanting to be used displays itself in humility.  Often times, our attitude is the opposite.  We want to be used, so we declare what proficiencies we have or what we bring to the table.   Instead of displaying humility we exude arrogance.  In our arrogance, often times, we stunt our own growth.  We spin our wheels because we want to flex our muscles, when Jesus says, humble yourself and I will use you.  Several Scriptures have been encouraging me in this area:

1 Peter 5:6  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the might hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”

Matthew 23:12 “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Philippians 2:3-11 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

I am so thankful that God has allowed me to experience CrossFit over the last year and I am extremely thankful for the coaches who have poured into me so faithfully.  Nick, Cindy, Colin, and Kelly helped me begin my journey and Steve and Bill have helped me continue over the last several months.  I appreciate these people so much, and I would highly recommend you considering whether CrossFit might be for you.  It has been an incredible year of growth and learning and I am looking forward to embracing the next year!