LifeVesting

Leaven Heaven: Seven More Half-Baked Ideas I’m Working On

Andy Wood — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:08:02 +0000

So many random thoughts or snippets of wisdom (or something)… so little time. Here are seven more ideas that are still in my “oven”. And if you’re a sucker for these kinds of things, and just can’t get enough from Facebook or Twitter, check this out. Or maybe this or this.

Not long ago I read about this great procrastination test on the Psychology Today website. The test helps you target patterns of procrastination, then do something to change them. I clicked on the link and left it on my browser for a couple of days until I could get to it. Yes… I procrastinated taking the procrastination test. Until the browser locked up and I had to restart it… and lost the test. Ugh. The good news is, I found it again (thanks, Google). The bad news is, I’m still procrastinating. If you’d like to load it up and procrastinate taking it with me, you can find it here.

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God will even use the blindness of men to fulfill a greater purpose.

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God has yet to create the day when you can get done all the things you think you’re supposed to do. And He did that on purpose.

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A car is easier to steer when it is moving, and so is your life. So get moving. But remember, there are places you can drive the car (like over a cliff or into a tree) where you lose any ability to steer at all.

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It’s been said that “hurt people hurt people.” True. Today I heard from the Lord a variant of that: “Broken hearts break hearts.”

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I typed “journaled” into my journal program (as in, “I have journaled a lot”). And the spell checker didn’t recognize it. Does that not strike you as odd that the journaling program doesn’t recognize “journaled?” (MS Word doesn’t either.)

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If you could perform your way into acceptance, you wouldn’t need a Savior.

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Faith for God-sized Problems

Andy Wood — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:23:09 +0000

In the previous post, we looked at some of the kinds of problems that go past hangnails and headaches. Drawing from the experience of Jehoshaphat, Judah’s godly king, we explored some parallels of our own:

Unprovoked hostility
Overwhelming odds
Unresolved fear
Unfulfilled promises (of God)
Absolute weakness
Unclear direction

There are plenty of others, of course. But that’s a healthy list to remind us that faith doesn’t mean you never have problems. Believing God doesn’t mean you’re never afraid, or that you never face impossible situations. And in spite of the way some “believers” act, faith doesn’t mean you have all the answers. In one of my favorite verses in the Bible, this godly man says to God, “We don’t know what to do. But our eyes are on you.”

So when your back is to the wall and the Ammonites are coming, when you’re way past anxious and have no answers or direction, how does faith respond? Let me suggest five ways:

1. Fix your heart on God.

Jehoshaphat was terrified. You would be, too. Yet in his fear, he “set himself to seek the Lord.” He knew that men’s answers weren’t good enough. And he wasn’t leaving without an answer from God.

Seeking the Lord requires an intentional choice. Fear and anxiety are natural responses; I don’t care how spiritually mature you are, you still must choose to say no to your fears.

Why do you suppose Jesus encouraged us to “ask, seek, and knock” (Matthew 7:7-8)? Because in the asking, we ask of the Lord. In the seeking, we’re seeking God. In the knocking, we’re pounding on God’s door. It’s all about fixing your heart on the Lord, not on the need or request.

That’s exactly what Jehoshaphat was doing. He made a firm decision that he and his people may die, but they would die seeking the Lord rather than live running from or fighting an enemy in their own wisdom or strength.

2. Abandon all other confidence (v. 12)

Jehoshaphat had reached the point where he had no guidance but God’s. He had no wisdom but God’s. He had no power but God’s.

And that was exactly where God wanted him to be.

I have a sneaking feeling you face impossible situations in the same way, and for the same reason. God is in the process of leading us to abandon hope in any other resource but Him. The greater your confidence in your own resources, the greater impossibilities you will encounter.

I once had a friend say to me, “Andy, do you know what your problem is?” (Isn’t that a cheery thing to talk about?)

“What’s that?” I asked, bracing myself.

“Your problem is that you’re so adequate. And what God is looking for is someone who is shipwrecked on Him.”

I didn’t know whether to say “ouch” or “amen.”

3. Involve others in the process.

The king of Judah did an interesting thing. He called for a nation-wide fast, and assembled every man, woman, and child in Jerusalem and Judah in the house of God. He wasn’t the only one praying that day?

Why did he call even the infants and small children? Because they all had a stake in the outcome of this crisis.

Involving others in my graduate-level problem flies in the face of my independence and pride. But it accomplishes some pretty remarkable things when you put Silver in the stable and take off that Lone Ranger mask. First, it humbles you. And you need humbling.

Second, it builds everyone else’s faith. Your crisis is an amazing opportunity for them to pray, to grow, to be stretched.

Third, it gives God a chance to speak through somebody else. Is that OK with you? Or do you need to be the one through whom all answers come? If so, go back to the point about humbling yourself.

4. Tell God exactly what’s on your heart.

When Jehoshaphat prayed, he followed a pattern that’s found throughout the Bible. It’s a wonderfully simple process:

Tell God what you know.
Tell God how you feel.
Tell God exactly what you want Him to do.

Let’s try that again…

Tell God what you know.
Tell God how you feel.
Tell God exactly what you want Him to do.

“Will you not judge them?” the king asked. Not much of a mystery what he was feeling and wanting.

5. Heed what God says.

If you set your heart to get a word from God, you’d better be ready to receive the word you get. In Jeshophat’s case, this is what the Lord said through His prophet:

This is My battle.
But you’re involved in it.
They really are coming…
And you’re going against them…
But you’re not going to fight.

As I mentioned previously, some people are wired to DO something, while others are wired to do nothing. Somewhere in-between, in most circumstances, is the truth. What you need in heavy-duty problem solving is discernment. Do I station myself or do I charge? Do I wait or do I go? Is this the Lord’s fight, or is it mine?

Sometimes the news God gives will be good. Sometimes it will be bad, or at least very realistic. Faith means you’re willing to receive it, regardless.

One Simple Idea

Line all five of these steps up, and it spells “faith.” But I can reduce the five steps to one simple idea. When you’re faced with big boy or girl problems, and need wisdom, strength, or a breakthrough, one word is all you need to remember:

Attend.

Rivet your attention on the Lord, not the problem. Discern His voice through others as you involve them in the process. Abandon all other priorities or sources of confidence and attend to Him. Tell God exactly what is on your heart. And get the Lord’s direction and heed it. All of this is an expression of confidence in God, regardless of the circumstances. And that’s the kind of faith that God-sized problems call for. You don’t have to know all the answers. Just THE Answer.

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Graduate Level Problem Solving

Andy Wood — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:18:29 +0000

In the 2004 version of The Alamo, there’s this scene where Billy Bob Thornton, as Davy Crockett, looks over the fort wall at Santa Anna’s approaching horde. There, standing next to Colonel Travis, Crockett mutters grimly… “We’re gonna need a lot more men.”

Sam Houston… we’ve got a problem.

Problems come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Oh, to have the impossible-looking situations we faced in third or seventh grade! But every now and then, you and I are faced with circumstances that go beyond a headache or a flat tire.

We’re in grad school, friends. And we’re getting the third degree.

The other day I was re-reading a familiar story in the Bible about a man with a king-sized problem on his hands. Good fit, I suppose, since he was actually a king. Let me set the scene.

Jehoshaphat was a great king in Judah, the son of a wicked king. He was responsible for leading God’s people in what would be called today a national revival. The people had turned their hearts back toward the Lord. A new sense of destiny and blessing rested on Jerusalem and Judah. Everything was headed in the right direction.

Everything, that is, except a mondo-sized invading army. You can find the details of the story here.

What Graduate-Level Problems Look Like

Okay, so you probably don’t have any Moabites or Ammonites headed your way. But Jehoshaphat’s experience has some striking similarities to some big-boy problems in your world. For example:

1. Unprovoked hostility.

Judah and Israel had done nothing to cause these people to hate or attack them. In fact, they had specifically spared them in years gone by. And what was the thanks they got in return? An invasion.

Can you relate? Have you ever been attacked, betrayed, envied, or hurt by someone you considered a friend or beloved? Have you ever been left wondering if your last words may be, “What’d I do to you?” That’s a sign you’re in the big leagues of problem solving.

2. Overwhelming odds.

Here’s some encouraging words: “A vast army is coming against you. And they’re almost here.”

Oh, and have a nice day.

What do you do when doom is near-certain? When “no way” is the story of the day? When doctors use words like “terminal,” or “long shot?”

Sure, you could win the lottery or find out that was just a smudge on your x-ray film. You could also click your heels together, say “there’s no place like home” and ride a tornado to Kansas.

But sooner or later we will face situations where, if the Lord doesn’t come through with some incredible wisdom or stout deliverance, we’re sunk. That’s a graduate-level problem.

3. Unresolved fear.

I just love it when the Bible is gut-honest. Jehoshaphat, verse 3 says, was afraid.

That’s hard for us to appreciate because we can see where the story ended. But the king was standing in the stew pot, and somebody was lighting a match.

There’s concerned. There’s anxious. There’s worried. And there’s skeered.

Jehoshaphat was skeered.

One of the things I have noticed about fear is that it doesn’t always come across in a classic sense – trembling hands, sweaty head, racing heart. Sometimes fear disguises itself as anger. Or workaholism. Or ridiculously funny humor. Or isolation from people.

However it appears, chronic fear is a sign you’re in tall weeds when it comes to problems.

4. Unfulfilled promises.

Jehoshaphat called the people of Jerusalem together and called on the Lord. And one of the things he points out to the Almighty is that some things just aren’t making sense.

“Didn’t you drive out the inhabitants of this land and give it to us?”

“Haven’t we lived here in your inheritance and built you a house of worship here?”

“Didn’t we spare these people when you told us to?

“God, this doesn’t add up!”

Can you relate?

Have you ever found yourself living somewhere between a promise and its fulfillment? Between what your faith says and what you eyes see?

Welcome to The Show. You’re in the majors now when it comes to problems.

5. Absolute weakness.

How’s this for honesty: “O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us” (1 Chronicles 20:12).

They had no tricks. No Plan B. No superheroes waiting in the wings.

They. Had. Nothing.

This wasn’t a case of, “Lord give me today my daily bread, but just in case you don’t, I’ve got some grits in the cabinet.”

They had no answers.

Life does that sometimes. Words like cancer, bankruptcy, abuse, war, and “you’re fired” remind us of how powerless we can be at times. When you’re staring down the barrel of a loaded situation and you have no power to respond, that’s a graduate-level problem.

6. Unclear Direction

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Apparently Jehoshaphat skipped class the day they taught that leaders are always supposed to have answers to every contingency.

This guy hung it out there before the Lord. “God, there are no options.”

That happens when the problems are too big… or your strength is too small. You get to a place where you’re lost on a one-way road.

I’ve found when people get there, they drift to one of two extremes. One says, “Don’t just sit there, do something!” The other says, “Don’t just do something, sit there!” (And as opposites tend to attract, these two extremes are often found in marriages.)

These are just a few examples of times when the problems we face are more than hangnails or hairlines. This is serious, and requires a lot more than formulas, shortcuts, or even talent.

It requires faith. And in the next post, I’ll show you how faith responds to God-sized problems.

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Humanizing the Rule Book

Andy Wood — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:31:51 +0000

Your most trusted employee visits your email inbox with a request for a meeting. When you find the time to get together, he discloses to you that he has a substance abuse problem that requires in-house treatment. Upon further review, you discover that his abuse took place on more than one occasion while on the job – a fireable offense. This is his first sign of trouble. What do you do?

Your teenage daughter is at a friend’s house for a sleepover; you know the friend and are at least familiar with the friend’s parents. You’re awakened at 1:20 a.m. by your daughter asking you to bail her out of jail. The charge: drunk driving. This is the second time you have caught her drinking, but the first time you have had any evidence of drinking and driving. How do you respond?

Your youth pastor has been rumored or accused of inappropriate relationships with girls in his youth groups – one former, one current – which he vehemently denies. He explains that he was just showing Christian concern for someone who had been abused or hurt in the past, and his kindness was misinterpreted. Nevertheless, Scripture is clear that there shouldn’t even be a hint of immorality or impurity among God’s people, and particularly leaders. The youth pastor is very popular among the students, but has his critics among your adults. Keeping him could leave you liable to a lawsuit or public accusation; firing him could decimate your youth group. What do you do?

Eve Was the First Legalist

Ever since God first said, “Don’t do that or you’ll die,” we have had a tension in dealing with the rule book.

Back in Eden, here’s what God originally said:

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).

Here was Eve’s interpretation to the serpent (quite possibly relayed through Adam):

“We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die’” (Genesis 3:2-3).

Interesting little add-on. Here’s the way it works.

I will die if I eat from that tree.
I want to stay far away from dying.
I can’t eat it if I don’t touch it first.
I’ll make a rule that I can’t touch it. That way I won’t eat it, and won’t die.
God said, you must not touch it.

That would be great if the added rule actually empowered them to obey it. Unfortunately, it didn’t then, and doesn’t now. They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Was God surprised? No.

Did they die? Yes. Instantly spiritually; nearly 900 years later physically.

Rules Exist for a Reason

Regardless of the form, rules exist for a reason. Whether it’s a law, a code of ethics, or Daddy’s rules for driving the family car, the rulebook was written in ways that should offer protection, guidance in making decisions, and a clearer path to success or safety. The problem comes when somebody breaks the rules (and somebody will inevitably break the rules).

Seems cut and dried… you play, you pay.

Fire their butt.

Send ‘em back across the border.

Nuke ‘em.

Leave them in jail to think about it.

Hear me: Maybe that is what the ultimate decision should be. But before you throw the book at somebody, it may be wise to remember that it’s a pretty big book. And there are often other things in “the book” besides dealing with that particular issue.

Four Guidelines

Christian British ethicist and consult David Murray suggests what he calls “Four ‘C’s’ for humanizing the rule book. Mostly these are things to slow down and consider when you’re in a position of leadership or authority and are facing a situation involving potential discipline.

1. Consistency.

The whole idea of policies, codes, and laws and rules is to level the playing field for everybody. And without a doubt, consistency is important and matters greatly when it comes to leadership. In fact, as Murray points out, a lack of fairness or consistency may land you in court.

That said, disciplinary situations are rarely identical, and no rule book can predict every single contingency. That’s why the legal system offers sentencing guidelines for judges to use, but also offers great leeway in using them.

One thing is critical, however, in credible leadership and parenting. You absolutely must demonstrate consistency between your promises (threats) and your outcomes. Otherwise your word means nothing. If you aren’t prepared to deliver it, don’t promise it. But if you do promise or threaten it, you’d better be ready to back up your word.

2. Causes.

This is especially important when you notice a pattern of behavior – either multiple people with the same problem or one person with repeated instances. Is there something unhealthy in the environment? Does something in the family system or the organization’s ways of doing things contribute to the problem? Dealing with this may not change the outcome, but it may help prevent future violations.

3. Consequences.

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: “I believe in grace, but sin has consequences.”

Uh huh. And guess what? Consequences have consequences, too. So before you decide to pull the trigger, using the rule book as your ammo, you need to ask who else will be affected by your decision. And if your version of leadership leaves you as a helpless robot to the programming of the rule book, you’ve got a lot to learn about leadership.

4. Care.

By all means, don’t reduce discipline to the point that it means nothing. But remember also the Prime Directive: Love your neighbor as yourself.

What is the loving thing to do in this circumstance? Now just for the immediate, but for the long term. If your organization blithely gushes that “people are our most important resource,” how will you prove that with somebody who has blown it? If your child has violated your trust, how will you demonstrate a commitment, not just to raise a child, but to raise an adult? If your employee has a substance abuse problem, is there a way you can invest in the future of the employee by offering recovery as part of a long-term disciplinary solution?

Looking at each of these guidelines may not change your disciplinary decisions at all. But they will make you a wiser, stronger leader for having done it. Anybody can hide behind policy. It takes a leader to navigate an organization, a family, or a team through these moments of truth.

If all this sounds complicated, it’s because you’re dealing with people, and they are complicated. Just another reminder that leadership in any dimension is not for cowards.

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The Fury of the Moment

Andy Wood — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:22:59 +0000

An audio drama with four characters:

A Narrator,

The Imagined Voice of the Holy Spirit,

King David,

and Bob Dylan

(Note: If you’re reading this via email or RSS feed, this post is best read from the site by clicking on the title above. And now… on with the drama…)

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In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There’s a dyin’ voice within me reaching out somewhere,
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.

He was restless.

Bored with the battlefield, if you could imagine that.

He was everybody’s darling – the “Shepherd of Israel,” they called him. Proof that good guys really can come in first, even if they weren’t born into it.

His thoughts weren’t racing – they were pacing:

“I know I ought to go to work, but I don’t want to. I’m just not motivated. Anyway, the army’s in good hands. They don’t need me. I think I’m entitled to some time for myself.”

Watch, David, watch. Nobody can do your responsibility, truly, but you. Be alert to the danger, even when it doesn’t look dangerous. That thing your grandma used to say about idle minds and the devil’s workshop? Pay attention.

Up from his afternoon nap one lazy day, he takes a stroll along the roof of the palace. From his vantage point, he sees a woman bathing.

She is stunning.

Drop-dead gorgeous.

But he’s seen women before, and, if he may say so himself, he knows how to treat a woman. Unlike some of the lugs and thugs he’s come across in his day. So seeing this one is no big deal.

Run, David, run. The first look is unavoidable. The second is irresistible. Being in authority doesn’t make you immune from disaster. Nor does it entitle you to violate the trust of those who serve you. Hey, maybe there’s still time to catch up with the troops. Get out!

Still, he loves God. After all, he’s the chief musician, the innovator of all things worship. When he prays, God talks back. He has mastered his spirit, ruled over his desire for revenge, and yet broken forth in amazingly free and spontaneous public worship.

He’s a giant killer with a giant heart for God.

So where is God now?

“Oh,” he says, “God understands. I’ll deal with Him later.”

Pray, David, pray. If you EVER needed to deal with God, it’s now. Don’t wait until you’ve made a tragic mistake. Talk to him BEFORE you screw up. There’s more to grace than covering failure. He also offers strength to avoid the stupid choices in the first place.

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Don’t have the inclination to look back on any mistake,

Like Cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break.

In the fury of the moment I can see the Master’s hand

In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.

“Make the call. Find out who she is. No, no, I’m just curious. But while you’re at it, ask her to join me in the palace for, uh, dinner. That’s it. Dinner.”

Turn, David, turn. CANCEL the stupid call. Cancel dinner. Fast and pray instead. Send an embarrassed and humble apology for the misunderstanding. Invite YOUR wife to dinner, not somebody else’s. Court HER. Tell HER how grateful you are for her. You think you’re the only guy in town who’s tempted? And don’t EVEN start with all that “unmet needs” yap. Nobody’s buying that but you.

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Too late now.

We have a “situation.”

Let’s see if he can fix this…

Her husband will be an honorable victim, she’ll be the grieving widow, he’ll be the comforting friend, and they’ll be proud parents.

Hey, all’s well that ends well.

No point hurting more people than needed. After all, he feels really bad about this, but he can’t undo what’s been done. (Remember, murdering babies wasn’t an option back then. So he settled for the next best thing.)

Anyway, he has to think of what’s good for the country, right?

Confess, David, confess. Any way you slice it, covering up your sin won’t prosper you. Committing more sin to cover up previous sin CERTAINLY won’t prosper you. Anyway, if you were concerned about the good of the country, you wouldn’t have toyed with the temptation in the first place. You aren’t protecting anything but your own charming reputation. You may be surprised how forgiving people can be if you’re willing to be honest and humble yourself.

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Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear,
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer.
The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.

He believed the lies.

Sucker-punched by the flowers of indulgence.

He believed that covered sin is concealed sin. He had convinced himself that everything was peachy because nearly a year had gone by and no one had confronted him with it.

He believed wrong.

They didn’t have personal injury attorneys around back then. But they did have prophets. And the echoes still ring in his ears: “Thou art the man!”

There’s nothing covered that won’t be revealed. You get to decide who reveals it.

“God isn’t the issue.”

Strangely enough, he sincerely believed that, in the fury of the moment. He forgot the most important discipleship principle of all:

If you’re in covenant with Me, I am ALWAYS the issue.

“I wasn’t there, so it’s not my fault.”

God begs to differ. “You have choked the breath of conscience. You killed your friend with the sword of your enemy.”

Manipulation is participation, even when you’ve left the building. Own up.

“Okay, I was wrong.”

And you’re forgiven, the prophet said. But there’s hell to pay, starting with the death of the, uh, ‘situation.’ Like Cain, you will behold this chain of events – you’ll have war and rebellion in your own household as long as you live.

Sin has consequences. But grace has even greater, more wonderful consequences. Receive it! Walk in it!

He entertained and actually believed the stupid, stupid idea that his failure didn’t affect anybody but him.

Wrong again. The “pool of tears beneath his feet floods every newborn seed.” Some blunders reap a whirlwind that devastates an entire family, a whole nation, even generations to come.

But here’s the wonder of grace. Soon another baby would arrive. Same adulterous dad. Same sinful mother. And this baby was hand-picked by God to be Israel’s next king, and the wisest man who ever lived. And through this man, generations later, the Son of God entered the world. Take your failures there. Regardless of the impact of sin, the impact of grace will always be greater.

+++++++

I gaze into the doorway of temptation’s angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name.
Then onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.

He’s shaking now.

Doubled over with unspeakable pain.

The death of an infant had rocked his world. But this? The death of a son he never could reach, no matter how hard he tried? It shattered his life.

“O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son! If only I had died in your place, my son! Absalom, my son!”

You think he ever stopped to gaze at a woman bathing again?

To his credit, no. He never repeated the same mistake twice. That’s why God referred to him as a man after his own heart.

+++++++

Fast forward, years later. That special son – Solomon – now rests after dedicating the temple his father had long ago envisioned.

He has a Visitor.

“As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did…I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’”

Be like who?

I wonder what he meant by that.

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Christmas in July

Andy Wood — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:03:20 +0000

Dear Carrie,

Sorry you weren’t here for your birthday (hope things are going well in Kenya).

But we wanted you to know we celebrated anyway.

We got this cake, exchanged presents and gave festive cards in honor of the occasion.

The family got together for a wonderful meal, and there was a picture of you somewhere, just to remember the REAL reason for the season.

I know it must feel really odd for people to celebrate your birthday and hardly mention your name.

So I took care of that. I put it on the cake!

Season’s Greetings! YO HO HO!

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PS2 – The Prodigal Son Sequel

Andy Wood — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:14:22 +0000

(Here’s a parable that didn’t quite make it to the Bible. It’s a follow-up to the story of the Prodigal Son. In case you missed that first episode, you can find it by clicking here.)

When last we heard from the Prodigal Son, his loving father, and his older brother, Dad was appealing to the older sibling to come join the party.

“All that I have is yours,” he was saying – which was technically true, since the younger brat had wasted all of his part of the inheritance.

By and by, life settled down. The older brother continued to do well, and was admired by all for his performance. The younger son got with the program – for the most part. Occasionally his friends and family could see some of those old streaks of self-will-run-riot in him. But for the most part, he lived in great gratitude for his father’s forgiveness and restoration.

Eventually, the father went the way of all flesh and died. There at his bedside, the older brother made plans for a proper funeral, while the younger sibling sat on the edge of the bed and held his daddy’s hand. He would never forget the day his father came running to meet his broken-down boy and welcome him home.

Much to the older son’s chagrin, the younger brother actually soiled his father’s memory by retelling that embarrassing story at the funeral – complete with a joke about the look on the fatted calf’s face that had all the mourners actually laughing. All but one, that is.

Now fully in charge of the family estate, the senior son announced that there would soon be some changes in the way things were run. Structure, order, compliance and efficiency were the new orders of the day. Having no assets of his own, the once-prodigal was presented with a work contract, complete with generous performance incentives. After all, the new boss reasoned, Dad would want me to see to it he was cared for.

Also in the contract were some clearly-detailed outlines of the consequences should the wild child ever fail to perform up to the agreed-upon standard, OR should he ever, even in his off time, return to the Badlands. Not only would he be terminated for his current performance, he would also be fined and punished for all his previous prodigal offenses as well.

Over time, people marveled at the vast expanse of the family business, due to the older brother’s business acumen. New technologies, clear structures, efficient manufacturing and distribution methods, close supervision, and a zero-tolerance policy for code violations made the family business the envy of the marketplace (and the fear of every employee).

Still, however, the senior son lived with an angry ache in his soul. The one thing he yearned for, and never seemed to attain, was the hearts of the people in both the family and the organization. Even his own children seemed to love their fun-loving uncle at times more than their own father.

After some time passed, the family boss got exactly what he had been waiting for. In a season of restless carelessness, the popular prodigal violated the terms of the contract (and in pretty grand style, unfortunately). Despite his remorse, the boss made it clear – there were no exceptions to the written policies – even for family. There would be no fatted calf, and certainly no party. There would be a detailed (surprisingly detailed) listing of all the wild child’s offenses for all time. And though he was given a generous parting arrangement, the perennial prodigal would never see the family business again.

After all… for God’s sake… rules are rules!

Right?

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Is That a Donkey on Your Back?

Andy Wood — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:51:56 +0000

An old fable passed down for generations (and doctored a little bit)…

An elderly man was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The young people there said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed on the animal’s back.

When they came to the next village, the moms in the crowd said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. To please them, he got off and set the boy on the donkey’s back and continued on his way.

In the third village, senior adults accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk. The suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again.

In the fourth village, the animal rights activists were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people.

The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road.

How Far Will You Go to Please?

Have you felt as if you’re carrying donkeys lately? Let’s face it – we can say all day that “sticks and stones can break our bones, but words will never hurt us.” But the truth is, much of our lives is shaped by what others say to us or about us, either good or bad.

That should cause us to take a careful look at our motives. Are you doing what you do purely for the sake of pleasing people or avoiding criticism? Have you allowed someone else’s words to paralyze or discourage you? Have you given up on your dreams, accepted failure as final, or rejected yourself because of a few discouraging words?

Critics, Gossips, and Judges

We should also be extremely careful about what we ourselves say. In one of the most interesting verses in the book of Malachi, the prophet says, “You have wearied the Lord with your words” (Malachi 2:17). The people were taxing God’s patience by the things they were saying!

Think about it. You have the capacity to motivate, to encourage, to inform, and to inspire – all with this gift of speech. Unfortunately, your words also have the power to break down, to wound, and to leave permanent scars on the lives of people.

Sometimes our criticism can reveal our ignorance. Two taxidermists stopped in front of a window where an owl was on display. They immediately began to criticize the way it was mounted. Its eyes weren’t natural; its wings were not in proportion with its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could be improved. When they finished with their criticism, the old owl turned his head… and winked at them!

What was Jesus talking about when He said in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, lest you be judged?” Certainly one of the things that means is to be very careful about making snap judgments based on faulty information.

All of us have been guilty on occasion of misjudging someone. That’s a problem in and of itself.

But the greatest danger comes when we pass on our misjudgments to others.

Lawyers refer to that as slander.

Jesus refers to that as sin.

Perhaps there is still some truth in your mama’s old saying, “If you can’t say something good about someone…”

Or maybe your black-sheep uncle was cruder about it, but theologically he was dead-on: “Shut the hell up!”

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What Will You Render?

Andy Wood — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:03:29 +0000

Render. It’s one of my favorite words in the English Bible.

I have to admit, it’s partly because it just sounds so awesome. I can just hear that boxing ring announcer now:

“Lllllets get ready to RrrreeenNNNderrrr.”

You can do a lot with that.

More important, of course, is what the word means. Render is what you’re doing when you pay a bill or offer assistance to the lady with the flat tire. It’s what you give someone out of a sense of obligation or honor. Render has to do with presentation; musically when your church’s praise band does that Hillsongs or David Crowder piece, they are rendering – offering to you their version of something.

Rendering is all about an exchange. An exchange of life. An exchange of love. An exchange of honor. An exchange of value.

And yes, rendering shows up in the Bible.

God promises to render vengeance in Deuteronomy 32, and render to each according to his ways in 1 Kings 8. The promised Messiah would render Himself as a guilt offering, according to Isaiah 53.

The psalmist asks, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” That’s an important question. How would you answer that today? Right now?

Jesus famously said to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And Paul reminded the Romans (chapter 13) to render to all what is due them (even the tax collectors).

You Are a Rendering

Whether you’re reading this on a computer screen or a printout, you’re looking at a rendering. People a whole lot smarter than most of us have figured out how to get an idea – something I have right now – from me to you. The final rendering may vary (you shoulda seen my computer screen yesterday… can somebody say “time to reboot?”). But it’s a rendering nonetheless.

That said, you are a rendering, too. When Paul told the Philippians to let their conduct be such as becomes the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27), he was talking about their rendering.

If you are a Christ follower, you’re rendering Jesus to the world, one way or another. Clean or dirty, clear or foggy, you are, in no uncertain terms, His rendering.

You are also a rendering to Him. And the word for that is worship.

Two Quick Lessons

Lesson #1 – In the Old Testament, worship was a location (place), an event (time/season), and a prescribed method (sacrifice and priests, among other things). In the New Testament, worship was a relationship, unlimited by place, time, or available personnel. Jesus called this “worship in Spirit and Truth,” and it was made possible through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Lesson #2 – Ever since Jesus ascended into Heaven, human nature has tried to return to the Old Testament.

Nowhere is this more clearly seen than in what Christians today call “worship.” Unless we intentionally steer our hearts the other way, worship drifts toward becoming an event, and these days always seems to require a microphone, a band, and our own Protestant version of a priest – often hammering on a guitar or keyboard.

“What will I render to the Lord for all His benefits?”

Could it be that we could render something other than the latest from Chris Tomlin (or the oldest from Martin Luther)?

Could it be that my rendering has nothing to do with singing or (gasp!) preaching at all?

Could my silence, my pondering needed changes in my life, or my invitation to a friend to join me at Starbucks for a cup of coffee be a rendering as well? Yes. All that and much more.

My Ovation

There is another word that expresses the same idea. It’s the word, “Ovation.”

We usually use “ovation” to describe an enthusiastic response to something or someone awesome. Hands and stands are most often the order of the moment.

But an ovation is simply an offering of something I have (appreciation, value, whatever) to someone else.

During Roman times, the highest form of celebration for a conqueror was the triumphant entry. Conquering generals or rulers would parade down the Appian Way behind the Senate, their armies, and conquered foes, displaying the spoils of conquest. (Contrast that with Jesus riding a jackass into Jerusalem and parading Peter, John, and that crowd… But I digress…)

There was a second kind of celebration. This one was more subdued. It usually was reserved for the general who conquered a lesser foe. And it appears that the focus was not so much on what the person had done, but on who the person was. This celebration was called… the Ovation.

As believers, we are that “lesser foe.” And we are limited in our celebration because the battle here still rages. We are awaiting the real Triumphant Entry of the King of Kings. But we can still offer our Ovation to Him because of who He is. And we don’t need a stage or a sage to do it.

My Life… His Applause

Today I am in the process of launching a new site and ministry called, “Ovation.” The idea of launching the Ovation site is to create a place where we can discover fresh ways to render to the Lord the honor due His name. There are hundreds of ways to do it. And my hope is that the Lord would raise up an Ovation Nation – an army of people throughout the world who simply, clearly, purely want to offer a rendering (an ovation) – in the form of a lifestyle of worship. And through that, to offer to the world a rendering of why Jesus Christ is worthy of such an offering.

So I want to invite the LifeVesting community first. Come join the Ovation Nation. You can start by clicking here.

The site is a work in progress, as you will see. But it’s ready for some company. I’d love to have you join us.

In the meantime… what will you render the One who is so worthy?

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From “Bullied Nobody” to LifeVesting Somebody

Andy Wood — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:57:35 +0000

How do you respond when you are told every day what a nobody you are? When the people who are supposed to be your friends and co-learners in school instead ruthlessly call you demeaning names, and you feel you have no one to talk to?

Brenda Poage gets that. And Brenda is a somebody that you need to know. Wife and mother, author and visionary, Brenda – like most of us – is who she is because of how she has responded to some painful experiences in her life.

Brenda is a LifeVestor.

Kids can be cruel, but you don’t have to explain that to Brenda. From the time she started school in her small Texas town, she was mercilessly bullied by other kids in school. Having to play academic catch-up required that Brenda attend remedial classes. And she became the brunt of some pretty mean name calling and bullying.

So when educators and parents today start quoting statistics that as many as half of all school children are bullied in some way, Brenda does more than raise her hand as “Exhibit A.” She did something about it. And that’s how Ima Nobody Becomes a Somebody was born.

Brenda had a sixth-grade teacher – Mr. Rob – who helped her realize her potential and follow her dream of writing. She created the character Ima Nobody as a reflection of herself in her early school years. In the process, she is encouraging kids and parents to face both sides the bullying issue in a fun, creative way.

Ima Nobody Becomes a Somebody is making a splash nationwide. It’s a great book for kids ages 8-12, and a wonderful conversation starter for parents, teachers, and children’s ministry workers. You can order autographed copies from the Ima Nobody web site by clicking here.

In her ongoing work, Brenda makes a distinction between being a snitch, or a tattletale, and Tattletalking. When children are told not to tattle, it only serves to close the lines of communication between them and the adults in their world.

That’s where Tattle Talk comes in. Tattle Talk teaches kids the difference between tattling for revenge and seeking help for safety reasons. It also teaches adults to listen – to not disregard a child’s feelings if he or she seeks them out for help.

Tattle Talk is in development right now, but you’ll be hearing more soon as educators, parents, children’s ministry workers and other adult family members learn to listen so that kids will talk.

You can also catch Brenda tomorrow morning on LifeTime Television Network’s The Balancing Act tomorrow, July 6, from 7:00-8:00a.m., EDT.

Here’s a preview of her interview:

Click here to view the embedded video.