Role Models and Learning Curves

Forty years ago, I would have never considered terms like role model and learning curve. But as it is, I’m now in deep thought and prayer over both. Let me explain and share some definitions I garnered from Wikipedia.

The term role model first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students. Merton hypothesized that individuals compare themselves with reference groups of people who occupy the social role to which the individual aspires. The term has passed into general use to mean any "person who serves as an example, whose behavior is emulated by others.

The term learning curve refers to a graphical representation of the changing rate of learning (in the average person) for a given activity or tool. Typically, the increase in retention of information is sharpest after the initial attempts, and then gradually evens out, meaning that less and less new information is retained after each repetition.

Somewhere back in my elementary years, I found great joy in putting together model cars. My favorite brand is shown in the graphic above.

Amongst those of us guys who did the craft, snap together models were the bush-league of the industry. Snap together models required less time and thinking. Not to mention that notorious “glue” that we all had access to. Oh those were the days.

The whole purpose of the craft was to create a representation so true to the original that anyone who looked upon it would be sure to take a second glance and wonder; how did the builder do that?

Now I have to admit I had friends like Tim Erickson and Jim Cunningham who seemed to always be able to make the coolest models. But the joy of just getting a fresh box of parts and taking on the challenge was enough to alleviate any sense of competition or jealousy. Just building the model was an incredible delight.

Now here I am some forty years removed from those model building days and I’m considering the landscape of true model building in our culture. Oh not the kind we used to build, but human models. Models or representations of someone greater than us, yet who we aspire to be like. And can I say, fewer and fewer are making the cut.

It seems that in a world desperately needing quality role models, we’re up against a culture that wants only snap together leaders. We seem to be a culture that cares little about the process of replication. You know, how someone gets to where they are in life and influence. Let’s just crank out another leader and see if anyone follows. Ask P.T. Barnum about that idea. All without attention to detail and accuracy of the One we should ultimately be replicating.

As for learning curves, the principle seems self evident. We seem to all get on the band wagon at first and grab as much info, influence, and inspiration as we possibly can, but then we tend to loose our ability to hold onto little more than our initial grab.

Ergo a church that has become an inch deep and a mile wide. We may be just a few steps behind our present culture.

Here’s my concern: We MUST regain our passion for verbatim emulation of the person of Jesus Christ. And even when we run into the learning curve of the soul, we MUST NEVER give up the intake of the Divine Voice and Vision.

God forbid that we use anyone but Jesus as our role model. And God forbid that we cease learning and growing, just because it gets difficult.

So the next time you look up to someone as a role model, make sure it’s Jesus. And make sure you seek to replicate all His qualities and characteristics. And further, make sure that when the instructions seem a bit daunting, press on, because God promises to accompany us on that learning curve.

Now go build a model. Use real glue and never go for the snap together ones. You’ll be glad you did.

The Ever Increasing Reality of Our Brokenness

(the broker I am the realer I get)

Many years ago I remember looking up on the platform at the pastor of my church. Seeing his dapper appearance and hearing his silver tongued oration made me wonder if I could ever get to heaven, because earlier that week a friend of mine showed me a Playboy magazine and I had yet to memorize any scripture verses from the Bible except John 3:16. So often my grief and catharsis at the altar was over the fact that I felt I could never be worthy enough. I could never be spiritual enough or holy enough. Let alone look or sound as good as my pastor.

Then a few years later I found out the same guy was hosing a lady from the church. That event did two things; 1) it momentarily took the pressure off my attempts at being holy, and 2) it scared the crap out of me because I knew albeit my feet were small (size 8) they were made of clay just like my pastors, but I didn’t have the luxury of hiding them with two hundred dollar wingtips.

Somewhere way back when, the idea of posturing in a holy way or kind of a religious evangelical version of fake it ‘till you make it began to catch on in the circles of people that I was raised with. And that model of doing church or being a Christian worked for a while, until systemic dry rot began to set into the roots and the soul of the church.

Now many years later, I’m realizing that although my feet have not grown, they still are made of clay. I still need a Savior and God still loves me regardless of how holy I appear to those around me.

Granted, I truly desire to model my Lord Jesus Christ in all I do and say, but mark this, I will never measure up to ANY religious standard established by man. I will never be the paragon of virtue that I thought my former pastor was, nor do I ever want to be.

Because here’s the deal: The sooner we get in touch with the fact that we’re all broken and religion can’t fix us, is the sooner we’ll become real to a lost and dying world. Being real in Christ is not about lauding bad behavior or sin, but it is about acknowledging that any and all of my righteousness is like nasty used feminine hygiene products. You know… real biohazard stuff.

What fixes human brokenness is an ongoing friendship with God, based on the shed blood, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Lord and facilitated by regular communication with Him. By acknowledging that Christ alone has atoned for my sin and is regenerating me into His image and by acknowledging my complete agreement with Him on all matters – what He says in the Bible and to my heart – this alone becomes the Crazy Glue that will fix all my cracks and yours alike.

Maybe somewhere down the line, should He give us more time, we might just drop the fears and the facades and be real enough to reach a world that is broken and needs fixing. All the while they are hoping that no one finds out they are broke.

Pssst… can I let you in on a little secret? I already know about your feet of clay and I still love you and so does Jesus. Maybe if we just let Him in and let Him make us a sandwich we might finally realize He does love us just as we are. Do you want mayo or mustard on that sandwich? Jesus is waiting.

He alone has the Power to change us. Hmmm… now there’s a load off a pastors heart. I have no power to change the world. All I can do is live the greatest law – LOVE – by the help of the Spirit.

Remember the old saying, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”? Maybe we should take that thinking out of our religious minds and acknowledge that things really are broke and they do need fixing and Jesus is our only answer.

Stop Scaring Everybody?

Just the other day President Obama used those words in a speech. “Stop Scaring Everybody!” Now he was referring to conservative pundits who were raising some very alarming facts regarding the health care reform issue. I won’t get into a political debate right now, because that is for cooler heads than mine, but I will raise a few points regarding his words. They are indicative of a corrupt and depraved generation.

Does anybody remember the Apostle Paul’s prophetic writings in which he warns Timothy (and us) regarding the last days before the Parousia? It seems to me he wrote of peoples intolerance for truth. As a result, this intolerant population would demonize anyone who taught or held to sound doctrine. They would actually ostracize and ignore the truth.

Sounds like the Presidents words are just one more indication we are moving down the prophetic continuum.

Which raises another thought on repentance; has it become a lost Bible doctrine?

Not only is it a lost doctrine, but also a lost practice. Because we’ve softened the Gospel message, we’ve taken the onus of repentance off the hearer and placed it upon the speaker. That’s right the speaker. We’re the ones having to repent of what we’ve been saying for centuries.

Those of you who stand in the pulpit week in and week out understand what I’m talking about. Especially if you’re close to the Father’s heart and especially if you understand that the clock is ticking.

Isn’t it the truth, today the authority of a Gospel speaker is brought into question, when the speaker “steps on toes” and makes people feel uncomfortable? Because biblical truth can make people uncomfortable or offended, we’re gently told that we need to preach more grace. We’re told that if we offend everyone, we won’t have anyone to preach to, so don’t offend anyone.

But a cursory read of John 6 will reveal that Jesus took great pains at regularly sifting those following Him. As a matter of fact He even said if you really believe in Him and the Father, you would NOT be offended by the criteria He was establishing for Kingdom access.

Many preachers today take out the hard sayings from scripture. They ply a trade of good feelings doctrine, because popularity keeps the coffers full and keeps the followers following. I spent almost 2 full years in a prominent local AG church back in 2001-2002 and not once did I hear a message that included the word REPENT. As a matter of fact, if and when an allusion to repentance or change was found in the text, it was tacitly SKIPPED OVER and the hearers were directed to the dessert at the end of the text.

I raise that example because HOW PEOPLE LIVE and BEHAVE should be indicators of true repentance (Matthew 3:8). Granted, many who find true salvation are simply starting a journey. A journey that requires deep healing, cleansing and deliverance… but in due season CHANGE for the better SHOULD be the results of a life that has embrace God’s THINKING on all matters (repentance).

Because we have multiple generations who now pick and choose biblical truth like it’s some Bible-buffet, we have a generation of church brats that only know how to eat M&M’s and never touch their veggies (you can blame Doug Bryce for my rant).

To end this long post… when you hear our President telling the fact finders to “stop scaring everybody” you can be rest assured that spirit is also in the church.

My thinking is this: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Well it’s not actually mine, but I stand by it. I’d say fear is a pretty good starting place Mr. President. Anyone else?

A Debt of LOVE

Yesterday I posted some thoughts on Entering the Kingdom, debt, priorities, the rich, the poor and lies. This morning I awoke with similar thoughts, but the Lord took my mind back to a passage of scripture that gave me cause to challenge myself and you one more time.

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to LOVE one another, for he who LOVEs his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8 NIV)

My take on this passage of scripture is two fold. 1) If at all possible eliminate debt and 2) If you have debt, let it be a LOVE debt.

I think enough wisdom has been disseminated from the professionals regarding our need to be financially debt free, so there should be no standing question about that wisdom, but far less has been said about a LOVE debt.

Why is it that our culture has bought into the lie that financial debt is good and just part of life, all the while thinking that a debt of LOVE is mundane, foolish and at best saccharine and for the weak? It’s likely because true LOVE is so much like God that humanity as a whole marginalizes the art – the Art of God.

The only debt that any of us should look forward to servicing and keeping open is just that The Debt of LOVE. I mean really, can a person ever have enough LOVE, respect and honor? I don’t think so.

Have you ever really sat and pondered the premises of true LOVE? I don’t mean some faux LOVE that operates in the sensualities of life, but I mean genuine LOVE that goes beyond the pleasures of the giver to the entire Shalom of the receiver? When one begins to consider the entire well being of another person or group of persons… that is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to LOVE.

Last Sunday at the conclusion of our weekly service, one of our young ministers had brought the message and I was bringing the benediction. Nathan preached about a coming revolution, a revolution in thought and deed, a revolution that would change the face of the Church as well as the face of our culture; all before the Parousia. I LOVEd what my young friend presented, but as I was about to pray the Lord spoke to my heart and gave me a Word from His lips to my heart. He said, “If you want more… just pour!” (See 1 Kings 17:1-16; 2 Kings 4:1-7 after you finish reading this. Both passages are worth your time and germane to this writing.)

I paused for a moment, seeking to test all things as we’re instructed to do. I was sure He was speaking so I passed along His Word to His people. Amazingly, but not surprisingly the service didn’t end there. There was spontaneous worship and thanksgiving and several other wonderful words of admonition and encouragement were given. After a time of basking in the moment of God’s wisdom and presence, the service ended, but God’s Word DID NOT.

The parallel that we can draw from last weeks Word from heaven and what God woke me for is this. If we will live with an ongoing and outstanding debt of LOVE to everyone we meet and in every circumstance and situation – God the Father WILL provide an unending supply of resource.

Evangelism is far less about 4 Spiritual Laws or a Roman Road or even an EE Outline. As I read it from the Gospels, it looks more like a meal and a friendly glass of wine. As I read it from the Gospels, it looks more like a foot rub and some ointment for the tired feet of a friend. As I read it from the Gospels, it looks more like a confident hug offered to a hurting and broken individual – with zero words exchanged.

My life’s goal is this – LOVE. I know that sounds kinda silly to those who know my ribald humor and my rapier wit (not to mention my loathing of established religion), but I’m not kidding. I firmly believe that we can LOVE people into the Kingdom, but we cannot stop loving them, if and when we find disagreement with their philosophies and values.

Living with a debt of LOVE to a culture that is broken and lost in no way indicates we endorse or agree with said values and conditions, but it does say one thing. While they are yet sinners, we’ve decided to demonstrate LOVE toward them and offer pardon and friendship. For the very act of loving as God LOVEs is true holiness.

And do you know what the Bible says about holiness? Let me quote it for you. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NIV)

For years I thought this passage was subjective and all about my efforts to act “holier than thou” or to put on some posture so that I could eventually get to heaven and “see the Lord”. But that thinking was faulted, for I am saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, not by works of holiness.

Over the years the Lord has revealed His intentions for this passage. Here it is: As I act lovingly toward others, as He acted, they will eventually see that there truly is a God. They will begin to see the Imago Dei in me and just maybe… just maybe… they might believe that He IS. (Hebrews 11:1,6)

So, to conclude my early morning thoughts on debt and LOVE… do everything in your power to eliminate your financial debt. Discipline and determine to be content and godly in all you do, for therein is found great gain. But never ever pay off the Debt of LOVE. For as we service that debt, others begin to see that there really may be a God who LOVEs them and desires a relationship with them. Not just a god who wants their money and will keep them from hell.

Imagine that. I’ve once again broken my promise of short posting, but hey… you gotta LOVE me right? Plus if you’ve read this far, I must have kept your attention.

Agape

Entering the Kingdom

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:23 NIV)

Take a moment right now and ask yourself if you are rich? Most of us would say no. Most of us might even say by the end of the month, we have more month than money. Unfortunately that’s a fact that is all too common.

But does that indicate that we are poor? Does it indicate that opportunity and the American Dream have slipped through our grasp? Hardly.

About 4 years ago, my wife and I decided to live like no one else, so that someday we could live like no one else (thanks Dave Ramsey). Amazingly enough, little changed in our income streams, but a whole lot changed with our debt ratio.

By determining that we would become debt free (except for our home mortgage)… and that we would continue to live that way… so that someday we would indeed pay off our home mortgage early and retire free and clear… with money in the bank… all on a modest income derived from two self-employment income streams… that goal is coming to pass. All our debts, to include all credit cards, two automobile notes and home equity loan have all been paid off in full. Now cash has become our greatest asset. Not our excellent credit rating.

Why do I bring up the subject of my old thinking versus my new thinking on debt and finances? Because we as American Christians may be fooling ourselves into thinking we have access to the Kingdom of God. Yeah that’s brazen and problematic for many of you readers (the 2 that are out there), but I would contend that because of our lust for stuff and the two lies we believe, we who are rich are actually keeping ourselves from knowing God and letting Him know us.

Let me expound just a bit. Jesus tells us that it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God (yet with God all things are possible). My contention is that ALL of us here in America are rich, despite how little cash we think we have. If we could understand that by the very lust of our flesh, the pride of life and the lust of our eyes, we may well have shackled ourselves to a destiny far less than God has ordained.

The two lies we believe are “you’re not good enough” and “if you buy this you’ll become good enough”. Madison Avenue has us by the glands and those two lies simply keep us running in circles trying to keep up.

So here’s the rub, we’re all rich, but because we believe the lies, we continue to amass vast amounts of stuff and usually debt goes with it. And as we do, our priorities get all messed up and our ability to do what the rich should do, gets mired down in feigning poverty. All the while we’re so far from being poor it’s pathetic.

Imagine what life would be like with zero debt? Imagine being content as well as being godly? Might I say that the only rich people going to heaven are those who have their priorities in order? I just did.

Most of the people that I know who lament their financial situation simply have too much debt. Whether its consumer debt or they’ve over bought on a mortgage (because they couldn’t imagine living in a home whose square footage is under 2000) or they are too ashamed to have rust on their quarter panels or worst of all they don’t know how to say “no” to themselves or their children. Regardless of the specific reason, debt is killing us, nationally and personally.

The way that it’s killing us is by causing we who are rich, to think we are poor. And because we think we are poor, we think God should feel sorry for us and benevolently step in and offer us some sort of divine bankruptcy opportunity or at least a stimulus package, all the while we are rich, but we’ve simply over spent.

Does Laodicea ring a bell? Maybe we should acknowledge that our wealth has gotten us into trouble and we need to get back to the most important things in life and eternity – loving God and loving each other.

Then maybe, just maybe we will be assured of Entering the Kingdom.

Now go and ask yourself if your debt has affected how you live for Jesus? Are you giving like you should? Are you serving like you should? Or are you consumed with servicing the lust behind your debt?

It’s worth looking into.

Principle or Precept… You decide!

As I consider the Word of the Lord for today (actually tomorrow), my thoughts go back to a conversation I had with God this last week. Oh stop, I’m not the only one that has conversations with God and most of the time I do it out loud.

What we were talking about was the difference between principle and precept. In a nutshell the difference is this. Principles are derived from bits and pieces of wisdom teaching. Not always visible to the naked eye or brain, but they’re there. Often they are a compilation of precepts. Precepts are things that God lists in clear language like commands or admonitions that He expects us to follow or obey.

Law is precept. Yet there are laws buried deep in principles that God gives. If we decide to follow God’s principles, it’s very likely we’ll be following many if not all of His laws. But just because we follow certain precepts or laws, it doesn’t necessarily mean we are living by principle or even wisdom.

Let me go a bit deeper.

As a pastor, teacher, prophet and part time evangelist (not to mention being a husband, father, painter, carpenter, handyman, office manager and all around good guy) life is very compressed for me. I’m tired much of the time and the amount of time that is given to prayer and study of the Word is far less than ideal. As a matter of fact, because I work outside of the church to earn the majority of my living, I’m deeply saddened that I don’t get more time to do such necessary work.

As a result the bottom line is this: Preaching the precepts of God is way easier and requires far less study time than preaching principle(s). Yet herein lays my dilemma. People need far less of God’s precepts as they do His principles. For precepts (dos and don’ts) only go so far. Most often they become prohibitions that we who are religious use to control each others behavior. But it rarely works in the long run. And it’s usually fraught with guilt and condemnation. I think that’s very wrong.

Principles are what people really need to live by (core values maybe). Principles are the why behind God’s precepts. Principles are where the real wisdom of God is found. But principles require a greater amount of time in the depths of God’s gold mine – the Bible, and time on our knees before the thrown of Grace.

Reference, cross reference, compare and contrast, pray, think, write, re-write, pray and pray more and study a bit more. Internalize the Truth you’re mining from the Holy Ghost mother load. Yet all of this TAKES HUGE AMOUNTS OF TIME and EFFORT!!!

So what do I end up doing? I find simple precepts and cast them at my sheep. I don’t know if it helps them live better, but I figure I’m not gonna be held to blame if people don’t know what God expects from them. Right?

But that’s the problem, Jesus took the Law and lived it and fulfilled it. All the precepts of God that are necessary for an eternal and earthly relationship with God are fulfilled in Christ. Can you see the problem I’m dealing with?

Now we need the Wisdom of God that comes as we live by principle and not simple precept alone. Precepts like law will bring death if that’s all we have. Principles become the path by which we travel our lives, the path that leads to life and freedom.

So even as I type these words, my heart is broken. Because less and less of God’s people are learning and living by principle. More and more of God’s precepts are being used, but often to little avail. Oh not because they’re powerless, but because principle is what remains even when we can’t live by precept alone.

Principle keeps me loyal to God, because therein are found the stones on which I can build my life. Therein is found the basis of all our faith. Therein is found the proof of what God teaches in His precepts.

So the next time you opt out for the supposedly easy road of living by Law, stop and ask yourself: WHY would God command me in this manner? Maybe if you ask that question, He will lead you into the principles that uphold the precept. And you will discover that all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient… because principles matter and wisdom is real!

Well I better go find some more principles to bring with me to the pulpit in the morning!

Strive No More

I was just listing to an old Keith Green song When I Hear the Praises Start and it flipped a switch inside me. It reminded me once again that all of my striving is in vain. The best of my efforts can never hold a candle to the power and majesty of the work Christ did on the cross.

My head can’t seem to get around that truth, but that really doesn’t matter. What matters is the Work that Christ did in my stead. Because I could not, He did. He did what He did so that I may find rest and comfort in Him alone, so that my rest and comfort are not contingent upon living comfortably. Because more often than not, living comfortably is elusive at best and at worst it is expensive, vain and empty.

Let me ask you, do you know the difference between comfort and comfortable?

Most of us don’t, until all hell breaks loose and the comfortable explodes into chaos and loss. For those baptized in loss, God’s truth seems rather amazing, almost impossible. That we can, in and through Christ, find comfort even when we are not comfortable with outward circumstances?

Over thirty years ago, my youth pastor Jerry Holte, coached a handful of disciples to memorize scripture. Not so we could attain some kudos from God, but that we may know the freedom that only comes from the promises of God. That we may know genuine comfort, despite the fact that life can sometimes be uncomfortable. Because in life there are often great losses, yet God promises comfort from Heaven.

The passage of scripture that stuck with me was Philippians 4:13. I won’t quote it because maybe you could look it up and read the context for yourself. But the Apostle Paul was teaching the truth about God’s comfort and strength – with or without the comfortable things of life. Paul was teaching us that as we cease our striving for the comfortable, we can find genuine comfort in and through Christ our Lord. That truth is just as real to me today as it was in 1977. I just needed a gentle reminder.

Thanks Keith, thanks Jerry, thanks Holy Spirit, thanks Dad.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

Is your soul at rest this hour? Are you striving for something that you cannot attain? Are you running life’s race in vain? Do you work hard and find little solace for your soul? Are you religious and fearful that you cannot ever measure up to God’s expectations? Are you emotionally tired? Are you feeling empty?

May I encourage you to go to Jesus? Consider this, being comfortable in life is of little significance if you do not have comfort of soul. If you have never known the Comfort that only comes from God the Father, as He draws near with Love and Grace, cry out today and receive. Tell Him you are tired of striving. Tell Him you need His Comfort more than you need to be comfortable. I promise you, He will deliver. You will find the Comfort that only He can supply.

So go ahead. Stop striving. Stop working to please an unattainable standard or formula and start relating to a Father who will come and slake your hunger and thirst for what only He can supply. Remember, comfort is about relationship. Comfortable is about stuff. Which would you rather have, greater relationship or more stuff?

Selah