Strategery

"Paralysis by analysis". In business we can spend days, even weeks, strategically visiting an opportunity. I personally have over-visited issues on many occasions. Now, don't get me wrong, strategic thinking is a good thing. But I am convinced that it can prove stalling if momentum and work are not ready and waiting with baited breath—knocking at the door—pounding. In business, but mostly in life.

I did a quick search in Biblegateway.com for the word strategy. It turned up once. Isaiah 8:10 states "Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us." Now the Bible is laden with wisdom, and work.

I am not sure Jesus strategized. Perhaps when He was a boy working alongside his dad in the carpenter shop, they planned out a project. Determining which would be the best size board, and which wood should be used for project X. Then they had to hit the nail with the hammer. Vocationally we should plan, think, and perhaps strategize—then hit the nail. Additionally, when it comes to life, sometimes we become so darn paralyzed by our own planning. I think Jesus was so rooted in God's strategy and His wisdom, that all He could do was act, or move, or go about the work of teaching, healing, loving.

I know the wrist band of the WWJD thing is a bit overused, but during the strategy/planning areas of our work and life, let's make sure we are thinking like Jesus and recognize where its time to know what we know, then act, move, work, teach, heal, love.

Open House

I have become a major Donald Miller fan. He's an author/blogger. He wrote a book entitled A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Could be the best book I've read. I actually have been rereading it via my ears. And have found that a listening to an audio book is altogether a different experience than the printed page. I can't reread a great sentence, but I can get lost in a book in a different way. Anyway, in Million Miles I was introduced, through Don, to a man by the name of Bob Goff, who's a pretty amazing and creative familyman. Bob has a unique way of creating memorable experiences through the act of hospitality. Inspired by this, last weekend I was determined to make something special out of what had the potential to be a run-of-the-mill Saturday.

Last weekend my wife was away with some college girlfriends and it was just me and the boys. I wanted to figure out some sort of Goffian experience for the day. Some imagination later, we decided we'd open a restaurant for the evening where we'd play host, chef and sous-chef to the neighborhood.

Figuring we wanted to keep this pretty simple (we are guys after all), we thought we could grill up some burgers and some dogs, fill a couple of bowls with chips, some bottled water in an icy cooler, and call it a menu.

We wrestled with names, but landed on Three Guys Burgers and Dogs (we are three guys after all). The invitation was designed. Neighborhood mailboxes were stuffed Ground beef was spiced Patties were formed The garage was transformed into a makeshift front-of-house Music was cued. And we waited.

It's hard to wait for a couple of hours when you're excited.

My oldest invited a couple of friends from his bus route. My youngest—a key player amongst the neighborhood kids (and by player, I mean the kid really likes to play)—was on and about ensuring the best attendance from the community.

Now it was an interesting experience for my oldest. He really enjoys cooking and playing host. But on the cusp of being a teenager, this sort of event sits on the border of "embarrassing" and pretty darn cool. To ensure we staved off the "embarrassment", when his friends arrived, I immediately put them to work—pulling them into the event. One was on chip duty. The other bun duty.

In total we had about 15-20 people show up over the course of the evening. And, it turns out it was pretty cool. There was laughter from the kids. Some great conversation amongst the adults who dropped by. A good bit of eating. And a memorable day.

Outside of the enjoyment of watching and participating in others' enjoyment (which was very evident) was the final moments of the day when I was asking my "guys" if they had fun. They both said, yeah, let's do that again.

I plan to.

Hopefully there will be no cease and desist letter coming from the folks at Five Guys....

Where've I Been?

I guess you can say I've been busy. But busy isn't it. I mean, I have been busy, my mind and body that is. But my spirit has not—at least not as it ought. Not in the Word. Not in a great book. Not in prayer. At least, not much. A lot has gone on—some very good, positive stuff. But the good, dialed-in, state of affairs has been on vacation a bit.

I guess we all (I know I have before) go through these seasons. Times where we are preoccupied with work and other things. But I've always discovered that the more dialed-in I am, the better things go along. Or better yet, the more consistent. I've been existing a lot on my own strength. It's been going fine. But I know and feel the difference.

I've shared before about a piece Chuck Swindoll wrote on Attitude, wherein he writes, "I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it." I have found that the 90% has had to be more forced, more deliberately called upon. When I am "dialed-in", it shows up more naturally. Sometimes like breathing.

Gotta get my breath back.

Simply Put

God's call—then our response. Sometimes sizable. Sometimes moment-by-moment.

Could it be that simple?

Do we hear the Gospel, then just choose to believe it or not? Do we see a need, then just choose to act or stand still? Do we see an opportunity, then just choose to invest or pull back?

"The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep." - John 21:17

Only three times, Peter?

I am glad God has been so very patient with me. Definitely more patient than I'd have been.

Enter In

The other night I watched Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" with my first born. He's 12. I am not a fan of sitting through an R-rated film with him, but obviously this one is not a Will Ferrel fraternity romp. For those of you who've seen Gibon's flick it is pretty intense. Pretty brutal. I wanted to share the story of Christ in a different way with my boy. We've spoken about it. He's heard some at church. He even adds the marshmallow Peeps to resurrection Sunday. I think he sort of understands the Jesus crucified for our sins thing—to the degree he could.*

We sat on the couch and watched the movie. There were moments of eyes closing, volume turning down, and other methods of trying to cover up what was going on on screen—but we couldn't.

There were times over the course of the movie where I would give my perspective on what was going on, to try to tie some of it in to what we've learned, Bible stories, etc. One of the most impactive things was when they would pull away from the brutality of the cross and bring you into the upper room as Jesus is sharing his bread and body, and wine and blood. There is a unique storytelling that goes on from the blood of Calvary to the grace of the Supper.

One of the things which stuck out most to my son was when the bruised, bloodied, nailed, Christ asks his Father to "forgive them". My son could not believe this. Well, I think he believed it, but couldn't fathom it. It placed the people who'd abused Christ to the point of death as those who were forgiven—which I believe they were.

And I am in the same "them" which Jesus was grieving for.

Then the curtain tore in two.

Forgiveness. There is such power in it—Through Christ to us, the power to enter in.

Forgiveness. There is such power in it—From ourselves to others, a power to enter in in a different sense.

A Power to enter in to relationship. Enter in to relief. Enter in to conversation. Enter in to building. Enter in to healing. Enter in to change. Enter in to becoming something different.

Can we truly forgive "them" (whoever them is?) if they don't know what they do?  Or even if they did?

And through our forgiveness, offer the activity of entering in?



*I believe that none of us fully get the crucified for our sins thing—at least not here on earth. I know I fall way short of full understanding, but I try my best to "get it".

Fail Safe

Today's culture is so entrenched in finger pointing and blame. Its even come to the point of joy in others' calamities. We have "fashion police" who point at, tease, and mock those who may have worn something odd or simply out of style. We have pundits chomping at the bit to report upon political misfortune. And more and more we are seeing the joy in others accidents or major "Fails". Viral video, Tosh.0, and the like saturate our market with face plants, crotch kicks, and a platform to glorify and laugh at the perceived stupidity of others. I'll admit, I find it funny in a painful way to see someone wipeout on their sled into a small pine tree. But we've almost become numb to misfortune. Unaccepting in a holier-than-thou mockery of people.

With culture skewed this way, our attitude toward failure is skewed—our attitude toward failure is wrong. We have to have the freedom to fail. In relationship, marriage, business, parenting, and with ourselves.

Failure means something was tried.

Failure can be a result of inappropriate decision-making, selfish behavior, and overall poor effort. Additionally, it can be a result of trying something, good intention, and an effort to improve.

Failure begets change.

The change begotten may simply be an obvious decision to not try and skateboard down that flight of stairs again. Outside of urban parkour, in a more common arena, the change is accomplished using attitude, forgiveness, support, initiative, etc.

• Has the spouse forgiven the other and do they decide to seek support and rebuild a marriage
• Has the entrepreneur decided to reevaluate a business process and reconstruct some methodologies
• Has the child made the efforts to put in the extra time to elevate their game to win next time
• Has the dad changed his behaviors to leave a better example for his children
• Has the employee realized that in order to achieve the promotion next year they may have to spend more time building a business instead of their resume
• Has the leader realized a need to serve instead of speak from a soap box

And those observing, supporting, and directly effected by the failure of others play a key role and must visit their attitudes and activities as well.

Nothing meaningful is fail-safe. And it must be safe for ourselves and others to fail.

No Know

I think its best when we recognize that we don't know it all. Or even better. When we realize that we don't even come close. When we realize that we only know some things. And that those things are subject to change.

Certainly we can have held truths. But when we recognize that we have whole lot to learn, life can begin again and again. And that's cool. I think if I knew too much, things could be pretty boring. And I'd have less reason to lean on a Savior.