Stop Serving Jesus
If I hired you for a job. Sent you to training. Told you story after story of what I wanted done. Gave you the best example I could give you, by showing you myself. And after taking all of this in, you said, "cool thanks for this gift of employment", "I've got some ideas of how I would like to change things a bit". "The changes I want to make are simple, and they will be somewhat effective, maybe not 'transformational' but I think they will do the trick." "You see boss, the things you ask are too great, and, you don't seem to be considering your employees comfort."
And,
If you went about this way, and other people followed you in this way, and this went on for a couple of thousand of years, you have to admit, it would be kinda hard to see things a different way.
This is what I am saying: Stop Serving Jesus - he never wanted to be the object, or the subject. If he did, he would have said different things, and done different things, and set things up differently.
So stop it.
See, at the CORE of everything God intended the cross to accomplish was a person who didn't know Him. And here is the trick that messes us up - messes me up. Is that as soon as we See him, as soon as we are at that place of surrendering to his Lordship - we have to do just that, and understand that surrendering to his Lordship means we are no longer at the centre. And here is the other trick, you gotta figure out what is at His CORE. What did God put at the CORE? What was his NEED for the cross? - simply - Reconciling man to God.
That is it.
Stop adding things.
God's CORE - the centre of his desire for humanity, is Reconciling that humanity to himself. Once Reconciled, one better get at the work of doing what is important to God - what is at his CORE.
And no, as good as work in a church is, as good as it is to hang with other Christians, as good as it is - it isn't what Jesus wanted, if it was, he would have gave us a story about how he wanted it that way.
But he didn't.
See when we get all spun out on Jesus as the centre, and Jesus at the CORE, we end up just serving him. Of just being on the team that fills communion cups, and vacuums the carpet in the building that we have illogically called a Church (Greek word Assembly - not place to Assemble) And because we are all spun out on this path of serving Him (in our own flavour we really end up just serving ourselves), I'm kicking it up a notch with some language that should grab us a bit.
Stop Serving Jesus.
And.
Go serve what he wanted served.
Don't placate to it. Don't treat it with contempt. Don't ignore it. And for Christ's sake don't reject it.
Serve it.
Find it needing water - and find a clean cup.
Find it needing clothing - and buy it new socks.
Find it needing friendship - and sit down for a pint.
Find it lonely - and sacrifice, to spend a night with it.
Find it confused - and listen.
Find it, tithe to it, make it the object, make it the CORE, make it the centre, make it the mission, make it the reason for everything.
Because.
It is the reason for everything.
It.
It, those who are as-of-yet to be reconciled to God and all the goodness he has in store for us.
It, is the reason God sent Jesus to the cross. Because, While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Stop Serving Jesus.
Go serve the world he died for.
slv2all
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Bobcat, Gehl, and why you do that thing you do… (Neurological Plasticity)
I had the profound privilege of using a Gehl skidsteer this weekend to clear the unbelievable amount of snow that has accumulated on our acreage this winter.
I'm used to operating a Bobcat.
The first couple of hours operating this beautiful machine were extremely frustrating (which included getting it off of the trailer).
I'm what you could call a seasoned skidsteer operator. I've put my hours in, in the seat, I've cleared snow, moved brush, levelled ground, etc, but this was an experience like no other time. So unbelievably frustrating, so, why would I call it a profound privilege to operate a Gehl?
Well here is the thing, I needed to get the work done, I needed to move the snow, within a timeline, and then I needed to get this machine back on the trailer. That is what I needed to do, what was intriguing was what I needed to change in order to do what I needed to get done.
A modern Bobcat uses just hand controls, and this is how it works. You have two leavers with 'hand controls' I can hop in a Bobcat and not even think about what I am doing, just put the machine to work. The right handle operates the right wheels, and part of the bucket mechanism (tilt bucket forward and back) and the left side operates the left side of wheels and raises and lowers the bucket arms. Push both handles forward and both sets of wheels go forward, pull back a bit on the right side with the left side forward, and you slow those wheels, the machine begins to turn. Pull back on one set, and forward on another and you skid the machine in an even quicker turn.
When I hoped in the Gehl I had the expectation that it had the same control system.
Rude awakening.
Gehls are different, way different. Without getting to technical…. right hand control is just for the bucket, left hand control is just for motion. Left hand control front and back moves the machine forward and backwards with a twisting motion of the handle you "spin" the machine, twist clockwise you spin the machine clockwise, counter for counter clockwise.
Wow I was a very slow cautious mess for a while, and i wasn't getting anything done very quickly - I was frustrated, but I needed to get done.
Solution? Learn how to operate this machine.
Ok that is great, where does profound come in?
Well here it is, a very basic neurological function we were all born with. It comes down to something REALLY basic, the capacity to change, to learn, to grow, to alter previous behaviours with a new set of behaviours, that has just one VERY simplistic initiating mechanism - DESIRE.
I needed to get this job done this equates to DESIRE - drive if you will and this caused me to learn a whole new set of skills. First I want to talk about this transition - then I want to speak to how we can apply it.
When you operate a Bobcat you do so with both hands sharing in both types of operation, both hands operate part of the bucket, both hands operate part of the forward, backward, steering operation. In the Gehl I had both hands on the levers very much like a Bobcat - this stimulation was linked neurologically to a set of preconceived mechanical indicators and it was these indicators which had to be relearned. In order to just get this machine to go where I wanted I literally had to take my right hand off of the bucket control and rest it in my lap. Without the stimulus of my right hand on the control I discovered I could now mentally make the leap to figure out how to operate this machine. Even with this knowledge I found it extremely difficult (about half the day through) to do two simultaneous operations (move the machine forward while lowering or raising the bucket) and would often get confused (and yes frustrated again).
The real amazing part was when finally it CLICKED, when I got it, and when I could operate this machine as though I wasn't even thinking about it.
Change
Change, has a big word in the world of neurology - its called neurological plasticity in essence the adaptability of the brain to change to new stimulus. We have all experienced both its positive and detrimental effects. You can literally watch this happening with the movements of an infants hands, you can watch as they learn to reach, to grasp, to gather. You can watch as they learn to talk, listening (stimulus) and speak (response) or any other of a myriad of mechanical movements. You can see this most excellently in some areas, like sports, people learning how to sink 3 point shots, or hockey players being able to hit a 'hole' just an inch high by a mere 3 inches wide. Movements repeated over and over and over and over again (we casually call it "practice makes perfect") become second nature. Remember what it was like the first time you drove a stick shift? Now you don't even think about it, I don't remember learning how to walk…
The negative side of this is found in habits, and addictions, where the same natural process of neurological plasticity is taking place and effecting us in less than pleasing ways. Nail bitting, smoking, alcoholism, gluttony, (just to name a few) are all products of the stimulus response relationship in simple biological terms they are all patterned responses to current stimulus learned over time (and yes when we add chemicals we engrain these behaviours at a quicker rate).
And here is the application (ya this would be the "profound" part).
I believe the same biological process of neurological plasticity is at work behaviourally, and actually to a much greater sense.
huh?
Well let me throw out some terms of what I call learned behaviours.
Anger, Fear, Happiness, Rage, Emotional, Politeness, being a Jerk, easily frustrated, melancholy, abrasive, needy, loud, soft spoken, wise, lacking common sense - oh this list could go on forever.
Pick someone - anyone, and think - EVERY part of WHO that person is, every attribute, every nuance, the way they speak, the way they listen, the way they walk, talk, interact, every thing about them and who they are (from a personality perspective) has been a LEARNED behaviour repeated 1000's if not MILLIONS of times. And it all comes down to the same thing as our mechanical responses (biologically similar) the synapse' in their brains fire in such a way so they come across as BEING the person they have learned to be. So why don't they change the things that get them in trouble, or the things that are unwanted or awkward?
To link it back to my experience with the Bobcat and the Gehl, I had about 40-60 hours operating a Bobcat (if that) I relearned the Gehl in about 6 hours. When it comes to behaviours we are talking about repeated things that have happened every day (for who knows how many hours) of that persons entire life. In fact, this persons personality was shaped (they began responding neurologically to stimulus) while they were still in the womb. Some of the most treacherous examples happen in my work with children as CEO of Heritage Family Services. Children who grow up in abusive homes, only to become abusive people themselves. Another treacherous extreme example would be child soldiers in Africa, who literally do not know of another way to interact with their surroundings.
Ok, so, what do we do with this? Well two things, first I hope it helps you view people differently. That annoying person you have to deal with, or that harsh person, maybe now you can look at them as a product of ALL their previous experiences instead of just a JERK who tries to yank your chain. Secondly I would ask - is there something you want to change about you? If so, how?
Well again, it comes down to one word DESIRE. It is the thing that begins the entire change matrix, it drives everything, as soon as it is gone, the learning ends, PERIOD. And here is the additional take away from a behavioural/psychological perspective, behavioural changes take time, an INORDINATE (that is - not ORDINARY) amount of time. We are talking about changing a behaviour that you have done thousands if not millions of times, this change is going to take time. Okay first thing desire, second thing, Authenticity. You are going to have to get real first with yourself, then with someone else who can help you - why do we need someone else? Well in the skidsteer I had a real simple REMINDERS of what I needed to do differently in order to learn new mechanical responses. What is going to remind you - well simply, other people.
The most profound example I have of this is overcoming sexual addiction in my own life. Now, while the world will tell you that looking at pornography is okay. Let me just simply say its not. There is nothing 'healthy' about it, about the industry that produces it, or the people stuck in the life style. It objectifies women, and kills your marriage as it changes the way your brain works. And no, Mens Health, I don't want to be a 35 year old "master pick up artist" because there is nothing cute of about being a handsome guy with abs living alone sleeping with a different woman every night, sounds more like what monkeys do than people with souls and the capacity to love and be loved. Sexuality is now in front of us every day, on the sidebar, and the grocery store (2 Axe girls for every guy).
And here is the thing, I changed. With the extreme involvement of other people we changed me. Through the use of extreme Authenticity, we moved to where we wanted to be, because we had the desire, and the tools to get there.
So, What do you want to change? What do you want to be different? Will you do the work to move from here to there? The capacity is within you, woven into the very way your brain is wired, the question is, will you use this capacity for harm or for good.
One parting thought - every action we take in life does one of two things it either REINFORCES previous behaviours or charts a new course to new behaviours that become who we want to be in the future.
slv2all
P.S. how many hours did you spend on the phone connecting with people in highschool…. now we have Facebook…. and as a result, our behaviours have changed - one more quick glance of neurological plasticity at work
I'm used to operating a Bobcat.
The first couple of hours operating this beautiful machine were extremely frustrating (which included getting it off of the trailer).
I'm what you could call a seasoned skidsteer operator. I've put my hours in, in the seat, I've cleared snow, moved brush, levelled ground, etc, but this was an experience like no other time. So unbelievably frustrating, so, why would I call it a profound privilege to operate a Gehl?
Well here is the thing, I needed to get the work done, I needed to move the snow, within a timeline, and then I needed to get this machine back on the trailer. That is what I needed to do, what was intriguing was what I needed to change in order to do what I needed to get done.
A modern Bobcat uses just hand controls, and this is how it works. You have two leavers with 'hand controls' I can hop in a Bobcat and not even think about what I am doing, just put the machine to work. The right handle operates the right wheels, and part of the bucket mechanism (tilt bucket forward and back) and the left side operates the left side of wheels and raises and lowers the bucket arms. Push both handles forward and both sets of wheels go forward, pull back a bit on the right side with the left side forward, and you slow those wheels, the machine begins to turn. Pull back on one set, and forward on another and you skid the machine in an even quicker turn.
When I hoped in the Gehl I had the expectation that it had the same control system.
Rude awakening.
Gehls are different, way different. Without getting to technical…. right hand control is just for the bucket, left hand control is just for motion. Left hand control front and back moves the machine forward and backwards with a twisting motion of the handle you "spin" the machine, twist clockwise you spin the machine clockwise, counter for counter clockwise.
Wow I was a very slow cautious mess for a while, and i wasn't getting anything done very quickly - I was frustrated, but I needed to get done.
Solution? Learn how to operate this machine.
Ok that is great, where does profound come in?
Well here it is, a very basic neurological function we were all born with. It comes down to something REALLY basic, the capacity to change, to learn, to grow, to alter previous behaviours with a new set of behaviours, that has just one VERY simplistic initiating mechanism - DESIRE.
I needed to get this job done this equates to DESIRE - drive if you will and this caused me to learn a whole new set of skills. First I want to talk about this transition - then I want to speak to how we can apply it.
When you operate a Bobcat you do so with both hands sharing in both types of operation, both hands operate part of the bucket, both hands operate part of the forward, backward, steering operation. In the Gehl I had both hands on the levers very much like a Bobcat - this stimulation was linked neurologically to a set of preconceived mechanical indicators and it was these indicators which had to be relearned. In order to just get this machine to go where I wanted I literally had to take my right hand off of the bucket control and rest it in my lap. Without the stimulus of my right hand on the control I discovered I could now mentally make the leap to figure out how to operate this machine. Even with this knowledge I found it extremely difficult (about half the day through) to do two simultaneous operations (move the machine forward while lowering or raising the bucket) and would often get confused (and yes frustrated again).
The real amazing part was when finally it CLICKED, when I got it, and when I could operate this machine as though I wasn't even thinking about it.
Change
Change, has a big word in the world of neurology - its called neurological plasticity in essence the adaptability of the brain to change to new stimulus. We have all experienced both its positive and detrimental effects. You can literally watch this happening with the movements of an infants hands, you can watch as they learn to reach, to grasp, to gather. You can watch as they learn to talk, listening (stimulus) and speak (response) or any other of a myriad of mechanical movements. You can see this most excellently in some areas, like sports, people learning how to sink 3 point shots, or hockey players being able to hit a 'hole' just an inch high by a mere 3 inches wide. Movements repeated over and over and over and over again (we casually call it "practice makes perfect") become second nature. Remember what it was like the first time you drove a stick shift? Now you don't even think about it, I don't remember learning how to walk…
The negative side of this is found in habits, and addictions, where the same natural process of neurological plasticity is taking place and effecting us in less than pleasing ways. Nail bitting, smoking, alcoholism, gluttony, (just to name a few) are all products of the stimulus response relationship in simple biological terms they are all patterned responses to current stimulus learned over time (and yes when we add chemicals we engrain these behaviours at a quicker rate).
And here is the application (ya this would be the "profound" part).
I believe the same biological process of neurological plasticity is at work behaviourally, and actually to a much greater sense.
huh?
Well let me throw out some terms of what I call learned behaviours.
Anger, Fear, Happiness, Rage, Emotional, Politeness, being a Jerk, easily frustrated, melancholy, abrasive, needy, loud, soft spoken, wise, lacking common sense - oh this list could go on forever.
Pick someone - anyone, and think - EVERY part of WHO that person is, every attribute, every nuance, the way they speak, the way they listen, the way they walk, talk, interact, every thing about them and who they are (from a personality perspective) has been a LEARNED behaviour repeated 1000's if not MILLIONS of times. And it all comes down to the same thing as our mechanical responses (biologically similar) the synapse' in their brains fire in such a way so they come across as BEING the person they have learned to be. So why don't they change the things that get them in trouble, or the things that are unwanted or awkward?
To link it back to my experience with the Bobcat and the Gehl, I had about 40-60 hours operating a Bobcat (if that) I relearned the Gehl in about 6 hours. When it comes to behaviours we are talking about repeated things that have happened every day (for who knows how many hours) of that persons entire life. In fact, this persons personality was shaped (they began responding neurologically to stimulus) while they were still in the womb. Some of the most treacherous examples happen in my work with children as CEO of Heritage Family Services. Children who grow up in abusive homes, only to become abusive people themselves. Another treacherous extreme example would be child soldiers in Africa, who literally do not know of another way to interact with their surroundings.
Ok, so, what do we do with this? Well two things, first I hope it helps you view people differently. That annoying person you have to deal with, or that harsh person, maybe now you can look at them as a product of ALL their previous experiences instead of just a JERK who tries to yank your chain. Secondly I would ask - is there something you want to change about you? If so, how?
Well again, it comes down to one word DESIRE. It is the thing that begins the entire change matrix, it drives everything, as soon as it is gone, the learning ends, PERIOD. And here is the additional take away from a behavioural/psychological perspective, behavioural changes take time, an INORDINATE (that is - not ORDINARY) amount of time. We are talking about changing a behaviour that you have done thousands if not millions of times, this change is going to take time. Okay first thing desire, second thing, Authenticity. You are going to have to get real first with yourself, then with someone else who can help you - why do we need someone else? Well in the skidsteer I had a real simple REMINDERS of what I needed to do differently in order to learn new mechanical responses. What is going to remind you - well simply, other people.
The most profound example I have of this is overcoming sexual addiction in my own life. Now, while the world will tell you that looking at pornography is okay. Let me just simply say its not. There is nothing 'healthy' about it, about the industry that produces it, or the people stuck in the life style. It objectifies women, and kills your marriage as it changes the way your brain works. And no, Mens Health, I don't want to be a 35 year old "master pick up artist" because there is nothing cute of about being a handsome guy with abs living alone sleeping with a different woman every night, sounds more like what monkeys do than people with souls and the capacity to love and be loved. Sexuality is now in front of us every day, on the sidebar, and the grocery store (2 Axe girls for every guy).
And here is the thing, I changed. With the extreme involvement of other people we changed me. Through the use of extreme Authenticity, we moved to where we wanted to be, because we had the desire, and the tools to get there.
So, What do you want to change? What do you want to be different? Will you do the work to move from here to there? The capacity is within you, woven into the very way your brain is wired, the question is, will you use this capacity for harm or for good.
One parting thought - every action we take in life does one of two things it either REINFORCES previous behaviours or charts a new course to new behaviours that become who we want to be in the future.
slv2all
P.S. how many hours did you spend on the phone connecting with people in highschool…. now we have Facebook…. and as a result, our behaviours have changed - one more quick glance of neurological plasticity at work
Saturday, 11 December 2010
8 cents
The following is a recording from the day before my thyroid surgery. It was one of those days, you know, one of those feel sorry for yourself days. Lots of pressure in business, lots of stress from being worried, etc, etc etc.
I hope you can listen to this and let it help change your perspective, mine was profoundly shifted (AGAIN!!).
slv2all
I hope you can listen to this and let it help change your perspective, mine was profoundly shifted (AGAIN!!).
slv2all
Monday, 29 November 2010
Loss of Hope
November 29
I have not forgotten, but how do I remember?
How do you remember what you have lost?
A smile, an old photograph, that sweater he used to wear, the way your eyes met hers from across a crowded church. That shirt he got, for finishing that race, his book collection, the way he always smiled even when he was mad, the way he wiped his hands on his napkin, or the way she zipped that last bit of her drink off her can, or the way she ate off your plate.
This world knows a million losses, and in each one of them there is something unique to be treasured.
The loss a father suffers of a child born-still is unique. A handful of us have experienced it, and in that handful only a few will talk about it. What the HECK do you say? What do you remember? What do you hold onto? It is awkward at best, because what is this loss like - like loosing a sibling, or losing a parent, or a distant relative that you barely remember?
no,
it is different than that.
For me it was and is, the loss of hope. Because as you father an unborn child -in reality- as a father, that is all you have. You may have felt a couple of kicks, or lived vicariously through your wife's experience. But really all you loose is the hope of what could be.
In a sense I lost nothing, in another sense I lost everything.
Part of me changed that day, and now years later what is starting to come back is hope. I think it has been missing, and I think I can see some light at the end of this tunnel.
Interesting thing the human soul is.
In the midst of this light, I get to face something else with my friends and family.
I'll be heading under a surgeons knife here in a couple short weeks.
Found a golf ball sized lump on my left thyroid.
Should be routine - in an out.
Strip the left thyroid remove the tumor with it.
and then
Hope.
Hope like everything that this tumor ISN'T, what it could be.
I miss most what my daughter could have brought me, and no, Keziah, you will never be supplanted - not entirely.
Never replaced.
Never forgotten.
Never Cherished.
slv2all
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Men, a Call to ACTION
Men, this post is all about you.
We have 1 month left here in 2010, and I for one want to finish STRONG. I have said it before on here, I am a sex addict. Have been for some time, but a while back a couple of guys and me started to kick against this darkness in our lives - and now it is starting to bleed day light (ya that was a shameless plug for that song lovers in a dangerous time, eek sad, but I love that line...) today I am at day 495.
Here is the deal men, I came to a realization, simply put, I'm no where near as great as I make myself out to be in my own head. I've got enough failure to back that up, plus, I could not seem to take a stand of any significance on this issue of sexual purity on my own. It took help, something I call Gospel Accountability.
so here is the invite
Join what we started to call a Fight Club. It is more than just men meeting for beer and wings, it is more than a bible study, it is more than an accountability session, it is more than an AA type support group. The odd thing is it can incorporate all of those things, but it is so much more, simply put, it is 'Men becoming better men' and a solid chase to Total Life Encompassing Authenticity.
I hope every man that reads this will have the desire to Join the Fight - by the way, you are already in this fight, it is just that right now, you are probably in it alone.
You can respond to this post, or, you can anonymously fill out the communication box to the right, a service by bravenet (you will be taken to another window to have your info go through) an email will be sent only to me.
Thanks guys, lets get fighting this battle together and finish 2010 stronger than we have ever finished a year before!
slv2all
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Development
Development is always made in relation to someone else. Every reference we have to someone's development, in any area of life is in relation no matter how disconnected. We are placed against a metric, all the time. Runners when they run. Swimmers, UFC fighters, Children as they grow and mature, Business people, moms dads brothers sisters. Every area of life we progress through, as you develop and expand, you pull experience from others communicate your desire, push forward to a new height, strain for a faster time, analyze this year against last year, desire a larger margin, greater organization, increased effectiveness, and so on.
We do this in every area of life.
Every area.
I noticed this while sitting at the table with my family when my 3 yr old asked me how his new born sister would learn how to talk, and how to walk. and I said "she will learn by watching you."
This, is the same dynamic we find in Titus chapter 2 regarding spiritual development.
They will learn by watching us.
We have learned by watching them.
Therefore, who we are, is what we have learned.
Who are we?
Who have we learned from?
Have we learned, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
Will those looking at us learn those things?
Or will they learn the fruit of this world? Will they learn how to wield criticism, will they learn how to quench with questions, will they learn that self control is not as important as the mask we hide behind? Will they learn that Joy is fleeting because other people control my emotions, or that I am only kind when it suits my interests? Will they learn about the fitfulness of faithfulness, that 'I still have my ring on my finger', but I can't control my tongue, or my mind, or my eyes, or my right hand? Will they learn that gentleness is reserved for putting on diapers and talking to new little children we are meeting for the first time as opposed to siblings, parents, our own children, and people with views that oppose our own?
What will they learn?
What HAVE they learned?
What have you taught, that perhaps it would be better you now go, and humbly un-teach?
slv2all
Saturday, 6 November 2010
a picture worth a thousand thoughts
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, this one is worth a thousand thoughts.That is me, looking at my wife in a hospital bed, 6 weeks ago just after our daughter was born. We have been through hell. Lost our last daughter at the end of her last pregnancy. StillBorn. It ripped at us from every angle.. this picture is part of the ... and back, part of the the 'through hell and back' saying.
I can't remember what I was thinking, I think I was just overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed at the grace that has been shown to me, someone who did not deserve it. Sure Life tosses you shit from time to time, but to you in north america, you won the great lottery of life. you have a car, a cell phone, medical insurance, a great government so much food you end up tossing the bits you just can seem to stuff in.
CJ Meheney a preacher in the US has a saying - I stole it.
when asked 'how are you doing?' he responds
'Better than I deserve"
so do I.
because despite all that crap that has hit the fan, I have fat around my belly, four healthy kids, a wonderful bride to share life with, great friends, wonderful saviour, and the list goes on.
thanks to all of you who have shared in the journey,
slv2all
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