No Rest for the Weary

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.  He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it…  -  Mark 7:24

Tyre was a town on the coast of Phoenicia.  It was north-west of Jesus’ normal stomping grounds.  From the context of Mark’s gospel this little excursion up north to the coast of the Mediterranean was a break, a get away, a vacation.  Humans were designed for rest from the very beginning.  God rested from his works of creation not as a result of weariness, but for the purpose of delight in what he had made.  Rest, in the biblical sense is not laziness, it is worship. 

Honestly, my day off (Friday for the most part) is filled with non-stop activity.  Weeds and my golf swing both need attending too.  I’m exhausted when Friday evening rolls around.  Part of learning to rest in the Biblical sense means stopping.  It means being still enough to quietly delight in God’s world, in God’s word, in God’s grace, and in God’s presence.  But we live in a manic culture.  Everything has an immediacy of its own.  Rest, true rest, worshipful rest, goes against our every inclination.  Even when we do take rest, it is often void of stillness.  And stillness is where we experience God.  God is the still point in our manic world.  To know Christ, is to walk away from our nets filled with their hundreds of flopping, writhing, attention grabbing  fish to become consumed with the King who calls us to follow him.

Spending a week at the beach in Florida with my wife’s family was a great reminder to me of how poorly it is that I practice true rest.  I went away, had a good time with family and came back tan, but not rested.  I was not still while I was away. 

You see, intimacy with God will always be a struggle.  Adam and Eve took the fruit, they immediately recognized their sin, covered themselves out of shame and hid.  God expelled them from the garden.  Naturally being in God’s presence in the stillness of that perfect garden would never happen again.  We are out of the garden.  We are in the sweatshop of a fallen world.  It will never be easy to steal away and be still.  God had to command “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”  It is our inclination to forget Sabbath, to neglect rest, and to hustle away the stillness. 

Knowing Christ means following him to Tyre.  It means refusing to let our own inclinations for maniacal living to keep us from that abiding stillness with our savior who is our only access back to the garden.  The passage in Mark 7 ends this way: “… yet he could not keep his presence a secret.  In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.”  That rings true doesn’t it!  Sounds about like my vacation.  True worshipful rest will never be easy.  But it will always be good. 

In Christ - Scott Castleman                  

A Prayer for the Journey

In Esther De Waal’s book The Celtic Vision: Prayers and Blessings from the Outer Hebrides, she tells the story of a man named Dugall MacAulay who always recited a journey prayer to himself.  He recited it under his breath, “whenever he went upon a journey ‘however short the distance, however small the matter of his errand.’”  These kinds of prayers are common in the Celtic tradition, asking for God’s blessing and care for every part of a journey.  

De Waal writes, “When anyone set out on a really long journey family and friends would join the traveler in singing the prayer for traveling and in starting the journey with them”  (pp. 143-144).

The Journey Blessing Prayer goes like this:

Bless to me, O God,

The earth beneath my foot,

Bless to me, O God,

The path whereon I go;

Bless to me, O God,

The thing of my desire;

Thou Evermore of evermore,

Bless Thou to me my rest.

Bless to me the thing

Whereon is set my mind,

Bless to me the thing

Whereon is set my love;

Bless to me the thing

Whereon is set my hope;

O Thou King of kings,

Bless Thou to me mine eye!

Amen.

May our prayers be answered as we ask for God’s blessing on our journeys, especially as we travel the exciting, challenging and Spirit-driven Acts 16:5 Initiative.

With Joy - Anne Clifton Hébert

Fluidity

Change theorist Kurt Lewin used to talk about the necessity of “unfreezing” before change could happen. Think of an ice cube whose shape changes only when it is first melted. Whether speaking of an organization or an individual such an unfreezing is the loosening of attitudes and approaches that frees one to be open to new ideas. 

W. Edwards Deming who helped post-World War II Japan’s business community get back on its feet was known to say, “The present system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets!”  In other words, your congregation is perfectly designed right now for its level of actual fruitfulness in transforming lives as it grows disciples and meets human need and the degree to which it is fruitfully engaged in missional endeavor in its community.

A challenge for transformational ministry today is leading such unfreezing moments in congregational activities, which of course presupposes unfreezing moments in the lives of their leaders and their “opinion makers.”

Some practices that may be used to increase the fluidity and flexibility of those you lead include the following.

·      Use common sense when enabling change and winning commitment.  Always communicate that you respect the people you are leading.

·      Repeat the vision (the what, why, and who) constantly – over and over especially in interpersonal conversations.

·      Show enthusiasm! Passion!

·      Explain the "why's" over and over – and over and over and over.

·      Face the anxiety the people have about the change without being threatened by it.  Their anxiety does not mean either you or they are inadequate.

·      Hi-change requires "hi-touch" (personal presence, I hear you, I am with you).

·      Be open to change yourself.

·      Bring in an outside voice to help inspire the vision you want to impart.

·      Supply books and other literature sharing the vision you have.

·      Know when to push ahead and when to draw back.  Be wise.

·      Don't argue.  Change is often viewed as loss.  We don't argue with grieving people.  We show presence and love them neither trivializing their grief nor making light of it.

Some question to consider:

How “fluid” are you – how open to new ideas and approaches?

How have you sought to “unfreeze” people in the past? What has or has not been effective?

What is a situation that you are currently involved in where a new fluidity would make transformation possible? How will you proceed?

With Joy - E. Stanley Ott

Fixity

Fixity was a new concept to me when I first heard Carl George refer to it while discussing issues relating to the cell-based church some years ago. The issue was how to establish a new approach to small group ministry practice and organization in such a way that it sticks, that it continues, that it is not just a flash in the pan emphasis before going on the next program.

The fact is American pastors and congregations are often program junkies. We buy some one’s church program good for a semester or a year or two, and then we look for another one. The same thing happens in judicatories of denominations. In a way, serial programs give staff and other leaders a feeling they are doing something (and of course some such programs actually do make a difference).

Nevertheless, if a core concept for transformational ministry, such as small groups or ministry teams, that is not very common in traditional ministries is being implemented, it is easy for such a core concept to be the “program du jour,” to receive a lot of initial attention and "rah rah," but in a year or two become “something we did once.”

Understandably, most of our efforts are geared around the people, program, and policy management of our congregations that presently exist. So to preach (or hear) a few sermons on missional endeavor or to host a few workshops or conversations on the subject may make it the “topic of the month” and perhaps lead to some missional efforts. However, for a real and permanent transition to missional endeavor, a growing circle of leaders and participants within the organization must internalize and implement the practices of transformational vitality missional thinking. That’s fixity.

Fixity as a concept is congruent with that of momentum – that is the ability to keep on keeping one. Momentum can be a very positive force in the life of a church when it sustains a clear defining vision and defining practices. As the same time we know the value of agility, the ability to respond to changing conditions. Fluidity is another word for agility, the ease with which something can change.

When a leader and an organization have a fixity of defining vision and defining practices (or core values) and a fluidity of implementation and approach the result can be remarkably fruitful.

Some questions to consider:

How do we make core concepts and practices “stick?”

How do we “fix” them as permanent facets of our ministries?

Once we discern the vision and practices that define who we are, how will we preserve a fluidity of implementation that enables us to respond to opportunities and obstacles as they arise?

Joyfully - E. Stanley Ott

Mentor

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 16
Dear Friend, Yesterday I had the joy of meeting Anne Ortlund.   Her books and those of her husband, Ray, have had a mentoring role in my life, helping me grow in an understanding of the Christian life. Usually a mentor is a person with whom you have a personal relationship, a person of experience and wisdom who helps you grow in some way. I can think of many mentors in my life who have helped me grow in faith, in family life, in work, and in life and leisure in general.  How about you? Scripture is full of wonderful mentoring relationships, the influence of life on life, such as Jethro to Moses, Elijah to Elisha, Barnabas to the Apostle Paul, Jesus to the Twelve and Pricilla and Aquila to Apollos. Just think of the people who have been especially significant in helping you grow in your faith in Jesus Christ and in your service to him. The names and faces of many mentors in my life jump to my mind immediately! Bob and Margaret Pickett, Bob and Liz Chalmers, Bill and Joyce Fall, Jim and Charlotte Walker, Jim and Vivian Tozer, Dick Halverson, Elton Trueblood, Alex Williams, Harry Fifield, Gordon Prescott, Chuck Miller, Cullen Story,  Ina Ziegler, Bill Bright, Charlie Shedd and the list goes on. I am very aware of the many contributions they have made to my life and that I would not be who I am without them; and neither would you be who you are without the mentors our Lord has positioned in your life. Be grateful for them and show them the great honor by passing onto others what the Spirit has passed to you through them. “One generation will commend your works to another.” Psalm 145:4*
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NIV.
To view archived issues and to subscribe:  www.buildingoneanother.org

Alone?

Pastors, especially “solo pastors,” are familiar with the word and practice of “alone.”  Yet there are few things that are less consistent with the gospel, and few things, if changed, can affect a greater positive benefit immediately than to repent of the practice of alone.

What is this guy talking about?  Pastors often function as lone rangers.  We go to conferences, meetings, seminars, hospitals, pastoral visits…we have been trained to do it alone, even convinced there is no way else to do it.  But to reiterate, this is questionable biblical practice. Howeve a change of one’s pattern of behavior can begin to pay immediate benefits to enhance the development of leaders in a local congregation.

Biblical?  More than likely, if you are familiar with the Acts 16:5 Initiative materials and the efforts of Vital Churches Institute, you’ve heard of the “with me” principle.  Just a few illustrations:

“For he and all who were with him [Jesus] were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken…”--Luke 5:9 NRSV

“ Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him…”—Luke 8:1

“Only Luke is with me [Paul]. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry.”—2 Timothy 4:11

As a rule Jesus, and certainly the Apostle Paul, did very few things alone.  They had people with them, and they were intentional about it.  Yet for many pastors, this requires a significant change in our modus operandi.  Yes, it requires some planning, but mostly it requires a deliberate intentionality as in, “I will no longer go it alone.  I will plan and be intentional about having people with me.”  After all, it’s biblical.

But, here’s the bonus, imagine going to a training event, a leadership event, and you have one or more people along with you; they witness the same content that you hear, and it inspires them, motivates them to get on with it.  You did nothing but have them “with you,” but in doing so, you have convinced them, “sold them.”  You become a leadership genius.

All it takes is your resolve to repent of the lone ranger mentality, and increasingly commit to go throughout your ministry life “with.”  We know it; we know the “with me” principle.  No leadership in “alone.”  So today, start doing it “with.”

Joyfully - Dale Patterson

Nevertheless

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 15
Dear Friend, If you have ever been in a low place you know the person who said the following words to God was at one time the lowest of the low, upset in spirit, and unresponsive to the Lord who loved him. “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you.” Psalm 73:21-22* While this expresses a very down experience, it is the next word I love: nevertheless! "Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor.” Psalm 73:23-24 No matter what is happening at the present moment, how down, how uncertain, how threatened you may feel or anxious you may be, nevertheless the Lord who loves you is right with you, loving you, guiding you, and leading you. In fact in the midst of all that concerns the psalmist, he sums his hope with these words: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 Remember – nevertheless!
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NRSV.