Reflect More, Risk More, Leave A Legacy – Start Blogging
Blogging has brought several new friends into my life. One of them is Jason Fountain. Today, I’m blessed to share a guest post by Jason. Jason is an educator who blogs about living an intentional life. I have enjoyed his writing and the communication that we have shared. Jason shares his current STRETCHING story with us below. Please check out his blog here.
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
John Maxwell relates a story shared by sociologist Anthony Campolo. Campolo tells about a group of 50 people over the age of 90 years old who were asked one question: If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?
The question was open-ended and the people’s answers were varied. However, three ideas consistently emerged.
1. If I had it to do over again, I would reflect more.
2. If I had it to do over again, I would risk more.
3. If I had it to do over again, I would do more things that would live on after I am dead.
I want to share with you an idea that can help you begin to accomplish all three of these goals TODAY.
I love the title of Jon’s blog – Stretched. I think much of our life is spent stretching – whether we choose the stretching or it chooses us. Recently, I’ve chosen a purposeful “stretch.” Back in April, after at least a year of talking about it, I started a blog.
Little did I know, then, what a rollercoaster of emotions were in store for me. I knew that it would be challenging to write solid content that would be meaningful, but I don’t believe that I was quite ready for the grind of continually facing a blank document on the computer screen.
A blank piece of paper is open to so many possibilities, yet appears so daunting.
Blogging has stretched me in ways that I never imagined.
I want to share four lessons (about life) that I have learned since I began blogging.
1. Blogging teaches discipline.
I consider myself a fairly disciplined person, but blogging has taken this to a new level. Blogging is not an endeavor that can be undertaken every so often. It is a discipline. Steven Pressfield says in his book, The Work of Art, that the hardest part of writing is not the writing, it’s sitting down to write.
There are always fifty things other than writing vying for my attention. But, blogging has taught me to quiet those distractions and focus on the task at hand. There are days that I want to quit and days that I feel as if I could write forever. Managing that tension has been a “stretch” for me.
2. Blogging sifts your beliefs.
I am pretty solid and consistent in my beliefs. If any of you read my blog you know that the bedrock of my life is Jesus Christ. It’s much easier to talk about Christ with my “circle” than it is to write about Him in a blog post that is out there for the world to view. In fact, bearing your soul is a little overwhelming.
Beyond my religious views, blogging forces me to work through most all of my beliefs. If I write about goal-setting or any other facet of intentional living, I really have to narrow my focus and work on being concise in my delivery. This only occurs when I am crystal clear on my thoughts.
Several times I have written a blog and then did not post it because I lacked a strong conviction about it. Before I hit the publish button, I need to believe it. Attempting to present an articulate stance on an issue has really stretched me as well.
3. Blogging is more about me than producing content for others.
When I first started blogging, I was very concerned about how I thought others would perceive my thoughts and my writing. I still worry about this, but in the few short months that I’ve been blogging I have become more focused on recording what I believe about life.
If I focus on others, then I try to copycat my blogging heroes and write as they would write and about topics that they would write about. The problem with this approach is that I am not them – I am me. For me to enjoy the process of blogging, I have to be me. If others latch on to my voice, then great. If they don’t, then I know blogging is not my future.
The longer I blog the more comfortable I become in showing more of who I really am. And that is the only way to really put my “voice” out there. Balancing this desire to write for others with the need to be “me” has been a major stretch.
4. Blogging records my thoughts for myself and others.
Finally, blogging is providing me the chance to record a part of “me” for my future self. Every time I write a post I am really just recording my life lessons so that I don’t forget them. As I continue to blog, more and more life lessons that I have forgotten from my past seem to surface. The process of blogging has really been a mining project for me.
I’m also blogging so that parts of my life will be recorded for my future kids. Every time I write I want to be comfortable with my future children reading my thoughts. From this vantage point, I write with a purpose – something bigger than just blogging. Thinking about preserving my words for the future has stretched me as well.
So…are YOU ready to start a blog? For me, it has truly been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences that I’ve ever undertaken. To say that the last three and a half months have stretched me would be a gross understatement.
If you really want to reflect more, risk more, and leave a legacy, think about starting your own blog. It won’t be easy, but I guarantee it will stretch you in ways you never imagined.
QUESTION: Is there something in your life stretching you right now? How do you manage the tension?
The Better Way
Today, I’m honored to present another guest blogger. Terri Stone is the Director of Pastoral Care at my church. I’ve had the privilege of serving with Terri over the past several years, and I’ve met few people who can connect and remember people like Terri. Today, Terri shares her current STRETCHING story with us. Enjoy!
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
I’ve spent the last 11 years stretching. I should be good and warmed up; ready for anything. Serving on the ministry staff at my church has given me the opportunity to do more things and meet more people than I ever imagined I would in my lifetime. Being in the mix of a fast growing church has had me “burning the midnight oil” for a very long time. I have to be clear, though, and say that no one demanded I burn the midnight oil; I chose to burn it myself. My personality is one that needs to be busy from sunrise to sunset or I feel like a useless, lazy, non-contributing person. Crazy, I know.
I’ve had a few different jobs in my tenure at the church. I’ve seen staff members come; and I’ve seen them go off to do awesome things. I’ve been part of large outreach events, classes, small groups, Sunday services, baptisms, mission trips, and capital campaigns…and this is the short list. The thought of having enough time in the day to get everything done has been unheard of. This was the case until recently. I’m now in the job where I’m perfectly gifted to serve. I’m no longer involved in every single thing that happens at the church being pulled in a million different directions. Now my days are focused, helping people with their spiritual questions, life struggles and personal needs. I have time to think and pray, plan and strategize about how to build a new ministry from the ground up.
And while I absolutely love how I’m serving, it’s been one of the most challenging things I’ve encountered in ministry. The task list has changed. The “to do” list has become the “who list.” To say the least, this new place in ministry has me stretching in ways that I’m not used to stretching.
I think about the story, in Luke’s Gospel, of the two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha welcomes Jesus and his crew into her home where she and her sister promptly choose two different approaches to their interaction with Jesus. Martha fusses with taking care of the needs of her guests while Mary ignores all the others and all the preparations so she can hang out with Jesus. Martha complains asking Jesus to tell her sister to help. Jesus’ response is not what she expects, “Martha, Martha,”…“you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
What I’ve come to realize is that I’ve been like that complaining sister! I’ve been busy “doing” ministry; all the while fussing about something or somebody. For someone like me, it’s strange not to have a task list a mile long of what must get done. Having more tasks than I can handle has always equaled value. But Jesus is saying there’s a better way. The better way has me stretching to be contemplative, to be quiet, to be more prayerful and to listen. In doing so, I’ll actually be better prepared to do the people things, “who list” things God has for me to do.
I think there’s a great lesson in the story for all of us. Jesus needs us to be with him first before we can really do what he has for us to do. After reading the story in Luke 10, there are some questions we need to ask ourselves. Am I serving Jesus in the right way for the right reasons? Is my busyness “for Jesus” to impress others with all I have to do? What will it take to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen so we can learn his better way for us?
Examine your service to Jesus and others. Invite him to show you what he truly desires the outcome of your time with him to be.
My Good Versus God’s Good
I have the privilege today of presenting guest blogger, Jeff Whitebread. Jeff (or Pumpernickel as I like to call him) is a good friend and sincere brother. Jeff is just starting his own blog (see the link below), and he has so generously volunteered to share his current STRETCHING story here.
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
It certainly is a pleasure to be a guest contributor on my good friend’s blog. In sticking with the theme of being stretched, it is always helpful when I consider God’s purpose in stretching my life. For when I focus on life’s circumstances, I can often feel overwhelmed and find myself being swept away in moments of despair. For in the midst of life’s turmoil, I can feel as if I am being pulled apart from the inside, as if a part of me is dying. I am left with these nagging thoughts. Why does God make life so hard? If life is this hard, am I doing something wrong?
Romans 8:28-29 says,
(28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (29) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
As I read this passage, an obvious truth jumps out from V28. God works all things for the good of those who love him, not some things or most things. God is working every single thing in my life out for my good. If I love God, then I can take this truth to the bank. I can believe this truth and live according to this truth. But wait, not everything that happens to me appears to be good, and here my story of being stretched begins.
When I was told, I was losing my job several weeks ago my first reaction was not, “thank you God this is so good.” It was a shock. I had to pick my jaw up off the table. Now, you must understand, I knew my job was going to end. I have been working for an insurance company that has been going out of business since 2001. When I started working for this company, it had 6,000 employees, and now it has only 150. During this 11 year process, I have seen God reawaken my heart and set a desire to serve him in the full-time ministry. I have viewed these last several years as a time of transition, as a time of preparation to leave the IT field and serve God where He calls.
As God began to open and close doors in my life, I developed a plan for how things were going to work out. I began thinking about how I was going to transition from working as an IT geek to being a missionary to our elected officials in Harrisburg. It was a smooth transition, it was neat and clean and in truth it required little risk and even less faith. After all, I will be serving the Lord; He would certainly bless such pure intentions. What I failed to see and what God is teaching me and stretching me to understand is this truth. God has a different purpose in mind. While I am focused on the destination, God’s laser beam focus is on me as an individual.
Let’s take a step back and ask ourselves, how does God define the word “good” in v28? We quickly realize through life’s circumstances that God is not working in our lives the way we might desire Him to work. He is doing something strange to us; He is taking us places we have no interest going. Our hearts cry out as we try to make sense of the situations we face. You see V29 tells us the goal, the good thing God is doing in our lives. What God desires for us, what He is working to accomplish through every situation and circumstance we face is to become like Jesus. This is what He wants; this is what He is doing. When we face the hard times in life we can hold onto this truth – this difficult and challenging situation is in my life because God is doing something good. His purpose for me is to be conformed to the image of His Son. He is working in my life and taking me through the hard time because his desire is that Christ may be formed in my life.
As I face the realities of my life and think of how God is at work, my plan no longer makes sense. I cannot connect the dots. I did not expect to be out of a job for another 2-3 years, I thought I would be one of the last people employed in my company. Obviously, God had a different plan from mine. Now I face the fact of raising my support, of trusting God with opening people’s hearts toward this ministry. As I look for God to validate my call through the financial commitment of others, it is humbling, it is scary, and yet it is where God has placed me in my journey to follow Him. I can say through the eyes of faith it is good. Whether I end up in this ministry or serve God in some other area, no matter what happens to my family and the things we place our security on, God is working to create in me the image of His Son.
The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death (Heb 2:9). The path our Lord went down was one of sacrifice and suffering, if this was required of our Lord, should we expect that to become like Him would require anything less for our lives. The worldly part of our heart cries out, “No! Please give us another way.” Yet the cross stands and proclaims that there is no other way in which we can serve our great and glorious King, Jesus the Christ. Is it easy? Never! Is it worth it? Every single moment, for God is actively working for the “good” of our lives.
Through the encouragement of Jon, I am being stretched in another area, I have decided to start blogging about this journey. If you would like to read my attempt to write about this journey, please check out On The Narrow Road.
All for the glory of God!
Jeff
Where do you see Christ being formed in your life? How have you seen hard times actually used for good?
Locks of Love
The generous heart of my daughter never ceases to amaze me. As you can see by the pictures, Hannah decided several months ago to grow her hair out, so she could donate to Locks of Love. Locks of Love provides wigs for children who are facing hair loss for various reasons. Hair is a big deal for girls, women, and kids. So when Hannah decided to have her hair cut so someone else could enjoy a head of hair, it was quite a sacrifice – at least in my mind.
It makes me think about true sacrifice. I am so often caught up in my own self interest. I don’t put others first. I’m thinking of me – instead of thinking of others. I often fall short when it comes to true sacrifice.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Jesus is the ultimate example of true sacrifice. He who was without sin laid down his life on the cross for us that we might be saved.
I’m thankful for Hannah’s example, it reminds me of Christ. It reminds me that I need to be sacrificial if I’m going to be a Christ follower. Thanks, Sweetie!
What does it really mean to make a sacrifice for someone? When was the last time you really sacrificed something for someone?
Getting Back To The Basics – Cape Cod Baseball League
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a big baseball fan. I have followed the game for most of my life – first as a Chicago Cubs fan – and now as a Philadelphia Phillies fan (since 1980 when I moved to the Philly area). It’s been fun to support the Phillies especially over the past five years as they have been very competitive, but…
Professional baseball isn’t what it used to be. With steroids, free agency, lack of player/team loyalty, higher ticket prices, and a crazy pay structure, players and teams don’t relate to average fans – like myself. I have found my overall interest in the game slacking off. Much of this is due to the realities of adult life – I now have a family and a job that require my full attention. But I believe that some of my fading interest in the game is related to the fact that professional baseball has gotten away from its roots.
This is why I loved going to see a Cape Cod Baseball League game when Leanne and I vacationed in Cape Cod a few weeks ago. The teams in the league are made up of college baseball players who are looking for a way to work on their skills over the summer. Players come from all over the country to play in this league. They are not paid. They live with volunteer host families. And the games which are played at a high level are free to the public. Players actually walk around during the game to accept entries into the game’s 50-50 drawing which is used to help offset travel expenses for the team.
We went to a game between the Cotuit Kettleers and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. We literally sat on top of the home team’s dugout. We could hear the players talking. We saw players who were not yet tarnished by the riches of the big leagues. We saw the game of baseball the way it was meant to be played.
Our evening in Hyannis was a reminder that it can be important to get back to the basics. We allow so many things to come along and distract us from why and how we started doing what we’re doing – whether it’s work, school, church, or even family. It’s easy to be distracted by the next big thing. It’s not steroids or free agency, but we are often distracted by other things like non-stop activities, efforts to accumulate the most toys and gadgets, or a drive to climb higher on the corporate ladder. These things by themselves may not be bad, but I think we often lose sight of why we started a family or why we started working. I think it’s important to get back to the basics, so we can rediscover our love for “the game”.
Has the push for more taken away your love of “the game”?
What can you do today to bring back the love?
Keep Going
I took this picture on our Cape Cod vacation a couple of weeks ago. It’s a boardwalk that takes you out to the edge of the marsh from Grey’s Beach in Yarmouth Port, MA. I ran out to the end of the boardwalk three of the mornings we were there.
In the picture, it appears that the boardwalk goes on forever.
Some days, things can seem like this. We have a tough day at work. Our parenting doesn’t seem to be making any head way with our kids. Perhaps, we’re facing health issues that seem unbearable.
The Bible provides encouragement to keep going when we’re ready to give up. I often draw encouragement from these verses:
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
One of the last day’s that we were in Cape Cod, I took Leanne out to the end of the boardwalk to enjoy the walk and view together. The long walk was well worth it!
What are you facing today that seems like it could go on forever – that seems overwhelming or unbearable? What keeps you going?
For Such A Time As This
I like my job. I get the opportunity to help other people succeed. I get the chance to support other people. And I have the privilege of setting a tone and example for others to follow. I confess that I don’t always get it right. But I do pride myself on living with integrity and making decisions that represent Godly values and character.
Being in a management role, I have the honor of walking alongside team members as they celebrate the joys of life, but I sometimes have to provide support through their tough times as well. Yesterday, I received some tough news from one of my team members. He and his family are facing a very challenging time. My heart was heavy yesterday when I got the news. My thoughts and prayers have been with this family yesterday and today.
I don’t know what role I will have in the whole process. But I do know that I will have a chance to provide workplace support to this individual as he focuses on what really matters at home right now. Perhaps, I was put in my position a few years ago for just this time. I pray that for them, and I also pray that I can lead in a way that draws others close to God.
As I’ve been processing this news over the past twenty-four hours, I was reminded of the story of Esther. Esther was given a chance to be queen at a time when her people (the Jews) were facing persecution. As a Jew herself, Esther had the opportunity to speak to the king and to sway him to protect the Jewish people. The story is much more detailed than my explanation, but the gist of the story is that Esther was made queen at just the right time. This verse from Esther 4:14 echoes this thought:
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Obviously, my position in management at my company is not quite the same as Esther’s position of queen, but I’m reminded that God can use us where we are at home, at work, in school, in the community. Are we open to being used by God for His glory?
Where does God have you right now? How do you sense that God may be using your current position in life to bring Him glory?
Rest For The Weary
“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
Stretch 2011 started last night, and it went great. I’m co-leading the games again this year with a new friend. Let me just say that we have an awesome Games Team this year. Everything went very well last night. And it was obvious as I walked around that the kids were having a great time. I don’t know the numbers, but it seemed like it was the biggest opening night we’ve had since Stretch began several years ago.
After cleaning up and driving home, I didn’t get to bed until 11:30PM. This is late for me. So when my alarm went off this morning at 4:50AM, it’s no surprise that I was exhausted. I managed to get out of bed and out for my morning run despite my fatigue. As I ran, this verse from Matthew 11 came to me.
I don’t know what you’re going through right now. Maybe you volunteered at Stretch last night, and you’re feeling weary. Maybe you just drove half way across the country. Maybe you are fighting illness. Maybe you’ve poured your energy into a project that seems unending. You’re feeling worn-out, tired, exhausted, weary. The verse above is a reminder that we can come to Jesus when we’re weary. He promises to give us rest.
How are you feeling today? When was the last time you faced exhaustion?
You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks
Iso The Wonder Dog
This weekend, our family has been puppy sitting Boots. Boots is a seven month old german shepherd who is being trained to be a seeing eye dog to help a blind person. She’s being raised by a local family who is part of our 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Club. The Club meets once a month (tonight actually) to help puppy raisers with training tips and to conduct business to keep the club moving along. We are currently on the waiting list for a new puppy which should arrive sometime this fall.
Our “forever” dog, Iso, was part of the program. Iso is our seven-year black lab. We got him when he was eight weeks old, and we had him in our home until he was eighteen months old. From there, he traveled up to The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ where he was trained for eight months. We got to see his “final” exam, a town walk through the streets of Morristown, and he did great. So we were surprised when we received a phone call a couple of weeks later indicating that Iso was not going to pass the program. Apparently, he was too social – he was too distracted by other dogs.
Fast forward, five years. Iso lives with us, and he is a great dog. He’s very friendly. He doesn’t bark – which makes him a terrible watch dog. He doesn’t fetch – which makes him a terrible retriever. And he’s not real active – which makes him a terrible walking partner. But we love him. He is so loyal, and he loves our company.
This weekend has been a wake up call for Iso. Imagine a seven month old puppy invading your turf – running circles around you – stealing your attention – disrupting the life as you know it. Needless to say, Iso didn’t seem to happy about the whole thing when Boots walked in the door on Friday night. As the weekend has moved along, a friendship seems to be budding, and Boots seems to be teaching Iso a thing or two.
Iso has actually barked a few times in response to the pestering of Boots. We now know that Iso has a deep bark which could be scary if an intruder came to the door. Iso has also dabbled in the whole fetching thing. Boots loves to fetch her orange and blue ball. She carries it around with her all the time. I don’t think Iso understood this at first, but once he saw how much attention Boots received as she returned to the thrower with the ball, Iso started get it. He actually went after the ball a few times and beat out the younger Boots to retrieving the ball and bringing it back.
So…I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!
We say goodbye to boots today as her family returns from a weekend getaway. But we’ll remember Boots with fondness as we think of the new tricks she passed along to our forever dog. Plus, we’ll get to say hello to Boots at each of the monthly Puppy Club meetings – including tonight’s meeting.
I think we can learn from this story of Boots and Iso. Younger people have lots to teach “older” people. If you are young, speak up and share. (This is a good lesson for me as I am the youngest person on our management team at work.) If you are “older” (and we’re all older than someone), watch and listen to those who are younger. They can add value and new insights. They can also remind you that things can be fun and exciting. Great lessons from our weekend!
Do you have any pets? What tricks can they do?
Who are the young people you hang out with for new ideas and new energy?
Look What I Found In My Closet – Notes From My Last Willow Creek Group Life Groups Conference
Okay. I have a confession to make. Many of you will find this surprising as I am generally known as an organized person. I’m not always great at dealing with smaller paperwork. As I learned today, many of the receipts and small notes that I carry around in my pockets end up in a pile in my closet. Today, I had an opportunity to get in there and do some clean up, and I discovered a small sheet of notes from my last Willow Creek Group Life Conference. I thought I’d share them with you here, because I think they still apply.
Conference Overview:
– Just like water and oxygen, COMMUNITY is essential to living.
– I don’t remember all the details, but the speakers, worship, breakout workshops, and discussion groups were excellent.
– The conference gave me a chance to:
– Rub shoulders with “Group Life” people from around the world (there were roughly 4,000 people at the conference and 13,000 viewing via satellite.
– Get new ideas and resources. (These conferences are always great for this!)
– Recalibrate, Recharge, and Re-vision
My Big Take Homes:
1. I need to be in Community.
2. Check my centerline (Community helps keep me in check).
3. We as Christian leaders have an opportunity to leverage technology for Community.
4. Caught a deeper vision for how discipleship can happen in Community.
5. We have a hope that we need to take into the Community.
I realize that these notes make seem a bit sketchy, but they bring back some great reminders and memories for me.
What conferences have had an impact on you? What conferences do you recommend and why?