"On ewe mark...get set...SHOW!"

OK, before I get to the more "serious" thought for this (    ), I must share this video as a followup to yesterday's post about "resurrecting" our lives every day. Moving. Doing. Expressing. No matter what role you are in The story (shepherd or sheep -- leader or follower), every day is an amazing stage upon which we can come together and express the artistic  patterns of our lives. Ewe won't believe your eyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

OK, to the more serious note from the (   )  start of my  day:

"OK, but they're not going to like it!"

I really like Deuteronomy. What's with that? All the laws and rules that are impossible to keep straight and apply completely. Still, there are some real nuggets that reach out to me when I read. Here's Moses reminding the Israelites (yet once again) about the laws of their LORD, His sovereign guidance, protection and promises before they enter the Promised Land. All they have to do is pay attention, drink the rest of their Golden Calf Energy Powder Drink, forget about the poles (that's Asherah, not a european cultural jab), trust where He leads and know that He goes in front of their every step. You'd think they'd have figured this out after 40 years circling the runway; but "no!"  

This morning I read chapter 16 about 1) Feast of Passover, Feast of Weeks and Feast of Tabernacles. What got me today was the instruction about the location where these glorious celebrations were to take place, he says "...at the place the LORD your God will choose."

Here's my thought: We go about "our business" of life every day. We plan. Prepare. Arrange. Schedule. We try to make the most out of our day, to be the most efficient and productive so we can feel satisfied at the end of the day. We did it. We got it done. 

Hmmm....

I love that expression when your child (or someone you know who is acting like a child- wow, did I really say that?) wants to know what you are doing about this, that or the other... that really does not concern them). "That's none of your business." Ok, tempted as you are to challenge my parenting and friendship skills, here's my point: Our business is knowing and doing and showing and sharing God's business. If you buy into (any part of) the Moses thing, then you have to consider that there is a path to follow. One that does not rely on your navigational skills, but does require that you can read the map. One that does not depend on your having the loudest voice, but does require quiet listening.

"OK, but they're not going to like it." Like them, I sure do not like the way a lot of it sounded... and sounds. And I sure do like the land. 

Bah bah for now.

For emphasis -- (b)

"Can we get an amen...and a dog biscuit?"

"There's a disturbance in 'The Force.'"

 Against all conventional wisdom (and warnings from me) Pastor John of a vibrant church plant in Minneapolis, Living Stones Covenant Church asked me to give the message to his flock yesterday. A recent client for whom I developed a brand story to help share their heart, voice and passion. 

Against all conventional wisdom (and warnings from me) Pastor Brian took the stage after they played their new brand story, the lights bursting on after complete darkness during the QuickTime movie: 

 

The flock squinted from the abrupt explosion of light, their vision focused and I noticed a lot of  blinking; likely from the image of me and Bentley sitting on the stage ready to address them with (hopefully) words of insight and inspiration.

I began my 25 minutes clarifying that the dog was, in fact, Bentley and not Brian who was listed on the Sunday pamphlet. I asked if people had noticed us the many times we had come to church during the months of this brand process. More blinks and nods. I mentioned that most probably remembered him more than me. More blinks and nods. I mentioned that many probably asked themselves, "What's this guy's story? And what's with the dog?" More blinks and nods.

"It's all about the power of your story." That began 25 minutes I will always remember. Not because this Messy Messianic was able to check off another "bucket list" item or a narcissistic urge to be on stage (although I must admit that when hooked me up with the remote headset mic I was VERY tempted to break into "Danke Shein" when I hit the stage). It was all about making eye contact with 150 lives. People coming together in a room of grace, hope and joy. Experiencing God who loves them unconditionally. To remind them, and all of us, that there is and always has been One Story. A glorious and eternal dialogue. That every one of us is a unique character in that story. Some a drop of ink, a letter, a punctuation, sentence, chapter, book or volumes. A distinctive and vital part. More blinks and nods.

I concluded, speaking about the "power of resurrection." Approaching Easter we customarily think of "resurrection" defined as Jesus rising from the grave three days after his crucifixion. Duh. Yes, it is the first meaning in Webster. It's the second meaning that stirred me, and the one I emphasized in my closing remarks:

"2. A revival from inactivity and disuse."

We can view life from the flock. We can be led by the many of the world's shepherds we choose. We can go where they take us. We blink and nod. Then we follow. 

We can also choose to blend the the ink of our lives, letting the characters form new words and celebrate the unfolding story from the One shepherd and author. Then we follow pillars of fire and cloud.   

Are you reviving and using your ink?

Wink. Nod.

Let's resurrect.

For emphasis:

(b) and (b)

Living Stones Covenant Church: http://www.livingstones.org/

 

"They think I am too happy."

Started my day early this morning while in Nashville for a major presentation this afternoon. I have a ritual of going to a great, vibe coffeehouse near Vanderbilt University, named Fido's. Was a pet shop years ago. Ordered my oatmeal with strawberries and bananas (fiber, potassium and protein) and a toasted wheat bagel with cream cheese. By the way...WHY is it that every time you order a bagel and cream cheese they bring it out totally slathered with the stuff, so when they put the top half on it, it oozes out from the sides like a menacing blob? Pulsing. Bubbling. Greasy eyes popping open and closed. Leaps onto your clothing and in between your fingers. Ready to invade your arteries. What's with that? 

Anyway, the young woman behind the counter had one of those "can I borrow that for the day" smiles. Just radiating with the completion of every sentence. Made me smile. So I comment, you wonderful smile. "Thanks," with an even wider explosion ivory joy. And then she added, "I appreciate your saying that, because a lot of the people here think I'm way too happy, especially in the morning." I responded with the commensurate "dog head tilt," then said replied "What's with that?" 

Can you picture this in an exchange with friend, co-worker, family member or unsuspecting victim cream cheese aggravated assault: "Wow, would you excuse me for a moment? I just noticed that I have been smiling a lot this morning. I think I might be having a  'too happy syndrome' seizure. I am going to go read the paper, check my investments or turn on CNN. I'm sure one of them will be able to bring me back down to earth. I just can't handle this much joy." What's with that?

I think it's exactly the coming "back down to earth" where the problem resides. The things of this earth - possessions, greed, war, hate, achievement, bills, more stuff, better stuff, cooler stuff...stuff - are the triggers of stress and un-happiness. They create the "gravity" that pulls your inherently "lifted up" expressions "back down" to the ground. 

Go ahead; smile in the face of dour. Injoy your happiness. 

(b)

 

Yes or No?

I had a wonderful breakfast with a delightful friend this morning. Swedish pancake haus. She had crepes, and I boringly had oatmeal with fresh strawberries, raspberries and cranberries. It's a fiber thing, but that's all I have to say about that. I could sense there was some heaviness surrounding her. She shared with me the poignant passing of her stepfather (her "real dad" as she referred to him) just last Wednesday and the funeral on Saturday. She had the blessing of spending time with him through the 18-month terminal illness. The more she spoke about this special person in her life, the more her eyes glimmered, sparkled and the stories led to laughter and joy that spilled out to fill every empty space in our green "leatherette" booth. Her "prince" since she was a small girl of eight years. His "little one." The precious jewel he protected, guided, loved and was there all along the way. 

She was there by his side when he left this place we call life. To a place of no suffering. To a place of sanctuary. To a place of peace.

I was honored that she chose to share the contents, her life's ink from this chapter. When we left she handed me a card. I opened it in the car, alone. The front has a die-cut image of a bird of peace. Inside, a picture of two infants of "delicious color" (one chocolate, one vanilla), with this message:

"I shall pass through this world but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, let me do it now; let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

And, if that were not enough to punctuate the moment of (   ) we shared at breakfast, the back of the card was the clincher. Please consider these peaceful approaches:

"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." Christian

"What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and love mercy, and walk humbly with God." Hebrew

"To be in one's own heart in kindly sympathy with all things; this is the nature of righteousness." Confucian

"Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love. This is an old rule." Buddhist

"Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Whenever you enter into it take with you your all." Kahlil Gibran

"As one may ascend to the housetop by ladder, rope, or bamboo, so there are many ways to reach God." Hindu

"Wherever you go, wherever you rest, may the peace of Good Allah keep you blessed." Moslem

"We, the gods, shall surely visit thy dwelling if loving kindness dwelleth there also." Shinto

"Regard ye not one another as strangers; ye are fruits of the tree, the leaves of the branch, the flowers of one garden." Baha'i

Is one of these the right belief for approaching peace full life. Are all of these the right belief for approaching peace. 

Yes or no? 

Correct. 

For emphasis -

(b)

“Actually, everything I know about branding and life I learned by selling shoes.”

The Scene:

Residents gathering and mingling in the party room of my condominium building in Minneapolis. Very modern. Stylish. About 90 minutes into the evening. Been through the chatter-filled line at the buffet table (nice eclectic contemporary spread, very colorful). I am not exactly sure why I am there, given my off-the-charts “introvert” profile and attending without Bentley (my sidekick miniature dapple dachshund) to buffer those awkward moments when trying to trigger conversation. “Hi, I’m Brian; who are you?” Compelling, huh? Having Bentley with me is a can’t-miss catalyst for breaking the ice. Instead, we are all playing “blind words bluff” using the typical banter about local versus transplanted, weather conditions, how long you’ve been a resident and might you be the person whose dog left a “mound of joy” in the elevator last week (for real. What’s with that?).

I have navigated to my current end position on the cherry-red couch sitting in the middle of the room: excellent survey vantage point. Sitting next to me on my left is a seemingly friendly guy, mid 30’s, who works for the international sales division of Northwest Airlines, just recently acquired by Delta. Topics about corporate transitions are a conversational comfort zone for, oh a good 20 minutes or so. (It’s been many years since I can carry on a sports conversation beyond 45-seconds with any semblance of actually knowing what I’m talking about and not coming across like a total hack. We make eye contact, I give him my trite dialogue opener and then he asks the question, the answer to which I have come to realize defines the man I am becoming and why I write stories.

“So, you seem to know a lot about branding and corporate dynamics. Do you have a degree in business?” 

“Well, no.  Actually, everything I know about branding and life I learned by selling shoes.”

After one of those puzzling expressions, sort of the way Bentley tilts his head wondering what the heck I am talking about when I speak to him, he replies, “Really? That’s interesting.” I think he really wanted to say, “Wow, look at the time…I left my place in a hurry and forgot to vaccinate and tick-dip the dogs before I came here and, well, you know….” Instead he continued, “Tell me what you mean.”

And so the story continues….

Let me say a few things about why I am writing about this in the first place. It will also give more clarity as to what this has to do with my previously submitted introduction, taking place in biblical Jerusalem around a campfire with Jesus and the guys (grace, please).

This is not about chasing, finding and moving new kinds of cheese. It’s not about the twenty-seventh habit. It’s not about what happens after the first minute of management. It’s not based on Harvard Business School research. It’s not even about going from Great to…where do you go after Great anyway?

It’s about my perspectives from interacting with people through communication, transaction and business. It’s about the commerce of faith. It’s about my experiences and thought architecture that (given the right setting, need and passion) can be applied to any job, mission or endeavor with people mobilizing together to accomplish a shared goal. It’s a conversation I hope compels you to stop, consider and answer the single most important question I ask my clients, 30+ years of consulting...and counting: “What business are you in…really?” Your answer to that question and its implications as to how we TransAct with each other is what this is all about. For business. For faith. For life.

OK, so back to the cherry-red couch, the mixed nuts and story. And yes, it all really did start with selling shoes. 

[MORE TO FOLLOW]

"You can't have me."

Not long ago, during one of my numerous "transitional" stages I was going through a very rough passage. It's symptoms were typical: fatigue, crankiness, impatience with EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY, dizziness, nausea, lack of hunger and generally depressed feelings. From a faith perspective it might be referred to as demons, the Evil One or spiritual warfare. From a non-faith perspective it might be referred to as over-stressed, over-committed, over-leveraged, over-extended, over-indulged and generally over-it.

A fellow pilgrim suggested in these instances I might try these four simple words: "You can't have me." In his translation the comment is aiming the power of God's protection directly at the Evil One. Satan. Beelzebub. Lucifer, El Diablo. Lex Luther. Sponge Bob....  It is intended as a direct and impenetrable armament and shield to his intended invasion through my many human vulnerabilities (take your pick). I actually have done this many times, and frankly with great results. 

What's with that? Instead, could you simply deal with it through: 

The power of positive thinking? Tony Robbins. Zig Ziglar. Steven Covey. Kahil Gibran. Socrates. Dr. Phil.  

Maybe.

The power of professional counseling? Freud. Carl Jung. Abraham Maslow. Alfred Adler. Dr. Phil.

Maybe.

The power of medication? Ibuprofen. St. John's Wort. Prozac. Camomile Tea. Dr. Phil. 

Maybe.

The answer is "yes" to all of the above suggestions. It's a matter of choice. Perspective. What you choose to see. What you choose to hear. What you choose to swallow. 

I choose to pick the first One. 

You?

For emphasis.  (b)

"You didn't have to do that."

I’m curious how many of you, like me, have used this statement as a reply to someone’s unexpected gesture: “You didn’t have to do that.” It has always come as an automatic response. I am not even sure where I “learned” it.  You know, the response to such things as:

·      An unexpected gift given to you just because…you are appreciated for just  being you;

·      An unexpected phone call to see how you are doing after a variety of life moments, or simply to say you had been in their thoughts;

·      Someone offering to interrupt or rearrange their day to take you to a doctor appointment;

·      Someone calling to tell you they want you to use their car that day because yours is in the shop and they know you have been looking for a new job and likely have appointments;

·      Someone dropping by your house with meals for the next three days because they know you are at the hospital all day as one of your parents is leaving this physical life “at any time now” and they figured you didn’t have time to think about food;

·      A card coming in the mail with Starbucks gift card and message that says, “I enjoy our coffees together. I enjoy you.  Have a moment of coffee and joy on me.”

Frankly, I never gave it much thought until a few days ago, and then I was triggered to write about it after the events of this morning. It happened at 5:12 AM in the NWA WorldPerks Club in…I’d better not be specific because these days it’s better not say where-who-how specifics because of the many “whatever the heck” reasons you shouldn’t use specifics to protect the innocent, the guilty, “X” advocacy group, the whales, the trees, the FBI, Jack Bauer or heaven forbid to become a social issue that ends up being dissected into bio-waste by the best political analyst team anywhere on CNN. But, here’s the question that popped open like a thought balloon in my mind after my “You didn’t have to do that” reply:

“So, why didn’t you just say ‘thank you?’ Duh, of course they didn’t have to do that. ”

Truth is (if I am honest) that ‘thank you’ is the first phrase that comes to mind. And then it happens: my grey matter does its thing and within a fraction of an instant I have done an historical recap of my life cultural mores and what’s right-wrong-deserved-undeserved-accepted-rejected-presumptuous-flirtatious-politically incorrect-kind-loving-hypocritical-placating-honoring-insightful-theologically flawed-insulting-acknowledging-damning-redemptive-obsessive-compulsively suspicious.  

What’s with that?

Here’s my point to this, thanks largely to Kim and Kaye (see, I told you both that your names would be floated eternally out into the linguistic bliss of the universe!) at the WorldPerks Cub in…. J It happened as the result of starting off for a week of fun, sun, food & drink while enjoying the thrills of bullet, kidnap and machete dodging in Mexico. All this to celebrate the belated 60^th birthday of my brother, Alan (guess you have to share the ether with K&K!) with a friend. We’re at the airport at freaking 5:10 AM to catch this flight, and as a result of the “billions and billions” of miles I travel on business (yes, I am seemingly on an astronomical bent – thanks, Carl Sagan, wherever you are) am trying to do the “can I please, please, please bring this nice, and yes a bit whiny, friend along with me up to first class?” request. The short and long of the entire saga is the result of our checking in at the kiosk and “declining” the $175 upgrade offer due to my confidence of getting the “sure you can” response I have garnered in the past.

“Oh, we’re so sorry, Mr. Kagan. We no longer offer the complimentary upgrades and, even worse, now that you declined the offer that is only offered at the kiosk… YOU CANNOT GO BACK and change it after you have declined. It’s just a one time, right here, right now deal.”  After the commensurate “Is there anyone else you can call or speak to” question, you realize you have been duped and dumped by a computer kiosk!  Disappointed, but accepting our now digitally enhanced class-separating fate we proceeded to the WorldPerks Club for some quiet time before the 4.5 hour flight south. That’s where we began a most wonderful “you didn’t have to do that” moment. We stood at the desk and had a delightful conversation starting with our predawn class-less events, then transitioned to life’s ambiguities about the current state of  human versus technological interaction; voice mail, email, Twitter, Facebook, 24 different (maddening) phone prompts just for the chance to speak to a real person. Kim and Kaye were wonderful, and I couldn’t help but think how fortunate I was, that through my disappointment of not getting what I wanted, instead I received what I was given in the form of a chance meeting and exchange of “goods” between four people in an errant moment in time. Chance. Clearly, it was an upgrade of the most important kind of flying. And once again I am reminded of Don Henley’s disarming line from My Wedding Day: “To want what I have, and take what I’m given with grace….”

We’re walking to the gate, recapping about the pre-dawn gift of this interaction, when my cell phone buzzes. Not recognizing the number I answer, “Hello.”

“Mr. Kagan, this is Kim from the WorldPerks Club. I’m calling to let you  know that I just spoke with the gate agent. I told her the story about this morning, that you are really nice people and that even though I NEVER ask agents for anything I really would appreciate if there’s anything you can do from them.”

So, here we are flying at 37,500 feet, high above the earth in first class. Kim went out of her way. She didn’t have to do that. “Thank you.”

_________________________________________________

And now… I think about other people who have gone out of their way for me:

Somewhere in Iraq or Afghanistan a soldier will sacrifice his or her life for my freedom, and that of another people. He or she didn’t have to do that.

“Thank you.”

Nelson Mandela sacrificed years of his life in prison for the freedom and rights of his people. He didn’t have to do that.

“Thank you.”

Ghandi sacrificed his life for the freedom and rights of his people. He didn’t have to do that.

“Thank you.”

Jesus sacrificed his life for the freedom and rights of all people. He had to do that. “Thank you.”  

You didn’t have to read this.

“Thank you.”

For emphasis -  (b)

I wish you "ish".

As most of you might have guessed, I like telling stories. It is what ignites and propels me through life. It is that trajectory that often enables me to intersect "linguistic vapor trails" with other like-inkers of the written, spoken, felt or even sometimes sneezed words (I am in Nashville, via New Orleans this week and dang -- I have discovered that I have allergies...but I digress). I have not written for a few days, taking time to complete a major brand story for a music artist...and a few days to process the reaction and inner-action I experienced since posting the introduction to my next book, "No thank you, I'm just looking." The very short of it is that through some degree of providential intervention I chose to break the introduction into two "digestible" bites, not too much to read. WHERE I chose to break it is what I think (want to believe) triggered a flurry of posted and private responses implying that I was condemning God's church, Christianity and that in my writing I was arguably a hypocrite, self-righteous and instead of engaging people to go deeper with me they were likely removing me from their address book and possibly burning me in effigy. This, all on the heels of the theatrical debacle involving Russ Limbaugh's voodoo curse of failure cast upon President Obama's administration. Plllllllease...Russ Limbaugh as the new voice and leader of the Republican party? I can just see it now: "Straight from the everything-proof studios of The Whitehouse, we are pleased to bring you your drive-time, work-time, eat-time, meds-time voice of all that's right in America -- Russ, The Prez, Limbaugh -- brought to you by "24," the NRA and Ivory Soap."  Again, I digress. Needless to say, I had to do a gut check on the words I use in conveying my heart and thoughts and passions about sharing the syntax of life with you.

This morning while visiting with my friend Lynn, a third-grade teacher at a private school in Nashville, she brought out a book and handed it to me. "I just read this book to my kids and love the message. Check it out, it's a quick read." Now, I must tell you how cool I think God is. Sure, there's the Bible. And there's scores of books, sermons and commentaries in print, audio, video, blogs, iTunes, uTunes, meTunes ;-)  and everywhere else and manner imaginable where you can study the ways to live your life. And yes, I access them too. Then...you get those moments, those winks of time when the simplest words remind you how simple God intended this to be.

Ish, by Peter H. Reynolds is a simply delightful book about a young boy who loves to draw. He draws anything, everything and constantly out of an unbridled passion for...drawing. Joy defined. The review on Amazon reads:

 

"Ramon loves to draw: "Anytime. Anything. Anywhere." When his older brother laughs at one of his pictures and points out that it does not look like a real vase of flowers, a dejected Ramon crumples up all of his efforts. However, he soon learns that his younger sister has hung the discarded papers on her bedroom walls. When he declares that the picture of the vase doesn't look like the real thing, she says that it looks "vase-ISH." The child then begins to produce paintings that look "tree-ish," "afternoon-ish," and "silly-ish." His "ish art" inspires him to look at all creative endeavors differently. 

Wow, what would looking at our lives with "Ish" eyes be like? What would it look like, instead of speaking about the many things in life that are constantly changing and evolving and really are (in fact) part of God's blessings, we looked at our days when we: Are feeling sad-ish. Elated-ish. Crazy-ish. Frustrated-ish. Relaxed-ish. Satisfied-ish. Scared-ish. Lonely-ish. Overwhelmed-ish. Confused-ish. Inspired-ish. Passionate-ish. Manipulative-ish. Hurtful-ish. Loving-ish. Forgiving-ish. Jewish-ish. Hindu-ish. Muslim-ish. Atheist-ish. Christian-ish. God-ish.

From my perspective (again, that's "my" perspective -- just sayin') I find faith and life to be a series of kinetic expressions. The only constant to both is "change." Not God, mind you, ...but everything else of this world. Adding "ish-ness" to our daily coming ins and going outs of situations just might give us a more tenable "life operational" matrix.  Maybe?

Not long ago I met with my counsellor, Jim, at which time he hit me with one of his patented "just-when-you-thought-you-were-doing-well, better, more even, healing-here's-a-thought-to- remind-you-that-you-are-maybe-a-hair-better-than-when-you-walked-in" zingers. After 11 years of meetings (4 years of which have focused on my separation, subsequent divorce and new life start) I sat down and opened the session with, "Jim, amazing as it might seem I must tell you that for the first time I can remember, maybe ever, I am a happy man." Without a millisecond hesitation and delivery like Johnny Carson or Jerry Seinfeld he looked right at me and replied, "Brian, I think happiness is over-rated." Instead of living out the image I had anticipated after his response (similar to one of the scenes from Braveheart where the guys are all gathered together after a gore-mud-blood-guts-body parts battle and now hugging each other - some with one less arm - and screaming guttural animal chants), I instead felt like a guy after a dare who jumps into a snow-melt mountain stream. Guys, you know what I'm talking about! 

"You see, Brian, 'happiness' is not a whole lot different in nature than 'sadness.'  They both come and go. They are fleeting. Most, if not all of the everyday emotions and experiences of life are that way. They are not constant." He paused, giving me a moment to process. "Might I offer a different word that might reflect your feeling more accurately? How about 'content?' You see, the concept of 'content' implies the shifting between the paradoxes of life: the dark and the light, the joy and the tears, sickness and health.... Sort of like faith: you know God is. You have given Him control for getting you through the extremes at each end of the paradox. Faith is what happens in between the extremes."

I got it ish.

I get it ish.

For emphasis ish -

(b) 

Right in the middle of it all.

Every day at home (well, I strive for the "every" part) I begin by sitting in my favorite black leather chair, looking out from my 5th floor perch, across the road to a wildlife refuge, cup of coffee, lap blanket, lamp and reading a devotion from Henry Blackaby, one from C.S. Lewis and then some passages in the Bible. Did I say how much I love my iPhone? I have a Bible app that gives me 1) Old Testament, 2) Psalm and 3) New Testament passages each day. And, considering the reaction to the last few days of posts of the introduction to my next book, "No thank you, I'm just looking," the passages were...well let's just say they were not there by accident. 

I received some very passionate responses to my posts, actually spawned by the way I broke the introduction into two sections, deciding to do so, so that it did not appear too long to read in one sitting. And, as providence would have it, the first part ended after what read like an attack on the integrity of the Church and, as some people responded, my tonality of hypocrisy and condemnation of Christianity. I was staggered by this, knowing that this could not be further from the truth. After some "quick" reflection (including that dog-head-tilt-to-sharp-pitched-sounds gesture) I did what any humble, grace-filled, blessed man would do: I DEFENDED MYSELF! I used all my rhetorical wit, edge and (OK, I will admit to owning "some") self-righteousness to justify my platform and what I termed "challenge the paradigms of complacency and hypocrisy" that some (actually I really believe only the minority) Christian leaders incorporate under the banner of holiness and godliness. Our current day Pharisees. 

After a full two days of receiving, responding and now taking this all into (    ), I share what happened in my reading. Here is exactly what passages came up on my "vertically inspired & planned" iPhone Bible passages for today:

1. Leviticus:15

2. Psalm 117

3. 2 Corinthians: 10-11

1. Leviticus:15 -- Phew! in my counting, Moses uses "unclean and/or uncleanliness" 35 times in this chapter. Yes, it is all about "discharges"...and that is enough detail to get at my point. Man, there is a lot of stuff (some toxic) in us that needs to be "discharged." Pride. Arrogance. Greed. Lust. Envy. Power. Control. Hate. Judgement. And, I stand at the front of the line. Send in the gauze patrol, fast! 

MY TAKEAWAY: To live clean is to discharge the things from the body that, either through organic processes of procreation or infection, must go through their natural cycle of elimination. Then, you can  bring yourself to the tabernacle to be offered as a clean version of yourself. 

2. Psalm 117 -- Right in the middle of it all. The middle chapter of the Bible...is also the shortest. Twenty-nine words say it all...for all people...God's love.

"Praise the Lord, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord."  NIV

MY TAKEAWAY: to live a full and blessed life "right in the middle of it all" (Temptation. Distraction. False Prophets. Deception. Commoditization. More. Better. Faster.) requires only that you remember the power promised in 29 words "right in the middle of it all" that God holds the truth, the light and the way...for all of us.

3. 2 Corinthians 10-11: Paul might have been known (as referred to in some evaluations from scholars) as a weak or meek presence in person; hardly the case in his letter writing! In the previous Chapter 7, he softens the sting of his third letter (it was never found...wonder why.):

"8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while - 9yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us." NIV

Paul goes on in 10-11 to speak of his authority and purpose and commitment and sufferings incurred on behalf of carrying the Good News of a better way for doing life. Not in defense of his actions, but with joy and passion and love for each one of them.

MY TAKEAWAY: There is a major difference between casting stones of judgment  that hurt and wound and cause people to retreat, and stones cast gently into the waters of culture, thinking and other peoples' lives that, given the time and intention can ripple into each other through dialog, exchanging our "goods" and becoming living water that flows in the right direction.

In the middle of it all. With you.

For emphasis -- (b)

 

There's more to the story (introduction)

Now, if you are still reading the second half of this introduction to my book, here’s my question to each of you: IF there is nothing to “sell” when it comes to living and doing Christianity, expressing and sharing the gift of God’s love “given freely,” then WHY are so many Christians spending so much time, effort and money trying to peddle it to everyone, everywhere like medicine hucksters of the wild, wild west?

Before offering the “rest of the introduction” to my book (yes, the last segment was only the first half), I want to be clear about my intent here. I am and will challenge some, not all, of the paradigms associated with Christianity and faith in general for that matter. I believe there is far more good in the world, than evil. I have far more hope, than despair. I am committed to being a part of the solution, not simply standing on the sidelines throwing rocks of generalization. Am I theologically qualified to challenge the church or its leaders’ intents or methodologies? Logically, no. Based on what I see and feel and experience within the context of my work and interactions, yes. They are my experiences, and as such I own them. I do not profess to say my point of view should be yours. I humbly set them out there more as questions, than answers. To challenge our thinking. To stir our pots of complacency. To ignite honest and vigorous dialogue.

 To anyone who feels insulted or personally attacked, those who honor me by reading my writings, I ask you to consider this: question your reaction. What is it specifically I have said that gives you this emotional uprising? Might this not be an opportunity to look inward and listen for the quiet whisper in your ears, instead of dismissing me as a heretic, kook or even worse? I certainly do not have the answers. I struggle with the same questions we all struggle with as we feel along the scary and jagged walls of the cave; looking to simply find our way.

 

BOOK INTRODUCTION, PART 2

The gift of God’s eternal and covenantal love has been here and remains here for all time.

 If it is given freely…there is likely nothing to sell.

 If the promise has been here since before time…there is likely nothing to sell.

 If Jesus’ twelve societal misfits could have bungled along, their hearts changed by and through his unconditional love, and then somehow helped change the world before Gutenburg, Zondervan, Powerpoint, and televangelists…oh yes, and before there were Christians (I believe the disciples first referred to themselves as Christ Followers)…there is likely nothing to sell.

 If what, in many instances, seems to be a few challenges with the Church’s customer service, customer-centric behavior and over-pitching so-called eternal guarantees… there is likely nothing to sell.

 If people are not lining up outside your door, like they do every time Apple launches a new iPod or iPhone… there is likely nothing to sell.

 If people are not buying….

In case you think this is going nowhere of any redemptive or hopeful value, let me reassure you through some proven, statistical facts: there has never been a time in mankind where so many people from every culture and societal level are hurting, scared, desperate, lonely, confused, hungry, wandering and apprehensively looking for answers to life’s most challenging questions… than today.

They want the story of their life to mean something. They want to join a story that enables them to play a meaningful part with their life, and woven together with the life of others they love. They want to be seen. Heard. Felt. Loved. To know that they matter.

As faith leaders, and more so merely as children of God we should consider seeking to glorify Him through the expression of our lives; opportunities to exhibit all that’s in store for other people by opening the doors of our heart, displaying the goods of our soul, listening to what they are looking for and offering (open-handed) some relevant options that are in store for them. And never, never forgetting that the final decision as to what to take away from being in your store… is theirs.

In reading the following pages, I ask you to consider an expanded meaning in one word: Transaction. My subtle enhancement: TransActional Communications. Even IF there is nothing to sell in living effectively as a Christ Follower/Faith-Full man or woman, I do believe that a healthy and rewarding life path does require exceptional trans-actions. Play this out with me: consider the genesis of my thinking, which came from working with a client whose ministry, Q Place, is helping people who are looking for answers to life’s most challenging questions; helping them address their personal questions by leading them to the answers in the Bible. Not in a church, but in casual and comfortable settings where people naturally gather. Here’s the way she conveyed their positioning to me:

 “Jesus went out into the open market, among groups of people and interacted with them in the real places they gathered. Their places. He asked great questions. He listened intently. And then he shared compelling stories that they could apply to their lives.

      Q Place is where people come together in small groups to ask great questions about life. In the real places they             gather. To listen intently. And then share compelling stories from the Bible that they can consider, and apply to             their lives.”

The key point to this, as I see it, is that Jesus and the disciples did go out into the business community. Where commerce happened. But, unlike the many people buying and selling their wares or services, they took the time to be fully present in the life of each person to whom they were speaking. Their TRANS (prefix: 1. Across, the other side of, beyond) – ACTION (noun: 1. Doing something toward a goal, 2. Something done, 3. Movement) led to people feeling seen, heard, encouraged and loved. As such, through the bridge that was built between each other, they were able to exhange their goods, were willing to exchange presence between each other, and consider a new way to move forward (a direction or way) with their life; one filled with a promise of hope, love and grace.

 I, too, believe we are each conducting life commerce in the marketplaces every day. We, too, come in contact with people who are looking to find good values and things that really matter. So many, most really, don’t know where to go to find them. What a great chance we have to let them browse our aisles and sample our goods at their time and pace. The trans (move across) action (a movement to the other side) will come when they’ve had the genuine experience and chance to try you on, kick your tires, take you out for a test drive, listen to a bit of your song, read a snippet of your story or watch the trailer for your film.

 What might “doing Christianity” look like in such an environment? In what type of location would you position your store? What would your front windows look like? How would you present your in-store displays? What would your store layout look like? What would your (no)sales staff say and do when someone comes through the front door?

      

The name of my book: “No thanks, I’m just looking.”

More to come…. 

For emphasis – (b)