Even for the Ups, bow down in prayer

The day before Palm Sunday Jesus healed a blind man. His instruction to the man, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." That night we know that surely Jesus had to pray. Verse one of Luke 18 says that " Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart."

Even on days when we know we will be "up," we should bow down in prayer, asking not to lose heart and for the vision to see the up for what it truly is and what it can truly be. And for who we should truly be.

Lone Ranger Leadership Lessons

1) Never wear a mask.

2) Never ride away after solving a problem or challenge. Interaction is necessary.

3) Aim to disarm not harm, even if you think you're using silver bullets.

4) Be careful if your only supporter is called "Tonto," which is Spanish for "dummy."

Hope

Hope, not cheap optimism, is what we should offer best. Even in the darkest of times or biggest of challenges, hope is what we offer. And behind our offering it, we do it because of the One who shares it with us. God.

State of the Art v. State of the Church

One is cutting edge, frontline of newness and example of the latest and greatest.

The other sometimes is still the same. Don't touch anything. Do not change anything. We are fine as we are.

It is the same as going places and staying put. It is like getting exercise and gaining some years and staying sedentary and awaiting death.

Jesus spoke of newness. "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another."

The oldness spoke of "You're not welcome here; find your own church."

The Three Milers

Jesus did not speak about these, but we know they exist. They're the ones about which we have said, "I wish I had five more like her/him!" These are the followers of Jesus who don't know what minimum is. They only know to love, to do, to work, to do more. Ah, if we were only like them.

What we can do is be excited about what we do and to share that in a positive way and you never know, we might find another three-miler in our midst and soon in our churches.

The Two Miler

In Jesus' day, a Roman solider could tap you on the shoulder with the flat of his spear and force you to carry his pack for one mile. You could refuse if you wanted him to adjust his spear and ram you with it. Jesus understood the hatred and fear most people had of these occupiers of their land so He tells them about the second mile.

To go the second mile is to do the unexpected, to go to the uncomfortable part of life; yet Jesus knew that those of us who do receive a double blessing, one of helping and one of being helped.

Where is that area today you're comfortable barely doing one mile? What do you and God stand to gain if you go two?

Head Foot Washer

I doubt anyone would put that on their business card. The only Head Foot Washer is Jesus. We could only hope to be Assistant Foot Washers and even then we would not post that anywhere people could read it. How about we post it on our hearts and minds as we strive to be servant leaders.

A Pastor's Gift

Two things come to mind that we can best gift to our staffs and parishioners: Humility and Honesty.

I believe humility begins with caring truly and deeply for others. Honesty begins with admitting that we don't know all the answers. Nor do we have to.

But in all things, we trust in God.