What made the exchange interesting for me was the fact that no names were ever used. The caller revealed no name and my name was never used either. It is troubling to know that my phone number was known, the type debit card I held was known, and my card number was requested.  I guess it is safe to say that the thieves “had my number.”

Can We Live Numberless?
I suppose it is possible to go through life without some kind of number but I doubt it. In fact the reason for so many numbers is that people’s names are simply not enough. You likely have your name on a social security card, bank card(s), employee identification card, driver’s license, and personal checks but names are not enough. You have to have numbers.

In fact, you must have numbers but you don’t necessarily need a name. For example, your computer and router have numbers but your name is not important to Google when it captures your recent visits to various websites. Identification on internet sites often require a number or numbers on your password.

A name links us to our past where significant persons and events lie but numbers are more suited for analysis, trends, and marketing groups. Names can reveal personality traits, hopes of parents, and ancestors. Numbers reveal buying tendencies, spending, and credit scores.

We Can Live Transparently
I don’t think numbers are going away anytime soon so we have to live in a world where names simply do not tell everything about us. Our numbers are needed to fill in the picture.  I hope your character is in tact and that your live a transparent life.  What might be hidden may now be brought to light by the use of numbers.

I understand that restaurants run out of an ingredients but at 11:00 am? How about a bakery not have bread? At the first restaurant the server seemed to be a little put out that I tried to order chicken when it was obvious (to her) that there was none. The cashier at the second restaurant seemed slightly embarrassed to have to tell customers repeatedly that there was no bread. A sandwich without bread is a sad thing. A bakery without bread is a disaster.

I was left to ponder both situations Sunday evening and I remain puzzled at both events. Why advertise what you do not have and have no intention of providing? Why not tell eager customers up front that some things are not available? Why be in business if you don’t won’t to prepare and sell what people want to eat?  Why…why…why? I won’t be back in either place for a while. I can’t stand the thought of menu/ordering/requesting rejection.

While I’m disappointed by both experiences, they have been a good reminder to deliver on my promises, practice what I preach, and be consistent in all I do. Though neither restaurant could deliver, they certainly served up some food for thought.

But every place is a place to learn and enjoy learning. One morning I awoke and went outside to enjoy daybreak and discovered only forty yards away in the lake a hippopotamus bobbing up and down patiently waiting for an opportunity to enjoy the lush grass and plants at the resort. Monkeys ran around, camels were herded nearby, and donkeys walked leisurely from place to place.  Fisherman and wood carvers went by without any interest in the animals near them. Members of a United Nations group staying at the resort went to their meetings busily talking to one another in English or on cell phones to offices across the world.

Man And Nature Moving In Harmony
It was an interesting environment to say the least. I thought about what was going on in that moment in a very small space and how all activities moved seamlessly. On the base level of the environment animals looked for food, people went to work, and tourists enjoyed some pleasure. Food was being prepared in the kitchen, workers cleaned the pool for swimmers who came later, I was thinking about the two messages I was to preach, and missionaries and their families were awakening to another African day.

It seemed to me that much of what we often think of as different and unrelated can actually exist without much effort.  Animals, people, processes, business, and political events were happening simultaneously and no one got in another’s way.  People from many nations speaking many languages walked the same paths, ate the same food in the same place without incident. Different agendas did not conflict and in general things were enjoyable.  I also noticed that the environment was not damaged while construction and business was done.

It made me wonder if it might be possible to return to the U.S. and be exempt from interest groups, political parties, networks dedicated to ideologies instead of news, sports without bounties, and just one day without litigation. Twenty four hours after I returned I realized that our world remains fractured, selfish, violent, corrupt and vulnerable.  I am here as Salt and Light but it was nice to be taken away for a week where man and nature seemed to move in an easy harmony.  It seems now as something too good to be true. But it really was both good and true-just for a while.  Oh well, let’s get back to work and try to overcome this decadent mess.

What was different in this conversation, however, was the conviction we each had that retirement was not on our agendas for the foreseeable future. I left our meeting with some thoughts that surprised me and give me energy and focus.

I used to think that when I reached this age I would lose focus, energy, and vision for what I do each day. In fact I have found several things that create for me the very opposite of what I supposed might happen.

For one thing I am in a learning curve that is as exciting as anything that I have ever experienced. I am engaged in current culture especially as it influences ministry, faith and life. For me the current culture is as exciting and unpredictable as the 60′s and 70′s were. I was a college student then and I often felt like I was being blown in a whirlwind of change and transition. I wondered then if I would make it. I did and I flourished. My faith found a ground of certainty. My witness, though often challenged, sharpened. My life turned to God’s calling over me and I loved it.

The present feels like those days to me. The uncertainty of everything in our world gives me optimism that as people live uncertain lives their desires for something real will increase. Many will turn to Christ because they will come to understand that He is the only solid thing in this changing world. More and more persons are coming to the reality that what has been promised is no longer promised and what we face in the future has little promise. Jesus is the same today, yesterday and forever. Knowing Him and embracing that truth is enough to give anyone hope and peace.

Who knows? Maybe what goes around really comes around. I could get excited about another Jesus movement seeing millions of people find Him and living for Him. I enjoyed it the last time around. I know the next round will be just as exciting. Change? Transition? Uncertainty? I embrace it with excitement.

Photo credit: NY Post

Yesterday Tim Tebow was traded by the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets.  The trade follows two weeks of the Peyton Manning courtship that Denver won.  I do not remember anyone making much of what Tebow might think, how he might feel, and what losing his job as starting quarterback would mean for him in the future.  He lost his job without a chance to compete but no one made a sound.

But when the trade was announced, suddenly everyone wondered what Mark Sanchez thought.  Questions arose immediately about the psyche of the Jets locker room and how the city of New York would respond to such developments.  Today, despite the suspension of an NFL head coach for a year, the indefinite suspension of a defensive coordinator and the stiff penalties handed out to a general manager and an assistant coach, Tebow is still in the news.  When he was out of a job and tosses aside like trash to the NFL curb no one seemed to mind.  There were no articles, commentaries or statements defending him or his contribution to his former team.  There were no questions about fairness, locker rooms, or fans’ responses.  No one seemed to mind that he was gone.

So if his leaving was not news, why is his going to New York suddenly registering on the social/sports/media scales like a major earthquake?  In leaving he wasn’t praised, admired, or helped.  In going he becomes dangerous, divisive, a burden, and a misfit.  Everywhere Tim Tebow has ever gone from Middle School to the NFL playoffs he has made everything around him better.  He is a warrior who never quits or complains.  He is a winner who brings the best from himself and his team.  He is a believer who lives his faith with quiet assurance.  He doesn’t make excuses, he doesn’t fold under the relentless criticism of his foes and he doesn’t ask for anything but a chance.  And, whenever he gets an opportunity he does his best with amazing results.

I’m beginning to think that what troubles people is not his skills (of lack thereof) not his personality and not his confidence.  What troubles people is Tim Tebow.  He is his own man, with his own faith, and his own life.  He lives as if he does not pay any attention to anyone who doesn’t like him or who can’t believe in him.  It’s not that he is perfect.  He’s just different in a way that most people are not accustomed to. We’ve grown used to fakes, punks, hypocrites, cheaters, liars, men who have children and refuse to father them, personalities, and players who quit and refuse to be teammates.

I have a great idea.  Leave Mr. Tebow alone.  Given enough time he will do what he always does-make everything and everyone around him better.

What’s In A Name?
When the Committee was named by SBC President Bryant Wright there was the usual talk about the restrictions churches, pastors and church planters face with “Southern” in the convention moniker. I wonder if Southwest Airlines, Northern Trust, Bank of the West, Massachusetts Mutual, New York Life, and other companies struggle with these same issues?  I suspect that “Baptist” in the name may be more odious to unreached unbelievers than “Southern” but now we will never know.

If “Southern” is a problem and does not communicate without explanation, then I can only imagine the confusion “Great Commission Baptist Convention” might cause. Those four words, however important, would take quite a bit of explaining. Can you imagine the branding issues associated with explaining “Great Commission” + “Baptist” + “Convention” to the lost and unchurched in your area?

Name Change, Real Change? 
Names change, brands change, and entities change constantly and hopefully for the better. The rebranding discussion in the Southern Baptist Convention gives another opportunity for its member churches to rethink their relationship to the Convention, its leadership, its agencies, and its future. Maybe it’s not the name that needs changing. A positive name change needs to signal a future change in an entity or to reflect a past/current change in an entity. This discussion went nowhere because so far a new name doesn’t signal anything new for now or the future.

Give people a compelling image of the future and most any name, new or old, will be a good one.

Joe Paterno passed away after a short battle with cancer.  His final battle was an exemption from a larger one looming over his role in the public scandal surrounding Jerry Sandusky.  Jerry Sandusky has been tried in the court of public opinion while he awaits trial on charges handed down by a grand jury.  When the story broke it triggered an emotional firestorm that scorched everything in its path-school administrators, athletic personnel, family members and even the reluctant alleged victims who have come forward with their allegations.

Guilt By Association

Joe Paterno, the legendary football coach of Penn State, was drawn into the vortex of this storm like a tin roof in a tornado.  His association with Mr. Sandusky, his knowledge of at least one incident of sexual misconduct, and his failure to “do more” are all factors in this fluid story.  By his own admission his sorrow over the events that are alleged was one of his greatest disappointments.  For the record, when he learned of an incident from a coach on his staff he told his superiors believing they would do right by investigating the allegation and taking proper action.

The shock of the allegations brought all associated with Penn State as well as the rest of the nation to a lingering frenzy.  Many angry over the allegations have taken a scorched earth stance by condemning everyone remotely close to what happened.  Not even  Joe Paterno is exempt.  The Penn State University Board fired him despite his stellar reputation, his support for the University, his documented integrity, and the love he knew from players, coaches and fans.  He was given no reason, no hearing and no time to understand the Board’s actions.  As events continue to unfold, it seems that the Board saw the chance to remove Coach Paterno without cause and the Sandusky allegations gave them the perfect opportunity.  In fact it seems now that the unanimous vote was an effective quick strike.  Paterno eagerly promised to have his public say but he became ill and died without that opportunity.

Opinions and Truth

Will he receive a pardon for having done too little to late?  He did nothing illegal.  He informed his superiors.  He awaited the results.  What he got was fired and hung in the court of public opinion.  In the end Coach Paterno’s life and legacy may be marred by the events surrounding his final days on earth.  What he should have done remains is cause for speculation and what he did is insufficient for his critics.  Will he ultimately be pardoned?  It is doubtful that those who quickly condemned him will find a way out of their opinions.  People who carry stones in their pockets are always ready to move on to their next opportunity.

No there will be no pardon or apology to Paterno.  His death makes that irrelevant.  Sorry Joe.  You deserved better but don’t worry the truth has a way of coming to light.  When it does I hope is shines on your legacy and blinds those who have judged you in self-righteous haste.

We have one African American on our staff and only a score of African Americans who belong and attend our church, but that is enough. Who we are is not determined by a majority or minority  but by every individual who joins others to collectively become a congregation. Observing MLK Day is a way of saying you are important to us and what is important to you is important to us no matter how we might understand it. Dr. King’s life and impact is different for everyone. His impact on my African American brothers and sisters is enough for me to stop and share the day with them.

Martin Luther King
I was thirteen years old when Dr. King delivered his famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. I watched him on television and knew that Americans would never be the same. The debates, marches, violence and legislation that followed changed us forever. His legacy seems greater than his life in many ways. Alive he was a great man. In legacy, he is a movement which continues to do its work. I do not understand all of it and I know I do not appreciate what it means to many which is another reason to observe this day. It is a way to recognize that some people represent more than we can fathom. Dr. King was that kind of person.

A Simple Act
I know that like me, most of my staff and people may not give this day the significance that some will. I do not pretend to understand or feel the full weight of Dr. King’s life and legacy. I do not set aside my own cultural heritage in an effort to be “accepted” or “culturally correct”. I have no time for that. I won’t be at any political speeches, parades, or school programs. I will simply take time Monday to think about him and what his impact is.  Observing this day is a simple act of respect for a great person and for many of my friends who became friends through the life and legacy of a man who simply did what he could to make things right.

Dreams are fueled by a combination of imagination, desire, optimism, and a sense of what is fulfilling.  They are the stuff that motivates our hard work and often when realized are compensation enough to satisfy our souls.  Dreams have been the key ingredient for men and women to attempt impossible things bringing those imagined thoughts into a living reality.  Dreams keep people going through difficult seasons and give others determination not to fail.

Are Dreams Enough?

Despite the power and effects of our dreams, however, they are not enough.  Most everyone has dreams and most of those dreams go unrealized because substance is lacking for our thoughts to be turned into reality.  It is a leader’s role to take big ideas and turn them into reality.  This is the hard work  of leadership but is crucial if anything is going to be accomplished.  Leaders remove words like “ought”, “should” and “might” from their discussions replacing them with “will”, “must”, and “can”.  Dreams that are accomplished require a clear vision, a definite process, clear decision-making, timely measurements, and constant evaluation.

A vision differs from a dream in that it is a clear articulation of an achievable future.  When a dream is shared often the dreamer has difficulty explaining or convincing another person of its merit and nature.  When a vision is shared a leader is able to clearly articulate what the “big idea” is and how it is to be transformed into reality.  If you cannot explain your vision in a few sentences and a short time then you probably don’t have one.

Are Visions Enough?

Visions produce the hard stuff of transformation.  Transformation of an idea includes an accurate assessment of the current environment or state of the organization followed by the strategic intentions that are to be implemented to realize the vision.  Also, an accurate understanding of the current organization, an evaluation of the people currently employed, the culture of the organization and finally the work that has to be done to be successful is essential.  Then the vision must be tested in the light of perceived forces that will both help and prevent the organization to be successful.

This is a common process for those who operate their lives and organizations by clear visions.  In reality, however, most leaders never do the hard work required to see dreams realized.  I think one reason is because leaders are generally not trained in the processes of visioning and planning.  In addition, they did not know where to go for the resources required to be successful.

There Is Help – And it is Simple!

I am aware of many helpful resources but frankly most of them are out of reach in costs, too complex, or hard to use.  One resource that I can recommend that is available, easy to use, and is supported by competent professionals is Seen and Sustained, of Brandbuilder Publications and The Virginia Baptist State Convention, Inc. (VBSC).  Seen and Sustained is a workbook co – authored by Dr. Leonard N. Smith, VBSC President and Senior Minister of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, VA and Akia Garnett, VBSC Communication Officer and President and CEO of Brandbuilder. It is an effective tool based on the concept of continuous improvement rather than crisis management which allows a leader to work with his/her leaders to move from vision to reality. Churches and non-profits can expect excellent results when using this product.

Scripture says that “without a vision the people perish.”  The reason people perish and are scattered is that their dreams die never fulfilled.  If you are a leader move your dreams into the reality of a vision which motivates you to the actions necessary to be successful.

Most of the time those who make these statements have good reason for concern and they often make their points with heartfelt passion.  They refer to churches that are filled with believers who lack true belief, authentic lives, and display only marginal commitments.  In addition, they point out that many persons stumble over the claims of Christ and never give an ear to actually hearing the gospel because of these professing Christians.

In their concern for the kingdom, these pundits give the usual statistics about how many persons in the United States are “spiritual” but not religious and how many current believers are willing to “do” church without ever attending a church.  What typically follows are calls for church discipline, changing church structures, planting house churches, planting relevant churches, and doing ministries in effective ways.

I agree most of the time with the concerns and I can see value in most of the suggestions on how we might reach our culture in more effective ways.  To these concerns and suggestions I might add a few of my own.  When I search scripture for answers for today I am encouraged that these trends are not new and the problems we face have already been recognized with solid answers provided.  A few observations:

1.  Stay with scripture.  Many are involved in researching the problems, identifying trends, criticizing current congregations,believers, and offering solutions.  Unfortunately for some, scripture is only quoted not followed.  We make serious mistakes if we think that analyzing trends and changing methods will change the world.  It never has unless solutions come from scripture and are put in contemporary contexts.

2.  Stop blaming everyone else.  If you have answer, share it.  If you don’t, seek one.  If you can’t then be quiet.  Trends, surveys, research and cultural solutions are only that.  Also, invite those who have been in the fight for a while to join the dialogue.  Describing the problem is not finding the solution.  If you think your data is correct, shouldn’t all believers and congregations be served with it.  New is not always better when its just new.

3.  Try to gain some perspective about why things are the way they are right now.  This just did not happen overnight.  Be aware of what happened in the 70′s and 80′s when similar concerns were addressed.  We are going to need new understandings but we have to understand them in a larger context that the last fifteen years.  There are some people who have been at this a while with keen insights that might be helpful.

4.  Give solutions that are helpful to pastors and congregations.  If you do not help the Body of Christ you are wasting time.  Deliver the information and solutions to those who are in the trenches with all ages not just one segment.  We must have a kingdom view that includes everyone.

5.  Remember that all our problems are spiritual and thus have spiritual solutions.  Knowing the times, understanding salvation history, trusting the Bible, following the Spirit’s leading, and exalting Christ is always the foundation.  There is no power on earth that can overcome righteousness, purity, and the power of God that transforms our lives and the lives of those we encounter as Salt and Light.

6. Make sure your own life is transparent and authentic.  Hiding behind the problems of others is not the same as honestly finding solutions to those problems.  There are many researchers, critics, new voices, and dreamers today with some great insights and ideas.  But in the end, those who count are those who do something.

I pastor a local church that deals with a multitude of issues with the people we have and those we reach.  We have a culture we live in, a context we serve in and a future we move toward with the confidence that God will allow us to enjoy our work and fulfill our mission.

God is at work to bring history to its proper end with Christ as Lord and His saints serving Him forever.