Mercury

I remember standing in a field and looking at the sunset as I had a conversation with God that went something like this. “I can’t believe it but I think we can change the world� I had just been taken on a wild ride from a small roach infested apartment in Dallas Texas -where this visionary named Erwin Mcmanus told us to start three churches in one summer- to a church training where leaders gathered to plot out the movement of Jesus Christ in the city of Los Angeles. I was a college kid who had all but given up on the local church as a competitive force for good in the world. And this was a new fresh message, a new fresh vision of what the local church was meant to be. I clung to small circles to try and listen as Giants told stories about power moments and miracles they encountered in the city. There were greats like Bro. Tom and Alex Mcmanus, Erwin and Carol Davis all warriors who had battled in urban struggles for the souls of the city. It wasn’t just the message or the vision it was the visionaries. It was the messengers who lived differently. I believed because they believed. And it was the future they were pointing to that changed my present. They lived as if it were possible, like if we acted now we could turn this thing around. Their vision was absolutely contagious and something was happening inside of me that I couldn’t explain. It was as if God had a seed buried deep inside of me that I never realized and every story or new idea was soaking it in water. From it a great Oak was forming that would shape the rest of my life.

I remember this conversation with God because I had never known how to dream before at this level. I’d been to conferences before where people would talk about changing the world but they weren’t really living it like these people. They were seers and I was beginning to grasp the picture they were painting. It was incredible. Fifteen years later I can’t tell you where that field is today in Los Angeles but I remember the tree from that field that began to spring up, because I carry it in my chest. It’s a vision I can’t shake. The scripture says without a vision the people perish. (Prov. 29:18) people everywhere are supposed to live envisioned. They are supposed to have dreams that take a lot out of them. Contrary to popular belief, the church not career, not friends, not even family but the movement of the church was supposed to be the center of a persons life. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord proclaims the old Testament writer. It was this movement of God that would sustain everything else. As leaders the key to vision casting or seeing is to listen to the material of their lives and assemble a model of the wild possibilities.

I remember a girl who seemed disconnected from the artisans community who was new and talented as a photographer. She said her art form didn’t fit with our community so much. And we began to dream together about what could happen if…from those conversations, she traveled to Mexico and then to Zambia using her talent to help homeless children by taking their photos and creating a book along with other artists in our community. The greatest things I’ve “seen� have had nothing to do with me. Those have been the most rewarding. I can’t believe the power of words and the way vision can bring life to others so desperate to know they fit in God’s movement in such a significant way. There are more visions out there than we can possibly paint in a life-time but one thing is sure. As leaders we MUST help others dream. Having faith for them so that they can see once again what God sees. These visions will do so much more than fulfill ministry tasks and complete projects they will cultivate seeds buried deep in the souls of people and produce trees lush with the most delicious fruit the world has yet to taste.

1. Why should someone join your ministry? Write out your ministry vision and life vision as best you can.
2. Explain what vision got YOU here.
3. Give me the bottom line. In one sentence where are you going and how does that change the world?

Once you recognize your need to lead blind is the ability to call others out. Listening to them and echoing what God might be calling them to. This has become one of my favorite pastimes. Why? Because it’s not up to me.

Acts 2 says in the last days I will pour out my spirit on all peoples and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.

I love this picture of the church. It’s a highly mystical temperature that is predicted in the scripture. That God will be whispering dreams, visions, ideas in peoples souls and we will be able to recognize him through the lives and decisions of Spiritual listeners. Isn’t that how it happens? Once you decide to take on a ministry or project you realize that you’re a part of something bigger. A cosmic story that is unfolding. And once you catch the vision it’s addicting. Seeing people flourish in their lives because they take part in your ministry is the greatest joy in life. Seeing them become more sacrificial and passionate about connecting those without Christ is what it’s all about.

I remember my good friend Kevin Willson telling me how amazing a new recruit had been because he went above and beyond, recording the events of a film shoot day. Kevin could see a new person gaining friendships and using his incredible talent by serving everyone on the team. This high talent artist was just waiting for a chance to contribute. And blew everyone away. He needed to be needed. There is something very therapeutic about being needed. But many times as artist leaders our visions are too small to include them. Once we have the right people on the team, we don’t want to mess up a good thing. Success can sedate the drive for something greater.

Our first challenge as artist leaders is to keep crisis alive in our artisan community. Vision always invites crisis and crisis brings desperation. If you are not desperate maybe you’re not dreaming big enough. Remember even old men dream dreams. It’s not just one dream he’s planted in our soul. It goes as deep and far as we are willing to take it. It’s never ending. Have you noticed that one dream will naturally end up catalyzing a new one? You rarely stay with the exact same idea you started with. God seems to call you and recall you into new arenas.

But, this isn’t always about them recognizing God’s call. Sometimes it’s about God’s mission. I remember when I was just a volunteer here with Mosaic and our Music Leader left to go plant another church. Erwin turned to me and wanted me to take over the entire music ministry. But the way he recruited me was by saying “I’m not asking you to be called I just need you to serve.� That was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. Although it sounded funny, it relieved me that I didn’t have to know for sure, and that this wasn’t going to be for a lifetime just to help for a time. Turned out to be an amazing ride through the arts that I never left. Most artist don’t know what God’s calling is at first for their lives so you connect them to the mission and heart of God. Then, the longer they are with Mosaic, if you listen, you will hear dreams begin to emerge.

Kat Gannon, one of our actors and dancers who was leading our drama team, once confessed that she “always wanted� to start a salsa ministry to help salseros know Jesus. That day I fired her from drama and joined her new ministry. We began to do salsa on stage so she could invite her friends and several of them came to Christ. The God-given dreams of artists will often be much more effective than a role in your dream. So why is there so little of it in the church today?

Jesus said once “I will build my church and the very gates of hell will not prevail against it� (Mt. 16:18) this is so different from our mantra: we will build HIS church and close our gates to an ungodly world. But that’s exactly the condition of the church today. Why do you need to hear his voice if the church isn’t attacking the gates of hell? It’s like a football coach telling his players to practice for their own health without ever intending to play a game. If the mission of the church is to give you personal success, then the only thing you ask of God is feed me, not use me to feed others.

At the same time we can be so committed to the mission of God that we build our teams and service for him rather than him building them in and through us. This is easy especially in a high performance culture like Mosaic. You can fall into the “I need to impress everyone� ditch. But God said I desire obedience not sacrifice (1 Sam. 15). In other words I’m going to lead you so do what I say not just what seems right to you. He presupposes a real relationship, he assumes he’ll be driving, not you. If Jesus is supposed to build his church, who’s responsibility is it? Who is the ultimate recruiter? Who is the one leading? And how can we even begin to understand this movement if we are not aware of what he is doing in every project and conversation with a new artist?

The fact is God is calling, bringing, whispering and working in the hearts of some of the most talented busy artists in the Church. He tells them that there is something wrong with only living for your craft. There is something more happening here, something they should at least investigate. I have had these conversations and rarely is a person too fulfilled to serve. Once they catch the vision, see the space we’re willing to create for them and friendships that await them. They are very open to trying almost anything with us. Maybe because it will help their careers, maybe because I’m such a great recruiter or maybe just because God has already been speaking to them.

1. Who was the last person you recruited to something?
2. How were your recruiting conversations this week? Best moment? worst moment?
3. If you were gauranteed success, what type of person would be the perfect person to recruit?
4. What is your biggest obstacle in recruiting?

“On May 25, 2001, nineteen members of our expedition summited Mt. Everest, breaking several records. For members of the NFB the most important facts were first that Erik Weihenmayer had made it to the top, demonstrating in yet another powerful way that blind people are capable of doing extraordinary things when given the chance to try…”

It’s funny how this fact was told to me on our hike by a hiker watching us methodically walk up the trail in complete blindfolded dependence. Erik turned blind when he was thirteen and had to relearn everything. What he took for granted had to become relearned. What if that happened to you? What if you were forced to live blind? What if you were forced to lead blind? knowing that you were helping others into a future they couldn’t see. Great leaders are able to help a person reach a place that they are blind to. A place you can only see with your eyes closed and your knees bent. Without getting too “Skywalker” on you. Let’s face it. We do too much by sight. We lead too many times without even asking God if this is the greatest way to honor him and others. We even risk many times without the ASSURANCE of things hoped for or that EVIDENCE of things unseen. It’s easy to do this in a high risk culture like Mosaic. But what if you take smaller risks and miss the big ones?

i have found that his voice is constantly reminding me that it’s about people not the production. i move at lightening speed once i see a vision but forget the playing field is successful lives not successful performances. My tendency is to create movement and assume everyone will prosper but that’s just being blind to what is invisible. Leading blind is seeing the invisible and living in it. And what is invisible IS reality. Paul said to the Collosians set your sights on the realities of heaven because your life is new with Christ and that’s where he is seated next to the father with honor and power. In other words, you have access to the one who sees the entire game not just one player. Sit with him to dream, plan and execute. Leading blind means being comfortable with what’s unseen. What’s invisible and how you interact with the invisible forges the future. It happens first in your conversation with God and then on earth. Francis Schaeffer says that Job was being watched, observed and that his decisions were part of a heavenly battle without his knowledge. there was a cause and effect relationship from the seen to the unseen world. How many times do we realize that we have the keys to this invisible city in the heavens and that whatever we bind on earth CAN be bound in heaven? We are not running a company to gain revenue and reputation we are forging an invisible movement in another dimension. We are changing the unseen future into something that looks like what God himself shows us. if we don’t look we’ll never lead blind.

Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

1. When was the last time you thought you heard his voice in regards to leadership decision and didn’t listen.
2. What insight(s) have you gained so far about leading blind?
3. What sacrifice have you made or will you make before Saturday?

That’s my motto for this next quarter. Lose control, start things, risk, try new ideas, i’ve been aching to. And stop making excuses. i have tried managing everything i’ve started and i trickle effectively. But come on! Who ever wanted to trickle? I want to Gush with new innovative inertia. Even if it means falling on my face over and over. Let go of “what if” and climb inside and take her for a spin. I know I haven’t learned how to drive yet but i can still “spin”. Besides, i’ve noticed that people come along side of you to help when you’re spinning with passion trying to impact the world. In any case I’m terrrified! It’s begun and alot of Chaos is shooting all over the place. I’m alive. And desperate again…ahhh…feels great!

We looked up at the planes passing by. Aiden and I were in one of those timeless moments. YOu know those moments when you know angels are listening.
“Do you know how much I love you?” I asked him. He looks away “five” he says. “No” “four” “no” “six?” “No, I love you as big as the sky from there (now pointing) to that side and from there to the top can you see it?” No response then I asked him “how much do you love me?” without hesitation “five, can we go in now?” “Sure.”

Well, maybe not so timeless. But worth it.

i looked at my bimbo today.
on top of the mountain it lay.
a puddle of darkened abyss
so how did i end up like this?

can’t even finish this post.
off the top topic at most.
don’t have much time for delay,
gotta go grab me a shake

(i love these hot summer days)

Carrie says not every father feels “a need” to wrestle as much as i do with our son. She’s right, I’m sure of it, I can’t last a day without throwing him on the couch shouting phrases like “I will avenge my father” and “you will never win this battle Batman” It’s partly my way of hugging and holding my 3 year old frankly. Sure, we talk too and I love to hear his amazing adventures. But mostly we battle. When he cries (fake cries, you know the ones that just mean I’m frustrated) I taunt him into re-engaging the war between good and evil. “Never!” he shouts and jumps back in. Well we’ve been doing a lot of yard work together lately (by alot I mean alot in a nonfarmer sort of way) and he worked hard, without whining or complaining. I didn’t expect him to last the whole 2 hours but he did. Of course we pretended that the branches we were cutting were giant wood creatures but he stuck with it until the end.
I suppose that’s what I hope for, a son who perseveres through tough situations. One who chooses courage when tempted to give in and someone willing to defend the world against tyranny (insert Epic soundtrack here)
One day he will watch a bully pushing the weaker around and that’s when I’ll know if any of this make believe is real. I don’t want him to look for fights just have a fight in him when the time comes. Sure he may be too afraid to battle the bad guys- aren’t we all at times?- but I want there to be sting in his chest knowing that he SHOULD act with passion to defend the weak. Cowardice isn’t the worst thing, it’s apathy. Aiden means fire. How can his life not be passionate?

MAYA is sitting down studying a bible. GREG walks up to her.

Greg: Thanks for being willing to talk to me. Sam said you guys might be able to help.

Maya: How can I serve you, brother?

Greg: Oh. Right on.

Greg (cont’d) It’s my cousin, he’s in the hospital from a stab wound. Now, I’m not usually into organized religion, but right now I’ll take all the help I can get.

Change- shifts through material?

Maya: Wait, you’re not a believer?

Greg: In what?

Maya: Before we step any further into it, I have to ask you a very important question.

Greg: Shoot

Maya: If you died tonight do you know where you’d end up?

Greg: Uh…probably Rose Hills Memorial. That’s where uncle Burt ended up-

Maya: No. I’m talking about in the sweet by and by.

Greg: The sweet what?

Maya: Pearly gates or Lake of Fire.

Greg: I’m sorry I-

Maya: If you died would you go to Heaven or Hell?!

Greg: What does me dying tonight have to do with my cousin?-

Maya: Today is the day of Salvation.

Greg: Oh got it.

He searches his pockets.

Greg (cont’d): I already gave to you guys over the holidays, but here’s a quarter.

She pockets the quarter and keeps moving.

Maya: God cannot not help you unless you are part of his flock.

Greg: His what?

Maya: So, you think you will go to heaven if you died tonight?

Greg: Sure, I guess.

Maya: Ha! We’ll see, if God asked you “why should I let you enter the pearly gates what would you say?�

Greg: Is this a riddle, I think I know this one?

Maya: Just answer the question

Greg: O.K, I guess I’d say…I’m nice to old people and …I’m pretty handy with gates?

Maya: Good works!

(thinks he got it right)

Greg: Thanks, what’d I win?

Maya: No heathen, it means you answered wrong.

Greg: I did?

Maya: For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Greg: Oh, others didn’t get that right either?

Maya: Listen, in order for me to help you, you need to be justified and then sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Greg: Sounds scary but if it’ll help my cousin I think I’m up for it.

Stretches out his hands

Greg: Ok, sanitize me

Maya: I can’t do it for you, you have cry out to Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Greg: Wait a minute, God’s got pets?

Maya: BLASPHEMY!!

Greg: What’d I say?

Maya: That may be the unpardonable one. You may have just damned yourself to hell.

Starts racing through her bible.

Greg: Is that serious? Just tell him I like Lamb. Uh…no don’t tell him that.

Maya: It’s better if you sit and gnash your teeth right now.

Greg sits down.

Greg: Did you say gnash?!

She locates the passage in the bible.

Maya: Oh you’re saved!

Greg: I am?

Maya: Saved not SAVED. But you need to call out to Jesus for the redemption of your sins. Repeat after me, Oh lamb of God.

Greg: Oh Lamb of God

Maya: Louder

Greg: Oh lamb of God!

Maya: Wash me in your blood!

Greg: I don’t want to be washed in blood, what kind of religion is this?

Maya: No, it’s not like that. You are asking Jesus Christ to come into your heart.

Greg: How is that not bloody?

Maya: If you’re not washed by the blood, you cannot become part of the elect of God.

Greg: I’m not even running. Hey, I can appreciate animal sacrifices as well as the next guy, but I had no idea it was so…involved. I can’t do this.

Maya: (indignant) You mean you don’t want to repent of your idolatrous, evil ways, throw yourself on the mercy seat of the Lion of Judah, the Horn of Salvation and join the Redeemed of God?

Greg: I don’t even understand a word you are saying! I just wanted for you to pray for my cousin.

Maya: Oh…I get it.

Greg: Whew…finally.

Maya: You are incapable of hearing the truth. The Gospel is veiled to all those who are perishing.

Greg: You mean you won’t help me?

Maya: If you don’t have ears to hear, God can’t help you, and if he can’t, neither can I…um…good luck with that.

Fade Lights

Paint outside the lines! Color chaos! Unzip the routine and feel around in there! Do something you haven’t ever done before even if it’s looking at a tree that’s been there for years that you never stared at.
Somehow we think there are rules in places where there are none. What would life look like if we got rid of all the rules besides loving? Too deep for me to think about right now. All I know is-

The world needs more scribblers.

More raw, gutsy scribblers. So, it’s the title of the new show we’re putting together as Urban Poets.

We’re performing Downtown in four weeks (APril 12/18th) and so far you wanna know what the script looks like?

Scribble

I couldn’t believe how open he was…

My son and I invited him over for dessert (Keylime) since he was home alone. Miguel, my neighbor, had been a guy I had been focusing my prayer on through TREMOR (see page) and now he was kneeling at our couch crying out to God “Thank you for coming into my life. help me to follow you and help others. If you can see my dad, tell him I’m sorry…thank-you for sparing my brothers life when he was sick”
It was if he had all these things that he had been wanting to talk to God about and this was his first chance. I didn’t expect it to be so easy.

“Is there any reason why you would not give your life to Jesus Christ right now?”

“No, I can’t think of any reason” he said and then all in a moment, it happened.

The confession I have is that I wasn’t really sure God was telling me to pray for him, it was more like I just picked him and hoped that God would do something.

I didn’t deserve it. It happened two nights ago…but I’m going to pick more people and see what happens.

oh…how do you lead a person after this point? I don’t want to smother him, but want to help him work out his faith? Any advice?